BRIDGER VALLEY — As the days get shorter and the nights turn a touch cooler, Valley athletes have hit the practice arenas for fall sports.

Practice for most teams resumed this week. The fall season marks the start of six Valley sports – football, volleyball, cross country, girls swimming, golf and cheerleading. Most of these sports held their first practice of the season Monday. Golf in Lyman held its first practice on Aug. 7.

Bridger Valley teams hit the practices running as they hope to recreate and improve on the successes they had last year. Athletes learn to get tough, hang in there and make a difference for themselves and their teams.

All athletes were urged to complete their physicals a short time ago so they could hit the fields, courts and pool on the first day of practice.

Lyman’s golf team has hit the course in Lander last week, in Riverton yesterday and today and will be at Star Valley next Friday, according to the district’s calendar.

The hot, bone-weary sunny days earlier this summer have cooled slightly to give distance runners more favorable conditions in their cross country season. Teams will spread across the state in the opening weekend with some participating in Green River, others in Newcastle and the biggest of the opening slate occurring on Casper Mountain with the annual Bear Trap Invite. It is just about a week before the season-opening meets start.

Pictured:

The MVHS Buffalos and the LHS Eagles square off on the field in an earlier football game. PIONEER FILE PHOTO