Sid Chaulk, head coach for Kemmerer Rangers Football, called into First Bank of Wyoming Sports Friday to discuss heading into this fall’s season in his inaugural year as head coach.

The following transcript of the above interview is AI generated. Minor spelling errors are likely to occur.

(0:00) Taking a few minutes to check in with Sid Chalk. (0:02) He is the first year head coach of the camera Rangers and that first season (0:06) coming up here, starting later this month. (0:09) Coach Chalk, thanks for coming on with us today.

(0:11) Oh, thanks for having me back. (0:13) Good to be back. (0:14) So Sid, uh, obviously one of the big parts of a season is the off season.

(0:19) Kind of get us caught up on what you and your, your camera Rangers have been up (0:23) to over the past couple of months since we last spoke with you. (0:26) Oh yeah. (0:27) We’ve been, uh, we’ve been doing a lot of work this summer.

(0:29) Kind of, uh, asked a lot of the kids and they definitely (0:32) stepped up to the challenge. (0:33) We were, uh, working five days a week with field work and weight room. (0:37) And, uh, our attendance has been right around 60% of, uh, average team (0:43) attendance throughout the summer.

(0:45) And, uh, right now we’re just finishing up with some post-test maxes and we’ve (0:49) seen, uh, some great increase in not only the weight room, but their, uh, 40 (0:54) yard dashes, pro agility, things like that. (0:56) So the kids have been working real hard and so have the coaches. (0:59) So, um, great work on all their parts and everything to really (1:02) want to make a shift this year.

(1:05) Talking about that, obviously we’re, we’re going to get to the, to the (1:08) players here in just a second, maybe introduce your staff to us. (1:11) Uh, the last time we spoke clear back in may, I’m not sure if (1:14) that was all solidified yet. (1:15) Uh, let’s, let’s talk about your staff for just a little bit and, and who’s (1:19) going to be on the sidelines with you.

(1:21) Yeah. (1:21) So, uh, there’s, I got myself and three assistant coaches starting (1:25) with our defensive coordinator. (1:27) His name is AQ Peter.

(1:28) He’s also a camera ranger alum. (1:31) He just finished up his, uh, years at Rocky mountain college (1:35) where he played for five years. (1:36) And he’s coming here with a lot of football.

(1:39) IQ football knowledge has been a great, uh, help to the staff. (1:43) And he just really walked into that role. (1:45) Like he’s kind of coaching it.

(1:46) Like he’s been here before. (1:47) You would never guess in a million years, this was his first year. (1:50) So he’s been doing a great job in that asset.

(1:53) Um, another coach on staff is, uh, Alec Rudy. (1:55) He is, uh, our strength and conditioning coach throughout the summer. (1:59) He will also be our special teams coordinator and, uh, running (2:03) backs and linebacker coach.

(2:04) Um, and I just mentioned the great growth we’ve seen in the weight room. (2:08) Um, big attest to him for with that. (2:11) And then finally, uh, coach Jackman, he’s been part of the (2:15) program the past four years.

(2:16) And we’re grateful to have him with us still to kind of help guide us where (2:20) things have been to get them where we want to go, and he will be JV (2:24) offensive coordinator and wide receivers and defensive backs. (2:28) So you talk about, uh, these guys and, uh, obviously, uh, you’re, you’ve (2:33) been around the program before, uh, AQ obviously was just there a few years (2:37) ago and, and knows where he wants to go. (2:39) It seems like there’s some familiar faces, but wanting to get to the, uh, (2:44) get to the promised land with the camera rangers.

(2:46) So real local buy-in, it really feels like that way. (2:48) Oh yeah, for sure. (2:49) Definitely seeing it from the community to a lot of excitement.

(2:53) So it’s been a great, it’s been a great summer, putting one step, um, one (2:57) foot in front of the other this summer. (2:59) And obviously I know, uh, you know, kids being kids, you got to wait (3:02) until the first day of practice, uh, but who are some kids that you feel (3:05) like are kind of leading the way for you, uh, in the off season as you (3:09) start practice here in about two weeks? (3:12) Uh, yeah, we’ve got some, uh, so what we did for our leadership structure (3:16) is we set up some squad leaders and, uh, the one that has really been (3:20) standing up the most and kind of vocally and living out our standards (3:24) is, uh, Noah Parks, he’s a senior this year. (3:27) He’s really been, uh, getting everyone out.

(3:29) Um, Sam Thatcher and even some of our younger guys have really (3:33) kind of stepped up to the plate. (3:34) Um, a Dawson Crosland and, uh, Heston McMillan. (3:39) I mean, I could keep going on and on with some of the names because (3:42) these they’ve all just done so great, but that’s a handful of them who (3:45) have really, uh, stepped up and been living to our standards and getting (3:49) the rest of the guys out there and leading the way this summer.

