Wyoming Cavalry

(Redirected from Wyoming Calvary)

The Wyoming Cavalry were an American professional indoor football team based in Casper, Wyoming. They were most recently members of the Intense Conference in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Cavalry began play in 2000 as an expansion member of the original Indoor Football League as the Casper Cavalry. The Cavalry became a charter member of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL) in 2001 following the original IFL's purchase by the Arena Football League's Orlando Predators. The move in 2001 also brought a franchise name change to the current Wyoming Cavalry. The team then joined the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) in 2008 after the NIFL's demise. With the AIFA's presence in the Western United States dwindling, the Cavalry joined the IFL in 2011. In September, 2014, majority owner Mitch Zimmerman announced that the team would cease operations.[1]

Wyoming Cavalry
Established 2000
Folded 2014
Played in Casper Events Center
in Casper, Wyoming
WyomingCavalry.com
League/conference affiliations
Indoor Football League (2000)
  • Western Division (2000)

National Indoor Football League (2001–2007)

  • Central Division (2001)
  • Pacific Conference (2002–2007)
    • Western Division (2002–2006)

American Indoor Football Association (2008–2010)

  • Western Conference (2008)
    • West Division (2008–2010)

Indoor Football League (20112014)

  • Intense Conference (2011–2014)
    • Mountain West Division (2011)
Current uniform
Team colorsNavy Blue, Las Vegas Gold
   
MascotCuster the Coyote
CheerleadersXzude Dance Team
Personnel
Owner(s)Mitch Zimmerman
PresidentMike and Argeri Layton
General managerMike Layton
Head coachRyan Lingenfelder
Team history
  • Casper Cavalry (2000)
  • Wyoming Cavalry (2001–2014)
Championships
League championships (0)
0
Conference championships (1)
2008
Division championships (0)
0
Playoff appearances (9)
2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Home arena(s)

The Cavalry played their home games at the Casper Events Center.

History

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A Cavalry player shaking hands during pregame

The team began play in 2000 as an expansion member of the original Indoor Football League as the Casper Cavalry. Despite a successful inaugural season, they fell in the playoffs to the Black Hills Machine. When the original IFL folded, the Cavalry moved to the newly formed National Indoor Football League[2] as the "Wyoming Cavalry" and became a charter member. The team also saw front office changes, as they were purchased by a local ownership group, headed by Mike Argeri Layton.[3] The team was decently successful, making the playoffs in four of their seven overall seasons, as well as making it to the inaugural Indoor Bowl, losing to the Mississippi Fire Dogs.

On August 18, 2007, the Cavalry officially announced they would join the American Indoor Football Association as a flagship team of the league's new Western Division.[4] On July 26, 2009, the Cavalry hosted the Reading Express in AIFA Bowl III and were defeated 65–42. On July 25, 2010, the Cavalry traveled to Baltimore to take on the Mariners in AIFA Bowl IV and would go on to lose 57–42. As of the end of the 2010 season, the Cavalry are 0–5 in championship games.

On September 1, 2010, the Cavalry announced they would be joining the Indoor Football League as an expansion member for the 2011 season.[5]

For the 2013 season, its third in the IFL, the Cavalry hired rookie head coach Ryan Lingenfelder to replace longtime head coach Dan "Majic" Maciejczak.[6] Lingenfelder, a former AFL player, served as defensive coordinator of the Tri-Cities Fever for the previous three seasons.[7] Shortly before the 2013 season began, the owner of the Cheyenne Warriors died and the IFL revised its schedule to accommodate the now 9-team league.[8] The Cavalry had been scheduled to play two games against the projected in-state rival.[9] Barney O'Donnell III joined the team as the new starting quarterback.[10] After compiling a 2–24 record in 2 seasons, Lingenfelder was relieved of his coaching duties.[11]

