SPORTS
From ‘overweight bench warmer’ to elite athlete
Spencer Johnson (above) says endurance running can be lonely, and it’s nice to have the camaraderie and support of team members of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports Team. Johnson started running after he decided to join the Air Force and needed to get in shape.
Spencer Johnson is chosen for second stint on elite military endurance sports team
December 2, 2018 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Spencer Johnson always liked sports, but as a self-described “overweight kid with really low self-confidence,” he didn’t participate in extracurricular athletics programs as a student at Box Elder High School.
“I did manage to play one year of football as an offensive lineman, but I rode the bench,” Johnson, 36, said. “Being overweight was a big obstacle for me growing up and I wasn’t confident enough in myself to go and try out for other teams.”
But a simple desire to serve the country in the United States Air Force transformed Johnson from an overweight kid with low self-confidence into an elite athlete who was recently selected as a member of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports Team for the second year in a row.
The USMES is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote sports as part of a healthy lifestyle to active members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This year, 70 candidates applied for the team, and Johnson is one of the 16 cyclists, triathletes and runners to be selected. The team will compete in major events across the country in a season.
As much as anything, Johnson views his membership on USMES as proof that nothing is out of reach.
“I do have to say that running has really been a life-changing ambition for me. It helped transform me...into a much better version of myself. I am living proof that anyone can transform themselves if they just commit,” Johnson wrote via email from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is currently stationed in support of the NATO mission “Resolute Support.” He is the chief of information and knowledge management, and his job includes ensuring critical information and historical data are preserved and shared with coalition partners in support of the train, advise, and assist mission in Afghanistan.
Following his graduation from Box Elder in 2000, Johnson, son of Eugene and Sharon Johnson of Brigham City, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he decided to pursue a career in the Air Force but knew he needed to be in better shape, so he started running and lifting weights.
“By the time I went to basic training I was in pretty good shape, and much to my surprise I was outrunning everyone,” Johnson wrote. “The more I ran, the faster I got and the more I loved it.”
At the end of basic training, in the final 1.5-mile run before graduation, Johnson outran all of the nearly 200 trainees in his group and posted the fastest time in his graduating class.
“The adrenaline rush I got from that experience spurred me on,” Johnson wrote. Running was no longer a necessity required by his chosen career path, but a passion. He started participating in road races when he arrived at his first duty station at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia in 2003, and the passion grew into an addiction. Over the next 14 years, he ran hundreds of races.
In 2017, Johnson decided to apply to be a sponsored athlete for USMES and was accepted to represent the team for the 2018 season. That year he competed in three major races: he finished third overall in the Myrtle Beach Marathon with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes (2:47), was ninth overall in the Umstead 100-mile race with a time of 17:59, and in the top 3 percent in the Grandmas Marathon. His results—the two marathons were the fastest he’d ever run—were good enough to earn him a spot on this year’s USMES team.
“Age hasn’t caught up to me yet and being part of the USMES team motivated me to push harder,” Johnson wrote.
Being a sponsored athlete with USMES means receiving stipends to compete in some events, having gear and apparel provided, and sponsors provide free or discounted products.
“Endurance races are not overly expensive, but when you are doing several a year—and throughout the country—it is helpful to have some support,” Johnson said. Additionally, Johnson appreciates the community of athletes of which he is a part.
“Endurance racing can be a lonely sport so it is nice to see a familiar face wearing the same colors as you,” Johnson said. “Being on the sponsored team is very motivating for me and it has really pushed me to train harder than ever.”
Johnson is currently being trained by a former national-level Ultra runner, Howard Nippert, and hopes the experience will result in top finishes at the Boston Marathon Shadow Run in Kabul, the Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon, the Air Force Marathon in Ohio, and the Javelina Jundred (100-kilometer race) in Arizona. His goal in the marathons is to shave at least seven minutes of his previous personal best of 2:47.
Johnson is a husband and the father to three children, who he said are his inspiration, and who have been swept up in his passion. His wife has taken up racing, and his son is on his school’s cross country team, which Johnson and his wife coach.
Johnson, a commissioned Air Force cyber officer, was recently selected for promotion to the rank of major, and plans on remaining in the Air Force for at least the next five years until retirement is an option.
At the end of the career that gave him his passion, Johnson plans to turn his passion into a second career, coaching running “in some sort of capacity.”
More information about the USMES is available online at www.usmes.org. Any current or former member of the armed forces can join the USMES.
Spencer Johnson is chosen for second stint on elite military endurance sports team
December 2, 2018 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor
Spencer Johnson always liked sports, but as a self-described “overweight kid with really low self-confidence,” he didn’t participate in extracurricular athletics programs as a student at Box Elder High School.
“I did manage to play one year of football as an offensive lineman, but I rode the bench,” Johnson, 36, said. “Being overweight was a big obstacle for me growing up and I wasn’t confident enough in myself to go and try out for other teams.”
But a simple desire to serve the country in the United States Air Force transformed Johnson from an overweight kid with low self-confidence into an elite athlete who was recently selected as a member of the U.S. Military Endurance Sports Team for the second year in a row.
The USMES is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote sports as part of a healthy lifestyle to active members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces. This year, 70 candidates applied for the team, and Johnson is one of the 16 cyclists, triathletes and runners to be selected. The team will compete in major events across the country in a season.
