Wenke, Despain, and Burton Are the WyoPreps Athletes of the Week 10-2-24 [VIDEO]

A state champion doubles team and outstanding top-line distance runner earned the WyoPreps Athlete of the Week accolades. The winners for the seventh week of the 2024-25 high school sports season were tennis state champs at girls’ No. 1 doubles, Natalie Wenke and Alyssa Despain from Cody, and Star Valley cross-country runner Jase Burton. Wenke and Despain finished an undefeated season with a state title last weekend in Gillette. Burton ran well in the Elite Division of the Bob Firman Invitational.

WYOPREPS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WINNERS 10-2-24

Girls Winner

Natalie Wenke and Alyssa Despain beat teams from Cheyenne South, Jackson, Laramie, and Thunder Basin on their way to a state championship at No. 1 Doubles in the girls’ portion of the 2024 Wyoming High School Tennis State Championships. The tandem won all four matches in straight sets. They lost only 17 total points across those four wins. Wenke and Despain won their opening-round match, 6-2 and 6-0. They followed that with a 6-2, 6-1 win in the quarterfinals. A 6-3 and 6-3 victory in the semifinals put the duo into the title match. They beat a team for the third time this season with another 6-3 and 6-3 win.

WyoPreps spoke with the two seniors on Wednesday. They described the feeling of being state champs, discussed what the key to their success was at the state tournament, why they played so well together, playing doubles versus singles, and more.

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Boys Winner

Burton performed well in the Elite Division of the Bob Firman Invitational in Boise, ID, last Saturday. The field included the No. 1 ranked team in the nation from Herriman, UT, and Burton placed sixth. His time was the second-fastest run by a Wyoming boy during the 2024 season at 15:19.8. For perspective, Herriman had three of the top four runners and won the team title with 29 points. The next closest team scored 106.

WyoPreps caught up with Burton. He described what it was like to run in an elite field of competitors. Burton discussed how he felt he ran, what his strategy was, how he executed that strategy, what he loves about running, and more.

Congratulations to our weekly winners, Natalie, Alyssa, and Jase!