GMS teams enter season’s homestretch

By Nathan Oster

With just a couple weeks of the season remaining, the goal of creating a fourth team to better distribute playing time across the Greybull Middle School boys basketball roster appears to have been achieved.

The 40-plus kids on this year’s roster aren’t playing on traditional A, B and C teams.  They were instead assigned to Blue, Red, Green and Yellow teams, based upon their experience levels. Each of those teams has played at least seven games, with the Green squad playing the most, nine. Each of the teams also sports a .500 record or better.

“It’s been a hectic season, but we have seen a ton of improvement in our players,” said Cadance Wipplinger, the team’s head coach.  Assisting her this year are Tate Carney and Jonathan Cauffman.

The Blue team, made up almost entirely of eighth graders, has been playing 8A games against their opponents’ top teams.  Through seven games, the team sports a 4-3 record.

“The A conference is very strong this year with Burlington, Shoshoni, and Thermopolis having very strong teams,” said Wipplinger. “The tournament in Thermopolis on Feb. 22 will be very competitive. 

The Blue team played Lovell and Cody last week and won both of those games; its only losses have been to Burlington and Shoshoni.

Team members include Jose Acuna, Alan Burgos, Briston Craft, Quin Coyne, Tell Edeler, Baron Eichelberger, Jace Julson, Jayden Marchant, Jax Miller, Cruz Sorenson and Grey Wipplinger.

The Red team, playing a mix of 7A and 8B games depending upon the competition, has won five and lost three. 

Team members include Landen Gorski, Carlin Mulley, Cody Myers, Marshall Brown, Damion Craw, Colt Collingwood, Brendan DeShazer, Kayson Herebia, Will Fink, Kade Julson and Korbin Stewart.

The Green and Yellow teams are made up of sixth and seventh graders who play 7B and 6A games, again depending upon the competition.

The Green team, which is 5-4, includes Noah Blakley, Allan Hernandez, Irving Gallegos, Mattix Myers, Jace Pouska, Siul Rodriguez, Jace Craft, Kaiser Eichelberger, Kru Keisel, Wyatt Kunkel, Elijah Vigil and Tanner Schell.

The Yellow team, which is 4-4, includes Tanner Schell, Joey Campos, Trenton Lowe, Dietrich Otto, Jayson Torres, Logan Winkler, Jayden Winkler, Mattix Myers, Alan Hernandez and Irving Rodriguez Atilano.