Lauren Olsen and Jase Burton Win 50th Milward Simpson Awards
The most prestigious honor a prep athlete can earn in their high school career in Wyoming is the Milward Simpson Award. On Saturday in Cody, Lauren Olsen from Douglas and Star Valley's Jase Burton were named the winners of the 50th Milward Simpson Award. One girl and one boy are chosen from the five girls and five boys finalists. The award started in 1976.
2025 MILWARD SIMPSON AWARD WINNERS
Olsen was a standout over the last four years at Douglas High School, helping the Bearcats win state championships in volleyball and basketball. She is the first winner from Douglas. Jase Burton was a terrific runner at Star Valley High School. He won multiple state titles in cross-country and track and field. Burton is the second winner from SVHS, joining Peter Visser in 2021. Burton was not in attendance and was represented by his coach, Ty Draney from Star Valley. Burton was competing at the New Balance Nationals in Pennsylvania.
MILWARD SIMPSON GIRLS WINNER
In her four-year career, Olsen earned multiple varsity letters in volleyball, basketball, and soccer. She was a two-time Class 3A all-state and all-conference selection in volleyball. In 2024, Lauren was named the 3A State Player of the Year and 3A East Conference Player of the Year on the volleyball court. She led the Bearcats to the 2024 Class 3A state championship last fall. In basketball, Olsen was a star and led Douglas to four state titles in four years at DHS. She was a four-time all-state and all-conference award winner. Olsen was chosen the 3A East Player of the Year twice, MaxPreps Player of the Year (2025), and a MaxPreps four-team All-American. She also earned the 2022 Prep Athlete of the Year. Throughout her career, Lauren set records for points in a season, field goals in a career, and is the Wyoming record-holder for points in a prep basketball career with 2,690. That is the most in state history, girls and boys. On the soccer field, Olsen was a four-year starter and a two-time all-state and all-conference selection. She helped Douglas to a third-place finish at the 2025 Class 3A soccer state tournament. Lauren is continuing her academic and athletic career at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. She is the daughter of Ericka and Dylon Olsen.
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MILWARD SIMPSON BOYS WINNER
During his four-year prep career, Jase Burton earned multiple letters in cross-country, indoor track, outdoor track, and soccer. He played soccer in his freshman and sophomore seasons, was a JV team captain, and received multiple letters. In cross-country, Burton was all-state and all-conference three times. He helped the Star Valley Braves to three Class 4A state championships and one 3A runner-up finish. Individually, Jase was the 4A state champion in 2024. He also placed 26th, seventh, and second. Burton also placed sixth in the Elite Race at the Bob Firman meet; set a course record and was champion at the Bob Conley meet; seventh in the Elite race at the Nike Hole in the Wall with the second-fastest time in Wyoming state history at 14:59.2; took second at the Nike Cross Northwest Regional qualifier, and placed 17th at Nike Cross Nationals, which earned him All-American recognition. In indoor track, Burton was named all-state in six events. His sophomore year, he took second in the 3200 meters and was on the first-place 4x800 meter relay. As a junior in indoor track, Burton was the 3A runner-up in the 3200 meters, fourth in the 1600 meters, fifth in the 800 meters, and was on the first-place 4x800 meter relay with a new state and school record time. His senior season, Star Valley moved up to Class 4A, and Jase helped the Braves capture the third-place trophy. Burton won the 1600 and 3200 meters with new state and school record times, and was third in the 4x800 relay. He was also fourth in the 3200 meters at the Simplot Games and fourth at the New Balance National Indoor meet in the 5000 meters with a new school record. Burton achieved All-American status with that effort. Jase started his outdoor track career as a junior. He earned all-state honors in the 3200 meters with a second-place finish and took fifth in the 1600 meters. On the national level, he competed at the Arcadia Invitational and placed 90th in the 3200 meters and was 20th at the New Balance National Outdoor Track Meet. In the 2025 outdoor track season, Burton was all-state in three events and an integral part of Star Valley's 4A state runner-up trophy. He won the Class 4A 3200 meters with a new overall state and school record and was named Best of the Best; won the 1600 meter with a new school record and was Best of the Best; and was on the winning 4x800-meter relay that set a new overall state record and was Best of the Best. Jase placed second in the 800 meters. Nationally, Burton placed 24th at the Arcadia Invitational in the 3200 meters. He was invited to the Elite Running Lane Track Championships, the Great Southwest Track and Field Classic, and to both the Nike Outdoor Nationals and the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Jase plans to go on a two-year mission to Peru. Upon his return, he will continue his academic and athletic career in track and field at BYU. He is the son of Nicki and Bryce Burton.
Milward Simpson Award 2025
Gallery Credit: David Settle, WyoPreps.com
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