As much as anything, Johnson views his membership on USMES as proof that nothing is out of reach.
“I do have to say that running has really been a life-changing ambition for me. It helped transform me...into a much better version of myself. I am living proof that anyone can transform themselves if they just commit,” Johnson wrote via email from Kabul, Afghanistan, where he is currently stationed in support of the NATO mission “Resolute Support.” He is the chief of information and knowledge management, and his job includes ensuring critical information and historical data are preserved and shared with coalition partners in support of the train, advise, and assist mission in Afghanistan.
Following his graduation from Box Elder in 2000, Johnson, son of Eugene and Sharon Johnson of Brigham City, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, he decided to pursue a career in the Air Force but knew he needed to be in better shape, so he started running and lifting weights.
“By the time I went to basic training I was in pretty good shape, and much to my surprise I was outrunning everyone,” Johnson wrote. “The more I ran, the faster I got and the more I loved it.”
At the end of basic training, in the final 1.5-mile run before graduation, Johnson outran all of the nearly 200 trainees in his group and posted the fastest time in his graduating class.
“The adrenaline rush I got from that experience spurred me on,” Johnson wrote. Running was no longer a necessity required by his chosen career path, but a passion. He started participating in road races when he arrived at his first duty station at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia in 2003, and the passion grew into an addiction. Over the next 14 years, he ran hundreds of races.
In 2017, Johnson decided to apply to be a sponsored athlete for USMES and was accepted to represent the team for the 2018 season. That year he competed in three major races: he finished third overall in the Myrtle Beach Marathon with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes (2:47), was ninth overall in the Umstead 100-mile race with a time of 17:59, and in the top 3 percent in the Grandmas Marathon. His results—the two marathons were the fastest he’d ever run—were good enough to earn him a spot on this year’s USMES team.
“Age hasn’t caught up to me yet and being part of the USMES team motivated me to push harder,” Johnson wrote.
Being a sponsored athlete with USMES means receiving stipends to compete in some events, having gear and apparel provided, and sponsors provide free or discounted products.
“Endurance races are not overly expensive, but when you are doing several a year—and throughout the country—it is helpful to have some support,” Johnson said. Additionally, Johnson appreciates the community of athletes of which he is a part.
“Endurance racing can be a lonely sport so it is nice to see a familiar face wearing the same colors as you,” Johnson said. “Being on the sponsored team is very motivating for me and it has really pushed me to train harder than ever.”
Johnson is currently being trained by a former national-level Ultra runner, Howard Nippert, and hopes the experience will result in top finishes at the Boston Marathon Shadow Run in Kabul, the Chasing Jefferson Davis Marathon, the Air Force Marathon in Ohio, and the Javelina Jundred (100-kilometer race) in Arizona. His goal in the marathons is to shave at least seven minutes of his previous personal best of 2:47.
Johnson is a husband and the father to three children, who he said are his inspiration, and who have been swept up in his passion. His wife has taken up racing, and his son is on his school’s cross country team, which Johnson and his wife coach.
Johnson, a commissioned Air Force cyber officer, was recently selected for promotion to the rank of major, and plans on remaining in the Air Force for at least the next five years until retirement is an option.
At the end of the career that gave him his passion, Johnson plans to turn his passion into a second career, coaching running “in some sort of capacity.”
More information about the USMES is available online at www.usmes.org. Any current or former member of the armed forces can join the USMES.
Dynamic Duo
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Seniors Emily Isaacson (left) and Morgan Reeder (right) led the Bees in numerous significant statistical categories last year, with Isaacson being first in most of them and Reeder following closely behind.
Returning seniors bring back majority of Bees’ offense, defense
November 28, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team is looking forward to getting their season underway this week, which kicked off last night at Judge Memorial High School.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said the team is excited to get some games under its belt and will be leaning on some experienced players, especially in the early going as the team finds its identity.
“We’ve got a lot of girls back that kind of know where we’re at,” Dooley said. “We’ve also got some girls that have some good, contagious attitudes and we really like that.”
This year, the Bees will lean heavily on a dynamic duo of seniors who contributed much to the Bees’ success last year. Emily Isaacson, last year’s leading scorer who just signed a letter of intent to play at Dixie State next year, and fellow senior Morgan Reeder, also a starting guard last year, led the team in all the major statistical categories.
Isaacson and Reeder return the majority of the Bees’ offense from last season, as the two produced more than half of the Bees’ 1,220 total points. Isaacson was far and away Box Elder’s most potent threat to score, recording a team-leading 422 points (17.58 average per game), both inside and outside the arc. Reeder was second in scoring behind Isaacson, with 240 points.
As a junior, Isaacson was arguably the Bees’ most important player, leading in several important statistical categories including 3-point scoring (48), rebounds (200, 8.33 per game), assists (55) and steals (55). Reeder was not far behind in many of those categories with 43 assists and 52 steals.
The Bees will miss the rebounds and assists produced by three of last years’ seniors, but Box Elder has a strong group of supporting cast and underclassmen, several of whom contributed on the varsity level last year and will be looking to make an even bigger impact this season in expanded roles. Three of those include center Annika Quayle, who gave reliable relief to starting center Andreanna McKee. Quayle scored 68 points and pulled down 70 rebounds last year.
