More than 200 student-athletes turn out

Fall sports season began for the 2011-2012 school year at Powell High School on Monday with roughly 200 student-athletes showing for practice in the activity of their choice. That figure appeared consistent with previous fall participation numbers at the school.

As with every year, there were slight fluctuations with numbers depending on specific activities. For Panther cross country coach Cliff Boos, who brought home a 3A state title on the girls’ side and a third-place finish in 3A on the boys’ side, a total of 12 cross country runners greeted him to his first morning practice.

Trapper basketball adds local product

Lovell basketball standout Jeff Lewis was announced as the latest member of the 2011 Northwest College men’s basketball recruiting class. Lewis officially signed his letter of intent with the Trappers last week.

“Jeff is one that we’ve been talking to and really had committed to him,” said Trapper head coach Andy Ward. “He had committed to us verbally a while back. We have a real good feel for what he brings to the table.”

The vacation is over. The school year is here. Practices have begun. Here are some quick hits and short bits to get things started!

• If you’re looking for an excuse to take a couple hours off work this Friday, I suggest a trip to the Northwest College campus where the Trappers’ new soccer field should be getting its christening when the NWC women’s team hosts the University of Great Falls in a scrimmage. Sure, the game doesn’t matter in the win-loss column, but you know you’re salivating for a taste of the local college sports scene. Opening whistle is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Local armwrestler to be enshrined Saturday

After a career that has spanned 22 years, six states and three countries, Cody resident Ed Baxter will be enshrined in the Wyoming Hall of Fame this Saturday at the state armwrestling championships in Douglas.

Late flurry by Rocky the difference

Northwest College women’s soccer coach Kaylin Olivas got the first opportunity to watch her new team perform under game conditions on Saturday and, for the most part, was impressed with what she saw. The Trappers fell 3-2 in exhibition play to Rocky Mountain College in Billings.

“It was the first time they’ve played together as a team and they came out and played extremely well,” said Olivas of her second-year program. “Overall, I was extremely, extremely pleased with how they played.”

Nixon lost just nine matches after freshman season

With departed national champion Nick Petersen gone from the roster in 2011-2012, Northwest College wrestling coach Jim Zeigler knew he had a fairly significant hole to fill on the Trappers’ roster. What better way to do that than to bring in a recruit that owns a major decision victory against the outgoing champion?

Geological hazards, convicts and vampires

The Sports Guy is out in Washington, so this week’s column is coming to you penned from the road. There’s two ways to think of this.

One, I’m on vacation resting up for the start of the school year. Or, two, I’m in pre-season training for the 2,254 round trip miles that it’ll take to simply follow Panther football this fall, not counting playoff games.

Here are the results from the remote control races held at Homesteader Park in Powell on July 31. Racers’ start position was determined by virtue of their performance in time trials.

Here are the results from the remote control races held at Homesteader Park in Powell on July 31. Racers’ start position was determined by virtue of their performance in time trials.

Persistence pays off.

Making his 20th appearance at Cheyenne Frontier Days, Burlington’s K.C. Jones finally captured the all-around title that has been eluding him those many years.