The 2024 season will be a fresh start for the Worland Warriors in many ways. Worland has a new head coach, Marty Wrage. They also landed in a new classification for football, 2A, thanks to the Wyoming High School Activities Association’s recent enrollment deadlines. The question is, how will the Warriors impact their new division? They are a veteran team capable of being a major player in 2A football.
Last season, Worland went 4-6 in Class 3A and 2-4 in conference play. They have made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons, but have not advanced past the first round or posted a winning streak since 2009. Last season, the Warriors struggled on offense, averaging just 120 yards and 8.1 points per game. On defense, they allowed 303 yards and 32.4 points per game. However, those numbers were marred by some crushing losses.
An all-state player returns in senior Brody Thiel. All-conference lineman Daniel Lopez and many other players are also back, while Worland has nine starters on offense and defense. New coach Marty Wrage comes into play. He was head coach at Greybull for four years and at Green River for two years, most recently in 2019.
WyoPreps stopped by Worland’s practice on Wednesday to watch the Warriors. Thiel, Lopez and Coach Wrage gave us some insight into their 2024 season preparations.
Worland has a practice game against Upton-Sundance before their first game on Sept. 6 against old 3A foe Powell. The Warriors also have Lyman, Lovell and Kemmerer at home this season. Their road games will be in Thermopolis, Pinedale, Mountain View and Cokeville.
The 2A West Conference has been highly competitive for several years, and with Worland, things could get even more difficult.
WyoPreps Preseason Football Tour 2024
Photos from the teams’ practices preparing for the 2024 Wyoming high school football season.
Photo credit: David Settle, WyoPreps.com