Season-by-season

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Season records
Season W L T Finish Playoff results
Casper Cavalry (IFL)
2000 9 5 0 3rd WC Northern Lost Round 1 (Black Hills)
Wyoming Cavalry (NIFL)
2001 8 6 0 2nd Pacific Central Won Round 1 (Utah)
Won Round 2 (Sioux Falls)
Lost Indoor Bowl I (Mississippi)
2002 3 11 0 5th Pacific West --
2003 4 10 0 6th Pacific West --
2004 5 9 0 3rd Pacific West --
2005 10 4 0 2nd Pacific West Lost Round 1 (Tri-Cities)
2006 8 6 0 2nd Pacific West Lost Round 1 (Tri-Cities)
2007 7 1 0 1st Pacific
Wyoming Cavalry (AIFA)
2008 11 3 0 1st WC West Won WCW Round 1 (Arizona)
Won Divisional (Mississippi)
Lost AIFA Championship Bowl II (Florence)
2009 12 2 0 1st West Won Divisional (Utah Valley)
Lost AIFA Championship Bowl III (Reading)
2010 13 1 0 1st West Won Divisional (San Jose)
Lost AIFA Championship Bowl IV (Baltimore)
Wyoming Cavalry (IFL)
2011 9 5 0 2nd Mountain West Lost Round 1 (Allen)
2012 4 10 0 7th Intense
2013 1 13 0 4th Intense --
2014 1 13 0 4th Intense --
Totals 105 109 0 (including playoffs)

Notable players

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Final roster

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Wyoming Cavalry roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Kickers

Injured reserve
  • currently vacant

Exempt List

Refused to report

  • rookies in italics
  • Roster updated July 24, 2014
  • 23 Active, 2 Inactive

→ More rosters

Awards and honors

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The following is a list of all Cavalry players who have won league Awards

Season Player Position Award
2012 Jasonus Tillary WR Offensive Rookie of the Year

All-IFL players

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The following Cavalry players have been named to All-IFL Teams:

  • WR Jasonus Tillary (1), Troy Evans (1), Samuel Charles (1)
  • K Travis Atter (1)

All-NIFL players

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The following Cavalry players have been named to All-NIFL Teams:

  • QB Matt Strand (2)
  • RB James Jones (1)
  • WR Dante Dudley (2)
  • DL Marcus Jones (1)
  • DB Brandon Everage (1)
  • DB Brian Guthrie (1)
  • DL Tyrone Saterfield (1)
  • LB Jeff Main (3)

Head coaches

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Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2014 Indoor Football League season.

Name Term Regular Season Playoffs Awards
W L T Win% W L
Chris Stein 2000, 2004 14 13 0 .519 0 1
Scott Hafley 2001 6 5 0 .545 2 1
Tyrone Fittje 20022003 7 21 0 .250 0 0
Shannon Moore 20052006 18 8 0 .692 0 2
Dan Maciejczak 20072012 52 18 0 .743 4 4
Ryan Lingenfelder 20132014 2 24 0 .077 0 0

References

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  1. ^ Jack Nowlin (September 25, 2014). "Wyoming Cavalry cease operations". www.trib.com. Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Casper Cavalry returns under NIFL". www.billingsgazette.com. The Billings Gazette. January 27, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  3. ^ Jack Nowlin (October 25, 2011). "Wyoming Cavalry owners promise to stay in Casper". www.trib.com. Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  4. ^ "Wyoming Cavalry join AIFA". Our Sports Central. August 18, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  5. ^ Jack Nowlin (September 2, 2010). "Cavalry break with AIFA, joins IFL". www.trib.com. Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  6. ^ Nowlin, Jack (September 26, 2012). "Wyoming Cavalry hire former AFL player as new head coach". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  7. ^ "Cavs' open IFL season on the road". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. March 7, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  8. ^ "IFL Announces Revised 2013 Schedule". Indoor Football League. January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  9. ^ "Wyoming Cavalry release 2013 schedule". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  10. ^ Bonner, Michael (March 8, 2013). "Former Warrior star O'Donnell returns to CR as QB1". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  11. ^ Jeff Kirshman (June 7, 2014). "Lingenfelder's tenure as Wyoming Cavalry coach ends after two seasons". www.trib.com. Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
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