Other key returners are junior guards Kate Johnson and Jenna Mortensen.
The Bees opened their season for the second straight year against the Bulldogs of Judge Memorial last night (results not available by press time).
This weekend, the team will head south for some warmer weather and three chances to play against teams they wouldn’t normally face as they’ll take on Salem Hills on Thursday, Desert Hills on Friday, and Hurricane on Saturday at the Desert Hills Holiday Classic in St. George.
To have success in the early going, coach Dooley said he is looking to rely on his team’s familiarity with their system and each other as a strength.
“Obviously every year and every team is a little bit different, but these girls are a little bit more familiar with their reactions and their ball reactions, so I think that’s going to be a strength for us,” Dooley said.
After their trip to St. George, the Bees will be back in action Friday, Dec. 7, in their home opener against Logan. The game against the Grizzlies is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
That is the beginning of a challenging preseason schedule that includes games against Fremont, Corner Canyon, and Copper Hills ahead of their first region game against Farmington on Jan. 11.
Of the preseason schedule, coach Dooley said, “We have a pretty tough preseason and we want to go through our preseason and get some good, quality games. We don’t want to build any type of false confidence by just playing teams we know we can beat. We want to play teams that are going to push us and challenge us and make us better. We think we have that in our preseason schedule and we’ll be looking to get better every game.”
In addition to those early tests, the Bees will take on Sky View and Mountain Crest from Cache Valley in the month of December and will travel to Garland to take on rival Bear River on Dec. 21.
Once region play starts, there will be a lot of new faces around the region as Roy, Viewmont, and Bountiful all had senior-laden teams last year and will have very different-looking rosters than they did a year ago.
With those changes, coupled with Farmington competing in its first year, the Bees figure to be in the mix for what may shape up to be another hotly contested region championship in 2019.
Returning seniors bring back majority of Bees’ offense, defense
November 28, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School girls’ basketball team is looking forward to getting their season underway this week, which kicked off last night at Judge Memorial High School.
Bees’ head coach Aaron Dooley said the team is excited to get some games under its belt and will be leaning on some experienced players, especially in the early going as the team finds its identity.
“We’ve got a lot of girls back that kind of know where we’re at,” Dooley said. “We’ve also got some girls that have some good, contagious attitudes and we really like that.”
This year, the Bees will lean heavily on a dynamic duo of seniors who contributed much to the Bees’ success last year. Emily Isaacson, last year’s leading scorer who just signed a letter of intent to play at Dixie State next year, and fellow senior Morgan Reeder, also a starting guard last year, led the team in all the major statistical categories.
Isaacson and Reeder return the majority of the Bees’ offense from last season, as the two produced more than half of the Bees’ 1,220 total points. Isaacson was far and away Box Elder’s most potent threat to score, recording a team-leading 422 points (17.58 average per game), both inside and outside the arc. Reeder was second in scoring behind Isaacson, with 240 points.
As a junior, Isaacson was arguably the Bees’ most important player, leading in several important statistical categories including 3-point scoring (48), rebounds (200, 8.33 per game), assists (55) and steals (55). Reeder was not far behind in many of those categories with 43 assists and 52 steals.
The Bees will miss the rebounds and assists produced by three of last years’ seniors, but Box Elder has a strong group of supporting cast and underclassmen, several of whom contributed on the varsity level last year and will be looking to make an even bigger impact this season in expanded roles. Three of those include center Annika Quayle, who gave reliable relief to starting center Andreanna McKee. Quayle scored 68 points and pulled down 70 rebounds last year.
Other key returners are junior guards Kate Johnson and Jenna Mortensen.
The Bees opened their season for the second straight year against the Bulldogs of Judge Memorial last night (results not available by press time).
This weekend, the team will head south for some warmer weather and three chances to play against teams they wouldn’t normally face as they’ll take on Salem Hills on Thursday, Desert Hills on Friday, and Hurricane on Saturday at the Desert Hills Holiday Classic in St. George.
To have success in the early going, coach Dooley said he is looking to rely on his team’s familiarity with their system and each other as a strength.
“Obviously every year and every team is a little bit different, but these girls are a little bit more familiar with their reactions and their ball reactions, so I think that’s going to be a strength for us,” Dooley said.
After their trip to St. George, the Bees will be back in action Friday, Dec. 7, in their home opener against Logan. The game against the Grizzlies is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
That is the beginning of a challenging preseason schedule that includes games against Fremont, Corner Canyon, and Copper Hills ahead of their first region game against Farmington on Jan. 11.
Of the preseason schedule, coach Dooley said, “We have a pretty tough preseason and we want to go through our preseason and get some good, quality games. We don’t want to build any type of false confidence by just playing teams we know we can beat. We want to play teams that are going to push us and challenge us and make us better. We think we have that in our preseason schedule and we’ll be looking to get better every game.”
In addition to those early tests, the Bees will take on Sky View and Mountain Crest from Cache Valley in the month of December and will travel to Garland to take on rival Bear River on Dec. 21.
Once region play starts, there will be a lot of new faces around the region as Roy, Viewmont, and Bountiful all had senior-laden teams last year and will have very different-looking rosters than they did a year ago.
With those changes, coupled with Farmington competing in its first year, the Bees figure to be in the mix for what may shape up to be another hotly contested region championship in 2019.
