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Updated on Feb 11, 2012 05:27PM
As soon as the school announced Carl Franke would be Desert Hills' next head football coach, droves of students headed over to his classroom. They cheered him, shook his hand, patted on the back - the players might be more excited than he is. But the 36-year-old Franke, who has served as the team's offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, is definitely ready for his first shot at the top job. "I've been doing this so long, I had in my mind what I would do when I became head coach," he said. "Coach [Jake] Nelson and I talked a lot together about the responsibilities, so I understand a lot of them. None of this is too new to me, aside from being at the front of the re... |
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Updated on Feb 11, 2012 05:27PM
After looking at the girls' basketball playoff picture yesterday, let's take a look at how some of the boys' regions are shaping up. Some are clear-cut and some are still pretty murky. As always, there should be a few surprises, but here's how these region races are likely to take shape: Region 1: Only a few months ago, who could've predicted Northridge would be in first place with three games to go? Of course, that will be a tough seed to hold onto: The Knights face Fremont, Weber and Davis in their last games, and the only bright side is two of the three are at home. The Silver Wolves and the Warriors both sit a game back at 5-2, and the Darts 4-3. Of thes... |
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Updated on Feb 9, 2012 02:17PM
As we get into the playoffs, several regions and playoff spots are still up in the air - a lot of teams’ postseason hopes hang in the balance. Let’s take a look at some of the local girls’ basketball regions and try to make sense of some of the race for spots and seeding. There will be some surprises, but here are the most likely scenarios: Region 1: This is mostly worked out, unless Layton is able to upset Syracuse next week. The Titans will be No. 1, Layton will likely be No. 2, and Weber will be third. The only big question mark is between Fremont and Davis for the last playoff spot. The edge goes to the Silverwolves, who have last-place Northridge on the schedule be... |
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Updated on Feb 8, 2012 04:36PM
Nathan Makarewicz could be entering some elite territory on Thursday. The West junior is eyeing his third consecutive state diving title, and so far this season, he's proven he can win it. But he's not without competition - rival diver Trayton Speth of Jordan will be gunning to play spoiler in his senior year. "Trayton has won one or two, and I've won three or four," Makarewicz says. "Diving is such a small sport, we've gotten to know each other pretty well. Sure, people expect me to win, but there's a lot of pressure." There will be other divers in the field, but expect the battle to come down to those two at BYU. Makarewicz won it all last year over Speth's fellow B... |
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Updated on Feb 8, 2012 04:36PM
The Cyprus girls' basketball team continued a strong campaign with a win over Woods Cross on Tuesday. Afterward, senior forward Lori Parkinson talked to the Tribune about how the Pirates have come so far, what it was like to play one of the state's toughest centers, and what her college plans might be.
Stick with the Tribune for all the latest happenings in high school sports. — Kyle Goon kgoo... |
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Updated on Feb 8, 2012 05:01PM
Here are just a few of the top high school performances from last week: • Boys' basketball — Hayden Schenk, Weber: As the Warriors go through the season, they know they can count on Schenk, one of the most consistent scorers in the state. He tallied 23 points in a win over Layton, followed by 19 against Fremont. He also proved he can dish it out, too, as he combined for 14 assists in the contests. But the most important statistic is this: Weber went 2-0 last week, and now is sitting in second place in a wild Region 1. • Girls' basketball —Malia Nawahine, Springville: The Red Devils? Back in the playoff picture? Definitely. And Nawahine is a ... |
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Updated on Feb 8, 2012 05:01PM
Friday's boys' basketball games brought one of the more eye-bulging box scores you'll see this season. Layton Christian Academy 117, Mount Vernon 38. Don't cringe too much — this isn't a case of blatantly running up the score, coach Bobby Porter says. No one on the Eagles scored more than 15 points. It was just that all 13 players who recorded minutes scored four or more. Scifon Shyaka led with 15 points, followed by Jacob Maughn's 14. It could've been a lot worse, in fact, Porter says. "My starters only played 11-and-a-half minutes, and we didn't press all game or anything like that," he says. "Our bench guys are almost as good as our starters, and they're com... |
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Updated on Feb 8, 2012 05:01PM
While Signing Day was a big event for Utah's high school football stars, they were not the only athletes celebrating.
