Many thanks expressed at football awards night

Lovell High School head football coach Nicc Crosby took time on a special postseason awards night Monday night, Nov. 25, at the high school MPR to thank dozens of people who helped make the 2024 season special – and successful.

From the community to players and coaches, Crosby expressed gratitude for the team effort it took for the Bulldogs to forge a 7-3 season record and advance to the semifinal round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Crosby began by thanking the School District No. 2 administration and school board for their support of the program from equipment to transportation, and he specifically mentioned the office staff members Celecia Gallagher, Sher Jolley and Lane Black-Partridge “for keeping the stress level down for me.”

He also thanked athletic director Chris Edwards and school administrative assistant April Price for their work with the program.

“Chris in his first year (as AD) has been amazing with the impact he’s had and how smoothly things are going,” Crosby said. “He and April do things so efficiently. I’m grateful for how hard they work.”

In thanking the Bulldog Booster Club and the many parent volunteers involved, Crosby said the players and coaches are spoiled by the parents and club members, from decorating buses and game events to team meals.

“All we need to say is ‘we need this,’ and they jump at the opportunity,” he said.

He thanked the Lovell Chronicle for coverage and giving the players “the recognition they deserve,” and trainer Cammie Brost, who he said “works really, really hard keeping our players healthy and is a valuable asset to have.”

Crosby thanks his assistant coaches – AJ Montanez, Bob Weber, Michael Jameson, Josh Gruell, Greg Rael, Bill Sheckler and Erik Ferbrache – for all of their work and time dedicated to the program and their wives and kids who “pay the price” for their husband’s/father’s absence during the season. Noted Crosby, “I want to give you a sincere thank you.”

JV and juniors report

As he announced letter winners by grade, Crosby noted how younger players kept coming to practice to work as the scout team for the varsity, even after their junior varsity season was over.

 Coach Weber gave a report on the JV team, and while he said the JVs had a season a bit short on games and wins, he said how the players developed during the season was “something to behold.”

“I’m proud of how they fought and worked and improved,” Weber said. “They were there every day grinding it out with the varsity players, with kids pulled up or down (from varsity) and put in unfamiliar spots – and they never complained.”

As he brought the 11 juniors to the stage – Chase Crosby, Matthew Newman, Cayden Fink, Owen Walker, Owen Edwards, Cash Wassmer, Halen Strom, Brody Muller, Kyle Wilson, Kalell Gruell and Owen Hill – Crosby asserted that linemen make a football team on both sides of the ball, and the junior class has many starting linemen.

“This is a great class; I’m proud of these guys,” he said. “We challenged them to work better together as a group to achieve their potential, and I appreciate their sacrifice and how they came together as a group. They made tremendous strides.”

Crosby singled out Wassmer and Hill for their improvement after not playing much football until this season.

Varsity/senior summary

Crosby thanked seniors Parker Steenbakkers, Taggart Shumway, Mikkel Klepp, Braxton Felkins, Davin Crosby, Karson Mollett, Talon Burton, Jarrett Allen and Kasey Jordan, noting that “it was a privilege to coach this group and awesome to see how they came together.”

Noting the varsity team as a whole, he said the Bulldogs were highly regarded across the state.

“This is a well-respected team and group of young men,” he said. “The Big Horn coaches said how much more competitive the west was than the east. … I have a ton of respect for them and for their hard work and coming together as a team. It starts with the offensive and defensive linemen, who do the dirty work.

“We finished second in the 2A West and had a great game against Burns in the quarterfinals, then gave Big Horn everything they wanted. They (Big Horn coaches) had nothing but respect for our staff and our players.”

In picking an all-state team, there used to be an allotment system, with Lovell allotted four players due to reaching but not advancing past the semifinals. But Crosby said coaches realized that the Bulldogs deserved more than four, so Lovell saw six players selected for the 2A all-state team: seniors Davin Crosby and Felkins and juniors Gruell, Muller, Newman and Walker.

The six were joined on the 2A West all-conference squad by juniors Chase Crosby and Strom. Seniors Jordan and KIepp and junior Wilson received honorable mention recognition.

Crosby noted the play of Jordan, who stepped in for Strom when Strom was injured in the first Big Horn game and went from a “rotation guy” to a two-way starter. He also noted the enthusiasm of exchange student Klepp, who wanted to play on offense and defense, as well as being the kicker, but as the season progressed, coaches had to limit his play to kicking because he was such a valuable asset.

Noting the team mission statement – “Help parent and community members develop men built for others” – Crosby said the adage “football reveals character” is true 100 percent of the time, adding, “I would trade every conference and state championship in the world to accomplish this objective right here. I want them to be selfless husbands and fathers. It’s a great group of seniors. Their success came with a lot of selflessness. They’re hard-working kids.”

He said the team’s parents have taught the players the value of hard work and service, which is evident during community service projects, adding, “We’re very fortunate to live here.”

Crosby thanked the parents and fans for all of the support this season, including at the semifinal game in Big Horn, noting that he thinks the Bulldogs had just as many fans cheering for them as the home team did.

“I feel very fortunate to be here,” Crosby said, and addressing the players, he added, “I hope you realize what a special place this is.”

After introducing the seniors, he noted that the class is truly a group of “men built for others.” He added that while some of the seniors played backup role, they embraced the team concept, saying, “I can’t be more impressed with the example these men are for me. I’m proud of them. I hate to say goodbye.”

Davin Crosby thanked the coaches for their work over the years and during the season. As a coach’s son, he said he has seen firsthand the sacrifice and hard work the coaches put in. Father Nicc, he noted, works past midnight almost every night during the season, and during playoff time he may get only two hours of sleep some nights.

Coach Crosby gave no special awards except to honor team captains Davin Crosby and Felkins, voted on by their teammates. He said the two did a great job helping their teammates work hard and reach their potential as individuals and a team.

The seniors thanked Crosby’s wife, Aimee, for her support of the program, especially the Tuesday lunches she provided every week, and at the end of the program Crosby thanked all of the moms. He said when he asks players who does everything for them, their hands go up and they say it’s their mothers.

“I’m grateful to the moms. They are selfless and teach everyone what it is to sacrifice for the betterment of others,” he said. “We sure appreciate you. You’re raising some great young men.”