District considering sanctioning lacrosse at county high schools
November 21, 2018 • Nancy Browne • Staff Writer
Following an outpouring of positive support at the Box Elder School District Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, it’s beginning to look like lacrosse may soon be a sanctioned sport in the district.
If approved, the sport that has been played at the club level for more than 15 years in Box Elder County would begin at the high schools in the 2019-20 school year. The Board put it on the agenda to discuss it so a decision could be made before the Jan. 2, 2019, deadline set by the Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees.
The UHSAA approved lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for both boys and girls on May 5, 2017, making it the 11th sport sanctioned by the organization.
Superintendent Steven Carlsen said, “I believe strongly in students being involved in extra curricular activities.” He cited a study that showed 46 to 60 percent of students don’t feel connected to their schools.
Carlsen said he supported sanctioning lacrosse, but had a few reservations, including heavy travel and bus usage from February to May, and additional fees for families that may not be able to afford them. While fees can be waived in some cases, the school board can’t cover costs associated with extracurricular athletics.
He also mentioned the cost of paying coaches, and that Box Elder High School has a field where the team can play but Bear River does not. Also, preparing fields takes full-time employees which needs to be considered.
Bear River High School athletic director Van Park said he was not enthusiastic about sanctioning lacrosse because of costs and finding field space, but “came on board” when he saw the enthusiasm among students and that local lacrosse clubs were willing to donate equipment to the schools.
“We will donate everything we have to the school,” including goals, balls, helmets, goalie gear, and uniforms, said Trisha Gaythan, president of Box Elder Lacrosse Boys’ Club. She echoed similar pledges from other club coaches in attendance.
She said the number of elementary and middle school players is also growing, which will ensure increased skill sets when they join the high school teams.
Alan Shakespear, a girl’s junior varsity coach, said, “I know it’s sacred ground but it [lacrosse] can also be played on a football field for both boys and girls.”
Shakespear also addressed a concern that adding another sport will dilute the pool of available talent for other sports. “Out of our 32 girls from last year, only three also did another sport. So, it does really provide a great outlet,” he said.
Juan Gaythan, Box Elder head coach, emphasized that all students are welcome to play. “We don’t cut players. They’re drawn to lacrosse because we take them all,” another good reason for sanctioning the sport, he argued.
Several students, parents, and club coaches stood and explained how lacrosse also engenders a special kind of sportsmanship not always found in other sports.
Steven Shipp, who used to play lacrosse as a student and now helps coach, said “I tried out for football but it didn’t work out for me. Then a friend invited me to try lacrosse and it was a totally different environment. I started to realize, ‘Hey, this is a great thing.’
“It helped me to grow, so I just really hope you’ll give these kids an opportunity to show what they can do,” he said, adding that colleges are even going to the games to see who might be scholarship material.
Kaylee Munns, a Bear River High School student and student member of the school board who plays lacrosse, said, “In lacrosse, there is so much respect for each other. This is a good opportunity to get kids who are not involved in a lot to come out.”
Jim Peterson said as other districts and schools sanction lacrosse, it will be come more difficult to have a club program since clubs can’t play against teams from schools that have sanctioned the sport.
“Alpine School District petitioned the state to have their club teams play the high schools if they (Alpine) weren’t sanctioned and it was turned down,” he said. “So, if we want to play other high schools, we need to sanction it.” It was suggested by many that Davis and Weber schools will most likely have sanctioned teams.
Another consideration came from Assistant Superintendent Keith Mecham, who explained that all coaching positions would be open to the public and not necessarily go to current club coaches. He also noted that students would need to meet certain eligibility requirements such as having a 2.0 grade point average.
One head coach and two assistant coaches for both boys’ and girls’ programs at both high schools would cost about $34,000, according to information provided by the school district.
Each boy player must purchase their own stick, shoulder pads, gloves and elbow pads while each girl must purchase a stick and goggles. Only goalies on girls’ teams use a helmet.
“This is a really affordable sport,” interjected Board Member Nancy Kennedy. “Sticks are not that expensive and it’s easy to get into without having to mortgage everything you have.
“It’s the most fun sport you will ever watch,” she added. “It’s not just all about brute strength. It’s a great sport.”
Following an outpouring of positive support at the Box Elder School District Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, it’s beginning to look like lacrosse may soon be a sanctioned sport in the district.
If approved, the sport that has been played at the club level for more than 15 years in Box Elder County would begin at the high schools in the 2019-20 school year. The Board put it on the agenda to discuss it so a decision could be made before the Jan. 2, 2019, deadline set by the Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees.
The UHSAA approved lacrosse as a sanctioned sport for both boys and girls on May 5, 2017, making it the 11th sport sanctioned by the organization.
Superintendent Steven Carlsen said, “I believe strongly in students being involved in extra curricular activities.” He cited a study that showed 46 to 60 percent of students don’t feel connected to their schools.
Carlsen said he supported sanctioning lacrosse, but had a few reservations, including heavy travel and bus usage from February to May, and additional fees for families that may not be able to afford them. While fees can be waived in some cases, the school board can’t cover costs associated with extracurricular athletics.
He also mentioned the cost of paying coaches, and that Box Elder High School has a field where the team can play but Bear River does not. Also, preparing fields takes full-time employees which needs to be considered.