The girls' soccer players from the Utah Avalanche celebrated the day at Hidden Valley Country Club. It was the culmination of years of training, ever since the players were 8 years old.
The U-18 group has been ranked as high as the No. 8 club squad in the country. Including two players who graduated last year, and pending junior Emily Bruder's signing with Stanford, every athlete on the team will sign with a Division I program.
"This group is extremely talented, no question," coach Joanna...
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Updated on Feb 4, 2012 06:32PM
Two Utahns — one a former prep star, and another who still plays in high school — will be playing international competition after making U.S. Soccer Team rosters. Juan Diego forward Emily Bruder will make her way to Sunrise, Fla., for training camp with the U-17 team. Bruder made the cut after strong performances over the summer for national team tryouts. The junior Stanford commit even scored a goal against Japan in August. The training camp runs from Feb. 3 to 11, and the U.S. will play Germany on Feb. 6 and Feb. 9. Bruder is one of only 24 players from around the nation on the roster. And Bruder isn't the only Uta... |
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Updated on Feb 4, 2012 06:32PM
Typically, the Tribune does not publish the list of Snow College signees with those who are accepting four-year scholarships, but it doesn't mean these athletes necessarily won't be playing FBS or FCS ball someday. Here's the list of Utahns who are enrolling at Snow. You never know who might be the next Tenny Palepoi: • RB Kalama Molisi, Skyline |
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Updated on Feb 4, 2012 06:32PM
Taking a hard look at its latest batch of football coach candidates — the third such job search in a matter of months — the Hunter administration decided the most important factor was to hire someone who wanted to be at the school, and would take care of their kids. Hunter pegged Scott Henderson, a former head coach at Taylorsville and Granite, as its man. As a defensive coordinator, Henderson helped the Wolverines win a state championship in 2003. And he's "estatic" to finally be back. "My body left, but my heart stayed at Hunter," Henderson says. "It's a dream job for any coach - I've interviewed for the job four or five times." Henderson finally wooed the Wolverine... |
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Updated on Feb 1, 2012 02:51PM
<freeform><iframe width="470" height="269" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-46v3-8Ytcg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></freeform> Highland • Unlike his friend Brandon Fanaika, Chase Hansen had little drama on signing day. The heralded Lone Peak quarterback stuck to the commitment he made before his senior season and signed a National Letter of Intent with Utah. "The recruiting process can be a roller coaster some times," Hansen said. "I'm still so glad I committed early and I feel like that helped me thorughout my senior season." Whereas Fanaika didn't announce his decision until Wednesday morning, Hansen wa... |
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Updated on Feb 4, 2012 06:32PM
Here's a few top performances from last week's high school sports action: • Boys' basketball — Parker Van Dyke, East: There's no understating what Van Dyke and the Leopards accomplished last week, beating Highland in overtime on the road. East had not beaten Highland since 2003, and Van Dyke's 33 points and 14 rebounds were no small factor. The junior guard is asserting himself as one of the best ballers in the state, leading Class 4A in scoring this year. He's already drawing Pac-12 interest — this effort might pull in a few more scholarships. • Girls' basketball — Makenzi Morrison, Alta: The BYU-signed senior has been lighting up the court... |
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Updated on Jan 31, 2012 03:58PM
Steve Coburn said he didn't expect to be leaving North Sanpete so soon — events just unfolded that way. The former Snow College coach spent only one season with the Hawks, but an opening at Wasatch High School proved too tempting to pass up. He accepted the job last week. "One of the things that drew us to Wasatch is it takes us closer to our family in Utah County," Coburn said. "That, combined with the school's great tradition in athletics and a top-of-the-line football facility, and we also felt it was a great community in which to live." And so Coburn will take over the Wasps program, which has grasped for stability since coach Steve North was ousted after facing a... |
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Updated on Jan 31, 2012 03:58PM
DeSean Miller is a transfer to Skyline this year, but even he could feel the raucous atmosphere of one of the state's best rivalries. The point guard had 23 points in the Eagles' 59-52 win over the Titans, and here's what he had to say about the game.
