JHHS runners Brigham, Wheeler comprise first-ever school sweep of Gatorade award
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A pair of Jackson runners were named Gatorade Wyoming Cross Country Player of the Year in a never-before school sweep of the award.
Jackson Hole High School seniors Kate Brigham and Mason Wheeler won the girls’ and boys’ honor, respectively. It is the first time in the award’s history that both gender winners came from the same school.
Both athletes won the 4A state cross country championship last fall in Ethete, Wyoming. Brigham bested the field by nearly 36 seconds. Wheeler won by almost 10 seconds.
WyoPreps’ David Settle caught up with the winners recently via Zoom. When asked by Settle how they felt upon hearing the news, a confident Brigham said it was “super sweet” but she “wasn’t that surprised, really” when she got the news.
Wheeler answered, “I was pretty stoked. My phone started buzzing really early in the morning. I was really confused but then I read the email saying I got it.”
Brigham and Wheeler also excel at Nordic skiing. Both have won multiple races in the high school cross-country skiing.
Brigham signed to run at the University of Colorado in Boulder next fall. Wheeler is undecided at this time.
The Gatorade Wyoming Cross Country Player of the Year Award goes back to 2007-08.
