Three Sheridan County HS Athletes Named Finalists For 2024 Milward Simpson Award

Three Sheridan County High School athletes from the recently graduated class of 2024, have been named as three of the most outstanding and accomplished Wyoming High School athletes, during their high school tenure.

Dane Steel and Addie Pendergast of Sheridan, as well as Gavin Stafford of Big Horn, have been named as finalists for the 2024 Milward Simpson Award.

The award is named after Simpson who served as team captain for the football, basketball and baseball teams at the University of Wyoming from 1917 to 1921.

Steel is the 18th male athlete from Sheridan HS to be named a finalist for the award, while Pendergast is the 15th female.

Four former Broncs and Lady Broncs have won the annual award, with Parker Christensen last winning the boys award in 2019, and Robbi Ryan last winning the girls award in 2016.

Stafford is the third Ram to be named a finalist.

Colby Wollenman won the award in 2011.

The 49th annual Milward Simpson winners will be announced on Saturday, June 15th at Cody.

Dane Steel (Football, Wrestling, Boys Soccer): (Signed to play football at Montana State)

Football: Helped Sheridan win the last 3 4A Football State Championships. He was named 4A Defensive Player of the Year twice, 4A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, and was named the 2023 Wyoming Gatorade Player Of The Year.

Wrestling: Won state wrestling championships as a sophomore, junior and senior. A 3-time All-American and finished as National Runner-Up in his senior season.

Boys Soccer: Helped Sheridan finish as 4A Boys State Runner-Up as a sophomore and place 3rd in his junior and senior seasons.

Addie Pendergast: (Cross Country, Basketball, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field) (Signed to compete in Track and Field at Stanford)

Cross Country: Won 2A Girls Cross Country State Championship as a freshman in 2020 and helped Tongue River win the team title.

Basketball: Helped Sheridan win the 2024 4A Girls State Championship

Indoor Track and Field: Helped Sheridan win 2023 4A Girls State Championship

Outdoor Track and Field: Helped TR win the 2A Girls Outdoor Track and Field State Championship in 2021. Helped Sheridan win the 4A Girls Outdoor Track and Field State Championship in 2024, while setting a new overall State record in the 400 meter dash and 300 meter hurdle events.

Gavin Stafford: (Football, Basketball, Outdoor Track and Field)

Football: Helped Big Horn to 2A State Championship in 2022, and 2A State Runner-Up in 2023.

Basketball: Helped Big Horn to 2A Boys State Runner-Up in 2022 and 2023.

Outdoor Track and Field: Helped Big Horn to 2A Boys State Championship in 2023 and in 2024. Set overall record in the boys 100 meter dash.