– Kyle Goon kgoon@sltrib.com Twitter: @kylegoon ... |
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Updated on Jan 31, 2012 03:58PM
A source close to uncommitted linebacker Moana Ofahengaue says that the 2012 prospect will commit to play football at the University of Utah. Ofahengaue, ranked the No. 4 football prospect in Utah this year, is the highest-rated uncommitted player. He hosted coach Kyle Whittingham this week and told Scout.com that the Utes had emerged as a favorite. The senior racked up 78 tackles and seven sacks as a first-team all-state lineman this year for Westlake, which reached the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs despite a losing sea... |
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Updated on Jan 31, 2012 03:58PM
After four seasons at the helm of Springville football, coach Scott Mitchell has decided to step down. The former Utah star who played quarterback in the NFL told the Tribune that he felt he could no longer commit the time to lead his alma mater. Mitchell runs a software company, and he realized his job would force him to travel and split his focus away from football. "It's been on my mind, and I was really hoping I could work things out," Mitchell said. "But I've been almost full-time into coaching, and that was the commitment I made. I can't do it halfway. It was in everyone's best interests that I step down." Mitchell helped resurrect the program after taking over ... |
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Updated on Jan 31, 2012 03:58PM
An unfortunate turn for one of the state's boys' basketball programs has led to an opportunity for another. After Concordia Prep learned it could no longer field a team because of academic eligibility issues, first-year school Legacy Prep will get an opportunity to compete. Although they will not be eligible for the postseason, and its JV squad will take on varsity squads from Region 17, they'll make up for what otherwise would be an unplayed schedule. The UHSAA Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion to allow Legacy Prep to play out the Lynx's schedule. If the three remaining players who are academically eligible at Concordia Prep can work out logistics with Legacy ... |
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Updated on Jan 26, 2012 02:44PM
A litany of allegations of misconduct against a successful California football program includes one with a local twist: A Taft High assistant coach is accused of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs on Sept. 24 when the Toreadors lost 56-0 against Alta at Rio Tinto Stadium. Of course, that alone wouldn't explain away the lopsided shutout. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, the charge against the assistant coach is |
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Updated on Jan 31, 2012 03:58PM
Several of the state's top baseball prospects will get a chance to showcase their talents in front of Major League Baseball scouts and college coaches on Wednesday afternoon. The MountainWest Baseball Academy is hosting scouts from at least 27 major league teams. Among the players participating will be two of this year's top senior prospects from Utah: Kayden Porter from Spanish Fork and Brady Lail from Bingham. Both are considered pitching prospects - although Porter might have value as a hitter - and both are signed to colleges. Porter is slated to go to North Carolina, while Lail signed with Arizona this fall. But both could be taken in this year's MLB draft, so th... |
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Updated on Jan 24, 2012 09:49PM
Here's a sampling of the top Utah high school performances from last week: • Boys' basketball — Justin Johnson, Green River: Suspend whatever cynicism you have for a moment about Class 1A basketball. Yes, this 6-foot-4 forward is facing some underwhelming competition. That said, his 36-, 42- and 45-point games last week are still extraordinary accomplishments. Against Monument Valley, he also had 21 rebounds for an unbelievable 42-21 double-double. For the year, Johnson has not scored less than 24 points in any contest, and he leads the state scoring 34 points per game. • Girls' basketball — Makenlee Williams, Syracuse: She's another oft-ove... |
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Updated on Jan 24, 2012 09:49PM
The Lone Peak boys' basketball team made a huge statement on Friday night by beating American Fork 55-40. Besides being its prime rival, the Cavemen are considered one of the top contenders to challenge the Knights for the Class 5A title. Star junior guard Nick Emery spoke about the win and the rivalry after the game.
