Honors and thanks presented at RMHS awards night

Rocky Mountain High School boys basketball coaches, players and family members celebrated a bounce-back 2024-25 season during an end-of-season awards night Monday.

Head coach Pat Winland presented a number of awards before the assembled guests and offered many thanks for the successful season that saw the Grizz win two games at the regional tournament and one game at State.

Winland began by thanking his assistant coaches, calling them “the best staff in the state.”

Assistant Jeff Samson “loves the game and was a tremendous help in scouting, practice prep and on-court demonstrations,” Winland said, adding, “He’s one of the good ones—reliable, knowledgeable and always there for the team.”

Son Taylor Winland is “probably one of the busiest coaches in the district,” Winland said, joking, “But that’s OK. He needs the money.” Winland added, “His coaching style has a softer touch than I had at his age, and it’s one the players really respond to.”

Jacob May “brought a fresh perspective to the program,” Winland said. “He shared ideas that helped us grow, and the kids truly enjoyed having him around. His energy and presence were appreciated all season long.”

Winland presented a series of thanks, including:

-- “Thank you to (trainer) Cammie Brost,” Winland said, “who takes the decision-making off my plate and does an amazing job supporting all our programs behind the scenes.”

-- “Tiffany Minchow, thank you for being the Senior Mom, a job that’s not always easy, especially during tournament time. You made sure we were well taken care of, managed our Facebook page and captured so many important photos. As a parent myself, I truly appreciate that, because, let’s be honest, it might look a little off if I pulled out my camera during warmups,” Winland joked.

-- “Thanks, also, to Wandering Lens for the beautiful pictures throughout the season.

-- “Rod (Winland, athletic director), thank you for putting together the toughest schedule in 2A. It challenged us and made us better.”

-- Athletic director Tobee Christiansen: “Thank you for always asking what we needed and being there with support.”

-- Principal Betsy Sammons: “Your help and belief in what we do means a lot. Thank you for your continued support of our team.”

-- “To all the wives and girlfriends -- thank you. Coaching takes time away from home, and we couldn’t do this without your patience and support.”

“And finally, a shout out to our support staff,” Winland said, noting, “John Mader served as our manager and was one of the best I’ve ever worked with. Jaxon Miller took on the least glamorous job—filming—without complaint. And beyond that, he made tremendous strides on the basketball floor this year. His work ethic didn’t go unnoticed.”

-- “A huge thank you to David Peck for his outstanding coverage of our team. No one does it better. You’ve helped share our story and celebrate our successes.”

A great season

Winland said the 2024-25 season was among the most rewarding of his coaching career.

“I would coach this team again in a heartbeat,” he said. “I spent many years coaching at this school. This may be recency bias, but it was one of my favorites. It was truly exciting to watch these guys grow, not just as basketball players, but as young men. All I asked of them this season was simple: Beat the teams we were supposed to beat. And if we weren’t the favorite, make the other team earn every inch.

“And they did exactly that. We had some incredible wins this year, beating Big Horn on their home court, which is no easy place to play, going 4-2 in conference play and sending Shoshoni home for the second year in a row. Then to top it off, we took down Big Piney at State.”

Winland said there’s a reason for the success.

“These moments didn’t just happen. They came from hustle, teamwork, coachability and heart,” he said. “This group made practices fun and games exciting. I’m proud of every single player, and it’s been an honor to stand on the sidelines with them.

“Thank you, players, parents and fans for making this season one to remember.”

Player awards

Winland announced awards and/or spoke about each player Monday night:

• Cooper Winland: “Cooper was a solid contributor off the bench, making his mark with tough defense, shot blocking, rebounding and some timely scoring. He also played strong minutes for both the JV and freshman squads, showing consistency and hustle across all levels.

• Mason Moss: Mason joined us after Christmas and made an immediate impact. Even while playing at less than 100%, he brought energy and intensity to both ends of the floor. A spark plug on offense and defense when we needed it most.”

• Joaquin Scheeler and Kellan Jackson: “Joaquin and Kellan were the heart of our JV team this season. They brought leadership, energy and a competitive edge that pushed our varsity squad in practice every day. Their roles are set to grow significantly next year, and we’re excited to see what they’ll bring to the floor.”

• Travis Crosby and Evin Clendenen: “Both Travis and Evin showed strong growth throughout the season. They contributed solid minutes on the JV squad and continued to improve each week. Evin, coming back after missing last season, made great strides and gave us a boost with his effort and commitment.”

• Senior Cole Minchow: “Cole loves the game. Over the past four years, he has dedicated himself to improving every aspect of his craft. His passion, work ethic and commitment truly paid off this season.” Chosen all-conference, all-region and all-state, Minchow was named Rocky’s Offensive Player of the Year.

• Senior Bryce Haslem: “One of the most coachable players I’ve ever had. Rarely rattled, and always ready to rise in big moments, he showed tremendous growth over four years.” An all-conference selection, Haslem was named the Rocky Defensive Player of the Year.

• Senior Tucker Jackson: “Tucker earned votes in nearly every award category. He’s athletic, unselfish and a true team player.” An all-conference and all-region selection, he was named the Rocky Mountain Most Versatile Player.

• Senior Lafe Files: “One of the nicest kids I’ve coached. Always quick to support his teammates and take responsibility. Played his best ball at the end of the season.” Files received the Spirit of the Grizz Award.

• Senior Alex Hedges: “Undersized (post). Did whatever was asked of him and showed pure selflessness. Even turned down a starting role to support the team.” Hedges was the co-winner of the Mr. Hustle Award.

• Senior Hudson May: “Defensive standout. Took on the toughest roles without hesitation. Hardworking and dependable. Took the job of box-and-one in our last game.” May was the co-winner of the Mr. Hustle Award.