WHEATLAND – The sports teams who began working out in the stifling heat of August and ended in some bitter cold autumn nights had 14 athletes who were selected to All-Conference teams and of those 14, seven earned All-State awards.

It was a memorable fall season with the football team getting to the final four and falling just 10 points short of the chance to go for a state title. Each sport represented the school with honor and dignity and there were times when the close games brought crowds to their feet.

The girls golf squad had no competition until they got to the state tournament and although their backs were to the wall after the first day, they prevailed and brought home the first girls state championship in Wheatland history.

We had one athlete, Lily Nichols once again repeat at state in two fall sports. For football, Kade Preuit repeated as an All-Stater for the second year and Jake Hicks three-peated.

It wasn’t all blueberries and cream as there were some crushing losses and some circumstances that really were character builders for the athletes who walked through adversity. From our three members of the Spirit Team who were chosen to be All-Americans and then missed out on their chance to march in the Pearl Harbor Day parade in Hawaii to some of our athletes who had season ending and at least one, a career-ending injury.

We congratulate all the athletes who are now part of the 2021 fall alumni from WHS.

Who better to have a final word about those athletes who worked hard all season and earned the accolades than their coaches.

Coaches Comments:

Cross Country: All Conference and All State: Lily Nichols

From Sally Nichols:

The WHS Cross Country program was fortunate enough to have one All-Conference and All-State Athlete, Lily Nichols, who is a repeat for both honors in XC, all while maintaining a 4.0.  Lily joined our program mid-season following golf with the Bulldogs. The WHS XC boys team would run to Lewis Park via the golf course safely dropping off Lily so she could get a bit of running in before golf practice, our team truly helped her reach her goals.  Her best time this season was 19:51 at the Absaroka Conference Meet in Worland.  Like all our kiddos, she loved the course and ran a strong race with her best mile being her last mile.  Lily's take on XC, "Of all the sports I do, the one that tests me the most both physically and mentally is cross country, it is grueling.  Yet, the grind is what makes success worth it." We look forward to watching Lily play basketball this winter, run this spring in track, and back to golf and XC next fall.

Volleyball: 3A All-Conference: Grace Battershell

From Lindsay Schaffner:

Grace is a tremendous athlete who has really come on as a volleyball player. She has lead our team in assists for the last two seasons. This year she had 379 assists. Defensively she has really improved and become very consistent. Ended the year with 175 digs. All around very consistent and a great team player. Served 93% this season with 31 aces. Grace works hard day in and day out to be the best she can be. Looking forward to a great senior season from her.

Football: 2A All-State:  Jake Hicks, Kade Preuit, Ora Borton and Rodee Brow 2A East All-Conference, Ora Borton, Rodee Brow, Jake Hicks, Maxx Meyer, Jordyn Pearson, Ryland Petroski, Kade Preuit and Drew Smialek.

From Cody Bohlander:

If I used words to describe the kids that were selected all conference and all state, earned and deserved would be the 2 that come to mind. These eight all conference players did a great job throughout the season proving they were some of the best players in the conference. If you start out with our 3 lineman that earned the honors in Ora, Drew and Jordyn it’s not hard to see why they were selections our offense put up 365 yds a game and ranked #1 in 2A and that doesn’t happen without great players upfront. Our offense was also 5th in the entire state no matter the classification also. They were also huge contributors on the defensive side being anchors up front in a defense that ranked 5th in the entire state in all classifications 6-man to 4A. When talking about our defense 2 of our linebackers stick out that earned the honor as juniors. Maxx and Ryland showed they earned the honors by being solid forces on our defense as linebackers, the two combined for 160 tackles for us this year on defense. They also became a big part of our offense late in the season with their power running style. Kade, Jake, and Rodee were three picks that anyone in our conference could agree on. They put up numbers and did things for us this season that were pretty hard to do. Kade topped of his career at Wheatland with almost 5000 passing yds, Hicks put up 2100 yds of receiving in his career at Wheatland.(both of which may be new school records). And then you have Rodee that I have always called old reliable whether on defense or offense, he got it done when you needed him too. Jake, Kade, Ora and Rodee were also all state selections. Hicks received this honor for the 3rd time being wheatlands only 3 time all state pick, Kade earned his second time as an all-state player. While Ora and Rodee earned this honor for their first time. These 4 seniors will be missed on the field for the Bulldogs in many ways as leaders and players. I could write pages about these players and other players that I think deserved these honors. They are kids that listen and do what’s asked of them and do it at 100%. That’s what makes them the most successful. To they seniors that earned these honors I am proud to have been their coach and to my juniors who we’re selected we are happy to get you players back.

Aric Suko, Devin Weber and Wyatt Kafka were all honorable mention all-conference.

Golf: All-State: Macy Jones, Bryley Waring and Lily Nichols, All-Conference: Macy Jones, Bryley Waring, Lily Nichols and Kaylynn Heimsoth

From Tony Nichols

The Wheatland Girls Golf Team achieved a plethora of individual accolades this past fall.  Sophomores Macy Jones and Lily Nichols repeated as all-conference and all-state golfers for the second consecutive year.  Sophomore Bryley Waring repeated as all-conference and earned her first all-state award.  Senior Kaylynn Heimsoth earned all-conference honors as well.  

Macy Jones finished the golf season with six top-10 finishes, four top three finishes, and one tourney win at conference in Douglas.  Macy is a true Bulldog, she is a grinder on the golf course.  She always feels she is never playing to her capability, but that couldn't be further than the truth.  Macy sneaks her way up the leaderboard week in and week out.  Macy plays down the middle of the fairway often and usually puts herself in a position to score well.  When she is feeling it she is tough to beat.

Bryley Waring finished the golf season with five-top 10 finishes, three top three finishes, and a one tourney win in Rawlins.  She was also runner-up at conference and placed sixth at state.  Bryley flat out smashes the golf ball.  Her long game puts her in position to score every week. In fact, the average male golfer only wishes they could drive the ball as far as Bryley.  This year her overall game has come full circle.  Her iron play and short game improvement has helped put her in position to win every week.  

Lliy Nichols finished the golf season with six top-10 finishes, five top three finishes, and two tourney wins.  Lily's strengths are her mental game, iron play, course management, and short game.  Lily does not wear her emotions on her sleeve, has a silky-smooth swing, and plays the course one stroke at a time.  She takes what the course gives her and works hard to avoid a big number on any hole.  Consistency is the key to Lily's success.    

Kaylynn Heimsoth placed 10th at conference to earn all-conference and 16th at state.  Kaylynn truly ended her bulldog career on top.  She was a contributing golfer on a conference and state winning squad.  Her game has improved over the years and put her in place to earn individual honors and help her team in the process.  Kaylynn hits ball well off the tee and usually gives her self a chance to score well on most holes.  Shaving shots around the green helped her improve this year.