The Shoshoni Wranglers won the West 9-Man a season ago before being upset 22-20 by Saratoga in the opening round of the playoffs.
Head coach Tony Truempler returns for his 13th season with a talented backfield and experienced line.
There are 19 boys and a girl, Sawyer Arnhold, out for football this fall.
The Wranglers have good leadership in seniors Carson Kisling, Oakley Hicks, Carlos Marrufo, Corbin Brown, Mike Wilczewski, and Kaden Bridger.
In the backfield, junior Kaden Kisling takes the quarterback spot with his older brother Carson and fellow junior Brodie Shepard at running backs. Oakley at 6-2, will play a combination of tigh end and wide receiver. Brown is the other wide out.
Wilczewski and Bridger are linemen.
Truempler is assisted by Jody Good and Eric Murphy. His son, former Wrangler standout Trystan Truempler, will coach when his job permits.
Truempler will run the offense, with Trystan taking some plays. Good is in charge of the defense and Murphy takes care of conditioning.
The Wranglers could win the West 9-man again or not qualify for the playoffs. The conference is that tight.
“It’s a coin flip, Greybull will be tough, they’re huge with good numbers,” Truempler said. “Rocky if they can put everything together will be tough.”
Statewide the 9-man division is as balanced as it has ever been.
“9-man, both sides, east and west will be wide open,” Truempler said. “Saratoga could be good. Pine Bluffs is the favorite. This is one of the few years when there isn’t one team that will dominate
Shoshoni opens play with a Zero Week game in Campbell County against Wright next Saturday at 10 am.