◆ First ever championship held at Star Valley View Golf Course.
We at SVI Media and the 14 various communities of Star Valley welcome the golf teams from the Wyoming 3A Classification to Afton for the 3A State Championships.
This is the first time that a state championship has taken place at Star Valley View (SVV)in its current form. Once the nine-hole Valli-Vu municipal course put together by locals many decades ago, SVV is now an 18-hole course designed by Johnny Miller.
“What that means is that if you miss a green you’ll be in a bunker or on a hill or down in a swell,” said Director of Golf at SVV Bryce Burton. “It’s been designed that if you miss the green that the elevation of your ball will be different and create a more challenging pitch. “It’s an enjoyable course and it’s not overly long. It’s probably more considered target-golf rather and grip it and rip it.”
Burton also pointed out the status of the greens on the course.
“These are USGA sand-based greens,” he said. They are a smooth and consistent surface that rolls true. If you hit the putt like you should it will go where it’s supposed to go.”
In previous hosting duties, the community of Star Valley Ranch has hosted the championships on several occasions at the Cedar Creek Golf Course approximately 20 miles to the north of SVV.
• FYI- Star Valley is comprised of 14 communities stretching approximately 40 miles from Forest Dell (south) to Alpine (north). Four of those communities, Afton, Thayne, Town of Star Valley Ranch and Alpine, are incorporated towns while the rest are informal communities based on early settlements in the area such as Fairview, Grover, Etna, Auburn and others.
There are four elementary schools in Star Valley named for the communities in which they are located; Afton, Osmond, Thayne and Etna. The mascots for these schools are Little Chiefs, Cougars, Huskies and Mustangs respectively.
There is one middle school, located in Afton which has expanded several times. Their mascot is the Warriors.
There are two high schools located in Afton. Star Valley High School which is represented by the Braves and Swift Creek High School which are known as the Bulldogs. From 1936-1948, Star Valley High School teams were known as the “Cheesemakers.”
The population of the valley is estimated at anywhere from 10-12,000 people but is unique in that there is not necessarily one main city which claims the bulk of the population.
Some of the standout athletes from Star Valley include basketball player Vern Gardner who was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1949 after a standout career at the University of Utah. Rulon Gardner captured the gold medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the bronze in the 2004 Games in Athens Greece. Cynthia [Clinger] Kinghorn was part of the starting five with the 1991 Texas Tech Red Raiders National Championship team and Charles Clinger was an NCAA National Champion in 2001 for Weber State in the High Jump.
We wish the players, coaches and spectators the best of luck this weekend and welcome you to Star Valley.
Team Capsules: 3A Girls
Lander Valley
2018: 3A State Runner-Up
2019 3A West Regionals (1st)
Rachel Stoinski 83/83-166
Maddie Korell 104/95- 199
Mackenzie Janish 114/114-228
Kappi Mulherin 143/124-267
Aspen Thomas 144/124-268
Star Valley
2018: 3A 3rd Place
2019 3A West Regionals (2nd)
Taylor Erickson 106/96-202
Riley Heward 123/111-234
Taylee Stoker 129/111- 240
Norah Nielsen 128/118-246
Taylor Anderson 134/127-261
Pinedale
2018: 3A 8th Place
2019 3A West Regionals (3rd)
Kodie Hammer 111/104-215
Jakobi Hibbert 132/115-247
Cora Murphy 134/128-262
Adriana Liserio 157/149-306
Lovell
2018: 2A Class DNP
2019 3A West Regionals
Adessa Lundberg 94/82-176
(2nd overall)
Powell
