Rocky Mountain’s young core impresses at state track championships

Avery Thomas, Sawyer Bassett and Mason Moss lead impressive weekend for Rocky Mountain

With only one senior competing at State, the Rocky Mountain track and field team wrapped up the 2026 season with an impressive mix of youth, improvement and podium finishes at the Class 2A State Championships in Casper over the weekend.

Grizzly athletes earned multiple state placings, set personal records and consistently improved throughout the season, something head coach Tobee Christiansen said made the year especially rewarding.

“It was a fun season,” Christiansen said. “I really enjoy watching kids progress and get better and challenge themselves each week. The weather mostly cooperated with us this year, and kids achieved some great times and marks.”

The Grizzlies were led by sophomore Mason Moss, who reached the finals in three running events and earned a runner-up finish in the 110-meter hurdles. Moss placed second in the finals with a personal-best 15.35 after running a 15.41 in preliminaries. He also took fifth in the 100-meter dash in 11.60 and sixth in the 200 meters in 23.02 after qualifying through prelims in both races.

Christiansen said Moss’ success goes far beyond physical talent.

“The thing that makes Mason successful is not just his athletic ability but his mindset in the way he approaches things,” Christiansen said. “He is a sponge when you’re coaching him, soaks in everything you’re telling him.”

Moss also competed in the high jump, clearing 5-9 to place ninth.

The Rocky Mountain girls jumpers turned in one of the strongest performances of the weekend. Junior Avery Thomas earned two fourth-place finishes, taking fourth in the long jump at 15-10.25 and fourth in the triple jump with a season-best leap of 34-4.25.

Freshman Sawyer Bassett also reached the podium twice, placing seventh in the long jump at 14-9.25 and sixth in the triple jump at 34-0.

Jumping coach Colton Hodge said both athletes peaked at the right time.

“I am very pleased that both of them brought their best triple jumps to the culminating event, despite the weather,” Hodge said. “Sawyer achieved her elusive 34 feet, which is very impressive for a freshman, and Avery gave her best jump of the season.”

Hodge said the skill growth throughout the season stood out most.

“It was most satisfying as a coach to see their technical progress from beginning to end of the season; it means I might be doing something right,” he said. “I look forward to working with them again in the next few years.”

Thomas also competed in the 100-meter preliminaries, running 13.72, while Bailey Gifford qualified for state in multiple events, placing 14th in the 200-meter preliminaries in 29.24 and 14th in the long jump at 13-06.

Keylee Christiansen, the lone Rocky Mountain senior at the state meet, earned a podium finish in the girls pole vault, placing seventh after clearing 7-3.

Assistant vault coach Aric Hanusa praised her growth and determination during her final season.

“Keylee did a really nice job this year working hard,” Hanusa said. “She really embraced newer ideas and was fun to coach. I am really proud of how she battled this year getting better.”

Hanusa said the event remained tightly contested throughout the competition.

“State was nice to see her on the podium,” he said. “It was a close group of girls with similar heights. We really wanted 7-9 but fell a bit short.”

Freshman Rowan Hanusa also earned a medal in the boys pole vault, finishing eighth after clearing 10-0.

“Rowan has grown so much this year as an athlete,” Hanusa said. “He was able to improve his PR by two feet. It was great to see him in the top eight as a freshman with a 10-foot vault. We’re excited to see his progress the next few years.”

The Grizzly throwers also delivered one of the team’s strongest overall showings. Rocky qualified five throwers for state competition, with Kellan Jackson and Evin Clendenen both reaching the podium.

Jackson placed seventh in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 42-10.50, while Clendenen finished seventh in the discus at 127-5. Cooper Winland narrowly missed the shot put finals, placing ninth at 41-4.75. John Mader placed 14th in the discus at 115-7, and Alex Walker finished 17th at 90-5.

Thrower coach Pat Winland said the group saved its best performances for the season’s biggest stage.

“Evin and Kellan picked the perfect time to hit their personal bests,” Winland said. “Pretty awesome to see them get recognized on the podium. Cooper was just four inches away from placing in the shot put, which shows how competitive the field was.”

Winland said the group’s steady development defined the season.

“What stands out most is the steady improvement all of the throwers made throughout the season,” he said. “They worked, supported each other, competed hard and represented Rocky Mountain the right way. They were a fun group to coach and a joy to be around every day.”

Christiansen credited much of the team’s success to his coaching staff.

“I’ve been lucky over the years to work with great assistants that really know their stuff, and they’re there for the right reasons,” he said. “It’s been fun for me to learn from them and see how they work with the athletes.”

He praised the contributions of each assistant coach throughout the season.

“My assistants this year were amazing with their knowledge, ability to figure out how to work with each individual and find ways to help them progress,” Christiansen said.

“Throwers had a great year. It was fun to take five of them to state. Pat Winland did a great job with them,” he said. “I appreciate Aric Hanusa’s new approach he took with the vaulters. He made it fun for them to be at practice and made them competitive each week. Colton Hodge did amazing with the jumpers, and you can see the passion he brings to that aspect.”

Christiansen also appreciated having another experienced coach helping shoulder the responsibilities of the program.

“It was very nice having Pat there as another person that understands head coaching and all that goes into that,” he said. “He did a lot to take things off of my plate this year, and I really appreciate him.”

For Christiansen personally, the season also carried added meaning.

“Coaching all the student athletes, it’s been especially fun having a daughter on the team the past four years,” he said.

With nearly the entire state roster expected to return next season, the Grizzlies leave Casper with momentum, experience and a young core already proving it can compete among the best teams in Class 2A.