Face masks. Hand sanitizer. Tickets from postponed highschool graduations.
Wyoming historians are on a mission to gather and protect artifacts from the COVID-19 period.
It’s a joint effort by the Wyoming State Museum and Wyoming State Archives in Cheyenne, and the American Heritage Middle on the College of Wyoming.
Advertisement
Again in 2020, the three establishments realized they didn’t have any historic collections from the 1918 flu pandemic, mentioned Jennifer Alexander, supervisor of collections for the Wyoming State Museum. They didn’t need that to occur once more.
“We wish to treatment that for the long run, and simply accumulate issues consultant of what individuals are going by way of now,” Alexander mentioned.
Over the previous two years, the teams have amassed dozens of relics. Someday, they’ll present a window again into early 2020s Wyoming, Alexander mentioned.
What counts as an artifact? Something that speaks to how folks lived at a sure time, in a sure place. That may embrace on a regular basis objects, or media comparable to paperwork, pictures and movies.
If it captures life throughout the pandemic, and it has to have some type of connection to Wyoming, it’ll most likely be a great match, Alexander mentioned.
Advertisement
“Now’s the time to gather stuff, so folks sooner or later can study from it,” she mentioned.
The organizations are importing photos, scans and movies of the artifacts to their shared web site, “COVID-19 in Wyoming.”
The positioning separates the gathering into six classes:
Advertisement
“We led it” — movies, paperwork and that present how the state responded to the pandemic;
“We tracked it” — screenshots of knowledge dashboards that saved tabs on COVID-19 circumstances in Wyoming;
“We talked about” — interviews with Wyomingites about life throughout the pandemic;
“We did it” — information protection of public occasions, from protests, to graduations and canceled rodeos;
“We made it” — masks, indicators and art work from the previous two years;
“We wrote it” — written accounts of the time;
“We noticed it” — a collection of pictures Wyomingites took across the state throughout the pandemic;
Every artifact consists of context about the place it got here from, and what it was used for.
Anna Bechdel, who teaches third grade in Cheyenne, requested her class to replicate on their experiences after colleges shut down from March 2020 to Might of that 12 months.
She donated a few of her college students’ responses to the challenge to point out what the pandemic’s been like for elementary schoolers.
“Title as many good issues you’ll be able to consider about being in quarantine these previous two months,” learn the task.
“The issues which have been enjoyable is that I will be with my household,” one pupil named Dwayne wrote. “and I can play with vidoe (sic) video games and play with my sister.”
What about a number of the challenges?
Advertisement
“The laborious issues I’ve confronted are concentrating on faculty work whereas at residence as a result of I’ve 3 youthful brothers and 1 youthful sister,” one other pupil, Reese, responded.
The state museum, archives and American Heritage Middle are additionally keen on artifacts that present how folks spent their free time throughout lockdown — issues like artwork initiatives, yoga mats or board video games, as an illustration. They haven’t gotten a lot of these but, Alexander mentioned.
There’s no deadline to donate. In case you have an artifact you wish to contribute, you will get in contact with any of the three establishments by visiting the “COVID-19 in Wyoming” web site: www.websites.google.com/wyo.gov/covidinwy/residence.
It’s a busy time of year in Wyoming high school sports with events in every corner of the state. The Cross Country season came to a close over the weekend but the rest of the remaining fall sports have a few more days to go.
We have some fantastic images to share from our state-wide contributors. We appreciate their excellent work and thanks for sharing! If you have some photos to pass along, use the WyoPreps app or email them to frank.gambino@townsquaremedia.com. Enjoy and spot somebody you recognize!
Wyoming High School Sports Pics of the Week: Oct. 24-26
Wyoming High School Sports Pics of the Week: Oct. 24-26
Gallery Credit: James Yule, Greg Wise, Tony Montoya, Dave Treick, Kellie Jo Allison, Chrissy Sanchez, Leah Powell, Ashley Jessen, Erin Hager, Bridget Truempler, Frank Gambino, Libby Ngo, Robyn Cozzens,
Wyoming Area’s Field Hockey Team stands with their medals and trophy after defeating Lake Lehman 3-2 for the District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Wyoming Area’s Lyla Rehill (7) is swarmed by her teammates after hitting the game winning coal against Lake Lehman in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Wyoming Area’s Lyla Rehill (7) nails the game winning shot past Lake Lehman’s Bella Decesaris (5) in the first overtime play in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Lake Lehman’s Avery Jacob (4) moves the ball between two Wyoming Area defenders in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Advertisement
Lake Lehman’s Sophia Lenza (2) passes the ball against Wyoming Area in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Wyoming Area’s Lyla Rehill (7) tries to move the ball around Lake Lehman’s Alexa Thompson (18) in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Wyoming Area’s Ella Ainsley Flynn (8)moves the ball down the field against Lake Lehman in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Wyoming Area’s Ella McKernan (2) and Lake Lehman’s Sara Womach (19) fight for control of the ball in Wednesday’s District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Advertisement
1 of 8
Wyoming Area’s Field Hockey Team stands with their medals and trophy after defeating Lake Lehman 3-2 for the District II Class A Field Hockey Championship at Spartan Stadium.
Expand
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.
Advertisement
“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.”
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
“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.
Advertisement
“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.”
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
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.”
Advertisement
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.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Wyoming man died following a crash on Oct. 21 near Douglas, the Wyoming Highway Patrol reported. The crash occurred at 6:45 a.m. on Ross Road, or County Route 31, about 15 miles from Douglas in Converse County.
Michael Turner, 35, was driving north in a GMC Sierra when he failed to navigate a left-hand curve. The vehicle exited the roadway and struck the front of a parked Kenworth commercial truck.
A Wyoming Highway Patrol report states that Turner was not wearing a seat belt. Road conditions were dry and weather was clear, and driver inattention is being considered a possible contributing factor.
No additional injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were involved. The WHP continues to investigate the incident.
Advertisement
This story contains preliminary information as provided by the Wyoming Highway Patrol via the Wyoming Department of Transportation Fatal Crash Summary map. The information may be subject to change.