Bear River High School athletic director Van Park said he was not enthusiastic about sanctioning lacrosse because of costs and finding field space, but “came on board” when he saw the enthusiasm among students and that local lacrosse clubs were willing to donate equipment to the schools.
“We will donate everything we have to the school,” including goals, balls, helmets, goalie gear, and uniforms, said Trisha Gaythan, president of Box Elder Lacrosse Boys’ Club. She echoed similar pledges from other club coaches in attendance.
She said the number of elementary and middle school players is also growing, which will ensure increased skill sets when they join the high school teams.
Alan Shakespear, a girl’s junior varsity coach, said, “I know it’s sacred ground but it [lacrosse] can also be played on a football field for both boys and girls.”
Shakespear also addressed a concern that adding another sport will dilute the pool of available talent for other sports. “Out of our 32 girls from last year, only three also did another sport. So, it does really provide a great outlet,” he said.
Juan Gaythan, Box Elder head coach, emphasized that all students are welcome to play. “We don’t cut players. They’re drawn to lacrosse because we take them all,” another good reason for sanctioning the sport, he argued.
Several students, parents, and club coaches stood and explained how lacrosse also engenders a special kind of sportsmanship not always found in other sports.
Steven Shipp, who used to play lacrosse as a student and now helps coach, said “I tried out for football but it didn’t work out for me. Then a friend invited me to try lacrosse and it was a totally different environment. I started to realize, ‘Hey, this is a great thing.’
“It helped me to grow, so I just really hope you’ll give these kids an opportunity to show what they can do,” he said, adding that colleges are even going to the games to see who might be scholarship material.
Kaylee Munns, a Bear River High School student and student member of the school board who plays lacrosse, said, “In lacrosse, there is so much respect for each other. This is a good opportunity to get kids who are not involved in a lot to come out.”
Jim Peterson said as other districts and schools sanction lacrosse, it will be come more difficult to have a club program since clubs can’t play against teams from schools that have sanctioned the sport.
“Alpine School District petitioned the state to have their club teams play the high schools if they (Alpine) weren’t sanctioned and it was turned down,” he said. “So, if we want to play other high schools, we need to sanction it.” It was suggested by many that Davis and Weber schools will most likely have sanctioned teams.
Another consideration came from Assistant Superintendent Keith Mecham, who explained that all coaching positions would be open to the public and not necessarily go to current club coaches. He also noted that students would need to meet certain eligibility requirements such as having a 2.0 grade point average.
One head coach and two assistant coaches for both boys’ and girls’ programs at both high schools would cost about $34,000, according to information provided by the school district.
Each boy player must purchase their own stick, shoulder pads, gloves and elbow pads while each girl must purchase a stick and goggles. Only goalies on girls’ teams use a helmet.
“This is a really affordable sport,” interjected Board Member Nancy Kennedy. “Sticks are not that expensive and it’s easy to get into without having to mortgage everything you have.
“It’s the most fun sport you will ever watch,” she added. “It’s not just all about brute strength. It’s a great sport.”
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Eagle Mountain Golf Course Superintendent Spencer Mendenhall was named the UGA’s Superintendent of the Year for public courses
Dedicated greenskeeper earns Superintendent of the Year nod November 21, 2018 • Sean Hales • Managing Editor In the recent release of the Utah Golf Association’s annual awards, Brigham City’s Eagle Mountain Golf Course got a nod when the course’s greenskeeper was named Superintendent of the Year for public courses. According to Eagle Mountain’s Director of Golf Chris Marx, Superintendent Spencer Mendenhall is dedicated to creating superior playing conditions on the course, and has an eye for detail that results in changes most people won’t notice, but contributes to the overall experience of patrons. Most notable among the changes over Spencer’s three-year tenure at Eagle Mountain are improved greens and sculpted fairways that improve playability and beauty. The golf course’s greens have been argued as being among the best in the state—if not the best—by locals and visitors. “On a daily basis we have people come into the pro shop and compliment us on the course conditions,” Marx wrote in a letter nominating Mendhenhall. “My favorite compliments are from two different customers from prominent country clubs in the state. They said, ‘This is wrong that I belong to a country club and we can’t have as good as greens as you guys here at Eagle Mountain.’ Spencer has made a marked difference in the daily quality of the greens and the golf course as a whole. The professionals that have played in the Brigham City Open over the years have noticed this also.” Mendenhall’s dedication to creating a “great course” come from his own passion for the game, and—besides the quality of the greens—the changes he has made are due to a keen eye for detail, including sculpting fairways to improve playability and allowing native grasses in areas of rough to grow out. Box Elder midfielder known for consistency and reliability signs with SU Red Hawks
Mylan Daniels (seated) looks on as her father, Shawn, signs her letter of intent to play soccer at Seattle University. Also pictured is Pamela Daniels.
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As he sits in the coaches office lined with trophies won under former coach Mike Ripplinger, new Box Elder High School wrestling coach Jed Craner said he is aware of the ‘shadow’ cast by Ripplinger’s legacy, and that he is excited for the challenge of continuing it.
