I came to the conclusion a while ago that I’m not the office-worker type. It’s one of the biggest reasons I became a sports writer.

So to say I have missed covering sporting events since Mountain View won a state football championship on Nov. 10 is a bit of an understatement. Sure, I’ve managed to stay busy by visiting and writing previews on local high-school teams, but it’s not the same as being at a game.

With that, I couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming winter season. 

Friday will be the last day that previews (Mountain View wrestling, Lyman swimming and wrestling, and Rich boys’ and girls’ basketball) will run. By then, the season will be in full swing.

Evanston wrestling opens up Thursday with a dual match at home. The Red Devils will then host the Evanston Invitational on Friday and Saturday. I’m excited about this because it’s an event that people have talked to me about since my arrival at the Uinta County Herald in September. It will be an opportunity to see Evanston, Lyman and Mountain View on the mat right off the bat.

I’ll be splitting up my time this weekend between the Evanston Invitational and the Bridger Valley Basketball Tournament, which will feature the boys’ and girls’ teams from Lyman and Mountain View. All four of those teams should be successful. 

Meanwhile, the Evanston boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be at the Kelly Walsh Invitational. It looks to be a good test for two teams that both have high expectations for the 2017-18 campaign. I won’t be attending this tournament, but you can expect to see recaps online and in print from the event. 

On Dec. 14-16 the basketball programs from Evanston, Mountain View and Lyman will compete in the Flaming Gorge Classic, which will be held in Green River and Rock Springs. I will be at this event for at least one of the days the tournament takes place, but I’ll be sure to recap the games I can’t attend.

The Evanston boys’ swimming team also opens up Friday at Rawlins. The Red Devils’ first home meet will be the Evanston Invitational on Jan. 6. This is a young Evanston team, but the Red Devils have some talented swimmers. 

I haven’t been able to locate a schedule for the Lyman swim team, but the Eagles are still on my list of teams to visit before the season kicks off.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about the basketball programs at Rich High School. The Rebels finished third at state last season and are off to a 1-1 start. The Lady Rebels finished fifth at state last season and are off to a 3-1 start. Both teams will play against Lyman this season.

I’ll be doing my best to get to as many events as possible while keeping track of the games, matches, meets, etc. that I’m unable to attend. 

I hope you’re as excited as I am!

WINTER SPORTS
SCHEDULE

Evanston Boys Basketball

Dec. 7-9 at Kelly Walsh Invitational

Dec. 14-16 at Flaming Gorge Classic Tournament

Jan. 4-6 at McDonald’s Classic

Jan. 11 at Lyman, 7 p.m.

Jan. 12 at Star Valley, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18 vs. Green River, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 vs. Rock Springs, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 vs. Natrona, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs. Kelly Walsh, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 vs. Jackson, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 at Green River, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10 at Rock Springs, 7 p.m.

Feb. 16 at Kelly Walsh, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 17 at Natrona, 2:30 p.m.

Feb. 24 at Jackson, 3:30 p.m.

March 1-3 Regionals at Jackson, TBA

March 8-10 State at Casper, TBA

Evanston Girls
Basketball

Dec. 7-9 at Kelly Walsh Invitational, TBA

Dec. 14-16 at Flaming Gorge Classic, TBA

Jan. 4-6 at McDonald’s Classic, TBA

Jan. 11 at Lyman, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 12 at Star Valley, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 18 vs. Green River, 6 p.m.

Jan. 19 vs. Rock Springs, 6 p.m.

Jan. 26 vs. Natrona, 6 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs. Kelly Walsh, 1 p.m.

Feb. 2 vs. Jackson, 6 p.m.

Feb. 9 at Green River, 6 p.m.

Feb. 10 at Rock Springs, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 at Kelly Walsh, 6 p.m.

Feb. 17 at Natrona, 1 p.m.

Feb. 24 at Jackson, 5:30 p.m.

March 1-3 Regionals at Jackson, TBA

March 8-10 State at Casper, TBA

Evanston Wrestling

Dec. 7 vs. TBD, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 8 Evanston Invitational, 1 p.m.