(3:53) So with practice upcoming here in just a couple of weeks, uh, what are (3:56) some things that maybe you’ve imparted to your leaders and your (3:59) players, uh, heading into that? (4:01) What, what would you like to see over the next, you know, four weeks, (4:04) but in particular the next two weeks before you get to, you get to (4:07) put helmets and pads on them? (4:09) Oh, yeah. (4:10) Well, first and foremost, we’re just kind of really making sure we preach (4:13) the message that, you know, we’re one day at a time, you know, so like the (4:18) week to week when we get into the season is just want to know every week we’re (4:22) trying to win the day with each practice. (4:25) And so, um, throughout this dead period coming up into the season, um, we’re (4:30) just leaving the kids, uh, up to them to, uh, take that time for themselves (4:35) and their family and be ready to hit the grindstone when we come coming back.

(4:38) And when we get back, just to make sure everyone is on the same page, (4:43) you getting ready to work and wanting to take it one day at a time. (4:47) As you look at your, your philosophy of your, of your team into this season, (4:51) maybe take a look offensively and defensively. (4:54) What are some, what are some hallmarks that you feel like you would like to (4:57) see Cameron Ranger football be, uh, on both sides of those, both sides of the (5:01) ball? (5:02) Yeah.

(5:03) Offensively. (5:03) I just, uh, I’d like it to become a balanced offense where we can just, you (5:08) know, run the ball and throw the ball equally so we can be multidimensional (5:12) and really develop some explosive plays. (5:14) That’s something that we struggled with in the past and camera, and then (5:18) defensively really kind of just force some three and outs and kind of get our (5:21) defense off the field and, uh, just kind of start some clock management and things (5:27) of that nature.

(5:27) So on both sides of the ball, so, um, in short defensively, just being able to (5:32) impose our will and an offense, be able to, uh, march down the field and just (5:37) have that freedom to, uh, attack as we see fit where we see the openings. (5:41) And then, you know, I’m actually going to put this on the community a little (5:44) bit. (5:44) What, what would you like to see from the community, uh, over the next month (5:48) and the next season? (5:49) I mean, obviously support is the short answer, but like what, what are some (5:53) ways or some, and some things that you would like to see, maybe things, uh, (5:57) continue to go in a positive direction as you ramp up into the 26th season? (6:01) Oh yeah, no.

(6:02) And the community has been great. (6:03) You know, you see stuff on social media and just, you know, word of mouth around (6:07) town, you know, just having them come out, continue to be vocally supportive and (6:12) you know, come to the games, you know, uh, people, I don’t think they appreciate (6:17) how much power the full stands has on the, on the kids and their performance, (6:23) the power of the sideline, you know? (6:26) So when they all come out and support, and even when things, cause you know, how (6:30) football is, you know, not everything’s going to go your way all the time. (6:33) So just be supportive and trust the process of the coaches and the players.

(6:37) And cause when we’re all pulling in the same direction, that’s what it takes to (6:40) be successful. (6:41) Not just the coaches, not just the players, really the parents and the (6:45) community, they have a stronger pull on deciding the success than they realize. (6:48) So just continue being supportive, uh, cheer us on and, uh, go with us along the (6:54) way.

(6:55) I know you’ve maybe already addressed this, but, uh, we’ve talked about in the (6:59) past, the, the two way West in particular is a really kind of a, uh, a tough (7:04) gauntlet to play in week to week. (7:06) And obviously you’re one week at a time philosophy, but are there any particular (7:10) games that maybe your, your kids have already vocalized that maybe they have (7:13) circled? (7:14) Uh, no, nobody particular, um, that we’ve circled or anything like that, (7:19) because, uh, well, we, we stand true to that, uh, one game at a time and one day (7:24) at a time and want to know every week and, you know, let the, let the cards (7:28) fall where they may. (7:29) So, you know, when our first game of the season is Moorecroft, that’s our entire (7:32) world, second game Thermopolis, that’s our whole world.

(7:35) And, uh, we just keep approaching every week and every day and, um, the (7:40) whole season by that approach. (7:42) Head coach of the camera Rangers, Sid Chalk getting ready for his (7:45) first season on the sidelines. (7:47) Uh, coach Chalk, anything that we haven’t touched on that you might want to mention? (7:52) Um, no, I just want to say one last thank you to the community, the (7:56) coaches and the players.

(7:57) I know, uh, uh, myself and the other coach, some staff have asked a lot from (8:02) not only our players, but the community and the, those kids as parents, and (8:06) just appreciate the support and let’s just keep on moving forward, take it (8:10) one day at a time and let’s keep this train moving forward, Sid Chalk, head (8:15) coach of the camera Rangers. (8:16) Thank you for your time coach and a good luck this season. (8:19) Um, we’re looking forward to talking to you again.

(8:21) Thank you. (8:21) Appreciate it.