Classic Pot and Kettle

I was hoping to quietly turn off the lights behind me as I crept out of the room, but when the recent past Booster President, Citizen of the Year, Frannie Rogers makes a request you oblige.  However, I noticed that if you ignore the specifics of her text below, the spirit of it could apply to a lot of other people out there.  There are myriad past and present team moms, team photographers and reporters, underpaid coaches, overworked school staff, concession volunteers, and Booster Board members that fit this bill just as well and likely even more so than I.  So if you're in the above group or some other type of unlisted, unnoticed, unthanked, 20 percent-er then consider this just as much about you and read this with a knowing smirk on your face and a warm sense of appreciation in your heart.

From Frannie Rogers:

Bon Voyage Jason! Thank you Jason Miller for everything you did to make the Wyoming Round Up Blog a huge success. For the past four years you have worked diligently to keep us abreast of all the in's and out's plus comings and goings of Wyoming Athletics and community events. Jason started his tireless mission of blog entries in September 2012 and did his final post in June 2016. He will forever be remembered for his professionalism, time, effort, energy and most importantly his humorous postings in which he engaged and entertained his audience. Many Wyoming sporting events were highlighted throughout his tenure as editor and chief of the blog. His determination and effective communication kept us all up to speed on the latest results, highlights and happenings around town. His true commitment for the love of the game was evident and he and his blog will be missed. Thank you Jason for your four years of service and dedication to Wyoming Round Up. Hats off, You will be missed!

Farewell

Since 2009, the Booster's Round Up blog has been bringing you the great news about our Wyoming athletes.  This role will now be will be covered by the new Athletics website (coming soon).  

Just because I won't be around to cajole you into helping the cause, doesn't mean there isn't still a need for your help.  The Booster's will still need you to add your time and talents to help improve the athletic experience for our Cowboys, and the new website will still need content.

I don't think I can list any names in a thank you as I'm sure I'd miss a few and I don't want to make any regular contributor feel forgotten.

Therefore thanks to all who've read and especially to all who've contributed.

Thank You Kindly

This has been a busy week for me at my secret identity day job at the Daily Planet and I may have missed a few Thank You's to our contributors.  

We've had a great week with lots of stories and pictures submitted for Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, Middle School Volleyball, Varsity Volleyball, Boys Golf, Rec Center Wrestling, and Football.  

THANK YOU, TEAM

What a great team of Cowboy Contributors we have.  

Don't see your team on this list?  

JOIN THE TEAM!

There's always room on the roster for your stories and pictures.

Photo thanks to Rod Apfelbeck

Thank You

I am not a researcher or investigative journalist, nor do I play one on TV.  I am more like a compiler.  This means the great stuff you see in the Round Up was sent in by someone awesome, someone just like you.  Taking this further, it also means if there's something you don't see in the Round Up it's because you haven't sent it in.  

Since being the compiler is such a super-cush job, I have free time on my hands to take up a day job.  Occasionally my day job forgets that it's not more important than highlighting Wyoming's athletes and tries to monopolize my time.  This has been one of those weeks.  

So if you are a contributor and I forgot to thank you personally this week, , please accept my apology and this public THANK YOU!!

And if you aren't a contributor, why not?

This is the Millionth Post

It's not really the millionth post, but it is a milestone.  

This is the 4,000th post.  

The Wyoming Athletic Boosters and my editorial predecessors deserve most of the credit for making the Round Up a success.  I'll give the rest of the credit to you - the parents, coaches, and athletes who take the time to submit the stories and pictures that make the Round Up great.
THANK YOU!

The stories don't write themselves, and it's obvious I'm too lazy to write them myself.  If you're team has been featured regularly in the Round Up please take the time to thank those who volunteered their time to make it happen.  If you've downloaded one of the pictures of your loved one in action, (or one of yourself for the student athletes), please make an effort to thank the photographers who were there to capture the moment.

If your team wasn't regularly featured, please consider being the one who will step up next time to bring in the stories or pictures for us to share.

With the Winter Season now getting underway, here's your chance to be the one who shines the spotlight on your team.  It won't happen without YOU!  It would be great to see every team represented here.  Every meaning Middle School, JV, as well as Varsity.

Can't spell?   Don't know what an adverb is?  It doesn't matter.  We can keep you anonymous and just sign all of your reports with the name of a High School English teacher.