Lone Peak remained the top overall team in the boys' basketba... |
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Updated on Jan 24, 2012 09:49PM
American Fork's dominance in Utah cross country continued this year, and now Gatorade has recognized one of the program's top runners. Clayton Young has become the first-ever two-time winner of the Utah Gatorade cross country runner of the year award, after a season of steady performances. His best finish came at the Southwest regional meet, when he finished third with a time of 15:14.7. He finished third in the Class 5A state meet, and 24th over at nationals as the Cavemen finished sixth as a team. A Gatorade news release also cited Young's 4.0 GPA and community service as an Eagle Scout as reasons for his selection. With the award, American Fork claims three straigh... |
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Updated on Jan 21, 2012 04:49PM
Utah doesn't boast a lot of basketball All-Americans, but 14 seniors in the state have made the cut to be make the roster of one of the most prestigious games there is. Six hundred players across the country were tapped this week as nominees for the McDonalds High School All-American basketball. Obviously the chances of making the final 48 — 24 boys and 24 girls — are quite slim, but a few might have a good chance of making it. Highlighting the list are West Jordan's Jordan Loveridge and Syracuse's Brittney Martin. Loveridge is averaging 23 points and more than 14 rebounds per game for the Jaguars, who have only one loss on the season. He's committed to the Utes. Martin is a... |
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Updated on Jan 21, 2012 04:49PM
One of the top remaining uncommitted linemen in the state has elected to follow Norm Chow to Hawaii. Kearns lineman Gus Lavaka, an all-state selection this year, committed to the Warriors on Sunday after visiting the campus last weekend. He chose Hawaii over Idaho, SUU and several junior college offers. Lavaka had gotten interest from Utah, BYU and Utah State but no offers. But when Chow took the head coaching job at Hawaii and put an offer on the table, Lavaka couldn't say no. "My parents wanted me to commit a lot earlier," he said. "I just wanted to see what it was like, and I liked it." Lavaka was a two-way player for Kearns, but he will be a defensive linem... |
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Updated on Jan 21, 2012 04:49PM
The Westlake football team may have played the biggest role in who the administration picked to be its next head coach. The day after Jason Walker stepped down from the role, many of the Thunder athletes went to the school computer labs and typed up letters to the administration outlining why they believed assistant head coach Gary Clark should take over. Without a doubt, their voices were heard. The school decided Tuesday to hire Clark, a 61-year-old tenured professional who has coached numerous high school teams in Utah and Hawaii and won the 1998 NFL ... |
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Updated on Jan 21, 2012 04:49PM
The latest story making the rounds is about Corner Canyon High, a new school opening in Draper, spiking the student mascot selection of "Cougars." At least part of the reasoning behind the decision is the concern that the term "Cougar" is offensive to middle-aged women. For those not particularly versed in the slang, "Cougar" sometimes refers to an assertive, attractive middle-aged The alleged controversy is suprising to at least one of the Utah high schools who already uses the mascot. Kearns football coach and athletic director Bill Cosper was a little bewildered by the news. "To m... |
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Updated on Jan 21, 2012 04:49PM
It's been a rough cycle for Hunter football by any measure. In about eight months, the program has had three coaches, and on Wednesday, players received the news that the school would be looking for a fourth. Tim Murphy, a California coach who accepted the job in December, has stepped down from the post after only a spending a weekend in Utah during his brief tenure. Assistant principal Craig Stauffer said Murphy was unable to resolve a family situation that prevented him from moving to the area from California. He informed the Hunter administration Tuesday evening. "It was just an unexpected thing," Stauffer said. "Whateve... |
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Updated on Jan 18, 2012 04:22PM
One of the tough things about print stories is it's typically so hard to get all the information you want in the final copy. For yesterday's story about Skyline football coach Roger Dupaix retiring, a bunch of people chimed in with their own thoughts and memories about him. I thought I'd share some of those comments, plus maybe a few facts about Dupaix you may not have known. Steve Marlowe, new Skyline coach (served as an assistant with Dupaix for 26 years) • "The thing about Roger is that he's got a lot of patience and determination. His success and consistency speaks to how he works with people. And yes, you want more winning than losing, but I think the b... |
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Updated on Jan 18, 2012 04:37PM
