The Bulldogs’ two-year ride has been fun to watch

There is something truly small-town America about a high school sports team competing in and winning a state championship with all of the glee and glory that comes with a state title team.

There’s also something profoundly Wyoming about a team and its fans driving home in a blizzard.

Both took place this week for the Lovell community and Lovell High School as the Bulldogs captured the Class 3A state championship for the second year in a row.

We don’t believe folks in large cities appreciate how high school sports binds a small community together. Think “Hoosiers.” We may not agree on everything, but we agree on the Bulldogs or the Grizzlies, and we cheer, cuss and discuss them endlessly, sometimes to the chagrin of their coaches.

What never ceases to amaze me is the level of support our teams enjoy. Families with no obvious ties to the team other than fandom will drive 230 miles to watch basketball all weekend. It’s a sports vacation for folks.

I do the same thing, even though I’m working during the tournament. I could get by attending one or two games for each squad, but I go for all six – girls and boys, and I watch many other games, as well. It’s my working vacation after a busy winter sports season.

I hope that our high school athletes appreciate the level of support they receive. I know our coaches do. It’s rare and very special. I suppose there are negative aspects to the extreme level of interest, kind of like living under a microscope. But it sure beats apathy.

This Lovell boys team has been a joy to behold in a basketball crazy community over the past two years. The team has played to a 52-4 record during that span and has won back-to-back titles. The success is due not only to the excellent coaching of Shane Durtsche and his staff but also the chemistry and unselfishness of the players, who not only have multiple weapons but also freely share the basketball – and the glory.

Indeed, when one player has an off game, two others step up. There are so many weapons on this squad, it surely drives an opposing coach crazy. The players feed off of one another and seem to truly enjoy sharing the basketball and revel in each other’s success.

It has been a truly fun two years, capped by Lovell hosting the regional tournament and the team repeating as a state champion. And believe me, this team truly had a target on their back and got every opponent’s best effort.

There’s stress on coaches, too. I could see it in Coach Durtsche a couple of weeks ago heading into Regionals. With great success comes high expectations, and he was feeling it. But he coached this team up perfectly.

It was amazing to see the outpouring of support on Main Street and in the high school parking lot during and after the traditional fire truck ride Sunday evening. It was a true picture of smalltown Americana – lots of hugs and lots of photos.

Of course, a blizzard factors into the tale. I grew up in Wyoming and have experienced many a ground blizzard. But Saturday evening’s snowstorm with a driving wind is at the top of my crazy storm list. Yikes! Friend Jim and I were hit by a surely 70 mile per hour blast between Shoshoni and Wind River Canyon that almost blew us off the highway, followed by several moments where we couldn’t see the front of the pickup, let alone the highway.

Some families returned to Casper or diverted to Riverton. I don’t blame them at all. But all’s well that ends well.

Here’s to the Bulldogs, the up-and-coming Lady Bulldogs, their coaches and their multitude of supporters. It’s been a great ride.