Wilson places ninth at state golf tournament, Lovell boys seventh

The 2026 high school fall golf season has come to an end and with it the final state tournament for four seniors competing for Lovell High School.

The Bulldogs made the long trip to Torrington last week for the Class 3A State Tournament held Friday and Saturday and competed well.

“Torrington proved to be one of the nicest courses that we got to play this season. It was equal parts gettable and frustrating for our golfers,” head coach Dane Robertson said. “The front 9 was pretty open, and the players could swing freely off the tee box without needing to worry (too much) about tree trouble, but the back 9 was the complete opposite. With towering cottonwoods that completely lined each and every hole, it was reminiscent of Mirkwood in ‘The Lord of the Rings’ -- gloomy, oppressive and causing disorientation.

“If you hit an errant shot, your ball would immediately be gobbled up and spit back out by a tree. With around 100 players in the field, at times it sounded like a shooting range with balls ricocheting off cottonwoods left and right.”

Lovell senior Kenley Wilson made it a clean sweep in Torrington, finishing in the top 10 in every tournament this fall. Wilson earned all-state honors by placing ninth with a two-day score of 202, recording a score of 102 the first day and improving to 100 in round two. Her score was just two strokes off a tie for sixth place.

“Kenley took these trees to task by bending her ball over, under, around and sometimes through them to post a couple of good scores over the two days,” Robertson said. “She played well enough to crack the top 10 and earn all-state honors. That has been her goal all season. To end her career by winning the 3A West championship and then earning all-state to finish was exactly what I expected her to accomplish. I’m very, very proud of her and am happy to get to be a part of her journey.”

Addison Bettinger of Buffalo won the state title with a score of 162, beating Haylie Nelson of Wheatland by two strokes. Wheatland won the team title.

Boys results

The Lovell boys placed seventh out of 12 scoring teams with a two-day total of 736 strokes. The Bulldogs recorded a score of 374 in the first round and improved to 362 on Day 2.

Lovell senior Kaeson Anderson was the top placer for the Bulldogs, recording a score of 176 to finish 27th. Anderson shot 87 the first day and 89 the second.

Lovell senior Rocco Rael tied for 29th place with a score of 91-87=178, and close behind was Rocky Mountain senior Kellan Jackson, who shot 93-87=180 to tie for 32nd.

Youngsters filled the final two spots for the Bulldogs. Lovell sophomore Hudson Miller finished 45th, scoring 103-99=202, and Rocky freshman Madden Cooley shot 104-100=204, good for 48th.

“The boys didn’t end up exactly where they had hoped by the time the last putt dropped,” Robertson said. “They shouldn’t be too upset, though. The golf that I saw them play and the scores that they inevitably posted didn’t necessarily jive together. I saw so many good shots hit by each of them, but an unlucky bounce or a putt that would just barely miss falling into the cup would lead to a higher score than it should have been.

“This group of boys has been so incredibly fun to coach. They’re just a bunch of knuckleheads that had fun and truly worked hard to get better. I’m sad to see our senior boys go. I appreciate Kaeson, Rocco and Kellan for being good leaders, being coachable and just for being good dudes. Luckily, we have a good crop of younger players ready and willing to step into their shoes and carry the Bulldog banner into the future.”

Senior Tate Nichols of Wheatland won the state title by five strokes, recording a score of 139 to beat Cody Fisher of Powell, who shot a 144. Wheatland won the boys team championship to double dip on team titles.

The tournament was the final culminating competition for Wilson, Anderson, Rael and Jackson, though there will be a spring season. Other seniors on the roster this year were Aren Olsen and Addisyn Perkins.