Top high school athletes honored

by Elysia Conner
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 1:13 PM MDT

The Casper Area Chamber of Commerce's Sports & Attractions Committee honored four students as the top outstanding athletes in Natrona County.

One male and one female athlete were chosen from Natrona County High Schooland Kelly Walsh High School.

For Natrona County High School, Nicolas Martinez and Hannah Romsa were recognized.

Brandon Douglass and Emily Rochelle took the top honors for Kelly Walsh High School,

The Female Athlete of the Year Award and the Male Athlete of the Year Award went to Emily Rochelle and Brandon Douglass.

Brandon Douglass

Brandon Douglass will attend the University of Wyoming this fall on a track scholarship to compete in the pole vault and hurdles. The highlight of his high school athletic career was winning the state championship in hurdles his junior year.

Douglass said that he had not seriously considered college track until he realized his potential as an athlete after last year’s state meet.

Besides that, some of his best high school memories came from being around his friends and coaches during indoor and outdoor track.

He will remember coach Kevin Williams’ advice, which is to never take yourself too seriously and always have fun.

The coaches “helped me grow as an athlete and as a person,” Douglass said. Eric Freeman’s coaching also made a difference for him.

Douglass is a National Honor Society member with an excellent academic record. He plans to major in pre-medicine and may go into anesthesiology. The interaction with patients is one part of the career that appeals to him.

Both of Douglass’ parents ran track, and although they supported him, they never pushed him into it, he said.

His hobbies include hunting, hiking, snowboarding and just being outdoors.

Off the field, “the competitive mindset transfers to the classroom,” Douglass said. “I think it helps you to want to do well there also.”

Emily Rochelle

Emily Rochelle will play for the University of Wyoming Cowgirls volleyball team next fall. She also is an accomplished basketball player and track participant. She is excited to be part of rebuilding the promising volleyball program there.

Last year, she was recognized as the Gatorade Player of the Year.

Her favorite sports moments in high school included NC girls winning the state volleyball championship. State track every year “was a blast,” she said as was helping NC win the Peach Basket games twice.

She also was on the Wyoming High School Athletic Association Student Advisory Council and part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

She is grateful to her many coaches over the years, including Jeff Barkell, Pat Scissons, Kevin Williams, Bryan Coventry, Amy Radden, Pam Hagar and her good friend Jeff McMullen.

McMullen always stressed playing with a passion. With Barkell she honed her competitive volleyball skills. Williams taught her to love what she does and her teammates, and from Scissons she learned the value of hard work.

Rochelle has earned many college credits already. The top student looks forward to studying molecular biology at a sophomore level next year. She may pursue a career in the medical field.

In her busy high school years, Rochelle has learned to manage her time well. One of the things she has learned is that, “the busier you are, the more you get done,” she said.

Nicolas Martinez

Nicolas Martinez participated in cross-county, indoor and outdoor track. His most memorable athletic moments included the NC boys winning the state and regional championships in the 4x4 event.

Last season, he beat his personal record in the 800 meter dash with a time of 1:57. It was the first time he’d made it in less than two minutes, and almost beat the school record.

“I work well with groups but I also like to push myself to see the best I can do,” he said about why he enjoys track. It also is part of why he is so academically driven.

Being from Colombia, Martinez is grateful for the opportunities he has enjoyed since moving to the U.S. at about age nine.

“My parents are the foundation to who I am,” he said. Friends, coaches and teachers also have helped him succeed.

He graduated as his class valedictorian and will major in the new energy systems engineering program at the University of Wyoming this fall. Martinez is interested in green technology and alternative energy.

He also has been very involved in the NC student council and playing at several of their fundraisers with his band, The Pedestrians.

Hannah Romsa

Hannah Romsa will be attending the University of Wyoming on a track scholarship. The cross-county, indoor and outdoor track runner will specialize in long jump and hurdles. She is grateful to parents and coaches who have supported her in reaching her goals.

Her best track memories included the NC girls track team winning the state championship. The people around her have been her biggest joy, she said.

Her faith in God also is a major part of her life, she said.

Romsa graduated in the top ten percent of Natrona County high school students and took some of the most challenging courses offered. She is interested in the medical field and may pursue optometry. The athlete also hopes to make a difference in the world through charity work.

Romsa has been helping her father build a house this summer and also enjoys art, especially photography.

“It’s been a good journey,” she said, about her high school years.

The banquet recognizes one male and one female athlete from various sports categories.

Students recognized at this year's Banquet are:

Kelly Walsh High School students Sean Henley and Mattie Wells, Alpine Ski; Cobi Eskew and Kayla Fakelman, Basketball; Alexias Pickett, Cheerleading; Nathan Hough and Bridget Weiner, Cross Country; Sterling Dockweiler, Football; Alexander Oates and Chantelle Nelson, Golf; Bryan Sanger and Bridget Weiner, Nordic Ski; David Giralt, Soccer; Leah Underwood, Soccer; Chris Chamberlin, Brett Kahler and Stephanie Goddard, Swimming; Hayden Christensen, Tennis; Nicolle Dvorak, Tennis; Brandon Douglass, Indoor Track; Julia Popish, Indoor Track; Brandon Douglass, Track; Bailey Kremke, Track; Lyla Coto, Trainer; Emily Rochelle, Volleyball; Jesse Hillhouse, Wrestling.

Natrona County High School students: Sean Munoz, Alpine Ski; Tom Earl and Michael Dietz, Basketball; Taylor Diehl, Basketball; Kjersten Tofte, Cheerleading; Luke Gilbert, Cross Country; Chelsea Carrick, Cross Country; Tom Earl, Football; Nate Drell, Golf; Katie Wilson, Golf; Andrew Hill, Nordic Ski; Shanna McCleary, Nordic Ski; Cole Montgomery and Sara Gillum, Soccer; Adam Martin and Samantha Marquard, Swimming; Cole Milliken, Corey Ellbogen and Natalie Jennings, Tennis; Taylor Villegas and Hannah Romsa, Indoor Track; Mario Harris and the entire 2009 NCHS Fillies Track Team, Track; Savana Kraft, Trainer; Makenzie Bartsch, Volleyball; Cody Brown, Wrestling.

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