Rec football season ends

Another season of intramural football came to an end Saturday under the lights of Jim Crawford Field, where the Greybull and Basin third, fourth and fifth graders battled their counterparts from Cowley.

While the two teams endured their share of struggles, with the fifth graders going 0-5, the third- and fourth-graders 2-3, Coach Chris Dalin believes they demonstrated growth as the season progressed.

“We had some kids step up and play a lot of different positions,” he said. “We had to change the offense a little bit (at the fifth-grade level) to overcome some of our losses from last year’s team — like switching from shotgun pistol to under-center pistol.  

“Even though the fifth graders didn’t win a game, the last two games were close.” 

This year’s roster included fifth graders Buxston Shipley, Cordell Sorenson, Jace Davison, Jorge Burrola, Levi Hernandez, Cesar Lopez, Evan Winkler, Jaxson Good, Kai Landers, Paxton Reiter, Conner DeShazer, Hank Emmett, Jesse Reber, Lane Collingwood and William Livezey; fourth graders Elijah Suiter, Hudson Paxton, Hunter Baril, Luis Sifuentes, Paul Wilkinson, Rohan Myers, Weston Smith, Wyatt Bernaldez and Zane Wilkinson; and third-graders Ainsley Mulley, Danilo Marquez, Hawk Wippilnger, Hunter Frazier, Sawyer Hetzel, Wraith Stephens, Brighton Gross, Daxton Coenen, Henry VanderPloeg, Jaxon Johnston, Noah Mendez, Willett Brown, Cameron Waddell, Flint Dooley, Kal El Hoflund and Paxton Nelson. 

Several their fathers and former coaches assisted Dalin, including Jon Wilkinson, Jake Craft, Austin Frazier, Jared Davidson, Casey Good, Ryan Putnam and Anthony Landers.

“Numbers were great this year,” Dalin said, adding, “The last couple  years, it feels like there’s been a culture shift within the district.  Kids are going out for everything —  not just sports.”

Dalin points to this year’s varsity team as a shining example of what is possible through hard work and dedication. 

“I don’t think (this year’s seniors) won a game their fifth-grade year,” he said.

Now they’re not only undefeated through six games, but also giving back. Dalin said more members of the high school team than usual have helped with the intramural program.

“They’re behind the these little guys, that’s for sure,” he said.

Dalin said his dream is still to develop a peewee football program like those in Riverton, Thermopolis and Worland that incorporate sixth grades and feature playoffs and jamborees.

Until then, he intends to keep volunteering, helping the youngest Buffs become good players.

“I can’t say enough for (rec director) Heather (Howe); the program wouldn’t be what it is without her,” Dalin said. “We feel like our program is better organized, better coached, than a lot of teams.

“One thing that helps is that Heather and I have been doing it forever -- so it’s not like it’s new every year.”