Here are a few of the top prep performers from last week: • Boys' basketball —Jake Miles, Morgan: Miles has been one of the most consistent players in the state, helping the Trojans jump out to a 5-0 region record. Last week, he piled on 29 points and 7 rebounds against Bear River in a high-scoring 72-64 win. Morgan also played a close game against Grantsville, but Miles still led the team with 17 points and adding 5 rebounds. • Girls' basketball — Whitney Mitchell, Taylorsville: The Warriors guard was on fire last week. In two region wins, Mitchell scored 45 combined points and shot seven 3-pointers. On both nights, she led her team in scor... |
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Updated on Jan 14, 2012 03:08PM
Sandy • Something happened when Mark Krueger’s first free throw rattled out seconds before the end of regulation. Instead of slumping his shoulders, the Jordan center was suddenly filled with confidence. He sank his second shot to tie up Brighton, 60-60, and send the game into overtime. And the next four minutes would be some of the best basketball he’s ever played. “The butterflies were gone,” Krueger said. “I knew I had to get that second one. I thought I could do more.” The senior did just about all he could to help the Beetdiggers (9-3) earn a 65-6... |
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Updated on Jan 13, 2012 04:03PM
OK, so we're behind this week on athletes of the week for LAST week, and I apologize. But this post being a bit late doesn't diminish the accomplishments of the following athletes: • Boys' basketball —Will Cannon, Olympus: The senior forward is not the only reason the Titans are back at the forefront of Class 4A, but as Olympus' leading scorer, he's played a big role. His game was in fantastic form last week, as he scored 20 in a close win over Davis, followed by a 30-10 double-double in a blowout win over Taylorsville. With the region schedule starting, Cannon will be a key factor in whether Olympus can win Region 7. • Girls' basketball — Shannon Je... |
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Updated on Jan 13, 2012 04:03PM
There were signs that Jake Nelson was going to leave. Even before the end of the season, principal Rusty Taylor said, Nelson had told the school it was a possibility he wouldn't come back to coach the Thunder football program for a fourth season. And although the school hoped he would come back, they ultimately accepted his decision to spend more time with his family. "He didn't want us to be blindsided," Taylor said. "What it comes down to is Jake has been a coach for a long time, and he's ready to take a break." So Desert Hills will have to go on without Nelson, who built the program up to take the Thunder to the 3A title game in only their fourth year of existence.... |
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Updated on Jan 13, 2012 04:03PM
This Sunday, as millions of Americans flip through their newspapers, many of them should come across PARADE Magazine's football All-America issue. And at the very end of a list of 53 seniors will be Lone Peak quarterback and safety Chase Hansen. Hansen will be honored as an all-purpose player on the distinguished PARADE All-American team, the only Utahn on the list this year, the magazine confirmed Thursday. It isn't necessarily surprising that a player who racked up almost 4,500 yards of offense and 54 total touchdowns while leading the Knights to a 5A state title should be so honored — but Hansen was still surprised when reached by the Tribune for comment. "That's unbeliev... |
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Updated on Jan 13, 2012 04:03PM
Box Elder senior Kelsey Braithwaite has been named Gatorade's Utah cross country runner of the year, the company announced today. The Bee runner was simply sensational this year, running a 17.38.4 to place eighth at nationals. She also placed second at Western regionals and set a new Liberty Park course record while winning state this year in Class 4A. The Gatorade news release also cited Braithewaite's 3.81 GPA and community service as reasons for her selection. Braithwaite has yet to make a college commitment, and since her times improved dramatically this season, she probably has more offers to sort through. ... |
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Updated on Jan 13, 2012 04:03PM
Friday afternoon marks the start of the inaugual Youth Winter Olympic Games, an international competition for rising teenage sports stars. As one might imagine, Utah is well-represented. Some of you may have caught our story about Park City snowboarder Max Raymer, but those interested in local Olympians should know there are eight total Utahns competing in the Games. Utah sent more Olympic athletes than any other state, and five from Park City alone. They are as follows: Ty Andersen (Alpine) • Men’s Luge Pat Edmunds (Park City) • Men’s Luge
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Updated on Jan 11, 2012 05:27PM
As I wrote in today's newspaper, it was an exciting night of wrestling Monday at the Utah All-Star Duals, and the box scores didn't tell the whole story. Thankfully, video does. Check out this clip from the final seconds of the bout between Alta's Matt Findlay and Maple Mountain's Britain Carter.
