Albany County changes course on fairgrounds grandstand

Albany County commissioners earlier this week approved a new purchasing approach for rebuilding the fairgrounds grandstand, giving authorization for County Engineer Jake Schneider to pursue cooperative purchasing and separate contracts with a maximum project price of $2,893,450. The board rejected the only design-build proposal, which was submitted by Capital Builders of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, as it was nonresponsive. Schneider said the proposal lacked a required 5% bid bond and other requested information, raising concerns about completing the grandstand in time for next July’s Laramie Jubilee Days. Fairgrounds grandstand Schneider proposed having the county take a much more direct role in managing the project instead of awarding the entire rebuild to a singular general contractor. Under that approach, the county would purchase bleachers through a cooperative purchasing agreement and seek bids for other work, including underground electrical, water and utility components. Schneider would oversee the schedule. Several prospective bidders attended the pre-bid meeting, but only Capital Builders submitted a proposal. Schneider said he could not say definitively why the others declined to bid. Commissioner Thad Hoff questioned whether the county should postpone the project for a year rather than risk demolishing the existing grandstand without having replacements ready. Schneider said

Wyoming High School Football State Championships 2026 By the Numbers

Ten teams, one stadium in Laramie, and a whole lot of numbers. Star Valley chasing five straight, Pine Bluffs three. Championship weekend is here.

FAA Orders: Wyoming Football Team Grounded

Team was scheduled to depart Laramie Friday at 3 p.m.

NCHS takes 2026 championship with 28-13 win over Cheyenne East in Laramie

LARAMIE, Wyo. –– The Natrona County High School Mustangs wrapped up their undefeated 2026 season with a 28-13 win over Cheyenne East on Saturday during the 4A Wyoming High School State Football Championships at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. The win also likely marks the end of Steve...

2026 Wyoming State Football Championships

LARAMIE, Wyo. — The 2026 high school football season has come to an end with all five classes' state championships hosted in Laramie on Friday and Saturday. With state championship records set, droughts broken and consecutive titles won, it was an action-packed two days at War Memorial Stadium. Class...

FINAL LIVE FILE: Wyoming Cowboys 27, UTEP Miners 15

Visitors win fifth straight, sit all alone atop Mountain West standings

Wyoming QB Landon Sims 'ready for the opportunity' to start against UTEP

LARAMIE — Landon Sims was primed to take over under center for the University of Wyoming last fall. The junior quarterback replaced starter Kaden Anderson during a road game against San Diego State last November. Sims had 52 rushing yards and a touchdown pass before exiting the game with a season-ending knee injury. The Evergreen, Alabama, native tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee for the third time in his career. Sims returned during spring practice is now in position to lead the Cowboys’ offense again following an injury to starting quarterback Tyler Hughes. UW (6-3 overall, 5-1 Mountain West) puts its four-game winning streak on the line at Texas-El Paso (1-8, 0-5) at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Cowboys haven’t won five consecutive games since 2016, which is the only season they’ve played in the MW championship game. Hughes was officially ruled out for this weekend on UW’s initial availability report Thursday. Third-year head coach Jay Sawvel said Monday the quarterback fractured a bone in his right forearm, which is his throwing arm. Sims was 2-of-6 for 25 yards and a touchdown with an interception after taking over for Hughes last weekend against UNLV. “I’m definitely ready for

Huskies defeat Little Snake River at home

Another big win for the Huskies has secured their spot in the State Championship game in Laramie this weekend. Little Snake River has been a constant rival for Burlington. They showed up once again to play. “Little Snake is a program that I have a lot of respect for,” said Coach Trent Aagard. “We have been through some big battles over the years. Coming into this game, they were still the champs. It is never easy to beat a champion, but I’m pleased with the way we came out and competed. There was a lot on the line, and I liked the way we came out early and played.”

Brown kicks Braves to fifth straight title in 16-13 win over Cody

The Star Valley Braves outlasted the Cody Broncs in a tight 16-13 final score to claim their fifth straight Wyoming 3A state football championship on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. It is the 13th straight season that either the Braves or the Broncs have won the championship and the fifth straight where Star Valley prevailed over Cody. It’s also the ninth straight win in the series for the Braves but it’s been far from easy with the last three contests overall decided by a combined nine points.

