LARAMIE — Wyoming, for now, has lost a dozen players this offseason to the transfer portal.

Dylan Warlick, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound incoming freshman at the forward spot, is the latest to enter free agency, announcing his decision Thursday night on social media.

“First, I would like to thank the University of Wyoming and the entire coaching staff for believing in me and giving me the chance to play the sport I love,” the Edmond, Okla., product penned on X, formerly Twitter. “With the recent departure of coach Linder, I have requested a release from my NLI and will be reopening my recruitment.”

The first wave of transfers came almost immediately following a one-and-done showing at the Mountain West Tournament.

Six, including potential faces-of-the-franchise Cam Manyawu and Keal Combs, announced their intentions to leave Laramie. Brendan Wenzel, a graduate transfer, bolted, too. So did Caden Powell, Jacob Theodosiou and Jonas Sirtautas.

For the second straight offseason, Jeff Linder was tasked with a near complete rebuild. That appeared to be going smoothly.

Wyoming’s fourth-year head coach snagged guards Obi Agbim, Tyree Ihenacho and Matija Belic. He then added a pair of big men out of the portal, too, in Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams and Touko Tainamo.

Four incoming freshmen were also inbound. That list featured guards Oliver Faubert, Dominic Pagonis and Jehvion Starwood, along with Warlick in the frontcourt.

Boy, have things changed.

News broke on May 9 that Linder would be leaving to become a top assistant on Grant McCasland’s staff at Texas Tech. Those two worked together once before in west Texas, coaching at Midland College from 2006-08.

Linder capped his tenure on the high plains with a 63-59 overall record. He led the Cowboys to an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament in 2022. They lost to Indiana in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.

With Linder’s departure came another mad dash to the portal.

Agbim hit the bricks. So did Ihenacho and Yamanouchi-Williams. Faubert and Pagonis also intend to play elsewhere. Now, so does Warlick, who was ranked the second-best recruit in the state of Oklahoma by 247sports.com. He helped lead Edmond North High School to consecutive state championships, averaging more than 20 points as a sophomore and 15.1 during his junior campaign.

Davidson, San Jose State, South Alabama and Abilene Christian all offered the 3-star prospect. Wyoming sealed the deal last November.

“We can’t wait to add Dylan Warlick to the Cowboy family,” Linder said in a prepared statement on national signing day. “Dylan has been on our radar for some time after a great underclassman career in Oklahoma high school basketball. Having won multiple state championships at Edmond North High School, in the highest classification in Oklahoma, we knew there was something special about his will to win and ability to effect winning. Two traits that cannot be discounted.

“We loved his ability to elevate not only himself but his teammates and program as well. Dylan also had much success on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Griffin, where he competed at an elite level, game-in and game-out. Dylan brings a combination of toughness and skill to the wing position. He’s an exceptional scorer in the post and has a relentless mindset to rebound. His size and athleticism allow him to defend multiple positions and bring versatility to that end of the floor. We can’t wait for Dylan to bring his winning edge to Laramie in 2024.”

Or so we thought.

Warlick is the first player to announce his intentions to transfer since Sundance Wicks was officially hired May 12 as the 23rd head coach in Wyoming basketball history.

Here’s what Wyoming’s basketball roster looks like today:

F – Touko Tainamo (Denver)

G – Matija Belic (UC-Santa Barbara)

G – Jehvion Starwood *

F – Oleg Kojenets **

G – Kobe Newton **

G – Nigle Cook **

G – Levi Brown #

G – Cort Roberson #

* True freshman

* Returner

# Walk-on

Division-I programs are allowed up to 13 full-ride players on the roster. Wyoming now has seven available scholarships.

Wyoming’s current coaching staff, according to gowyo.com, includes:

Head coach – Sundance Wicks

Assistant – Nic Reynolds

Assistant – Nick Whitmore

Assistant – Shaun Vandiver

Assistant/ Director of Operations – Tim O’Flannigan

These are the players who have left the program since the conclusion of the 2023-24 season:

G – Brendan Wenzel (TCU)

G – Kael Combs (Drake)

F – Cam Manyawu (Drake)

G – Jacob Theodosiou (Loyola)

F – Jonas Sirtautas (Radford)

F – Caden Powell (Rice)

G – Tyree Ihenacho

G – Obi Agbim

G – Oliver Faubert

G – Dominic Pangonis

F – Yuto Yamanouchi-Williams

F – Dylan Warlick

UW: University of Wyoming Cowboys’ Greatest Games From the First Decade of the 2000’s

The 2024 Wyoming High School Softball State Championships began on Thursday with four first-round games. The East Conference swept the West Conference for the fourth straight year. Campbell County, Thunder Basin, Cheyenne East, and Laramie advanced in the winner’s bracket. Green River, Natrona County, Rock Springs, and Cody fell into the loser’s bracket.

Campbell County scored 7 runs in the first inning highlighted by an Avery Gray home run and rolled past Green River 16-1. Gray and two relief pitchers combined on a no-hitter. Cheyenne East outlasted Rock Springs, 11-7. Rylee Stephenson led the T-Birds with three hits & 4 RBIs. Laramie scored 2 runs on an RBI hit from Rachel Dean with 2 outs in the top of the 7th inning to beat Cody. The final was 6-5. Thunder Basin jumped out 8-0 on Natrona County, but the Fillies rallied within 8-7 after a 5-run 6th inning. The Bolts held on for a 9-7 victory. Natalie Clonch had 3 hits, including 1 home run, & 4 RBIs.

