Cowboy

Payton Muma's Wyoming journey is a story of legacy, talent, and the pride of a true Cowgirl.

A two-time Colorado 5A All-State selection, Payton led Highlands Ranch High School to three straight Final Four appearances, averaging 19.2 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.6 steals her senior year. Ranked the No. 2 player in Colorado, she arrived in college as one of the region's most electric guards.

But Payton's connection to Wyoming runs deeper than basketball.

She carries a remarkable family legacy—her parents, Ty and Kara, her grandfather Rick Desmarais, and her brother Chad all wore the Brown and Gold. Ty and Rick played football for the Cowboys, while Chad became an All-Mountain West selection and NFL linebacker.

After beginning her collegiate career at Gonzaga, Payton chose to come home—to the school that shaped her family and the place that feels like hers.

Today, she continues that legacy on the court, writing the next chapter of a proud Wyoming story.

Payton Muma

Sundance Wicks' Wyoming story is about coming home to live the dream he's carried since childhood.

A Gillette native, raised on country roads and the Cowboy Way, Sundance grew up believing in the power of the Brown and Gold.

In May 2024, that belief came full circle when he was named the 23rd head coach in Wyoming men's basketball history—a Wyoming kid now leading Wyoming's team.

Since returning home, he's rebuilt the roster and brought his trademark energy back to the Arena-Auditorium, reigniting pride and passion across the program.

As Sundance says,

“You cannot put into words what it means for a kid from the country roads outside of Gillette to represent the State of Wyoming and the Cowboys as their head coach.”

His journey is proof that Wyoming roots run deep—and that dreams built here can come all the way home.

Sundance Wicks

Emma Winter's Wyoming story is one of courage and resilience.

When she came to Wyoming as a transfer, Emma found teammates who embraced her, coaches who told her “you matter,” and a community that felt like family.

Then her world changed.

This spring, Emma learned her mom had cancer. While carrying the weight of that news, she continued to compete—leaning on the strength of Wyoming, its fans, and her team. Through it all, she helped lead the Cowgirls to an incredible third-place regular-season finish and a berth in the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Emma says it best:

“The support I've received would never happen anywhere else. Only at Wyoming. I will be proud to wear the Brown and Gold forever.”

Her story reflects the heart of Wyoming: compassion, strength, and a community that lifts its own.

Emma Winter

Joey Novak's Wyoming story shows that this place doesn't just produce wrestlers—it breeds champions.

Within months of arriving in Laramie, Joey turned a childhood dream into something bigger. After surging through the national rankings and finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships last season, his goal shifted into an expectation:

“I expect to be a national champ.”

Now a junior at 197 pounds, Joey is chasing what hasn't been done at Wyoming since 1960—becoming the Cowboys' next national champion.

His rise has placed him among the nation's elite, and he leads a tough, hungry lineup built on heart, fight, and the Cowboy Way.

Joey embodies what Wyoming teaches: when you work, believe, and refuse to back down—greatness becomes the expectation.

Joey Novak