Straight Sets of Superb Service

From AD Jan Wilking

Congratulations, thank you and happy coaching retirement to our head boys’ tennis coach, Ted Plattenburg.  Coach Plattenburg became the middle school tennis coach in 2006 and varsity head coach in 2010.  Some of Ted’s coaching highlights include:

2006-2009 the MS boys went undefeated

2009 the Varsity boys finished 2nd in state (losing to Columbus Academy) in state finals

Since 2009, the varsity boys have been ranked in the top-10 in the state polls (6 years running) from #2 to # 9.

In 4 out of the last six years, we have qualified 7 individual players to state tourney including 2 #3 place finishers

Wyoming is the only team to have taken the CHL tennis title from Indian Hill (2009 and 2014) since the beginning of the CHL in 1985.

 Again, thanks Coach for your dedication to the Wyoming tennis program!

We Make it Published; You Make it Great

When you look at the Round-Up, you see a sleek, shiny, well-oiled machine churning out the good news about our Cowboy athletes.  What you don't see is that under the hood of that well-oiled machine is the frazzled hamster running as fast as he can to keep the big wheel spinning.  It wouldn't be possible without the contributions of the many other regular civilians who take time out of their own busy schedules to take and process gazillions of pictures, compile endless stats and write colorful reports for the games, and keep us up to date with the honors and awards that heap up on our current Cowboy crop as well as the Cowboys of both tomorrow and yesteryear.

So to every student, every athlete, every Crazy, every parent, every coach, every administrator who takes the time to make the Round-Up great by contributing news, words, and pictures:

THANK YOU

If you're feeling like you'd like to be one of the ones being thanked, consider contributing the Round-Up.  You don't even have to wait until the Fall. There are plenty of Wyoming Rec sports happening now as well as upcoming Cowboy sports camps and open fields.  Let us know what's happening out there.

I know, I know - two pictures of three of our contributing photographers but no pictures of the other unsung heroes who provide the Round-Up with the great game and team reports.  What can I say?  I have a compulsion to take pictures of people taking pictures.  Besides, I'm trying to protect everyone from the weirdos out there on the inter-web.  It's no coincidence that our contributors are the most beautiful people.  Isn't there a link between beauty on the inside (you know, like being a self-less contributor) being manifested by beauty on the outside?  At least with the photos of photographers with photographic equipment in front of their faces there is a level of anonymity.  Not so much with the writers, a pencil behind the ear won't mask your true wonderful identity.  You're welcome.

King of the Court

I don't make it to many sporting events.  During the past year and half, in the line of Round-Up duty,  I have been asked to help cover a few Senior Night events - Girls' Soccer and Girls' Basketball.  As a relatively unbiased, casual observer, one thing is obvious.  Jeff King is a much loved, local living legend.  For a deeper appreciation of what Mr. King does though, one of the parents filled us in on what the casual observer doesn't see.  Jeff is "at the announcer’s table for all the girls and boys basketball games – home and away – and has been for many, many years.  During warm ups he spends a few minutes encouraging the girls and after the game they do a post game wrap up.  Jeff always finds the positives!"

THANK YOU, MR. KING!!

Thank You, and You, and You

Carole Leish wanted to thank the volunteers who served at the final home football game on Friday, October 25th.

Thank you once again to the trusty concession crew who endured the cold temperature serving on Friday night's end of the season, home varsity football game which was also Fall Sports Seniors & Parents Night.  Many of the parents served in the concession, ran out on the field with their athlete then returned to finish serving.  Thank you also to all of the volunteers who worked in the stand throughout the season.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Pictured here from left to right, back row, Chris Schneider, Scott Clark, Kelly Clark, Kathy Guggenheim, Jenny Schneider, Susie Guggenheim and Sember Meyers.  Front row, Margaret Brown and Carole Leish.  Taking the photo was Mike Deters who also helped serve and stock.  Not in photo but who also helped serve were Melissa Kadish, Misty Wheatley-Maxwell, Tara & Terry Abrams.

Thanks to Carole Leish also for keeping the well-oiled (never greasy) machine running smooth.
And thanks to Rod Apfelbeck and Mike Deters for the photos.

Eyebrows Optional

Carole Leish sent in the following THANKS for the Cowboy Concession Crew at the October 11th Football game against Deer Park.

A special thank to this hard working crew in the concession stand on Fri. night. Although the numbers were down in attendance, these volunteers continued to work hard serving, stocking, wrapping, popping and cleaning!  Pictured from left to right: Terry Abrams, Cathy Deters, Tara Abrams, Melissa Kadish, Misty Wheatley Maxwell, Denise Koesterman and Lynn Crider. Hiding from the camera was Mary Boster.  Denise even sold some of the remaining perishable food in the stand near the end of game... Way to go Denise!

