Wyoming
D2 FIELD HOCKEY: Rehill scores in OT, clinches Class 1A title for Wyoming Area
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KINGSTON — There was perhaps no other way it could have ended for Wyoming Area.
Lyla Rehill netted a goal in overtime to push Wyoming Area past Lake-Lehman, 3-2, victory at Wyoming Valley West on Wednesday, clinching the District 2 Class 1A championship and wiping away the pain of the past.
“There’s no better victory than a victory with sudden death,” Rehill said. “It feels great.”
During a Warriors penalty corner, Rehill received a pass from Lucia Campenni. The Wyoming Area senior made a move with her stick, beat a defender laterally and whipped the ball into the net.
Coach Bree Bednarski called the eventual game-winning corner play in the team huddle before the overtime period began.
“We knew, if we ended up with a corner, to go with that one,” Bednarski said. “We all trust Lyla. She has great hands in there.
“We just wanted her to make something happen and she did.”
It wasn’t an easy road for Wyoming Area.
Lake-Lehman built a two-goal lead, beginning with a score from senior Bella DeCesaris.
DeCesaris took advantage of the Black Knights’ first penalty corner opportunity, receiving a pass from Sage Morgan and turning it into a 1-0 lead with 9:52 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, both teams aggressively pursued possession in the center of the field. Neither team definitively gained much ground, forcing DeCesaris to take matters into her own hands.
Lake-Lehman drew a foul and DeCesaris quickly restarted play, finding Alexa Thompson on a long pass that switched the field. Thompson, a sophomore, sent a bouncing shot inside the far post to put her team up, 2-0.
Although their number of set pieces was much lower than their opponent’s, the Black Knights were efficient with their opportunities. Lake-Lehman drew just two corners, compared to Wyoming Area’s 19, and converted their only two shots into goals.
“They’ve come so far. When we think of how we played in August and how we’re playing now, we have traveled far and wide,” Lake-Lehman coach Jean Lipski said.
With its season on the line, Wyoming Area came out of the halftime break with a newfound fervor.
The Warriors drew nine penalty corners — many of which came in the aftermath of previous corners — allowing them to keep a constant presence in the opposing penalty circle.
Finally, Ainsley Flynn capitalized off an assist from Campenni, scoring Wyoming Area’s first goal with just 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
“We just had to hope that eventually one of them would trickle in and work out for us,” Bednarski said. “It was us trying to focus on: what are our options? What’s open? We’re so thankful that they got it going.”
Lake-Lehman began the fourth quarter shorthanded, after it picked up a yellow card late in the third quarter. The Black Knights saw two yellow cards and a green card over the course of the match.
“It’s very difficult when one player is off the field for 12 minutes,” Lipski said. “That’s hard, but we knew it was going to be a battle.”
The penalty corner opportunities continued to work in the Warriors’ favor, as Campenni redirected a cross from Flynn and scored an equalizer for her team with 11:19 remaining in regulation.
“We practice a lot with crossing balls,” Campenni said. “I always practice being on the post, so it felt good to finally be there and get it.
“I didn’t care if I scored. Anyone could’ve scored it. It just meant so much to tie the game up.”
Wyoming Area was dealt a green card late in the fourth quarter, forcing it to enter overtime shorthanded. However, shortly after they returned to full-strength, the Warriors drew a penalty corner.
Almost a year to the day from its overtime heartbreaker against Lackawanna Trail in the district final, Rehill scored to etch this Wyoming Area squad into the record books.
“We were down, 2-0, and we just didn’t let it get to us,” Campenni said. “Last year, when we got scored on, we spiraled down. This year, we (felt) like we have nothing to lose now.
“Today was about avenging that loss.”
It was an emotional scene following the final whistle, tears of joy and relief, and disappointment and frustration, were shed all around the field.
As their teams lined up for the medal ceremony, Rehill and Lake-Lehman senior Sophia Lenza shared an emotional hug by the team benches. After collecting themselves, they walked arm-in-arm to join their teams.
“It’s an experience much more than just the field hockey game. We become a family and that’s why this hurts so much,” Lipski said. “We wanted to play into November. We wanted to be together, so that’s hard.
