The University of Wyoming won the national college basketball championship in 1943. Shortly after their triumph, several Cowboys started training for a bigger fight: World War II.
A new movie about the Cowboys’ epic championship game victory over St. John’s University in fabled Madison Square Garden premieres tonight, March 6, in Laramie at The Wyo Theater at 7pm.
The 61-minute documentary includes interviews with Kenny Sailors, the last surviving Cowboys player in the game; players Jimmie Reese and Tony Katana, and the children of Cowboys players Milo Komenich, Floyd Volker and Lew Roney.
Also interviewed are former U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson, who drove for miles with his parents to listen to this historic game on the radio, and played for the Cowboys a decade later; Marialyce Barrett Tobin, who attended the game and is daughter of a former Wyoming governor; Jim Brandenburg, former Wyoming coach; Tracy Ringolsby, Hall of Fame sportswriter; Ken Cook, former Wyoming football player.
The film is narrated by Dave Walsh, in his 30th season as voice of Cowboys basketball and football, and directed by Kim Komenich, son of star Cowboys center Milo Komenich.
Many of the film’s participants will answer audience questions following the screening.
Director Kim Komenich says, “This Cowboys movie was obviously a labor of love for me because that team was very important to my dad. But everyone we talked with is really happy this story is now a documentary film! There is Cowboys’ Pride everywhere in Wyoming.”
See a preview of “Cowboys” here.