Defense, special teams power Star Valley to 5th consecutive state title

LARAMIE — McKay Young was supremely confident his team’s game-winning field goal attempt was going to split the uprights. But even the most confident of coaches still wants to give their kicker a little help. That’s why the Star Valley coach called a hard count, knowing he had a timeout in his back pocket on fourth down at Cody’s 10-yard line. The call worked and turned a 27-yard attempt for kicker Owen Brown into a 22-yard attempt. Brown returned the favor, drilling the attempt with 26 seconds remaining to push Star Valley to its fifth consecutive Class 3A state championship with a 16-13 win over Cody on Friday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. “Everyone had their confidence in me that I could make it, and I had to have confidence in myself that I could do it,” Brown said. “We pulled through and it went in. … It was a lot of excitement and everyone was really happy for me.” Ross Hilton, Class 3A’s leading passer, led the Braves through the air with 161 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-28 passing. Travis Thomson finished the game with 20 touches (nine rushing, 11 receiving) for 113 yards. But it was

Panthers head back to 2A title game

It was a season that promised a lot of success as a senior-laden and experienced Cokeville Panther squad delivered in 2026. CHS used their dominant run game to pull away from the visiting Mountain View Buffalos to secure their spot in the Wyoming 2A title game this Friday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. It was the second one-sided win over Mountain View this season for the Panthers who defeated the Buffs in conference play 41-0.

UTEP's Raymond Moore III breaks free for 80-yard touchdown run, giving Miners lead over Wyoming

RAMS ROLL: Big Horn routs Cokeville in Wyoming 2A final

LARAMIE — Kirk McLaughlin knew it was coming. He ducked, dodged, tip-toed across the sideline and tried to evade the inevitable — a splash of ice-cold water straight to the back. Then, the Big Horn football coach displayed a permanent smile. He doesn’t mind the celebratory water cooler shower. It never gets old, he said. Twenty-four unanswered points powered the unbeaten Rams to a 31-7 win over Cokeville in the Wyoming Class 2A state football final Friday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. “They hit me in the head, and I am soaked on the backside, but the emotions and the hugs and stuff keep me pretty warm,” McLaughlin said. McLaughlin snagged his third state title in the past five years. He stood on the same field 366 days ago and consoled his heartbroken crew after a three-point state final loss against Mountain View. Big Horn (11-0) senior quarterback Tucker Wulff steered the comeback with two touchdowns while going 16-of-26 for 190 yards. He sealed the scoring on a 32-yard strike to Caden Alexander with 7 minutes, 47 seconds left in the game. “It is sweet to go out like this,” Wulff said. “I have been with these seniors

Wyoming Basketball Teams Prepare for Road Rivalries

LARAMIE — The Wyoming basketball teams will face familiar opponents on the road this weekend, with the Cowgirls visiting Border War rival Colorado State on Friday and the Cowboys traveling to Denver on Saturday. Friday’s Cowgirls game in Fort Collins will air on YouTube’s Pac-12 channel and the Cowgirl...

Pokes Insider: Lessons from Chapel Hill

LARAMIE – The Cowboys competed the way Sundance Wicks wanted them to. Wyoming out-rebounded North Carolina 43-37, including a 19-10 edge on the offensive glass, during Tuesday's 76-63 loss at the Dean E. Smith Center. UW's third-year head coach said there might have been too much adrenaline flowing through...

Wyoming Wrestling Falls at No. 3 Nebraska, 28-9

Branch: 'We saw a lot of top-ranked guys, and we fought'

UW and CSU Border War to pause for 2027 season after 81 consecutive years

CASPER, Wyo. –– A decades-long tradition between the University of Wyoming and Colorado State University appears to be heading for a hiatus in the upcoming season. According to a report from the Coloradoan, the traditional fight for the “Bronze Boot” will not be played in the 2027 season after a consecutive run of 81 seasons. The previous break took place during WWII, they said.

Joe Jensen Signs a Pair of Golfers on National Signing Day

LARAMIE, Wyoming (11/12/26) – University of Wyoming men's golf head coach Joe Jensen signed two future Cowboys during National Signing Day on Wednesday. Alex Escamilla and Tate Nichols will compete for the Pokes beginning in 2027-28. "We love hard-working kids," Jensen said. "When we've played well, that's the type of kids we've had. They are hardworking, athletic and tough. Both kids are excellent students. These two guys will come in and allow me to coach them hard and push them. I'm really excited for them to come in and battle for an opportunity to play right away."

Humbled at Hamilton, DU Drops opener to Wyoming, 76-53

Ice cold shooting and a leaky defense led to a runaway rout by Wyoming at Hamilton Gym. It didn’t help that DU’s Carson Johnson struggled all game long and Wyoming was deadly in the paint, performed rim rattling dunks and hammered home threes from distance. It-was-not-pretty. It was...