2018: 3A 9th Place
2019 3A West Regionals
Mycah Wainscott 99/11-199
(3rd overall)
Lyman
2018: 3A Class DNP
2019 3A West Regionals
Kaylen Woodruff 104/99-203
(6th overall)
Riverton
2018: 3A 5th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (1st)
Sierra Brubaker 102/89- 191
Kate Davis 105/100- 205
Josie Cash 127/110- 237
Morgan Masson 131/145- 276
Douglas
2018: 3A 7th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (2nd)
Katie Notman 111/95- 206
Danali Bergquist 112/109- 221
Trinity Rich 118/115- 233
Ashley Kleemeyer 128/122- 250
Aspen Edwards 131/127- 258
Jessica Reid 148/145- 293
Buffalo
2018: 3A 6th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (3rd)
Darian Mehling 98/100- 198
Sydney Hall 127/119- 246
Riley Tomich 134/115- 249
Wheatland
2018: DNP
2019 3A East Regionals (4th)
Jayden Heimsoth 109/100- 209
Kaitlyn Vigil 123/117- 240
Kaylynn Heimsoth 139/155- 294
Torrington
2018: Defending State Champs
2019 3A East Regionals (5th)
Jade Reinhardt 112/113- 225
Jenna Kaufman 120/127- 247
Sydney Eaton 135/144- 279
Rawlins
2018: DNP
2019 3A East Regionals
Kaylyn Hunter 114/116- 230
Worland
2018: 3A 10th Place
2019 3A East Regionals
Robyn Horath 110/109- 219
3A BOYS PROGRAMS
Lander Valley
2018: Defending 3A Champs
2019 3A West Regionals (1st)
Jaren Calkins 71/67-138
Dominic Yates 74/74-148
Wilson Brockie 84/80- 164
Gavin Dixon 87/84-171
Zach Grogan 96/97-192
Star Valley
2018: 3A 3rd Place
2019 3A West Regionals (2nd)
Tyler Hodges 82/80- 162
Jake Johnson 82/83- 165
Karsen Spaulding 83/85- 168
Preston Kilroy WD/79- N/A
Caleb Madsen 101/98-199
Lyman
2018: 3A 11th Place
2019 3A West Regionals (3rd)
Andrew Houskeeper 83/86-169
Ashton Houskeeper 86/89-175
Stockton Walker 91/103-194
Ben Rasmussen 101/99- 200
Cope Thomas 112/109-221
Cody
2018: 3A 6th Place
2019 3A West Regionals (4th)
Logan Schutzman 86/91-177
Carter Schutzman 93/86- 179
Hudson Oelschlager 94/106- 200
Andy Anderson 104/105- 209
Bridger Hult 110/104- 214
Lovell
2018: 2A 6th Place
2019 3A West Regionals (5th)
Brenen Hinckley 91/88- 179
Zeke Newman 92/94- 186
CJ Pickett 99/98- 197
Carter Lundberg 103/100- 203
Lane Herman 104/106- 210
Pinedale
2018: 3A 8th Place
2019 3A West Regionals (6th)
Kolten Hansen 92/88- 180
Mitch Pape 91/92- 183
Teagan Bowers 99/104- 203
Dominik Klingler 105/101- 206
Tristan Haley 110/99- 209
Worland
2018: 3A State Runner-Up
2019 3A East Regionals (1st)
Karsten Simmons 77/78- 155
JT Kinghagen 86/76- 162
Logan Foote 83/84- 167
Jackson Dunham 94/84/178
Konnor Macy 95/88- 183
Landon Gilmore 82/88- 170
Mack Page 99/93- 192
Karter Dunham 112/93- 205
Gavin McEndree 104/109- 213
Riverton
2018: 3A 5th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (2nd)
Dawson Valerio 89/90- 179
Hunter Peterson 92/93- 185
Brett Jones 100/86- 186
Cameron Schoening 97/92- 189
Cobey Cunningham 106/92- 198
Tyler Polk 104/108- 212
Korbin Heil 111/116- 227
Buffalo
2018: 3A 9th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (3rd)
Joe Musseleman 93/87- 180
Trevor Stowe 87/94- 181
Keehan Ricket 95/93- 188
Olie Wagner 105/99- 204
James Sutherland 113/104- 217
Nic Constentine 110/117- 227
Douglas
2018: 3A 4th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (4th)
Rees Starkey 80/93- 173
Josh Chavarin 103/86- 189
Justin Kleemeyer 96/95- 191
Caidyn Spilski 105/105- 210
Hunter Stetter 116/107- 227
Wheatland
2018: DNP
2019 3A East Regionals (5th)
Gage Brown 114/103- 217
Jacob Burns 117/108- 225
Colton Jensen 120/123- 246
Caden Davis 136/133- 269
Rawlins
2018: 3A 13th Place
2019 3A East Regionals (6th)
Ryan Flack 105/11- 205
Skyler Langenderfer 123/119- 242
Damien Olivas 121/135- 256
Logan Maes 136/139- 275
Torrington
2018: 3A 12th Place
2019 3A East Regionals
Gage Gibson 113-93- 206
Ryder Hackbarth 113/108- 221
Josh Stitt 129/129- 258
