Laramie’s Chavez, Ruckman, and Tyser Sign for College Sports
Three Laramie High School students signed up to take their talents to compete in collegiate athletics on Wednesday night.
Seniors Kailyn Ruckman, Taylor Tyser, and Brandon Chavez were part of the Fall NLI Signing Ceremony at LHS.
Ruckman signed for softball at Phoenix College in Arizona. Tyser signed with Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, NE, for volleyball. The third signee was Chavez, who is headed to Fort Hays State in Kansas for baseball.
Ruckman went down to Phoenix for a tryout last summer and didn’t know much about the school.
“The first thing I see when I pull up is ten-time national champions, so I panicked, but the workout went well.”
After visiting with the coach, meeting some players, and taking a campus visit, Ruckman said that’s where she wants to be.
“(The coach,) he has so much experience, and I wanted to be a part of that team. I want to be pushed, so I think this will be a really good next step for me, especially if I want to go on to play D-I, possibly.”
For Ruckman, playing softball in college has been a goal of hers since she started playing at age ten.
Ruckman has been a two-year starter for Laramie High School’s softball team. As a junior last spring, she hit .365 over 29 games with six doubles and two home runs. Ruckman had 15 RBIs and scored 22 runs. She was named honorable mention all-conference in 2022.
Tyser chose the Cougars program after a visit this fall.
“I really liked their campus. It’s just really nice there, and they have a really good education program. I practiced with the team, and I really liked their coach and the culture they have.”
Tyser admitted she wasn’t quite sure what her future would entail.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, but I’m definitely happier when I’m on the volleyball court, so I’m happy I made this decision.”
Tyser is a two-time all-state selection for LHS volleyball. She helped Laramie win two state championships as a sophomore and junior, and to a third-place finish as a senior. Tyser had 531 digs during her senior season with 39 service aces. She also had 105 assists.
Brandon Chavez is fulfilling a dream to play baseball at the next level after signing with the Tigers.
He told KOWB’s David Settle that he chose Fort Hays State over two other offers from schools in North Dakota.
“At the end of the day, it came down to the coaching and team dynamic. Fort Hays really fit everything I was looking for in a school, especially their campus.”
Chavez is a baseball guy. “It’s always been the sport I focus on the most and have the most desire to play.”
Chavez is a three-time all-state selection for the Laramie Rangers American Legion Baseball program.
He has been named first-team all-state twice and second-team once. Chavez helped the Rangers to a second-place finish and a 41-25 record during the 2021 season.
In 2022, Chavez led Laramie to a 35-23 mark. He hit .392 last summer for the Rangers with 42 RBIs. Chavez had 60 hits, which included 11 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. As a pitcher, he was 10-4 in the season with a 3.26 ERA. Chavez had 98 strikeouts and 41 walks over 79.1 innings pitched. He threw a no-hitter against Rock Springs last season with 14 strikeouts.