Bitter rivals:Wolves, Tigers clash Thursday

The distance between Green River and Rock Springs High School is a mere 19.9 miles.

While the schools are located relatively close and share the same county, there is no love lost between the bitter rivals.

On Thursday night, the Green River High School boys and girls basketball teams will host their rivals in Wolves Gymnasium in a 4A West Conference game that means a whole lot more than the rest.

Green River senior forward Tanner Trumble said the rivalry means everything to him.

"I always look forward to playing Rock Springs because they are a good opponent and you can always feel a lot of tension between the teams," he said. "Whether it's on the court or on the field, it's always my favorite game of the year."

Now a teacher and athletic trainer at the high school, Josh Lewis said playing Rock Springs was always a blast, especially because they had a basketball team with talented players such as Ryan Starkovich and former NFL player John Wendling.

Lewis said when he played the team, they had gotten themselves out of a rut the program had in the late 90's and the two squads had some back and forth battles. No matter what campus, Lewis said it was always standing room only.

While he remembers the rivalry games in packed Sweetwater County gymnasiums, his favorite game against Rock Springs took place 275 miles away at a regional tournament in Cheyenne.

"The winner earned a trip to state in Casper, the loser went home. We managed to pull it off in the final seconds of overtime. Couldn't have scripted it any better," Lewis said.

Green River girl's basketball coach Rick Carroll has had the unique opportunity to take on Rock Springs in multiple sports. He has served as head boys and girls coach, and also as a longtime member of the football coaching staff.

Carroll said the rivalry is a really great atmosphere and they have done a good job tying events to the games that get a lot of people in attendance.

He said because the towns are so close, there is a lot of excitement and it is a lot of fun for both players and coaches.

Carroll added it will be a great experience for his team on Thursday to see the competition and intensity of the rivalry.

A multiple sport standout, Trumble has had the opportunity to face the Tigers in both basketball and soccer, and in those contests he has both tasted the thrill of victory and agony of defeat.

Last soccer season, Trumble and the Green River boys suffered a tough home loss to Rock Springs, but were able to avenge the loss twice with a road victory over the Tigers, followed by a thrilling come-from-behind win in the semifinals of the 4A West Regional Tournament in Riverton.

"It's the best feeling the world to beat Rock Springs. And beating them last year at regionals was amazing," he said. "Coming back from a deficit and beating them in the end to go to the regional finals left a good feeling."

Because the schools are so close, Trumble said he and his teammates may have a few friends on the Rock Springs teams, but that changes when the game is played.

"The rivalry between Green River and Rock Springs is everything but friendly. You leave everything on the court and the field. They day you play them, nothing else matters besides winning," he said.

Unlike Lewis and Carroll, Trumble was never able to face the Tigers on the football field. He said this is an opportunity he wish he had.

"It would be one of the most important games of the season. Like I said before, winning is everything once you step on the field against Rock Springs, and getting to compete against them in another sport would have been amazing," he said.

TIGER PRIDE

From a Rock Springs perspective, there is also plenty of ill will when it comes to thinking about Green River High School.

Aaron, Eric, and Terrance Webb share a common bond as brothers, but also a strong hatred for the Green River Wolves, something that has carried on long past their playing days.

All three have fond memories of taking the court or field against Green River.

"I would say that's one game a coach doesn't need a pep talk to get the kids fired up," Eric said. "I think this is the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry of high school. They hate us and we hate them."

Aaron has had the unique opportunity to both play and coach against Green River. He said as member of the freshman basketball staff, Rock Springs defeated Green River, 91-42. He said after the game the coaches were shaking hands with the Wolves staff told him running up the score was "very classy".

"I said look at the name on the front of your jersey," Aaron said.

Younger brother Terrance was able to face Green River in football before the schools stopped playing annually.

He said they looked at the Trona Bowl as their state championship.

"It was bigger for life than me at the time, and bragging rights for a year," Terrance said.

When Aaron played basketball against Green River he said the crowd was so loud they could not hear the coach.

A DIFFERENT

PERSPECTIVE

Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Assistant Superintendent Jamie Christensen is among the several in the county who have cheered on both teams.

In a Green River Star article from Jan. 21, 2009, he discussed making the move from Rock Springs to Green River High School.

Before accepting an administration job at Green River High School, Christensen worked for 15 years at Rock Springs High School. During this time, he was the head coach for two of the best football teams in the history of the state, and won back-to-back state 5A titles.

Shortly after taking the job in Green River, Christensen returned to a game in Rock Springs and said he got ribbed the the Tiger student section.

"It was just kids being kids," he said.

During his first year as principal at the high school, Christensen had to pull double duty on a Friday night. He wanted to watch his daughter play volleyball for Rock Springs, but also see the annual Trona Bowl game.

Watching his daughter take on his students was a quandary for Christensen.

"As the Green River principal, I didn't know if I should cheer for them or my daughter," he told the Star.

Moments after the volleyball game ended, he was able to cheer on the Wolves to a victory over Rock Springs.