Findlay's last-minute takedown and subsequent near fall that gave him an 11-8 win was characteristic of the night. Of the 32 matche... |
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Updated on Jan 11, 2012 05:27PM
Layton Christian Academy has moved swiftly to hire a familiar name as its new head football coach. Kitt Rawlings, who once made a reputation as one of the state's most prolific running backs, takes over the Eagles after Will Hawes departed to coach at Clearfield. Rawlings most recently had an abbreviated stint at Woods Cross, and coached in Washington before that. Rawlings had a decorated playing career with the Wildcats, once rushing for 423 yards in a game, before playing defensive back at Kansas State under then-position coach Bob Stoops. He learned about the job through his brother, who has children who attend the school. "I threw my hat in there and was we... |
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Updated on Jan 11, 2012 05:27PM
If you're coming out to Orem tonight for the 12th annual Utah All-Star Duals, check out our preview that ran in Sunday's paper. But here's a short digest of matchups that are sure to be the ones everyone is watching. • 138 pounds, Grant LaMont (Maple Mountain) v. Ken Astle (Layton): This is one match everyone will be watching — partly by virtue that it's the first of the night and won't have any other contests going on alongside it. But it should be compelling. Astle was a surprise in last year's state tournament when he won it all, but this season he's become a rock on Layton's team... |
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Updated on Jan 7, 2012 04:03PM
Coming of its best year in more than a decade, West football suddenly found itself without a head coach after Justin Spencer defected to Woods Cross. But the Panthers didn't have to look far to find their next man — defensive coordinator Keith Lopati will take the reins of the program. And the first-time head coach is looking forward to the opportunity. "More than anything, I want to manage the program so we can get to the level I'm looking for. We want West to be one of the very best programs in the state. It takes a lot of commitment." Lopati is a Highland High graduate who played running back at the University... |
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Updated on Jan 7, 2012 04:03PM
The end of the week has brought a stream of high school football coaching news, as two schools hired new coaches while another school is now in the search for another rather suddenly. Here's a round-up of the news: - West has hired Keith Lopati to be its football coach, the school confirmed. Lopati has coaching experience at West and Highland among other schools. He played college football at Hawaii. West went 6-6 last year, reaching the quarterfinals of the Class 5A playoffs. - Layton Christian has hired Kitt Rawlings to continue its football program's recent success. The Eagles were a suprise entry in the Class 1A finals last year. Rawlings was hired last year at Wo... |
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Updated on Jan 7, 2012 04:03PM
In football, it usually takes a few years for a promising player to hit the field. But Jordan's Austin Kafentzis is a rare breed of player who not only started but was also one of the state's best players, making first team all-state. But that is not the end of his acclaim — on Friday, Kafentzis was named Maxpreps.com's national freshman of the year, beating out three other quarterbacks. The article cites the 15-year-old's gaudy statistics: He threw for 3,199 yards, ran for 1,377 yards and was responsible for 45 touchdowns, nearly evenly split rushin... |
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Updated on Jan 6, 2012 12:19PM
For much of the season, Larry Krystkowiak has been throwing players on the court, searching for a combination that might work. Thursday, it appeared, he found one. Seven players saw the floor for the Utes, a tighter rotation than the Krystkowiak has turned to this season. Rotation players Anthony Odunsi and Blake Wilkinson did not play in the Utes' 62-60 overtime win over Washington State. "We've had al ittle bit of a tapering off in practice for some of our players," Krystkowiak said. "For me it's all about practice. If you're not playing, you need to prove to us in practice. "There's been a combination of concerntration issues of guys, a lot of it's freshme... |
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Updated on Jan 7, 2012 04:03PM
