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Olivia Wade's phenomenal freshman year continues to be stacked with accomplishments. After helping lead the Davis Darts to the Class 5A state girls' soccer crown in the fall and committing to Brigham Young University shortly thereafter, the talented goal-scorer has been named to the United States women's national team's U-17 roster for the upcoming NTC Invitational in Carson, Calif.
Wade is among 20 youth national-team athletes called up by U-17 coach B.J. Snow for the four-team tournament that will also feature Japan, Mexico and Canada. The event spans Feb. 11-15.
Wade also plays competitively locally for the La Roca Futbol Club. She scored 10 goals as a freshman, but none more important than the game-winning penalty kick in the 54th minute of the 5A state championship on Oct. 24. The Darts defeated Lone Peak 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy to win the title. Wade is the younger sister of Davis boys' basketball star Jesse Wade, who is committed to play at Gonzaga University.
Utah mountain bikers get national honors
Two Utah high school mountain biking enthusiasts were honored last week at the 2014 National Interscholastic Cyling Association Awards ceremony held at Clif Bar & Company headquarters in Emeryville, Cali.
The group presented awards in 11 categories to 16 individuals and organizations considered to be the most outstanding student-athletes, dedicated coaches and most supportive volunteers, partners and sponsors who have helped advance the interscholastic mountain biking movement over the past year.
Heather Williams of the Ogden High School Mountain Bike Team won one of two coach of the year honors.
Park City's Sienna Leger Redel received the GU Energy Extraordinary Courage Award, which recognizes student-athletes who have persevered through challenging circumstances and overcome adversity to develop and excel as model student-athletes.
Riverton football coach retires
Riverton football coach Mike Miller, whose wing-T offense frustrated opposing defensive coordinators for years, stepped down this week after 11 years at the Jordan District school and 28 years as a Utah prep coach in order to complete training in hopes of becoming a principal.
Long-time defensive coordinator Brent Hawkins, who has coached at Riverton since the school opened, has been named as his replacement.
Miller won the state championship in 1998 in his first year as Olympus coach before taking the Riverton job a few years later. He only experienced one losing season and only missed the playoffs once in a long and distinguished career.
He said he will remain as a teacher with hopes of eventually getting a principal job.
"I've worked with good people and good kids," said Miller, known as one of the nicest guys in the business.
Cedar City names new football coach
Cedar City named assistant coach Josh Bennett to replace long-time football coach Todd Peacock who has retired from coaching.
"He had 24 years at Cedar City," Bennett said about Peacock. "There are a lot of expectations, which is fine. They are hard shoes to fill. He ran such a quality program for so many years. I am looking forward to the challenge of it."
Bennett began his coaching career as an assistant at Timpanogos before moving to Cedar City, where he has been a varsity assistant football coach and head track and field coach for 10 years. He played college football at Snow College and graduated from Southern Utah University in 2005. He later earned a masters from SUU.
Bennett said he planned to diversify Cedar's run-oriented option offense a bit. He hopes to find a 50-50 mix between throwing and running.
Desert Hills gets new girls' hoops coach
Ron Denos will finish the season as the head coach for the defending Class 3A champion Desert Hills girls' basketball team after first-year head coach Gary Tomlinson was unable to finish the season due to personal reasons.
According to Desert Hills principal Rusty Taylor, Denos assisted with the girls' program last year and was a boys' junior varsity coach for six year. He is the school's head golf coach and also an assistant football coach.
"He is excited to work with the girls, help them finish the season and work for the goals they have set for themselves," said Taylor.
Chris Allred coached Desert Hills to the state title last year but resigned after the season. —
Folau commits to Oregon State
O East linebacker Christian Folau is headed to Corvallis.
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