“I’m having trouble finding words now, usually not hard for me.”
With the win, Wyoming Area clinched a spot in the PIAA tournament, but it also clinched the first undefeated regular season in program history.
The team finished 16-0 in the regular season, before winning both of its district playoff games.
“It’s a great achievement for the girls. I’m so proud of them,” Bednarski said. “They were the ones working out on the field, everyone on the sidelines; the energy was there. I’m just so happy for them.”
Next, the Warriors’ attention will shift to the state playoffs, where they will aim to continue their winning ways.
Wyoming Area’s first-round matchup will be played Tuesday, though its opponent has not yet been announced.
“To know that only one team gets to come from out of this great district, it means so much,” Campenni said. “We proved we can play with the big dogs, even though we’re just some small public school from Pennsylvania.”
First: DeCesaris (LL) from Morgan, 9:52; Second: Thompson (LL) from DeCesaris, 1:16; Third: Flynn (WA), 0:25; Fourth: Campenni (WA) from Flynn, 11:19; Overtime: Rehill (WA) from Campenni, 8:40; Shots-corners: WA 7-19, LL 2-2; Saves: Muniz (WA) 0, Sorber (LL) 4.
Originally Published:
A pair of bills signed into law last week aim to build out a more comprehensive system of literacy education across Wyoming’s public schools.
One mandates evidence-based practices and requires regular screenings for dyslexia, while the other enables the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to hire a dedicated literacy professional to oversee statewide compliance.
Gov. Mark Gordon’s signing of both bills on Friday was the latest accomplishment of an ongoing push for improved literacy standards. That push has been spearheaded by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.
“Wyoming is not going to let a single child fall through the cracks,” Degenfelder said during a public bill signing last week. “We are not going to fall behind when it comes to ensuring that our children can read at grade level.”
The primary bill, Senate File 59, establishes a statewide K-12 program for teaching students to read that is built on “evidence based language and literacy instruction, assessment, intervention and professional development that supports educators, engages families and promotes literacy proficiency for all Wyoming students.”
The bill defines evidence-based strategies as those that conform to the science of reading, a term that will be defined and updated by Degenfelder’s office. Nationwide, it generally means putting academic research into practice in classrooms. SF 59 specifically prohibits the exclusive use of “three-cueing” — a strategy once widely employed to teach reading but which education experts now say is outdated and less effective than other strategies.
It also requires annual dyslexia screeners for students below the third grade, and testing for reading difficulties for all students.
The screeners are used to identify the severity of reading difficulties in order to direct “tiered” support that offers the most intensive interventions to the students most in need, while still providing “evidence based” language instruction to all students.
Each school district must formulate an individualized reading plan “for each student identified as having reading difficulties or at risk for poor reading outcomes.”
Districts must now report to the state annually regarding their literacy-related work. Any district where 60% or more of the students are struggling will be required to implement “summer literacy camps or extended supports, including after school support and tutoring.”
The bill also requires literacy related professional development for teachers and specialists “appropriate to their role and level of responsibility” related to literacy education.
SF 59 was backed by dyslexia advocates and literacy specialists.
Senate File 14, the other literacy bill signed into law Friday, appropriates $120,000 annually for the next two years for a full-time position at WDE “to assist school districts in implementing a reading assessment and intervention program and language and literacy programs.”
Both bills go into effect July 1.
LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming and the Mountain West Conference announced the Cowboys’ 2026 football schedule Monday, a slate that opens with the Border War and concludes with back-to-back home games in Laramie.
Wyoming opens the season Sept. 5 on the road against Colorado State in the 118th edition of the Border War. The Cowboys then host Northern Colorado on Sept. 12 in the home opener before traveling to Central Michigan on Sept. 19.
The Cowboys begin Mountain West play Sept. 26 at home against Hawaii in a matchup for the Paniolo Trophy. Wyoming then faces back-to-back road games at North Dakota State on Oct. 3 and San Jose State on Oct. 10.
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Wyoming returns to War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17 to host conference newcomer Northern Illinois before facing Air Force at home on Oct. 24. The Cowboys will have an open week on Oct. 31.
