LHS football program honors many for 2023 season

The Lovell High School football program celebrated a successful 2023 season with an awards banquet November 20 at the LHS Multipurpose Room.

Coach Nicc Crosby began the evening by expressing his appreciation to a number of people.

“This all doesn’t happen without a lot of help and your support,” he told the audience.

Crosby first thanked the Bulldog fans, noting, “I think we had more fans than Big Horn at the playoff game (in Big Horn). I don’t think you’ll find better fans than ours in all of 2A football. And we don’t see a big drop-off on the road. I feel it as a head coach, and I know our players appreciate it. Thank you for the support of Lovell football and all Lovell athletics and activities.”

The coach then individually thanked the school board and administration, athletic director Nick DeWitt, school secretary April Price, the Bulldog Booster Club, parent volunteers, trainer Cammie Brost and the Lovell Chronicle, adding, “We miss Sam (Smith) and wore a Sam sticker on our helmets this year to remember Sam.”

Turning to academic awards, Crosby said the team achieved the Wyoming High School Activities Association Outstanding Academic Achievement Award with a team grade point average of 3.628, which he called “pretty remarkable.”

Crosby and his coaches passed out letter certificates including four manager, 12 freshmen, 10 sophomores, seven juniors and nine seniors. He said the freshmen showed they dedication by volunteering as practice players even after the junior varsity season concluded, and the sophomores had to “grow up really quick and fill in at key spots,” adding, “We’re excited about the future.

He said the juniors did a lot of good things, despite having few linemen, and will be the team leaders next season. 

As for the seniors, Crosby noted, “This is a fine group of young men, a pretty ambitious bunch. I’m confident they will do some pretty amazing things and be good leaders on and off the field. They did a great job reaching out to underclassmen. They’re just great kids. I’d stack them up against any team in the state if you evaluate them on character. They’re great examples to the underclassmen.”

Crosby also noted the all-state and all-conference 

After the seniors presented a gift to the coaching staff, Crosby stated the team mission statement: “(To) help parents and community members develop men built for others.”

“We have an outstanding community,” Crosby continued, “and I’m proud to live here and raise my family here. Our best export is our young men and women who leave here. Our mothers do an amazing job. They are built for others.

“We like to get out into the communities and do a lot of service. They know how to work hard and do things for other people. Moms – you’re the best. Thanks for the amazing things you taught your sons. I’ve never been around a better group of young men.”

Crosby thanked his coaches’ wives and the coaches themselves, stating, “I’m fortunate to have an outstanding staff. I appreciate the time and effort they put in.” Assistant coaches are AJ Montanez, Steven Durtsche, Michael Jameson and volunteers Greg Rael and Josh Gruell.

“They keep things light,” he said. “Every year I think I get less and less uptight. So it’s good for my health. And our wives – they sacrifice being away from our families. I appreciate their sacrifice.”

Crosby honored his three team captains – seniors Carson Asay, Jared Mangus and Blake Wilson – calling them three players committed to the program through their attendance at things like weight-lifting sessions and the Under the Lights program and their leadership.

“They’ve done a great job leading by example, and the classes below them fell in line. These guys are the very representation of what we’re trying to achieve in our program, excellence on and off the field. I’m going to miss this senior class.”

Senior players were Wilson, Mangus, Adnan Khan, Carter Tew, Michael Harris, Weston Crumrine, James Love, Asay and McKade Rasmussen.