Thank you also to the grilling crew, Kathy Krekeler, Peter Tighe, Tom Schlager and Skip Koesterman. Kathy was Doug's stand-in since Doug was busy...

The Booster President, Jim Leish, recovering from knee surgery and enjoying a burger from the grill squad team while watching another Wyoming football win!

Thank you to Rod Apfelbeck for snapping all those great photos throughout the night. He's finally on the other side of the lens!

 

Carole was right, it's good to finally see Rod is on the other side of the lens.  Next on our photographer hit list, we need to get Carole Leish "on the other side of the lens".

 

(Fire Code Violation picture above thanks to Rod Apfelbeck)

Cross-Dressing for a Cure?

Deb Varland recapped the Soccer family's cancer fundraiser on Sunday, September 29th.

Thank you for all the support for Sunday’s Kick for A Cure fundraiser. The weather mostly cooperated and everyone who attended seemed to have a great time! It was awesome seeing all the kids gathered on the field together!

We still have large and extra large shirts available that we will be selling at the last few girls and boys home games as well as the cupcakes so we don’t have a final $$ number yet. However, I'm pretty sure we will surpass last year’s successful effort. Great job!

Thank you to everyone who helped grill, bake, sell shirts, organize, referee, etc. etc. etc. And thank you to the boys’ soccer team and their parents who were a huge help!

See more of the action with Deb's pictures HERE

A Three Hour Tour

Carol Leish wanted to send "A HUGE THANK YOU to an incredible group of trusty workers who plowed through the crowds by serving for three solid hours during the Homecoming Game on Friday.  Unfortunately it was so busy that night that picture taking was forgotten.  Thank you to Chris Schneider who managed to keep the popcorn popping and to fill those annoying bags; Misty Maxwell, Kelly and Scott Clark, Trista Jones Manigault, Heather Kripal, Lynn Larson and Pam Coyle-Toerner who served customers non-stop with a smile (well, usually); Jenny Schneider, Melissa Kadish, Bob Walker and Phoebe Brown-Klug who wrapped those dogs and burgers as well as passed the pizza slices and Chick-Fil-A’s.  Of course, thank you also to our trusty griller crew, Paul Klug, Doug Krekeler, Skip Koesterman and Jim Leish who kept the coals fired up and the burgers and dogs grilled to perfection!  Doug Krekeler even went back on Sunday to repair the wobbly gas grill.  Now that is dedication and kindness!  If you know any of these volunteers, please take a moment to thank them for their hard and exhausting work."

 

And since she refuses to say it, we will...

A big Thank You, too to Carol Leish!

And the "Thank You" Goes To...

Carol Leish sent in the following thank you's.

 

A huge thank you to our trusty concession workers on Thurs., Sept. 12. Please remember to thank them if you happen to see them because not only are they serving you those delicious burgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, etc., they also help stock and clean. The money raised from concession goes directly back to the Wyoming Athletic Dept. to help pay for everything from uniforms to equipment. Thank you volunteers and thank you supporters who purchase the food and drinks!

Thank you to this adorable couple, Blake & Stephanie Revis. Blake hulled and stacked more soda than we could ever imagine and Stephanie popped the most amazing popcorn, completing the night with only one burn. Way to go Stephanie!

And (From left), Sue Lewis, Tara Abrams, Denise Koesterman and George Lewis who served with a smile, even when the coolers had been accidentally turned off a few days before so the sodas and water were warm... Mmm, yum, I bet you could only imagine the comments from customers on that hot night!

And Mary Boster who also served with a smile but refused to look at the camera!

Not photographed were Cathy Deters and Melissa Kadish who worked behind the scene and helped wrap and hand out hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers and Chick-Fil-A's. They are a very fun, dynamic duo!  

 

And of course, thanks to the Grill Team

Serving Up Thanks

Carol Leish and the Boosters sent in the following to thank the volunteers who helped with concessions in Friday's Football score-fest against Aiken.

 

A great start to the new season! Many thanks to
Liz Weis and Jenny Moore,

... this cute couple, Robbie and Tom Schlager,

Allison LeBuhn and Martha Weekley,

Judd Weis, Denise Koesterman and Ted Stewart.

   Denise and Judd even had a competition in the end to see who could sell the most to clear the inventory which ended up being a tie. Challenge is on now for these two trusty workers to see who will win at the next game. Thank you also to Misty Maxwell who helped in the stand but was not photographed.

 

Cowboy Concession Crew photos thanks to Carol Leish.

Great Grillin' Gurus photo thanks to Rod Apfelbeck