As Lone Peak traipses across the country, the team is opening itself up to more national exposure. Now some bigger scouts and recruiters are getting a look at the Knights and like what they see. The team's 3-1 performance at the Beach Ball Classic at Myrtle Beach, S.C., was one of the reasons Lone Peak regained a national ranking, checking in at No. 40 in ESPN's most recent Top 50. And ESPN's Dave Telep took an interest in junior guard Nick Emery, who he tentatively referred to as a potential "Next Jimmer." You can read Telep's full post on ESPN, but here's a selection of hi... |
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Updated on Jan 7, 2012 04:03PM
All-American honors aren't often rolled out for Utahns — football-rich states like Texas, Florida and California sometimes outshine the sterling efforts of the players in this particular state. But there are exceptions. Logan quarterback D.J. Nelson had a season that won't soon be forgotten by the Grizzlies faithful, and now he's been honored by Maxpreps.com as a second-team All American. He is the only Utahn to make the Maxpreps list this year. On the team, he's listed as an "athlete," but Nelson made his true impact at quarterback, churning out more than 4,500 total yards of offense and 73 total touchdowns. Nelson'... |
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Updated on Jan 4, 2012 04:34PM
Cyprus football once again has a new coach — this time, the Pirates reached out of state for someone to turn around their struggling program. Scott Wooldridge, 48, who coached the last 6 years at Nampa High School in Idaho, is starting to assemble his staff as he prepares to take charge of one of the state's most futile programs of the last few years. He brings some experience, having taken Nampa to the playoffs three times and finishing as the state runner-up one year. He would've been happy to stay at his alma mater, but love changed his life. He decided to move to Salt Lake to get married, and began looking for work. "Cyprus was in one of the communities I drove th... |
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Updated on Dec 28, 2011 10:11AM
Utah high school sports garnered a lot of national attention in 2011. Two cross country teams made their mark at nationals, a girls' basketball team had 103-point blowout and people from all over rallied to help two injured athletes. Locally, a legendary coach made yet another move, a football program finally ended its snake-bitten ways and one quarterback's star arose. Read more of what we think are the best high school sports stories of the year below. 10. Davis, American Fork place well at nationals Utah is quickly getting to be known as a hotbed for great cross country athletes. The Darts |
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Updated on Dec 22, 2011 04:53PM
After a tumultuous season, the Murray football team will start fresh in 2012 with a new head coach — one who is also new to high school coaching. Mike Richmond, a former quarterback for the University of Utah, takes the reigns of the Spartans after they suffered a one-win year and their coach resigned midseason. Richmond has worked with the Murray youth football programs most recently, and his progress there convinced prinicipal David Dunn that he would be the right person to overhaul the high school program. "While he doesn't have the high school coaching experience, he has the passion and a philosophy that matches what we want to do," Dunn said. "Coming from a Division I b... |
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Updated on Dec 22, 2011 04:53PM
Here are some of the top performers from last week's action: • Boys' basketball — Jordan Loveridge, West Jordan: Sure it's an obvious choice. But the Utah-bound senior obviously stood out last week in wins over Canyon Springs, Nev., Davis and Orem on consecutive days. He totaled a whopping 82 points and 32 rebounds in the three games. His contributions inside open up the perimeter for the Jaguar shooters, which has so far established West Jordan as the best team in the state. • Girls' basketball — Natalie Parsons, Woods Cross: The Wildcats did suffer a loss last week, but one could hardly fault Parsons for that. The guard ran rampant with sc... |
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Updated on Dec 22, 2011 12:13AM
At the end of a long search for its next football coach, Clearfield liked what it saw from Will Hawes. For the last seven years, the California native has been trying to build the Layton Christian Academy football program, and this year it finally paid dividends. The Eagles won their first ever playoff game and actually went all the way to the Class 1A finals before falling to Duchesne. In Hawes, Clearfield saw its next leader for its own football team. So Hawes will join the school in January, ready to advance his own career. "I saw that the administration is interested in getting back to where the football program was in the 90s and how successful they were then," H... |