Isaac Sell and Matthew Maiava Earn All-State Football Awards

Seventeen Laramie High School football players received post-season recognition led by seniors Isaac Sell and Matthew Maiava, who were All-State in 2020.

Sell led Class 4A in rushing with 160.2 yards per game. He ran for 1,602 yards in nine games played and averaged 7.1 yards per carry. He ran for 13 touchdowns on the season and had a long of 65 yards for a score at Rock Springs. Sell had the top three single-game rushing performances in Class 4A during the 2020 season, which include a career-best 322 yards versus Cheyenne South. He ran for more than 250 yards two other times in the season. Sell missed the last game-and-a-half with a season-ending injury. Sell was nominated for the 4A East Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned second-team all-conference honors at kick return specialist.

Matthew Maiava was one of the triplets that moved to Laramie in the summer of 2020. They anchored the right side of the offensive line with Matthew starting at right guard and on defense at the tackle position. Maiava led a Laramie rush offense that finished No. 4 in Class 4A that averaged 209 yards per game and 5.9 yards per rush. Maiava was also selected first-team all-conference on the defensive line. He received second-team all-state for his play on the defensive line.

The Wyoming Coaches Association only recognizes first-team all-state recipients as “officially” all-state. Those players receive an award certificate from the WCA.

Four more Plainsmen received first-team all-conference honors. That included seniors Garett Dodd at wide receiver, Michael Maiava on the offensive line, and Colter Nunn at linebacker. Junior Grahm Jaques was also a first-team all-conference recipient at the linebacker position. Those four received second-team all-state nods from the 4A coaches in voting at their respective position.

Dodd was second-team all-conference at defensive back, while Nunn was second-team all-conference at running back. Jaques earned honorable mention all-conference at running back.

Four more seniors received second-team all-conference recognition. Gavin Kopp earned the accolade at tight end and linebacker. Julian Cortez was a second-team performer on the offensive and defensive line. Micah Maiava was second-team on the offensive line, and David Tangeman was second-team all-conference at kicking specialist.

Seven more players were honorable mention all-conference in the 4A East Division. That includes seniors Travis Judd at defensive back and Alex Ingle on the defensive line. Five juniors received honorable mention nods. They were Jackson Devine at wide receiver and defensive back, Paul Crater on the offensive line, Jake Vigen at quarterback, and Chris Alvarez and Cooper Gray on the defensive line.

Laramie finished the 2020 season with a 2-8 record and lost to eventual state champion Cheyenne East in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.