Strom, Jolley to play in Wyoming Shrine Bowl Saturday in Casper

A pair of recent high school graduates from north Big Horn County will continue their football career for one more game this weekend when they participate in the Wyoming Shrine Bowl all-star football game.

Halen Strom of Lovell and Triffen Jolley of Rocky Mountain have been selected to play for the North squad, coached by Mark Lenhardt of Riverton High School. In addition, Rocky Mountain graduate Landon Pruett will be presented with the Scotty Scott Outstanding Citizenship Award for the 1A 9-man division during the event.

Rocky Mountain head football coach Jessee Wilson said Jolley is expected to play fullback/H-back for the North squad.

Jolley was a standout running back and middle linebacker for the Grizzlies, named to the Class 1A 9-man All-State team following the season, as well as receiving 9-man West All-Conference honors. He rushed for 1,311 yards on 167 carries (7.9 yards per carry), second in 1A 9-man, and scored 17 touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 29 yards. He was second on the team and fifth in 9-man with 213 defensive points including 124 tackles, 66 of which were solo tackles, seven tackles for a loss and two interceptions.

Jolley was also named both the West Conference and Wyoming State defensive player of the year.

“Triffen Jolley has been an absolute cornerstone of our program for the past three years, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to see him earn a spot in this year’s Shrine Bowl,” Coach Wilson said. “Triffen truly embodies everything a Shrine Bowl player should be – humble, hardworking and an outstanding teammate. Watching him grow into a confident, high-character leader has been one of the greatest joys of my coaching career. From being the last player off the bus making sure it was spotless for the driver to constantly pushing his teammates to reach higher levels, Triffen leads by example every single day.

“It has been an absolute pleasure coaching him, and I’m fired up to watch him represent the Grizz one more time this week.”

Wilson said the Scotty Scott Outstanding Citizenship Award is given to one athlete in each classification and recognizes outstanding community work and service.

“Landon has always been incredibly active in giving back, volunteering for numerous school club service projects as well as with the Byron Lions Club,” Wilson said. “It’s fantastic to see him receive this well-deserved recognition for all the hard work he puts in outside of athletics – efforts that too often go unnoticed. We couldn’t be prouder of the character and commitment Landon shows every day.”

Halen Strom

A standout lineman for the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball, Strom was named to the Class 2A All-State team following the season, as well as the 3A West All-Conference team.

A force on the defensive line at tackle for the Bulldogs, Strom fought through knee injuries in each of the past two seasons. He also played guard on offense when fully healthy. He finished with 54 defensive points his senior year including 40 tackles and five tackles for a loss, and he took on blockers to free up Bulldog linebackers to tackle.

Lovell head coach Nicc Crosby was pleased to see Strom chosen for the Shrine Bowl.

“I’m very excited for Halen to be able to represent Lovell High School in the Shrine Bowl this year. He was so enjoyable to coach the past four seasons, and he’s very deserving of this honor,” Crosby said. “It’s hard to quantify what Halen brings to the table on the football field. When you’re in the trenches on both sides of the ball, most of what you do during the game is hard to see unless you make a mistake. Thankfully, Halen didn’t make too many of those.

“When you go back and watch film, however, you see that Halen consistently demands a double team on the defensive line and still ends up defeating those double teams and making plays on a regular basis. He made a tremendous difference for us when he was in the lineup. I believe he has the ability to be a difference maker in the Shine Bowl, as well, even going up against some of the best players in the state.”

Crosby said making the Shrine Bowl means a great deal to Strom.

“Halen is also very passionate about football, and I know it means a lot to him to be able to be a part of this special event,” the coach said. “He told me that he’s excited to play in the Shrine Bowl, not only because of the game but especially to play for such a great cause. He said he’s honored to be there to support and help out all the Shriners hospitals and their patients. He added that what he’s most looking forward to is beating the South on Saturday.”

The 53rd annual Shrine Bowl will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Casper Natrona High School’s Cheney Alumni Field. All proceeds will go to support the Shriners Children’s hospitals.

Versatile Bulldog player Matthew Newman was also selected for the Shrine Bowl but is unable to play. Newman played slot, running back, linebacker and defensive back for the Bulldogs and received all-state and all-conference recognition following the season.