A major figure in the successes of Big Piney athletics was this 1999 graduate. Mack Van Ranken was a three sport standout and earned all-state honors in football and track. He was an important member of the 1998 State Champion football team and the 1999 State Champions Track team.
As a football player, Van Ranken was a three time All-Conference performer and was named to the Wyoming Coaches Association All-State team in his junior and senior seasons. This versatile player could be found as a fullback, tight end and defensive end for the Punchers as well as handling the punting duties. Because of these abilities, Mack was named to the Shrine Bowl squad after his senior year.
In basketball, Mack was selected to the Rocky Mountain All-Conference team three times and was a team captain for two years. He helped his team qualify for the Wyoming State tournament as a junior.
In Mack Van Ranken’s junior and senior year, he showed his strength by qualifying and placing at the Wyoming State Track meet in both the shot and discus events. As a junior this thrower finished in fifth place in both events. As a senior his school record throw in the shot brought home a third place finish and he followed that with a seventh place finish in the discus. These efforts helped this strong Puncher team to its first ever Wyoming State championship.
Mack Van Ranken went on to play football at Black Hills State before transferring to the University of Wyoming to finish his studies. Currently married with two daughters, Mack finds himself busy as an Associate Minister in his church as well as a pipeline specialist for Williams Field Services.