Due to a chest injury, Powell High School senior Riley Stringer was unable to compete at the Class 3A West Star Valley Regional in Afton over the weekend.

But, he received some good news when he got there.

The Big Horn Basin coaches and administrators named Stringer the Wilford Mower Memorial Award winner on Saturday, adding to the three-sport athlete’s shelf of accolades.

“It’s really cool. Again, it’s just an honor and a blessing to be the recipient of the award,” he said.

The Mower Award is given to one male and one female from 1A/2A  and 3A/4A schools in the western division of Wyoming. Each school nominates a candidate based on his/her athletic achievements, academic accomplishments and citizenship traits. The candidates are then voted upon by representatives from 18 member schools.

Stringer, who was named PHS’ senior male Athlete of the Year on May 12, said being recognized by people state-wide was a special honor.

“It’s cool to know that not only are the people who I see every day supporting you, but a bunch of people who just might know your name and not know who you really are can still tell how hard you work for the things you love doing,” he said.

The one person that may recognize it the most, Stringer’s mother Jill Stringer, was in Afton with her son as he accepted the award. Jill Stringer has been a frequent fan at most — if not all — of her son’s sporting events this year.

“It means a lot,” Riley Stringer said. “I love my mom more than anything, and the fact that she’s always there to support me means the world to me.”

Stringer has excelled in football, wrestling and track and field for the Panthers during his four prep years, and he is headed to the University of Wyoming to play football for Cowboys head coach Craig Bohl in the fall.

The Wilford Mower Memorial Award was created in memory of Wilford Mower, who coached throughout the Big Horn Basin and was highly respected by his fellow coaches. Mower was killed in an automobile accident in 1959. Mower was a member of the Big Horn Basin Coaches Association, and the association set up the award in order to honor the ideals practiced by their departed member. The decoration has been awarded to prep athletes since 1960.