ROCK SPRINGS – With the new University of Wyoming Head Football Coach Craig Bohl and talk that Wyoming wrestling will face Boise State here in Rock Springs headlining the night at the Cowboy Joe fundraiser, Sweetwater County again stepped up in helping student athletes in Laramie.
New assistant Athletic Director and Cowboy Joe Club Sweetwater County Representative Tim Collins spoke about local Cowboy Joe efforts. Collins talked about Wyoming’s student athletes and said many people may not know that of the student athletes there are over 220 with grade point averages over 3.0. Of these there are 44 who carry a perfect 4.0. He said Sweetwater County has two strong representatives who not only excel on the athletic front, but also in the classroom, Garrett Zans and Andy McCulley.
As for Cowboy Joe fundraising efforts, Wyoming residents gave $2.7 million last year. During this drive, Sweetwater County residents went over the $100,000 mark. Eddie Pacheco, Leo Gray, Amy Allen, Bruce Pivic and Charlie Van Over were all honored for their efforts in raising money locally.
Before the coaches spoke, Cowboy fan for 60 years, Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar spoke. Demshar said anybody who knows him knows there are times he gets passionate about Cowboy sports.
“There are times I get so passionate my wife is embarrassed, my kids won’t talk to me,” Demshar said. “Our season tickets are right across the aisle from the coach’s wife and I would like to apologize to you Coach Bohl, in advance.”
UW Wrestling Coach Mark Brach
UW wrestling coach Mark Branch has been here several times and said he loves coming back.
“Every time I come over I am usually stuck with Coach Legerski,” Branch said. This time, they told me coach had an obligation and couldn’t go. I am thinking, finally this is my crowd and I’m taking over. Then I find out I’m coming with the new football coach.”
He did add he really thought about pulling a Joe Legerski trick out of his book while speaking. “I can throw the mic down and scream at you guys” he joked before getting down to the program.
This upcoming season, the wrestling program only loses one senior and are returning their entire varsity squad. Branch said there is a very talented group of red-shirt freshman and also incoming freshman who are ready to go.
On paper, Wyoming’s program may not have had a very good start to the year. Branch said we wrestled the No. 2, 3, 4, 6,and tenth-ranked teams and Boise State who were in the top 20. While Branch said it may not look good statistically, it was a great learning experience for the Cowboys and it will benefit them this upcoming season.
Branch said this season the team will welcome Minnesota, Oregon State and Nebraska to Laramie.
“We wanted to wrestle Boise State in Laramie, but it fell through,” Branch said. “It appears we will be wrestling them right here in Rock Springs.”
He said there are no written contracts at this point, but Boise State has agreed verbally to do this. He also added he could not think of anything bigger for senior UW grappler Andy McCulley to be able to wrestle in front of his hometown during his senior year.
While Branch joked about his office being in the Arena Auditorium which is currently being renovated and telling UW officials he has to go home early because of the dust and lung problems he is developing, he spoke about the expansion of the wrestling facility. He said the new facilities will be top of the line and will be done by the start of next season. Branch said it will be something the Wyoming fans will be proud of. He told the crowds of Cowboy Joe faithful it was they who made the expansion possible.
Overall, he said the success, the expansion and the entire program has the fans to thank.
“I am thankful to be in a place where the people care and want to see you on top and support us all the way,” Branch said.
Craig Bohl
Fresh off of spring practices and his first Brown and Gold Spring game, new football coach Craig Bohl addressed the Cowboy faithful.
“It’s great to get out and engage a state as a newcomer that when people say welcome, they really mean it,” he started.
Bohl talked about his interview with the university and how he always wanted to be a part of Wyoming. During the interview process, he was asked about how he came to achieve his success at North Dakota State. He said a person who achieves success needs to be a man who knows who they are. If a person does, good things will happen.
Bohl said he grew up in Nebraska and spent 11 years in North Dakota.
“I always wanted to be in Wyoming. I really did,” coach said as he told stories of remembering some of the Cowboy greats.
Bohl also got fired up when he said he got to Wyoming and saw all the different uniforms the Cowboys had.
“We are going back to our roots and we are wearing the brown and gold and we are going to wear it with pride,” Bohl exclaimed.
Bohl continued to explaine that, at a recent event, he told a crowd of people they were going to take those camouflaged uniforms and have a big bonfire. He joked later that night Tom Burman, athletic director, pulled him aside and said there is no way they are burning those uniforms, they would sell them but they were not burning them.
When talking about success, coach said it does not happen overnight but said he told the players, if they stayed, he promised them they will be conference champions again. He said he did not know when but Wyoming will be back on top.
“By hook or crook, we will get there,” Bohl said. “It might not be flashy, it may not be all bells and whistles but it will work. There is no silver bullet and no quick fix, but it’s a rebuilding process. I told our coaches we did not recruit this team. They did not choose us, but we choose them because everyone on this team is a good player.”
In closing, he told the crowd he was fired up and ready to get the season going.
“I want you all to jump on that bus and I will jump on that bus and we will all go to Fort Collins and kick Colorado State’s ass,” Bohl closed to a roar.
