Egger era comes to a close for Ten Sleep track and field

TEN SLEEP - May 21, 2022, was the final day for Desiree Egger as the head coach of the Ten Sleep High School track and field program and that day brought an end to one of the more successful runs in program history.

For 12 seasons, Egger has been at the helm of the Ten Sleep track program, and the weather was far from perfect during her final state meet, but that did not spoil it one bit for Egger.

"State has always felt like a period at the end of a chapter for a season. This year though, it was an exclamation this time," said Egger. "I told Brian [Holiday, TSHS track and field assistant coach] I was hoping for 70-degree weather for my final state meet, but it didn't happen, and it was par for the course. Looking back, I wouldn't have it any other way. That's the rite for being a track coach. It was the best ending, and I wouldn't want it any other way."

Ten Sleep has always been one of the smallest, if not the smallest, schools in Wyoming. Yet, from her first day as coach, Egger instilled in her athletes the confidence to compete with whoever steps on that track, no matter what school they run for.

"Making your mark, regardless of where you're from, is what we wanted to do. We wanted the kids to believe in themselves. It didn't matter who they were competing against or how big the school was," said Egger. "People were excited to watch our kids run because they knew we would compete at a high level."

That approach by Egger led to tremendous success for the program because from 2011 to 2022, the Ten Sleep athletes have achieved many great things.

Egger had nine state champions win a combined 30 individual state titles and two state champion relay teams.

The Ten Sleep state champions under Egger were:

In 2011, Scott Erdahl won the 800 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters, and Tony Villareal won the 300-meter hurdles.

2012, the 4x800-meter relay team of Bailey Anderson, Kodi Lewton, Michayla Miller and Carina Lewton won the state title.

2015, Michayla Miller won the 3200-meter run.

2016, Kelli Holiday won the 800 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters, and Allison Hampton won the triple jump.

2017, Kelli Holiday won the 400-meter dash, 800 meters, 1600 meters, and 3200 meters; Sydney Holiday the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, and Allison Hampton the triple jump.

2018, Kelli Holliday won the 400-meter dash, 800 meters and 1600 meters, and Sydney Holiday the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles and long jump.

2019, Kelli Holiday won the 400-meter dash, 800-meter run and 1600-meter run, and the sprint medley relay team of Elizabeth Lungren, Molly Charney, Kelli Holiday and Lindsey Holiday won the top spot.

2021, Kenna Holiday won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash; Lindsey Holiday won the 1600 meters, and Boe Nichols won the 400-meter dash.

While they often had single-digit numbers, Eggers teams were still able to bring home team trophies. In 2011 the Pioneers finished fifth at state, and from 2016 to 2019, the Lady Pioneers finished fourth, third, second and second, respectively.

And to top it off, Egger's athletes won a combined 102 medals at state during her 12 seasons as coach.

"It hasn't set in," said Egger about all the achievements that happened during her tenure. "I don't think the reality of what we accomplished will set in for some time to come. When I move on to another program and see how that's run or just later down the line, I'll be able to look back and see that we had something special, and I was part of something extraordinary.

Egger added, "I knew we had something special like in Kelli [Holiday] and some of the other athletes we had before Brian. That's something that needs to be known, it wasn't me, it was the people I surrounded myself with that's the important part, that I was smart enough to get the right people."

Egger is not shy when it comes to praising her assistant coach Brian Holiday. She often says that bringing on Brian Holiday to help coach was her best decision.

It can be hard for a head coach or any decision maker to relinquish some control and delegate, but having that level of humility can lead to success, which is exactly what happened for Ten Sleep track once Egger and Holiday teamed up.

"I don't know everything, and I don't think I took it as humility at the time, but looking back, that was the best decision I ever made to pick him up. His kids were coming up, and I knew they were going to be good runners. He had the knowledge I didn't have. I'm not a long-distance runner – I try. That's what I needed, and I'm glad I took the chance. We had to figure out that working relationship, and it took time, but it turned into something good," said Egger.

With all the success from each team, picking a favorite moment for Egger wasn't tough because they're all her favorites. Each team and season has a unique meaning for Egger, whether it was 2018 where they finished as 1A State runners-up with Kelli and Sydney Holliday winning a combined seven state championships. Meanwhile, Cokeville won the state championship by 60-plus points and didn't have a single state champion.

Or the memories made with her 2014 team, which consisted of one athlete, freshman Allison Hampton, who would go on to win back-to-back state titles in the triple jump in 2016 and 2017.

Moments like those and the bonds built during her run as the TSHS track coach will stick with Egger far more than all the medals and hardware.

"I know it's cliché, but the kids and the coaches. It's too bad we didn't have the numbers to compete with Cokeville. I can't remember how many state champions we had in 2018, and Cokeville had none, and they still beat us by 60 points.

"It's up there for one of my favorite moments but having Allison that one year where it was just us was fun. She had scoliosis surgery, and she came back and won the triple jump two years in a row at state. It's moments like those where you build relationships, and no one can take that away from you," said Egger.