The shadow of expectation It’s difficult—at best—to not be constantly reminded of the legacy and tradition of Box Elder High School’s wrestling program. “Those trophies,” said first-year Box Elder coach Jed Craner, indicating the several large Spartan-style helmets atop a cabinet—reminders of the many Layton Invitational titles won under retired head coach Mike Ripplinger—“they cast somewhat of a shadow.” And that’s just inside the coach’s office. The wall of the school’s wrestling room is adorned with names; a litany of the legacy left behind by Ripplinger’s 34-year career. “It’s intimidating,” said Craner about being asked to fill the very large shoes Ripplinger left behind. And even though he knew the expectations he would face, he said he never had a second thought about taking over Ripplinger’s program. “It was instantly yes,” Craner said. “I love a challenge...[I’m] ready to take the challenge on.” Prior to taking the head coaching position at Box Elder, the 27-year-old Craner had spent two years as head coach at Bonneville High School, and was an assistant at Viewmont for five years before that. Along with his experience as a coach, Craner brings his own legacy of success. As a wrestler at Fremont High School from 2008-2010, Craner claimed the 160-pound 5A state title as a junior, and finished with a record of 48-2. That same year, he claimed third at the Reno World Championships. As a senior, he compiled an undefeated record of 52-0 and earned his second state title at 170 pounds. He was named outstanding wrestler for the upper weights that year. He placed second at both the Utah State Freestyle Tournament and the Reno World Championships. Craner said that he perceived a decline in the Box Elder wrestling program over the last several years as the Bees saw fewer and fewer wrestlers make it to the state championship mat. Given that perception, he thought Ripplinger had left the “cupboard bare” following the graduation of three-year state champion Garrett Ricks and Ripplinger’s second four-time state champ, Brock Hardy. Jed discovered that his perception was not reality (see related story on this page), but even if it had been, he had a good track record of building a team at Bonneville, where in just two years he went from just six returners to a team of more than 40 wrestlers. He also established a strong little league program. |
Balanced team will lean heavily on inside experience
Parker Buchanan
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Tyson Madson
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November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team is in its final week of practice before kicking off their 2018-2019 campaign next week at the UVU Tip-off Classic at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The Bees are returning from their best season in the last several years after finishing with a 14-8 overall record, including a 7-1 region mark and an outright region championship.
The biggest hole to fill this season will be in the backcourt, as the Bees lost a very experienced guardline in Cameron Saunders and Max Watson.
With those losses, the varsity-level experience on the team shifts from the backcourt to the frontcourt as the Bees will return sophomore post player Parker Buchanan and senior big man Tyson Madsen, both of whom will be leaned on heavily to make up for some of the offensive output that Watson gave the team for the last four years.
“We should be a lot more balanced this year and I think that will be a good thing. Teams won’t be able to just key in on one player when they play us, and that should make it tougher for them to prepare,” said Bees’ head coach Jace McKee.
The team will be changing its strategy on both ends of the court from last season to best utilize their experience inside.
“We’ll be more post-oriented this season, I think, since we have some experienced guys down there,” McKee said. “Our bigs will be tough to handle down on the blocks, but we also have some guards that are more than capable of scoring the ball as well. It should be a fun year for us.”
In their first game, the Bees will square off against Timpview next Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Following the tournament, the Bees will be on the road at Weber before the home opener on Tuesday, Dec. 11, against Green Canyon.
The rivalry game against Bear River will be held in Tremonton this year on Friday, Dec. 21, and the team will get a few games in over the Christmas break when they head to the Utah Autism Holliday Classic hosted by Olympus High School.
Region play will start Friday, Jan. 11 with a home game against Farmington, and the Bees will end on a three-game road stretch with the last region game at Viewmont on Feb. 20. The last home game will be on Friday, Feb. 8, when Box Elder hosts Roy.
Bountiful looks to be the early favorite in Region 5, and they’ll be led by four-year starting guard, Brig Willard.
After the Braves, things look pretty tight among the rest of the teams in the region and playoff positioning will most likely be on the line each week all the way through February.
The Box Elder High School boys’ basketball team is in its final week of practice before kicking off their 2018-2019 campaign next week at the UVU Tip-off Classic at Utah Valley University in Orem.
The Bees are returning from their best season in the last several years after finishing with a 14-8 overall record, including a 7-1 region mark and an outright region championship.
The biggest hole to fill this season will be in the backcourt, as the Bees lost a very experienced guardline in Cameron Saunders and Max Watson.
With those losses, the varsity-level experience on the team shifts from the backcourt to the frontcourt as the Bees will return sophomore post player Parker Buchanan and senior big man Tyson Madsen, both of whom will be leaned on heavily to make up for some of the offensive output that Watson gave the team for the last four years.
“We should be a lot more balanced this year and I think that will be a good thing. Teams won’t be able to just key in on one player when they play us, and that should make it tougher for them to prepare,” said Bees’ head coach Jace McKee.
The team will be changing its strategy on both ends of the court from last season to best utilize their experience inside.
“We’ll be more post-oriented this season, I think, since we have some experienced guys down there,” McKee said. “Our bigs will be tough to handle down on the blocks, but we also have some guards that are more than capable of scoring the ball as well. It should be a fun year for us.”
In their first game, the Bees will square off against Timpview next Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Following the tournament, the Bees will be on the road at Weber before the home opener on Tuesday, Dec. 11, against Green Canyon.
