The five finalists for the boys and girls Milward Simpson awards were announced on Monday. The award is given to the most outstanding senior male and female athletes in the state. It is considered the most prestigious honor a prep athlete can earn in their high school career.

For the ladies, Paige Powell of Cody is a finalist. She was all-state in track, basketball, and volleyball and is a University of Wyoming basketball signee. Powell won the Class 4A state championship in the high jump. Another Milward finalist is also a UW basketball signee in McKinley Bradshaw of Lyman. She was selected all-state in volleyball, basketball, and track and was the Class 3A state champion in the high jump. Lyman won the Class 3A state title in volleyball. Gillette's Rylee Hladkey made the final 5. She was the Wyoming Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year, making all-state in that sport and in volleyball. Haedyn Rhoades of Douglas is on that finalist document. She was all-state in basketball and volleyball. The Bearcats won the Class 3A state championship this past season. The last girls Milward finalists of Kammie Ragsdale from Pine Bluffs who was an all-state selection in basketball and volleyball. She also placed in three events at the state track meet.

On the boys' side, Parker Christensen of Sheridan is a Milward Simpson award finalist. He was the Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year in football and is a University of Wyoming signee. Christensen was an all-state selection in basketball, as well. Tucker Bopp of Glenrock achieved all-state status in 3 sports, football, basketball and track. He was the Class 2A state champion in the 400-meter dash in track. Burlington's Dontae Garza was all-state in 6-man football, basketball, and track. He is the Class 1A state champion in the triple jump for track and field. Star Valley's Asefa Wetzel made the Simpson award final five with top finishes in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs in track and running on the third-place 1600-meter sprint medley team. Wetzel was also fourth at the Class 3A state cross country championships last fall. The final finalist is Cokeville's Bentley Johnson who was all-state in football, made the semi-finals of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament and finished third in both hurdle events at the state track meet.

The Milward Simpson award winners will be announced June 15 in Cody.

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