Dec. 9 Evanston Invitational, 9 a.m.

Dec. 13 vs. Morgan (Utah) and Montpelier (Idaho), 5 p.m.

Dec. 15 at Viewmont Invitational, (Utah), 1 p.m.

Dec. 16 at Viewmont Invitational (Utah), 9 a.m.

Dec. 19 vs. Highland (Utah), 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 5 at Green River Invitational, 2 p.m.

Jan. 6 at Green River Invitational, 9 a.m.

Jan. 12 at Uintah (Utah), TBA

Jan. 17 vs. Rock Springs, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 19 at Idaho Falls Invitational (Idaho), 3 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Idaho Falls Invitational (Idaho), 9 a.m.

Jan. 26 at Riverton Invitational, 10 a.m.

Jan. 27 at Riverton Invitational, 8 a.m.

Jan. 31 at Green River, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 1 at Jackson, 5 p.m.

Feb. 3 Conference Duals at Rock Springs, 9 a.m.

Feb. 8 vs. Star Valley, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 Regionals at Evanston, 6 p.m.

Feb. 17 Regionals at Evanston, 9 a.m.

Feb. 23-24 State at Casper, TBA

Evanston Boys Swimming

Dec. 8-9 at Rawlins

Dec. 15-16 at Riverton

Jan. 6 Evanston Invitational

Jan. 13 at Kemmerer, 10 a.m.

Jan. 19 at Lyman, 4 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Green River, 10 a.m.

Jan. 24 at Rock Springs, 4 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Pinedale, 11 a.m.

Jan. 30 vs. Rock Springs, 4 p.m.

Feb. 2-3 Conference at Kelly Walsh, TBA

Feb. 9 Last Chance Meet at TBA, TBA

Feb. 16-17 State at Laramie, TBA

Lyman Boys Basketball

Dec. 8-9 Bridger Valley Invitational, TBA

Dec. 14-16 at Flaming Gorge Classic Tournament

Dec. 29 vs. Wyoming Indian

Jan. 6 vs. Mountain View

Jan. 11 vs. Evanston

Jan. 12 at Big Piney

Jan. 19 vs. Star Valley

Jan. 20 at Pinedale

Jan. 26 vs. Riverton

Jan. 27 vs. Lander

Feb. 1 vs. Rich

Feb. 9 at Cody

Feb. 10 at Powell

Feb. 16 at Star Valley

Feb. 17 vs. Pinedale

Feb. 22 at Mountain View

March 1-3 Regionals at Pinedale

March 8-10 at Casper

Lyman Girls Basketball

Dec. 8-9 Bridger Valley Invitational, TBA

Dec. 14-16 at Flaming Gorge Classic Tournament

Dec. 29 vs. Wyoming Indian

Jan. 6 vs. Mountain View

Jan. 11 vs. Evanston

Jan. 12 at Big Piney

Jan. 19 vs. Star Valley

Jan. 20 at Pinedale

Jan. 26 vs. Riverton

Jan. 27 vs. Lander

Feb. 3 at Rich

Feb. 9 at Cody

Feb. 10 at Powell

Feb. 16 at Star Valley

Feb. 17 vs. Pinedale

Feb. 22 at Mountain View

March 1-3 Regionals at Pinedale

March 8-10 State at Casper

Lyman Wrestling

Dec. 8-9 at Evanston Invitational

Dec. 12 at Pinedale

Dec. 14 vs. Kemmerer

Dec. 16 at Kemmerer

Jan. 3 vs. Duchesne (Utah)

Jan. 5-6 at Green River Invitational

Jan. 12-13 at Wind River Invitational

Jan. 18 at Cokeville

Jan. 19-20 at Orem (Utah)