The rivalry game against Bear River will be held in Tremonton this year on Friday, Dec. 21, and the team will get a few games in over the Christmas break when they head to the Utah Autism Holliday Classic hosted by Olympus High School.
Region play will start Friday, Jan. 11 with a home game against Farmington, and the Bees will end on a three-game road stretch with the last region game at Viewmont on Feb. 20. The last home game will be on Friday, Feb. 8, when Box Elder hosts Roy.
Bountiful looks to be the early favorite in Region 5, and they’ll be led by four-year starting guard, Brig Willard.
After the Braves, things look pretty tight among the rest of the teams in the region and playoff positioning will most likely be on the line each week all the way through February.
Bees rose to the challenge as defending state champions
November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Defending a state championship is never without its challenges, but the Box Elder High School volleyball team embraced the added pressure and additional expectations this season as the team rose to every hurdle it faced en route to an outright region championship followed by a third-place finish at the state tournament.
This year’s team was as deep and experienced as any in recent memory, and was led by five graduating seniors, four of whom played a major role in last season’s state championship. The fifth, Sarah Reeder, suffered an injury midway through the season last year and was relegated to cheering her team on to the championship.
When asked how the team dealt with the inevitable expectations this year, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said, “We definitely talked about it. It wasn’t the elephant in the room, but we said that there was no success this season that could ride off the success from last season. It’s a whole new season and a whole new year. It doesn’t matter what happened last year, we just want to be the best we can be this year.”
The Bees came out with their best to start the season and opened with six straight wins before dropping their first match against Skyview from Nampa, Idaho.
The team didn’t lose again until the semifinals of the state tournament against eventual champion Skyridge, and rattled off 15 consecutive wins, including a perfect 10-0 record in Region 5 to earn their first region championship since 2011.
On the court, whenever the team needed a big play, they knew they could turn to outside hitter Emily Isaacson, and she delivered monstrous kills at crucial times again and again.
Isaacson lead the team with 186 kills on the year and fellow senior Jaida Burt finished with 146.
Isaacson also lead the team from the service line with 23 aces on the year, again followed by Burt who had 19, and Annie Mecham served up 18.
On the defensive side of the net, Burt led with 41 blocks on the season followed by Reeder, who sent back 38 shots.
On the backline, the team was lead by libero Morgan Reeder, who came up with 210 digs and kept many rallies alive to keep the momentum in the Bees’ favor.
Those seniors meant everything to the program, according to Harding.
“Oh man. Talk about heart, passion, dedication and the leadership that you hope everybody develops in a program,” Harding said. “They have been great examples to the underclassmen and I felt they really embraced what it meant to be part of a team.”
Sarah Reeder echoed her coach’s comments when asked about her favorite memory of being a member of the Box Elder volleyball team. “For me, this year was my favorite because, as a senior, you get little sisters, who are younger girls on the team,” Reeder said. “So you get a bunch of gifts for them and get really close to them during the year. Honestly, for me, that was worth more to me than the championship last year.”
All the outgoing seniors agreed that the biggest lessons they learned included the power of hard work and how to be mentally tough, even under pressure. Mecham summed up her experience playing when she said, “I think the biggest takeaway for me is that when you put your mind to something and work hard for it, good things can happen.”
Despite losing five seniors, coach Harding said she is very optimistic about the future of the program.
“It’s kind of the same role as we had last year,” Harding said. “We had girls that could have easily come off the bench and played at the varsity level, but the opportunities didn’t happen as much. I felt the exact same way this year where I had girls that I could have pulled off the bench and get varsity minutes. So I feel that the skills are there. Maybe not the varsity time, but the skills are there and we should be competitive next year again.
“I feel that one of the strengths of our program over the last three or four years is mental toughness. So I’m hoping that we don’t miss a beat and can just come in and keep pushing.”
Courtesy Marsha Sparks
The Box Elder Composite Mountain Bike Team has grown from four members it’s first year in 2015, to 32 members this year: (front) Reed Johnson, Camden Beard, Stryker Melehes, Jensen Braegger, Bradlee Hall, Oakly Dalebout, Katelyn Webecke, Rachel Sparks, Madeline Keller, Allie Dalebout, (middle) Carter Rose, Logan Braegger, William Leishman, Deagan PoVey, Abram Dow, Jack Deem, Sam Leishman, Jon Keller, Logan Packer, coach Molly Morris, Anders Powell, coach Derek Morris, (back) Jason Sparks, Josh Braegger, Levi Melehes, Colby Collom, Kaleb Astle, Hunter Munns, coach Jason Munns, Tanner Munns, Dixon Ekins, Levi Law, coach Lane Taylor, Blake Thompson, Andrew Burton, Bobby Collom, coach Kenny Funk, and Jake Paul. Not pictured: Caden Rose, Heath Warner, Josh Adams and Truman Johnson.
From 4 to 32: BE mountain bike team sees big growth in three years
November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Although not yet an officially sponsored high school sport, mountain biking has gained a lot of traction in Utah over the last few years and Box Elder County is getting in on the action as the Box Elder Composite team, consisting of riders from both Box Elder and Bear River high schools, competed this year in the North region before competing in the statewide championship race held in St. George.
The regular season consisted of four races against other schools in the region, which determined the seedings for the finals at the state meet.