The Cowboys open November with road games at UNLV on Nov. 7 and at UTEP on Nov. 14, marking Wyoming’s first meeting with the Miners as members of the Mountain West. Wyoming closes conference play by hosting New Mexico on Nov. 21 and wraps up the regular season with a nonconference game against UConn on Nov. 28 in Laramie.
Each Mountain West team will play four home and four road conference games during the 13-week season, which will conclude with the Mountain West Football Championship Game featuring the two teams with the highest conference winning percentages. The championship game date will be announced later.
With the conference schedule set, Mountain West television partners CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW will begin selecting broadcast games, which could include moving some contests to non-Saturday dates. Network assignments and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.
Season ticket renewals for the 2026 Wyoming football season are now available. Fans can renew their tickets online by visiting gowyo.com/tickets and logging into their account.
The 2026 Wyoming prep girls’ basketball season is nearly done. Two state champions were crowned in Classes 1A and 2A last Saturday. Southeast won the 1A title for the third consecutive season, and Sundance won the 2A title for the first time in eight years. Class 3A and 4A held their regional tournaments, which qualified teams for the state tournament later this week in Casper.
WYOPREPS WEEK 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL STANDINGS 2026
These are the girls’ basketball team records for all games played through March 7, 2026. For all but 16 teams, this is the final record of the season. Those squads will play in the 3A-4A state tournament starting on Thursday in Casper.
1A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Burlington 24-5, 8-0
Riverside 14-10, 6-2
Dubois 11-10, 4-4
St. Stephens 3-16, 1-7
Meeteetse 1-20, 1-7
1A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Cokeville 23-4, 10-0
Little Snake River 23-4, 8-2
Farson-Eden 16-12, 5-5
Saratoga 13-11, 5-5
Ft. Washakie 8-13, 2-8
Encampment 3-19, 0-10
1A Northeast: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Upton 16-7, 10-0
Kaycee 13-12, 7-3
Hulett 12-13, 7-3
Arvada-Clearmont 9-12, 4-6
Casper Christian 4-13, 2-8
Midwest 1-16, 0-10
1A Southeast: (Overall Record, followed by Reg. Season Points)
Southeast 24-5, 40 points
Lingle-Ft. Laramie 17-11, 31 points
Lusk 15-13, 26 points
H.E.M. 13-11, 24 points
Rock River 6-14, 12 points
Guernsey-Sunrise 2-18, 4 points
2A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Thermopolis 16-13, 5-1
Greybull 16-15, 4-2
Rocky Mountain 9-17, 2-4
Shoshoni 11-18, 1-5
2A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Wyoming Indian 23-7, 6-0
Big Piney 8-16, 4-2
Kemmerer 2-21, 1-5
Wind River 2-23, 1-5
2A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Sundance 23-4, 5-0
Big Horn 21-6, 4-1
Tongue River 18-11, 3-2
Pine Bluffs 17-12, 2-3
Moorcroft 7-18, 1-4
Wright 3-23, 0-5
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3A West: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Cody 24-0, 10-0
Lander 21-4, 9-1
Pinedale 20-5, 7-3
Powell 16-9, 6-4
Lovell 16-10, 4-6
Worland 9-16, 2-8
Lyman 10-11, 2-8
Mountain View 4-19, 0-10
3A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Wheatland 22-4, 10-0
Buffalo 13-11, 8-2
Douglas 14-11, 6-4
Burns 16-13, 5-5
Torrington 10-11, 5-5
Glenrock 12-13, 3-7
Newcastle 1-22, 1-9
Rawlins 2-21, 0-10
4A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Green River 23-2, 6-0
Natrona County 9-16, 4-2
Kelly Walsh 8-15, 2-4
Rock Springs 5-20, 0-6
4A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Star Valley 16-7, 5-1
Evanston 16-10, 5-1
Riverton 7-19, 1-5
Jackson 3-19, 1-5
4A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Cheyenne East 21-3, 11-1
Cheyenne Central 16-9, 10-2
Sheridan 14-10, 7-5
Thunder Basin 14-10, 6-6
Laramie 12-11, 6-6
Campbell County 1-19, 1-10
Cheyenne South 1-21, 0-11
*The second Campbell County-Cheyenne South girls’ game was canceled.
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