CASPER, Wyo. - Looking to pick up a sweat-shirt of your favorite high school team?

That option may be more readily available after the Wyoming High School Activities Association voted on Tuesday to enter an agreement with a licensing group to distribute high school merchandise in nationwide stores like Wal-Mart.

"We think it's a positive," Laird said.

Under the proposed agreement with Licensing Resource Group, LLC - which also does collegiate licensing - 50 percent of the royalties would go back to the school and 40 percent to LRG. The WHSAA will receive seven percent and the remaining three percent will go to the National Federation of State High School Associations. Individual schools will have the ability to opt out.

The NFHS tested the model with eight to 15 schools last year, Laird said, a received a positive response.

"We can put the money back into (the schools) and the kids," Laird said.

The agreement will not affect WHSAA agreements with third-party vendors - most notably Foto-Sport and Shirts & More, which provide photography and merchandise, respectively, for WHSAA culminating events.

Schools will submit their logos to LRG, and in the case of high schools using collegiate logos, the school must receive written permission from the university to continue using the logo. Laird said most colleges are open to the request.

Laird also said Wal-Mart and Kohl's - which has a store in Cheyenne - have agreed to stock the merchandise.

Other items of note from Tuesday's meeting:

• John Crosson of Farson was awarded a Gold Card for his 40 years of service to the high school and community. The now retired Crosson, is a former Farson teacher, administrator and basketball coach and was unanimously approved for the honor.

"He was continually there to help out the kids," said board member Russ Wiggam, of Hanna, who nominated Crosson for the award.

• All handbook proposals, except for the summer football camp amendment, were passed unanimously. The board voted to amend the football camp proposal to clarify rules regarding team summer camps that involve contact and hitting. The amendment will be sent back out to the districts for second-read approval.

• The track entry proposal was also unanimously approved. Schools in classes 3A through 1A are now allowed four entries at regional track meets, to match 4A.