Bobcat Hall of Fame inductees announced

The HSCHS Bobcat Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the inductees for the class of 2018. The inductees will be honored at a ceremony held in conjunction with the All Class Reunion Friday, July 20 at 6 p.m. in the commons at Hot Springs County High School.

Todd Gentzler

Todd Gentzler was a Cross Country and Track & Field standout for the Bobcats. A 1988 graduate of Hot Springs County High School, Gentzler was named the Outstanding Cross Country Athlete and the Outstanding Track & Field Athlete in 1987 and 1988. He set the school record in both the 1600m and 3200m in 1988. Gentzler was the Runner-Up in the 800m at the 1987 State Track Meet and placed 6th in the same event at the Meet of Champions. At the 1988 State Track Meet, he was the State Champion in the 800m and 1600m, and finished Runner-Up in the 3200m. He went on to place third in the 800m at the 1988 Meet of Champions and was a two-time All-State selection in Track & Field (1987 and 1988).

Prior to graduating, he was named the Outstanding Male Athlete at HSCHS in 1988. Gentzler took his talents to Chadron State where he earned All-American honors in both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field in 1990 and 1991. He set school records at Chadron State in the 800m, 1600m, and Distance Medley Relay.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Chadron State, and went on to earn a Master’s of Physical Therapy from the University of North Dakota. Gentzler became a member of USA Cycling in 1995, was a member of the USA Triathlon team in 2004, has participated in numerous triathlons over the years, and most recently qualified for the Master’s Road Nationals Cycling in May 2016.

John Kormylo

A 1972 graduate of Hot Springs County High School, John Kormylo was a three-sport standout for the Bobcats, lettering four years in football, four years in basketball, and three years in track & field. He was a member of the 1970 Bobcat football team that was defeated by Cheyenne East in the State Championship game. That same team was crowned North Conference champions prior to their playoff run to the championship game. Kormylo earned Class AA All-State honors on both offense and defense in 1970.

He was named the Wyoming State Football Player of the Year in 1972, and was also listed in the Top 100 high school football players in the country in 1972. He went on to attend the University of Colorado and Brigham Young University, playing Defensive End for BYU. Kormylo passed away in May 2004.

Dana Bjorhus

One of the most decorated female athletes to wear the purple and gold, Dana Bjorhus graduated from HSCHS in 2013 having earned 12 varsity letters; Golf one year, Volleyball three years, Basketball four years, Track & Field four years. Bjorhus earned All-Conference honors in Golf in 2009. She received All-Conference honors in Volleyball in 2011 and 2012 and was named Conference Player of the Year in 2012 along with All-State the same two years.

She was named All-Conference in Basketball in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and was Conference Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013. Bjorhus was All-State in Basketball in 2012 and 2013 and was named the Casper Star-Tribune Small School Player of the Year in 2012. She earned All-Conference awards in Track & Field in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. She was named an All-State selection in 2010 as a member of the State Champion 4x100 Relay team, and in 2012 as the State Runner-Up in the Triple Jump.

Bjorhus was a member of the Lady Bobcat basketball teams that made back-to-back appearances the in the basketball State Championship game in 2012 and 2013. She finished her high school basketball career with 1,383 points, and was the Mower Award recipient in 2013.

Bjorhus went on to attend Northwest College in Powell where she was a two-year starter for the Trapper basketball team. She was named to the Region IX All-Tournament Team in 2014 and 2015, earned All-Region IX honors in 2015, led the nation in Free Throw percentage in 2014, and was an Academic All-American in 2015. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wyoming in Physical Education and she is the Physical Education teacher at Ralph Witters Elementary.

1928 Football Team

The 1928 Bobcat football team, led by Bobcat Hall of Fame coach E.J. Bush, won the State Championship with a 13-12 decision over Sheridan High School on November 28, 1928. The 1928 squad finished the year with a 7-0-1 record, with the game against Riverton ending in a 0-0 tie.

The 1928 Bobcats dominated their opponents throughout the season, outscoring the opposition 120-18. The 18 points given up by the Bobcat defense is the third fewest points allowed in a season in school history.