Mike English was hired as head volleyball coach at the University of Wyoming on Jan. 10, 1986, and had an immediate and long-lasting impact on the Cowgirl volleyball program.  He guided the team to Wyoming’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in his first season (1986) and went on to lead the Cowgirls to two more NCAA appearances in 1989 and `90.  In the 1989 NCAA Tournament, Wyoming emerged as the “Cinderella” of the championships, defeating heavily-favored Stanford and earning its way to the Elite Eight before falling to UCLA on the Bruins’ home court in the West Regional Final.  During his seven-year career, English won more matches (124) and posted a higher winning percentage (59.0 percent) than any coach in UW volleyball history. English earned High Country Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1987 and 1989 and was named West Region Co-Coach of the Year in `89.  He ended his career with a 124-86 record at Wyoming and a 253-161 (.611) career record, including six years (1980-85) at the University of Missouri.  On Dec. 12, 1993, the University of Wyoming, the Laramie community and the college volleyball world were stunned when English was seriously injured in an auto accident between Laramie and Fort Collins, Colo.  He suffered a traumatic injury in the crash, which left him unable to return to coaching.  On Aug. 16, 1995, Nancy English and the University of Wyoming Athletics Department announced the establishment of the Mike English Women’s Volleyball Scholarship at the University of Wyoming, which is presented annually to a deserving volleyball student-athlete. English died on Nov. 20, 2000.

In only the second year of combined scoring, the UW men’s and women’s ski teams finished first overall at the 1985 NCAA Championships in Bozeman, Mont., capturing the second national skiing title for Wyoming (1968) . Thirteen UW skiers earned All American honors. In the Alpine events, Ann Melander won the women’s giant slalom while Becky Simning finished third, Heidi Ward 8th, and Shari Ahola 11th. Ian White was Wyoming’s top finisher in the men’s giant slalom, finishing 4th, ahead of teammates Nils Eriksson (5th), Olov Gynt (11th), and Dave Lyon (18th). Melander also won the women’s slalom event, placing just ahead of teammates Ahola (2nd), Simning (3rd), and Ward (6th). Lyon led Wyoming in the men’s slalom (10th), followed by Gynt (13th), White (14th), and Eriksson (25th). In the Nordic events, Wyoming’s women’s relay team (Hagensen, Stav, Peikli-Randall) won the 3 x 5 km event, while the men’s team of Grumsrud, Skosholm, and Straley finished 5th. In the 7.5 km Cross Country race, the women’s top finisher was Peikli-Randall (5th), while the men’s team was led by Per Henning (6th). Coached by Tim Ameel and Kent Towlerton, the 1985 team won four of its six meets, and finished second in the other two contests.

One of the greatest Wyoming high school wrestlers in state history, Ray Sanchez came to the University of Wyoming after compiling an amazing record of 98-0 and winning four state championships at Cheyenne Central High School. He was a two-time senior men’s National AAU champion in 1965 and 1966 and a two-time Great Plains National Champion representing Wyoming in 1966 and 1967. Sanchez was undefeated competing for the Cowboys’ Freshman Team in 1966. As a Cowboy sophomore on the varsity in 1967, despite battling an elbow injury, Sanchez finished fourth in the nation at 115 pounds and earned All America honors. Unfortunately, he suffered a back injury the following year and was forced to give up wrestling. He went on to a successful career as a teacher, coach and high school administrator.

Called “the best safety in football” by Coach Bowden Wyatt, Selmer Pederson earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1950, and was a two-time all-Skyline Conference honoree. Known as a devastating tackler, Pederson started three years on the Cowboys’ dominating nationally-ranked defense and helped Wyoming to a 26-3-1 record in those years, including 13 shutouts. Pederson holds the Wyoming career record for interceptions in a single game with three vs. Denver in 1950 (tied with Brian Lee and Shamiel Gary). Also an outstanding punt returner, Pederson holds the Cowboy career records for punt return yards (1080) and average yards per return (13). He also holds Wyoming’s single-season record for average yards per punt return (16.1 in 1949) and the single-game record for average yards per return (36.3 vs. Montana State in 1949), despite opponents’ routinely kicking away from him. Pederson also set Skyline Conference records for most punt returns (83) and most punt return yards (1080). Following his senior year, Pederson played in the North-South All-Star game.

An outstanding setter and tremendous leader, Chris Lull set the UW single-season assist record in 1989 when she produced 1,381 assists, also setting a record for assists per game with 12.4. For her efforts, she was named the High Country Athletic Conference Player of the Year and selected all-West Region by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. As tri-captain (with Darcy Cudaback and Ginger Bruere) in 1989, Lull led the team to the HCAC Championship and the “Elite 8” of the NCAA Tournament, still the best finish of any UW Volleyball team. Lull was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, West Region. Referred to by her coach, Mike English, as “the key to making our offense click”, Lull was also a two-time Academic All-Conference selection. Lull attended the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1987, competed in the 1987 U.S. Sports Festival, played for the USA National “B” Team in 1990, and played professionally in Belgium.

The first UW women’s golfer ever to win an individual conference championship, Jordan Lintz excelled at Wyoming from 1997-2000. The highlight of her college career was winning the 2000 Mountain West Conference Championships individual title in 2000, and earning all-conference honors. She is also the only UW women’s golfer to qualify for the NCAA Regionals (2000). Lintz still holds the Cowgirl record for tournaments won (three) and the record for individual season stroke average (75-70 in 1999-2000). In 2005, Lintz qualified for the LPGA with full playing status. She played on the LPGA Futures tour from 2001 through 2008, and won the 2011 Connecticut Women’s Open. Lintz served as the assistant golf professional at Great River Golf Club in Milford, Conn., before joining Sacred Heart (Fairfield, Conn.) as an assistant women’s golf coach in 2011.

One of the greatest linemen ever to play at Wyoming, Len Kuczewski capped his career by earning honorable mention All America and First Team All-Conference honors in 1959. Despite his size (5-9, 176 pounds), Kuczewski anchored the Cowboy front line, widely considered the best in the conference. He led Coach Bob Devaney’s Cowboys to a record of 21-7-3 and two conference titles over his three years as a starter. Kuczewski played exceptionally well in Wyoming’s 1958 Sun Bowl victory over Hardin-Simmons and was the first lineman ever to be named the game’s outstanding player. He was also named to the 1958 Bowl All-Star team, a collection of players who starred in the 1958 college bowl games. Kuczewski was later named to the 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team. A natural leader and excellent student, he was voted captain of the 1959 team by his teammates and was named to the Skyline Conference All-Academic team.

Hometown: Sheridan, Wyo.
Sport: Football
Years: 1948-50

A defensive halfback and blocking back in the single-wing offense of the 1948-1950 football teams, Dick Campbell earned honorable mention All America honors in 1950. Recruited by Coach Bowden Wyatt, Campbell joined the Wyoming football team in 1947 after two years in the Army. During his three years, Wyoming compiled a record of 23-6. Chosen unanimously by his teammates as the captain of the 1950 team, Campbell led the Cowboys to a 10-0 record, the Skyline Conference Championship, and Wyoming’s first-ever bowl game, a 20-7 win over Washington & Lee in the 1951 Gator Bowl. Campbell scored the game’s first touchdown. The 1950 team is still the only team in Wyoming history to go undefeated, untied, and win a bowl game. A unanimous all-conference player, Campbell caught every pass thrown his way as a junior and senior, eighteen straight catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He was described as an “exceptionally fine blocker and an outstanding defensive halfback”. Following his senior year, he was selected to play in the College All-Star game in Chicago and was drafted by the Washington Redskins.

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