TORRINGTON – The road to the state championship for the Torrington Blazers’ football team was far from certain in early September.

The season commenced with losses to Gering and Mitchell, Nebraska, and the Blazers came up short in a close conference game against Big Horn on September 22.

Fast forward two months. Following six conference victories, the Blazers captured a state playoff berth and went on to defeat Big Horn at War Memorial Stadium and snag Torrington’s first state title since 1990.

“A state championship is always a goal for a team at the beginning of the season, but there are a lot of things a team has to go through,” assistant Blazer coach Robb Nicolay said. “The season started off rough with an 0-2 record and we dropped a conference game to Big Horn. But the kids never wavered. We just took it one week at a time.”

Head Blazers’ coach Russell Stienmetz described his team’s ability to rally early in the season and advance to the state championship game as an “absolute highlight” of 2023.

“We just kept marching forward and getting better,” Stienmetz said. “As a coach, you experience both highs and lows, but you can learn from both to improve.”

Stienmetz and Nicolay’s contributions to growing a successful team were honored this December by their peers in the Wyoming Coaches Association. Stienmetz received the organization’s 2A Football Coach of the Year with Nicolay named Assistant Football Coach of the Year.

“This is just fantastic award to cap off the season,” Stienmetz said. “It’s due to the players and the assistant coaches, though. There is a saying that you are only as good as your assistant coaches. And the leadership of the players – showing up week after week. I really appreciate all the work they put in.”

Nicolay called the award an “honor” and also placed most of the credit for the team’s success elsewhere.

“This is a testament to the kind of team we have,” Nicolay added. “We have talented players who always come to practices and really buy in to the program.”

The 2023 season marked Stienmetz’s fifth year as head coach for the Blazers and 17th year as a member of the THS football coaching staff.

Stienmetz’s love for football developed during his high school career at Kelly Walsh and later as a college player, where the desire to coach and guide young people grew.

“I knew I wanted to coach, and that led me into the teaching gig,” Stienmetz said.

Stienmetz’s coaching philosophy centers around two central tenets. The first centers on instilling a strong work ethic in both players and coaches. 

A coaches’ primary responsibility is to ensure each athlete is placed “in the best possible position to succeed,” Stienmetz added.

Secondly, Stienmetz emphasizes what he calls the “24-second rule.” 

With so many unpredictable moving parts on the gridiron, adverse situations are bound to happen, Stienmetz explained. The key is to learn from the misstep and then  move on.

“Another play will come along,” Stienmetz said.

A 17-year career coaching at Torrington allowed Stienmetz to really get to know players and their families, from “coaching brothers” to “building relationships with the community.”

Stienmetz expressed gratitude to his family and the support from Torrington.

“The community always supported us, whether we had a terrific season or a not so wonderful season,” Stienmetz said. “We are fortunate to live in a community that is so generous to sports.”

Nicolay marked his 12th year as a member of the THS football coaching staff in 2023 under both Stienmetz and former head coach Mark Lenhardt.

As an offensive coordinator, Nicolay stresses one maxim:

“The team that can run the ball and stop (the other team’s) runs will be successful.”

Nicolay also believes players must develop a deeper knowledge of the sport.

“We know what we want to do on the field,” Nicolay said. “But I try to ingrain an understanding of why we’re doing certain things. When players understand the why, that can open so many avenues.”

Nicolay played high school football for the Torrington Blazers before a two-year stint at Black Hills State University. 

Unfortunately, an injury sidelined Nicolay’s playing career, but the setback opened the door to a coaching career.

“I like working with young people to help them get better,” he said. “I want to impact them like my coaches impacted me.”

Coaching the Blazers to victory at the state championship game was a career highlight for Nicolay. Witnessing his alma mater punch in the win with his son playing on the team “meant a lot” to Nicolay.

Nicolay thanked his supportive parents, children and wife.

“My wife is the epitome of a coaches’ wife – she knows the time commitment that is involved and is always there through each high and low.”

Nicolay also gave a shoutout to coach Stienmetz, the community, his players and his high school and college coaches for inspiring him to follow in their footsteps.