Jan. 23 vs. Big Piney

Jan. 26-27 at Riverton Invitational

Feb. 2 at Kemmerer

Feb. 3 at Rawlins

Feb. 8 vs. Mountain View

Feb. 16-17 Regionals at Lyman

Feb. 23-24 State at Casper

Mountain View
Boys Basketball

Dec. 8-9 Bridger Valley Tournament

Dec. 14-16 at Flaming Gorge Classic Tournament

Jan. 5 vs. Rawlins

Jan. 6 at Lyman

Jan. 13 at Kemmerer

Jan. 19 vs. Pinedale

Jan. 20 at Star Valley

Jan. 26 vs. Lander

Jan. 27 vs. Riverton

Jan. 31 vs. Kemmerer

Feb. 3 vs. Big Piney

Feb. 9 at Powell

Feb. 10 at Cody

Feb. 16 at Pinedale

Feb. 17 vs. Star Valley

Feb. 22 vs. Lyman

March 1-3 Regionals at Pinedale

March 8-10 State at Casper

Mountain View
Girls Basketball

Dec. 8-9 Bridger Valley Tournament

Dec. 14-16 at Flaming Gorge Classic Tournament

Jan. 5 vs. Rawlins

Jan. 6 at Lyman

Jan. 13 at Kemmerer

Jan. 19 vs. Pinedale

Jan. 20 at Star Valley

Jan. 26 vs. Lander

Jan. 27 vs. Riverton

Jan. 31 vs. Kemmerer

Feb. 3 vs. Big Piney

Feb. 9 at Powell

Feb. 10 at Cody

Feb. 16 at Pinedale

Feb. 17 vs. Star Valley

Feb. 22 vs. Lyman

March 1-3 Regionals at Pinedale

March 8-10 State at Casper

Mountain View Wrestling

Dec. 8-9 at Evanston Invitational

Dec. 13 at Rawlins 

Dec. 15 at Kemmerer

Dec. 16 at Kemmerer

Jan. 5-6 at Green River Invitational

Jan. 11 at Kemmerer

Jan. 12-13 at Wind River Invitational

Jan. 18 at Lander

Jan. 19-20 at Lander

Jan. 24 vs. Cokeville

Jan. 26-27 at Riverton Invitational 

Jan. 30 vs. Rock Springs

Feb. 2 Bridgerland Tournament

Feb. 6 at Big Piney

Feb. 8 vs. Lyman

Feb. 16-17 Regionals at Lyman

Feb. 23-24 State at Casper

Rich Boys Basketball

Dec. 1 Rich 55, Providence 37

Dec. 2 Grand Country 50, Rich 45

Dec. 7 at Bear Lake (Montpelier, Idaho)

Dec. 8 vs. vs. Valley (Orderville, Utah)

Dec. 9 vs. Piute (Junction, Utah)

Jan. 4 vs. Bear Lake (Montpelier, Idaho)

Jan. 5 vs. West Side, (Dayton, Idaho)

Jan. 12 at Intermountain Christian (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Jan. 13 vs. Duschesne (Utah)

Jan. 19 vs. Manila (Utah)

Jan. 20 at South Summit (Kamas, Utah)

Jan. 26 at Tabiona (Utah)

Jan. 27 vs. Mount Vernon (Murray, Utah)

Feb. 1 vs. Lyman, 7 p.m.

Feb. 2 vs. Intermountain Christian (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Feb. 3 at Mount Vernon, (Murray, Utah)

Feb. 9 at Manila (Utah)

Feb. 10 at West Side (Dayton, Idaho)

Feb. 10 at West Side (Dayton, Idaho)

Feb. 16 at Tabiona (Utah)

Feb. 22 at Intermountain Christian (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Rich Girls Basketball

Nov. 17 Rich 48, Bryce Valley 31

Nov. 18 Rich 47, Wayne 45

Nov. 30 Bear Lake 55, Rich 54

Dec. 2 Rich 55, West Side 54

Dec. 8 at Altamont (Utah)

Jan. 12 at Intermountain Christian (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Jan. 12 at Intermountain Christian (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Jan. 13 vs. Duchesne (Utah)

Jan. 25 vs. West Side (Dayton, Idaho)

Jan. 26 at Tabiona (Utah)

Jan. 26 vs. Manila

Feb. 3 vs. Lyman

Feb. 16 vs. Tabiona (Utah)

Feb. 22 vs. Intermountain Christian (Salt Lake City, Utah)