The 2006-07 Cowgirls finished second in the Mountain West Conference with a record of 11-5 and earned an invitation to the WNIT Tournament. They played six straight home games in the WNIT and captured the attention and enthusiasm of the Wyoming fans during a magical three-week run. A record-breaking sellout crowd of 15,462 fans cheered them on to victory over Big Ten power Wisconsin in the championship game. Hanna Zavecz was named the tournament’s MVP, while Jodi Bolerjack was also selected to the all-tournament team. The Cowgirls ended the season with a record of 27-9, the best in school history.

Coached by Pete Burns and Danny Dunlavy, the Cowgirls won their second consecutive College National Finals Rodeo Championship in 1991 with a total team effort.  All three members of the team were from Wyoming and all contributed to the victory.  Toni Christinck Olson, of Wheatland, won one go-round in the goat tying and barrel racing competition.  Shanna Newland Howell, of Colony, won the first go-round in the breakaway roping and qualified as one of the top ten finalists in goat tying.  Lori Rhodes Shepard, of Hamilton Dome, won the national championship in goat tying, to clinch the championship.

A 6-5 forward on the 1943 National Champion basketball team, Jim Weir earned All American honors in 1943. Helping Wyoming to the 1943 “Big 7” conference title, Weir also earned all-conference honors. He was the third-leading scorer on the National Championship team, averaging ten points per game. The Cowboys had a record of 82-17 during Weir’s playing career.

A member of UW’s back-to-back Mountain States Conference Champion Teams in 1949 and 1950, Hewgley played both defensive tackle and offensive guard for the Cowboys. He was credited as a key blocker for Wyoming’s all-time great running back Eddie Talboom. Hewgley earned second team AP All America honors in 1950 along with first-team All-Conference recognition. Wyoming had a record of 9-1 in 1949 and 10-0 in 1950, including a win in the Gator Bowl. Hewgley later returned to his alma mater to coach the offensive line.

Wyoming’s all-time leader in pins, Mike Hamel was a two-time Western Athletic Conference champion and a three-time Mountain Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion. As a freshman, he was named to the Amateur Wrestling News Freshman All-American team and earned “Rookie of the Year“ honors in the WAC. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Hamel won 12 tournaments during his time at Wyoming. He was the co-captain of the 1986 undefeated Cowboy wrestling team. He led the ‘Pokes to WAC team titles in 1983, 1985 and 1986. Hamel was honored with the Admiral Land Award as UW’s top student-athlete in 1986.

Described as a “terror on defense”, Vince Guinta was an honorable mention All-America in 1955 and 1956. Playing linebacker on defense and center on offense, Guinta was an integral part of Wyoming’s success in the mid-1950s. As a linebacker, he called all the defensive signals for his team. He started and lettered for three years under Coach Phil Dickens. He displayed great team leadership and was a tenacious tackler. He led Wyoming to a Sun Bowl victory in 1955 and an undefeated Skyline Championship season in 1956.

A team physician for UW Athletics from 1973-2003, the late Dr. David Kieffer pioneered the art of Sports Medicine in the state of Wyoming and at the University of Wyoming. He led efforts in the Mountain West Conference to develop a complex management plan and dedicated physician approach to concussion treatment. He authored definitive research on the anterior cruciate ligament injury and its treatment. A co-founder of Gem City Bone & Joint Clinic, his dedication, his passion and his love for thousands of student-athletes was unmatched.

Dr. Robert Curnow served as the team physician for UW Athletics teams from 1975-2010. A co-founder of Gem City Bone & Joint, he was instrumental in the development of orthopedic and sports medicine for not only the University of Wyoming but for the entire state and beyond. A familiar figure to all who attend Cowboy and Cowgirl athletic events, his enthusiasm and dedication to the healthcare of the student-athlete is unparalleled. To this day, his professionalism and excellent standard of care has set the expectations of the Sports Medicine Department.

The 1976 Wyoming Cowboy football team brought gridiron success and excitement back to UW for the first time since the Black 14 incident in 1969. The Cowboys went 8-4 overall and were co-champions of the Western Athletic Conference with a 6-1 conference record. Led by quarterbacks Don Clayton and Marc Cousins, they beat BYU in Provo, a tough Arizona State team in Laramie, Arizona in Tucson, and finished the season with a win over UTEP in El Paso. Their only conference loss was a 19-16 heartbreaker at rival Colorado State. Coached by Fred Akers, who was named WAC and Region IX Coach of the Year, the Cowboys ran the Wishbone offense and featured All-American linebacker Paul Nunu, All-American offensive tackle Dennis Baker, as well all-conference performers Walter Howard (tight end), Nunu, Baker, Ray Stawowy (tackle), and Kevin McClain (safety). The team competed in Wyoming’s first bowl game in ten years, losing the Fiesta Bowl to national power Oklahoma on Christmas Day in 1976.

An All America Honorable Mention in 2008, Zavecz was one of the most dynamic and versatile players in Wyoming history. She was a four-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and two-time MW Defensive Player of the Year. Zavecz was the driving force and tournament MVP in leading Wyoming to the WNIT National Championship in 2007, a title run which captured the hearts of Wyoming fans everywhere and brought sellout crowds to the Arena-Auditorium. In 2008, the Cowgirls were ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in school history and earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Zavecz is 5th all-time in points scored with 1,746 points. She still holds the record for free throws made in a single game (17 vs. Kansas State on March 28, 2007), and is second all-time in career free throws made, 2nd in assists, 12th in rebounds, 3rd in blocked shots, 2nd in steals, and 4th in career games played. She earned all-MW Academic honors and MW Scholar Athlete status all four years, and was named to ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All District VII First Team.