Story Written By: Damon Cook @ CHSAANow.com
AURORA, Colo. — Coach Levi Kramer cemented himself as a Wray legend after winning the CHSAA 1A State Football Championship. This is the first time since 1993 that the Eagles have won the title, as they last did so when Kramer was the starting quarterback for the 1993 state championship team.
With Kramer at the helm, Wray outscored its opponents 583-120 en route to a perfect 13-0 record this year. In the wake of the Eagles' incredible season, Kramer has been named the 2024 Denver Broncos Coach of the Year for tackle football.
Kramer will be honored on the field during the Broncos High School Salute game this Sunday vs. the Colts.
Levi Kramer
Overall Record at Wray: 127-67
Overall Record as a Head Coach: 127-67
Previous Coaching Experience: Running backs coach and quarterbacks coach at Kansas Wesleyan (two years), tight ends coach and wide receiver coach at Fort Hays State University (two years), quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Wray High School (four years), head coach at Wray (2006-present).
*What made this team so special? *It's been 31 years since we won a state championship, and we've been the runner-up eight times since then. We've come so close, but we just couldn't get over the hump. This season, every week these kids just kept getting better, and they kept coming closer together as a team. It was just really fun to watch, and I'm grateful to be along for the ride.
*What went through your mind when you hoisted that trophy? *When we got the trophy, I just looked up into the crowd. We were four hours away from Wray, and there was just purple everywhere. The support we have is unmatched at our level. You could feel it from the kids, from the assistant coaches, and from the whole community. We talk about it all the time — when you play, you're not just playing for yourself; you're playing for your community, your team and your brothers. To see everything come together like that — it was incredibly special.
*Did you get a chance to interact with the community after you won? *I did. I talked to a lot of people. I got to give Coach Rusher a hug after the game. He's an old-timer, a legend and having him congratulate me like that was pretty special. I also spoke with my mom and Coach Christensen, and I got to talk to a lot of former players who had come up short in the past but still came out to support us. It really hit me when I thought about all those teams that came close but didn't get it done. I wish they would have felt this same feeling, and I know a lot of them were just as happy for us.
*What do you think allowed your team to consistently perform at such a high-level week in and week out? *It all came down to the players gaining more football knowledge. At our senior barbecue this summer, we set goals, and one of those goals was to become more football smart. These guys were already great athletes, but we needed them to understand the game better. They spent a lot of time in the film room, studying their opponents and breaking down plays. The more they did it, the better they got at it. By the time we got to the state championship game, all that preparation really paid off.
*Was there a point during the season when you realized that this could be a state championship team? *We didn't usually put that idea out there in the past, but this year we did. At the beginning of the season, we told the players to say it out loud, 'We want to be state champions.' We knew it would take a lot of work to get there, but we had the right group of people to make it happen. The senior leadership was key. I think that mindset and confidence, without being arrogant, really helped us focus on the goal. By the time we hit the midway point of the season, we knew we had something special.
*How did you make sure your team didn't look ahead or take any games for granted? *We kept our weekly goals in focus. We call them 'Get Seven' goals, and they've been the foundation for us. Every week, we set specific goals for what we needed to do to win. It didn't matter if we ran the ball, threw it or did both — we stuck to our plan. The kids stayed really focused on the task at hand. A lot of people thought it would be Wray and Forge Christian in the championship, and that's hard to avoid, but the boys did a great job of staying focused on the next game and not getting ahead of themselves.
*How much of an impact did last year's loss in the playoffs have on this year's team? *It had a huge impact. Losing to Limon in 2022, especially after we had the lead in the fourth quarter, taught us a lot. It showed us that you can't take anything for granted. We learned the importance of staying focused for all 48 minutes. That loss really helped build this team's mindset. They came into this year with a mentality that we couldn't look ahead or get distracted by the next game. It had to be about the game in front of us, and I think that playoff experience was invaluable.
*Have you had a chance to hang up the state championship banner in school yet? *Not yet, but it's on order. We're excited about it. We've got a great wall of banners already, and our state championship banner is going to go right under the 1993 championship banner. The 1993 team was a special group, and I was part of that team. So to see our 2024 banner hanging there next to it will be a really cool moment.
*Given that you were part of the 1993 team, does winning the title as a coach make it feel even more special? *Absolutely. It's something I've always wanted to do. I've been part of Wray football my whole life, and it feels great to give back to the community that's supported me. I'm a Wray guy through and through, and it's incredible to help bring this title home. The community support is amazing. I don't know if you've seen the videos, but when we got back, there were fire trucks and a big celebration on Main Street. It's just awesome to be part of that.
*How would you describe Wray? *Wray is a small town, only about 2,400 people, and the community really revolves around the school. It's not just football — we've got a great wrestling program, an amazing band, eSports, drama, you name it. Everyone supports each other here, and it's a place where kids can excel in academics, extracurriculars and athletics. We're a small town, but we offer a lot, and I've been lucky to grow up here and be part of it.
*What else would you like people to know about this season or your team? *I just want to say how blessed I feel. God has truly blessed me, and I'm grateful for this opportunity. This has been a special season, and I'm thankful for all the support from the community, the parents, and everyone who helped us get here. It's a feeling I'll never forget. Thank you to everyone who's been part of this journey.
