• Braves go for 20th straight Friday night
Ask any former player or ardent fan who grew up or around the Star Valley Football program and you’ll likely get a lot of different answers about who the best coaches or players have been. The team has been known for winning games and titles in Wyoming particularly dating back to the late 1950’s and into the 1960’s up to this past weekend’s quarterfinal shutout out of the Lander Tigers.
That 52-0 decision was coach McKay Young’s 84th as he is nearing the end of his ninth season helming the Braves, more than any other coach in a program that has had some amazing coaches.
Young credited virtually all of the coaches of the last 60 years for giving him their shoulders to stand on during his run. He also deflected any personal credit to the staff that he has had around him during his run.
“I think we can never appreciate those coaches too much for what they built here,” Young replied. “They are true giants. I feel like I was born on third base so to speak to have the privilege to coach football here in Star Valley.”
Young praised his many assistants over the past nine years including: Kelly Merritt, Winston Patterson, Tyrel Clove, Nicc Crosby, Tyson Balls, Don McAdams, Jason Cazier, Paul Kabonic, Kirk Hoopes, Ballard Johnson, Kyle Thomson, Joe Hale, Andy Nield, Cody Call, Bryan Nichols and Jeff Johnson.
In addition, Young praised the 200-plus players he has had over those many seasons.
“At the end of the day, the players are the ones who deserve the credit for all of the wins,” he said. “I doubt we can mention all 200+ of them, but I wish we could.”
•Pride & Tradition
The SVHS Football program is nearing the century mark after its founding in 1928 by C. Newell Peterson who led the program for six seasons. The program’s first five-win season came in 1945 under Lincoln Gardner who did it the following year as well. Reid Gunnel upped the bar to six wins in 1953 and Vern Gardner matched it in 1959 along with the program’s first conference championship.
Lew Monsen ushered in the program’s championship tradition with the school’s first ever title in any sport in 1961. Although technically referred to as “mythical championships”, Monsen’s teams were on top of statewide polls in 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967. His ’61 and ’67 teams were the first to crest double-digit wins in a season.
Jerry Hart is Star Valley’s longest-tenured head coach, not something to be easily overlooked in a sports hungry community. His teams hoisted trophies in 1972 and 1980 and could have easily had more under current playoff rules.
Van Hokanson’s team won in 1982 during a time when just the top-two teams from the classifications two divisions were invited to play in the championship.
Robert Linford’s run in the 1990’s was legendary with eight title game appearances in nine years including four championships. Ballard Johnson led the team to back-to-back title game appearances in 2001 and 2002.
Chris Howell’s teams snapped a 20-year title drought in 2015 with coach Young as his offensive coordinator.
Star Valley’s win on Friday was the program’s 531st overall and the 49th playoff win for the team.
•At The Top / SVHS Wins
84 McKay Young (2016-Current)
83 Robert Linford (1989-1998) & Jerry Hart (1969-1981)
59 Lew Monsen (1960-1962 & 1964-1968)
42 Chris Howell (2008-2015)
34 Van Hokanson (1982-1986)
29 Ballard Johnson (1999-2004)
21 C. Newell Peterson (1928-1934)
20 Reid Gunnel (1953-1956)
