Colson Coon Of Sheridan HS Repeats As WY Gatorade Football Player Of The Year

In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade announced Colson Coon of Sheridan High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Wyoming Football Player of the Year.

Coon is the ninth Gatorade Wyoming Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Sheridan High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Coon as Wyoming’s best high school football player.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award to be announced in January, Coon joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Trevor Lawrence (2018-19 & 2016-17, Cartersville High School, Ga.), Matthew Stafford (2005-06, Highland Park
High School, Texas) and Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fla.).

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior running back and linebacker rushed for 2,195 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading the Broncs (12-0) to their second consecutive Class 4A state championship and the 29th state title in program history.

The state’s returning Gatorade Football Player of the Year, Coon ran for 765 total yards in Sheridan’s final two playoff games, including a single-game state record 517 yards in the state semifinal.

He also made 93 tackles on defense and served as the team’s kicker and punter.

Coon has volunteered locally as a mentor within Big Brothers Big Sisters and participates in Sheridan’s Bronc Builders initiative.

He has also donated his time with Sheridan High School’s WYO Rodeo.

“Coon is one of the best all-around football players that I’ve seen in a long time,” said Rock Springs High School head coach Mark Lenhardt. “His competitive spirit cannot be understated. Sheridan relied on him (in every phase). His durability to never come off the field and get stronger as the game goes on shows his leadership and competitive desire.”

Coon has maintained a 3.71 GPA in the classroom.

At the time of his selection, he remained undecided upon a collegiate destination.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.

The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Two-time winner Coon joins recent Gatorade Wyoming Football Players of the Year Graedyn Buell (2020-21, Cheyenne East High School), Garrett Coon (2019-20, Sheridan High School), and Parker Christensen (2018-19, Sheridan High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation.

Through Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport.

To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success.

From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.