Bradley Mickelson was remembered this week as a young man who had a talent for athletics and a way with people.


Mickelson, 20, a 2007 Lovell High School graduate and the son of Ted and Nancy Mickelson of Byron, was a three-sport, award-winning athlete at LHS, and was a top student, coaches and teachers recalled.


Mickelson died tragically in an accidental shooting on the Big Horn Mountains on Aug. 16.


“Brad was just a delightful student,” former longtime LHS English teacher Josephine Crosby recalled. “He was one of those kids who was full of life, and he always had a twinkle in his eye. He was just fun.


“He never, ever pushed anything. You just had to look at him and he would get right to work. He was super respectful and a hard worker. School was important to him, and he always did everything he could to do well. He was very teachable. He wanted to do well and wanted to achieve. He absolutely adored his family.”
Crosby said Mickelson had many friends, adding, “He was very well liked by everybody.”


Mickelson’s aunt Sydney Beal said her nephew was loved in the Mickelson family as the youngest member of the family.


“He was the baby,” Beal said. “He was always a nice young man. He never got into trouble. He was one of those kids who did what was right. He was the leader. He did what was expected of him. He was just a good kid.”


Beal remembers her nephew’s sense of humor fondly.


“He was always doing dumb stuff, and he loved to get his mother (with pranks),” Beal said. “He loved to give wet willies at church. He always thought that was so funny.”


Mickelson excelled in basketball, football and track at LHS, earning the L Club Athlete of the Year Award at the end of his senior year.


“He wanted to be like his brothers,” Beal said. “They each had qualities he wanted. He always wanted to make his brothers and sisters proud. That’s why he excelled at sports. He wanted to be as good as Bryan, Jared, Michael and Jason.”


Joe Koritnik, who coached Mickelson in basketball and track, remembers his enthusiasm for athletics.


“He always enjoyed the game,” Koritnik said. “He seemed happy and excited about playing. As a senior he was the captain (of the basketball squad) with Matt (Koritnik) and Mark (Hyde). He brought out the best in the kids around him. He’s someone you always wanted as a captain, he had that kind of leadership.”


Throughout his more than 20 years of coaching, Koritnik said he has had some favorite players and Mickelson was one of them.


“He was one of my favorites simply from the standpoint that he had the same kind of passion that I did,” Coach K said. “He loved basketball. He was very coachable and a hard worker. He was a kid who wanted to come to the gym at 10 a.m. before an afternoon game. He had passion.


“He played hard to get a win. He was a great kid. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to coach him.”


Koritnik said Mickelson – the Class 2A Northwest Player of the Year for boys basketball in 2007 -- showed great leadership and was a player who would make big plays or hit big shots down the stretch in a game, especially during his senior season. The coach recalled that he injured his wrist late in the season of his senior year but continued to play hard and hit two clutch free throws in the final game of his career at the state tournament in Casper to help the Bulldogs beat Wind River for the consolation championship.


“That was part of his makeup,” Koritnik said. “He was a competitor. He didn’t shy away from taking a big shot or doing what was necessary to win. He came to practice happy and worked hard. I just enjoyed being around him.”


Crosby also remembers Mickelson’s competitive spirit, noting that he led the Bulldogs to victory over the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies in Byron with a tremendous second-half performance.


“That was pretty typical of him,” she said. “He never worried about something being too hard. He did everything 100 percent.”


Former LHS assistant coach Jerry Anderson said Mickelson enjoyed football, too.


“He was one of those players who really enjoyed football,” Anderson said. “He was a kid you could tell was having fun. He was always up and having a good time. He came across to me as very coachable. He was very positive and wanted to be a contributor.”


Anderson said Mickelson was a versatile football player.


“He could play about any position, especially on defense,” he said. “He was about as aggressive a back as we’ve had at corner or safety. He was a hard hitter. He liked to mix it up.”