2026 Milward Simpson Award Finalists Showcase Wyoming’s Athletic Excellence

The finalists for the 2026 Milward Simpson Award were released on Monday. They are from seven high schools around the state and represent all four classifications in Wyoming High School sports. This honor is given to the most outstanding female and male student-athletes in the state. It is considered the most prestigious award a prep athlete can earn in their high school career.

TEN FINALISTS FOR THE 2026 MILWARD SIMPSON AWARD REVEALED

This year’s honor, the 51st, will be presented at a luncheon on June 20, 2026, in Cody, at the Cody Auditorium Club Room. Each finalist is honored with a plaque. The two winners also receive an additional plaque to be displayed at their high school.

The student-athletes nominated for the 2026 award participated in basketball, football, indoor track, soccer, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling. Below are partial bios by WyoPreps of the 10 athletes being considered for this year's honor.

Congratulations to this year’s Simpson Award Finalists.

Meet the Five Girls and Five Boys Finalists in 2026

GIRLS FINALISTS

Brooklyn Asmus, Torrington High School

Asmus was an all-state performer in volleyball and track and field during her career at Torrington High School. She helped the Blazers qualify for the state tournament for the third consecutive season. They reached the semifinals in the 2025 season. Brooklyn was a state champion in three events at the Class 3A 2026 indoor track state championships. She was part of the 4x200-meter relay that set a new class record. Asmus helped the Blazers take second in the 2026 team standings by a half-point. She won six indoor track event titles in her prep career. Asmus won seven state titles in outdoor track at THS. She holds two class records in the 100 and 200 meters.

Addison Barnes, Cokeville High School

Barnes was an all-state award winner in volleyball, basketball, and track and field at CHS. She helped Cokeville win two Class 1A volleyball state championships. Barnes was a four-time all-state honoree in basketball and helped the Panthers qualify for the 1A basketball state tournament all four seasons. That included a runner-up finish in 2025. Barnes won 15 individual state titles in outdoor track. She went 4-for-4 at the state track meet during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Addison won the Class 1A 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles all four years. She also holds two class records at the 1A state championships for the 400 meters and 300-meter hurdles.

Chaney Reish, Tongue River High School

Reish was an all-state volleyball, basketball, and track and field athlete at TRHS. She helped the Eagles qualify for the 2A volleyball state tournament all four years of her career. Chaney led TR to a runner-up finish in 2024. She earned two all-state awards in volleyball. Reish was a four-time all-state honoree in basketball. The Eagles qualified for the 2A basketball state tournament all four years. Chaney helped TR win back-to-back state titles in 2024 and 2025. Reish was a three-time state track qualifier for the Eagles. She was the 2024 Class 2A state champion in the triple jump.

Ellie Talich, Cody High School

Talich was an all-state performer in volleyball, basketball, and soccer for Cody. Talich helped the Fillies to a pair of Class 3A runner-up finishes in volleyball in 2024 and 2025. She was all-state in the 2025 season and a two-time all-conference player. On the basketball court, Ellie earned three all-state awards. She helped the Fillies win two state championships. First in Class 4A in 2023, and second in Class 3A in 2026. Both title teams went undefeated. They were the 3A runner-up in 2025. Talich was a four-time all-state honoree in soccer at multiple positions. She helped Cody win three state championships in four years (2023, 2025, 2026). The Fillies were runner-up in 2024.

Isabel Vasco, Green River High School

Vasco was an all-state basketball and soccer player at GRHS. She helped the Wolves qualify for the 4A basketball state tournament in three of her four years. She was a two-time all-state award recipient. Isa led 4A in scoring and steals per game in the 2025-26 season. On the soccer field, Vasco was a three-time all-state honoree. She scored a state-record 228 goals during her prep career. Isa helped Green River qualify for the state tournament the final three years of her prep career. The Wolves won the 3A consolation trophy in 2024. They played in the 4A consolation match in 2025 and 2026.

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BOYS FINALISTS

Beck Haswell, Sheridan High School

Haswell was an all-state player in football and basketball for the Broncs. He was a two-time all-state player and two-time 4A lineman of the year at SHS. Beck was part of a Sheridan team that won the 4A football state championship all four years of his prep career. Haswell was named the Gatorade Wyoming Football Player of the Year in 2025. He was a two-time all-state performer on the basketball court. He helped Sheridan win the 4A boys’ state championship in the 2026 season. It was their first title in 23 years and just the third in school history.

Matthew Newman, Lovell High School

Newman was an all-state award winner in football, basketball, and track and field at LHS. He was a three-year starter and a two-time all-state player on the football field. Matthew helped the Bulldogs qualify for the Class 2A football players all three years, reaching the semifinals twice. Newman was a two-time all-state basketball player at Lovell. He helped them win the Class 3A state title in 2025 and 2026. They went 52-4 over the last two seasons. Matthew was a three-time all-state award winner in track and field. He won six individual event state championships in Class 3A. That included three crowns in the triple jump. Newman helped Lovell win the 2025 Class 3A team title, as well.

Keegan Rager, Sheridan High School

Rager was an all-state football player and wrestler at SHS. He also played soccer. He helped Sheridan win the 4A football title all four years with the Broncs’ program. Rager was a two-year starter and earned all-state honors in 2025. He was named the 4A Defensive Player of the Year. Keegan was a four-time all-state performer on the wrestling mat. Rager won two state championships in his career, at 165 pounds in 2025 and at 175 in 2026. He was part of a team state title in 2023 as a freshman. Rager played on the pitch for three seasons. He was part of one runner-up and two third-place finishes at the 4A soccer state tournament with the Broncs.

Breck Reed, Sheridan High School

Reed was an all-state football and soccer player for the Broncs. He also played basketball at SHS. Reed was part of Sheridan’s four Class 4A football championships during his prep career. He was a two-time all-state award recipient. Breck was all-state at four positions his junior year and at three positions as a senior. That included unanimous selections at punter and as a return specialist. Reed was a three-year varsity letter winner on the basketball court. Reed helped the Broncs win their first boys’ basketball state championship in 23 years during the 2025-26 season. Breck was a four-time all-state soccer player as a defender. He helped the Broncs finish second in the 2025 season and place third in 2023, 2024, and 2026.

Owen Walker, Lovell High School

Walker was an all-state performer in football, basketball, and track and field at Lovell. Walker was a two-time all-state football player. He was a three-year letter winner. Walker helped the Bulldogs to three appearances in the Class 2A football playoffs, which included two berths in the semifinals. On the basketball court, Owen was a three-time all-state award winner. He led Lovell to back-to-back Class 3A state championships in 2025 and 2026 and a 52-4 record in those seasons. Walker was also named the 3A West Player of the Year in 2026. Owen earned three all-state honors in track and field. He helped the Bulldogs win the Class 3A team title in 2025. Walker was a two-time individual event champion at the state track meet. He won the high jump in 2025 and the long jump in 2026.

You can see photos from a few of the past Milward Simpson Award ceremonies below!