Day 2 has 8 games on the schedule. All but 3 teams will be eliminated. The first games are Campbell County against Cheyenne East and Thunder Basin vs. Laramie at 10 a.m. The first elimination games have Green River facing Rock Springs and Cody taking on Natrona County at noon.

We have some photos from Day 1 of the state tournament. We thank Carlee Howe for helping us with some of the pictures. Enjoy!

It is State Championship week for Wyoming High School soccer. The season’s culminating event will be in Green River and Rock Springs on May 16-18, 2024. Four teams will earn a state championship by the end of Saturday. Class 3A matches are at the turf fields at Green River High School and Lincoln Middle School. Turf fields at Rock Springs High School and Rock Springs Junior High are being utilized to host 4A matches for the three-day event.

The defending champions are the Cody girls and Worland boys in Class 3A, and the Kelly Walsh girls and Thunder Basin boys in Class 4A.

2024 WYOMING HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, MAY 16:

Final Score: (3W) Powell 3 (2E) Worland 1

Final Score: (1W) Cody 7 (4E) Rawlins 0

Final Score: (2W) Lander 3 (3E) Buffalo 1 – OT

Final Score: (1E) Douglas 6 (4W) Green River 0

FRIDAY, MAY 17:

Game 5: Worland vs. Rawlins, 9 a.m. (GRHS) – the loser is eliminated

Game 6: Buffalo vs. Green River, 9 a.m. (Lincoln MS) – the loser is eliminated

Game 7: Powell vs. Cody, 2 p.m. (GRHS) – semifinal

Game 8: Lander vs. Douglas, 2 p.m. (Lincoln MS) – semifinal

SATURDAY, MAY 18:

Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (GRHS) – Consolation Trophy Game

Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 9 a.m. (Lincoln MS) – 3rd Place Game

Game 11: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 1 p.m. (Lincoln MS) – Championship Game

THURSDAY, MAY 16:

Final Score: (3W) Riverton 2 (2E) Thunder Basin 1

Final Score: (1W) Jackson 3 (4E) Cheyenne East 2

Final Score: (2W) Kelly Walsh 4 (3E) Campbell County 3

Final Score: (1E) Laramie 7 (4W) Natrona County 0

FRIDAY, MAY 17:

Game 5: Thunder Basin vs. Cheyenne East, 9 a.m. (RSJH) – the loser is eliminated

Game 6: Campbell County vs. Natrona County, 9 a.m. (RSHS) – the loser is eliminated

Game 7: Riverton vs. Jackson, 2 p.m. (RSJH) – semifinal

Game 8: Kelly Walsh vs. Laramie, 2 p.m. (RSHS) – semifinal

SATURDAY, MAY 18:

Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 9 a.m. (RSJH) – Consolation Trophy Game

Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 9 a.m. (RSHS) – 3rd Place Game

Game 11: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 1 p.m. (RSHS) – Championship Game

THURSDAY, MAY 16:

Final Score: (3W) Lander 4 (2E) Worland 3 [Tigers win the SO, 5-4]

Final Score: (1W) Cody 6 (4E) Douglas 0

Final Score: (2W) Green River 2 (3E) Buffalo 1

Final Score: (1E) Torrington 4 (4W) Powell 1

FRIDAY, MAY 17:

Game 5: Worland vs. Douglas, 11 a.m. (GRHS) – the loser is eliminated

Game 6: Buffalo vs. Powell, 11 a.m. (Lincoln MS) – the loser is eliminated

Game 7: Lander vs. Cody, 4 p.m. (GRHS) – semifinal

Game 8: Green River vs. Torrington, 4 p.m. (Lincoln MS) – semifinal

SATURDAY, MAY 18:

Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 11 a.m. (GRHS) – Consolation Trophy Game

Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 11 a.m. (Lincoln MS) – 3rd Place Game

Game 11: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 3 p.m. (Lincoln MS) – Championship Game

THURSDAY, MAY 16:

Final Score: (2E) Sheridan 1 (3W) Rock Springs 0

Final Score: (1W) Jackson 4 (4E) Cheyenne East 0

Final Score: (2W) Kelly Walsh 7 (3E) Thunder Basin 0

Final Score: (1E) Cheyenne Central 3 (4W) Natrona County 1

FRIDAY, MAY 17:

Game 5: Rock Springs vs. Cheyenne East, 11 a.m. (RSJH) – the loser is eliminated

Game 6: Thunder Basin vs. Natrona County, 11 a.m. (RSHS) – the loser is eliminated

Game 7: Sheridan vs. Jackson, 4 p.m. (RSJH) – semifinal

Game 8: Kelly Walsh vs. Cheyenne Central, 4 p.m. (RSHS) – semifinal

SATURDAY, MAY 18:

Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 11 a.m. (RSJH) – Consolation Trophy Game

Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 11 a.m. (RSHS) – 3rd Place Game

Game 11: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 3 p.m. (RSHS) – Championship Game