This season, the team had one standout rider in sophomore Hunter Munns, son of head coach Jason Munns, who finished second in region and at the state tournament.
Overall, the Box Elder team finished in fifth place out of 26 teams in the North region, and 16th out of 82 teams at the state meet.
Coach Munns said the organization of the team in 2015 served a purpose for him, as well as being a way to give back to the community.
“I used to race bikes when I was younger and in high school, just on the road because mountain biking wasn’t really big back then,” Munns said. “Then, as I got older, I got out of shape and wanted to turn that around. So I got back on my bike and found that love of cycling again. I lost almost 100 pounds and, as a small business owner, it’s always been important for me to give back to the community. So I found some people involved with mountain bike racing and we just started from there.”
That first year, there were just four racers on the team. Now, the team has 34 members ranging from 7th to 12th grades.
A few of the things that drew coach Munns to the mountain biking scene were the five core principles of the Utah High School Cycling League: Strong body, strong mind, strong character, inclusivity, and equality.
“I strongly believe in all those myself and it’s been great to be affiliated with an organization like this,” Munns said.
Coach Munns went on to say, “One of the really cool things about mountain biking in high school is we include everyone. The state of Utah is even involved in a program called Elevate that gives kids with disabilities or special needs the chance to come out and ride with us. We’ve never turned anyone away and it’s just a great thing for the whole family.”
With mountain biking still classified as a club sport in Utah, coach Munns and all of his assistants volunteer all their time to the team, including three assistant coaches and six ride leaders: parents who volunteer to go on rides with the kids during practice.
The mountain biking season officially runs from the middle of June through the end of October, though the team will sponsor individual events through the winter and spring months as well.
For more information on the club, you can check out the team’s Facebook page or contact coach Munns directly via email at jthmunns@gmail.com, or call (801) 458-0106.
The Box Elder Composite Mountain Bike Team has grown from four members it’s first year in 2015, to 32 members this year: (front) Reed Johnson, Camden Beard, Stryker Melehes, Jensen Braegger, Bradlee Hall, Oakly Dalebout, Katelyn Webecke, Rachel Sparks, Madeline Keller, Allie Dalebout, (middle) Carter Rose, Logan Braegger, William Leishman, Deagan PoVey, Abram Dow, Jack Deem, Sam Leishman, Jon Keller, Logan Packer, coach Molly Morris, Anders Powell, coach Derek Morris, (back) Jason Sparks, Josh Braegger, Levi Melehes, Colby Collom, Kaleb Astle, Hunter Munns, coach Jason Munns, Tanner Munns, Dixon Ekins, Levi Law, coach Lane Taylor, Blake Thompson, Andrew Burton, Bobby Collom, coach Kenny Funk, and Jake Paul. Not pictured: Caden Rose, Heath Warner, Josh Adams and Truman Johnson.
From 4 to 32: BE mountain bike team sees big growth in three years
November 14, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
Although not yet an officially sponsored high school sport, mountain biking has gained a lot of traction in Utah over the last few years and Box Elder County is getting in on the action as the Box Elder Composite team, consisting of riders from both Box Elder and Bear River high schools, competed this year in the North region before competing in the statewide championship race held in St. George.
The regular season consisted of four races against other schools in the region, which determined the seedings for the finals at the state meet.
This season, the team had one standout rider in sophomore Hunter Munns, son of head coach Jason Munns, who finished second in region and at the state tournament.
Overall, the Box Elder team finished in fifth place out of 26 teams in the North region, and 16th out of 82 teams at the state meet.
Coach Munns said the organization of the team in 2015 served a purpose for him, as well as being a way to give back to the community.
“I used to race bikes when I was younger and in high school, just on the road because mountain biking wasn’t really big back then,” Munns said. “Then, as I got older, I got out of shape and wanted to turn that around. So I got back on my bike and found that love of cycling again. I lost almost 100 pounds and, as a small business owner, it’s always been important for me to give back to the community. So I found some people involved with mountain bike racing and we just started from there.”
That first year, there were just four racers on the team. Now, the team has 34 members ranging from 7th to 12th grades.
A few of the things that drew coach Munns to the mountain biking scene were the five core principles of the Utah High School Cycling League: Strong body, strong mind, strong character, inclusivity, and equality.
“I strongly believe in all those myself and it’s been great to be affiliated with an organization like this,” Munns said.
Coach Munns went on to say, “One of the really cool things about mountain biking in high school is we include everyone. The state of Utah is even involved in a program called Elevate that gives kids with disabilities or special needs the chance to come out and ride with us. We’ve never turned anyone away and it’s just a great thing for the whole family.”
With mountain biking still classified as a club sport in Utah, coach Munns and all of his assistants volunteer all their time to the team, including three assistant coaches and six ride leaders: parents who volunteer to go on rides with the kids during practice.
The mountain biking season officially runs from the middle of June through the end of October, though the team will sponsor individual events through the winter and spring months as well.
For more information on the club, you can check out the team’s Facebook page or contact coach Munns directly via email at jthmunns@gmail.com, or call (801) 458-0106.
Bees can’t find rhythm in semifinals, finish third at 5A state tournament
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team made it to championship Saturday last week at the 5A state volleyball tournament before bowing out to eventual champion Skyridge in the semifinals.
It was the first meeting between the two of the year, and many believed that the winner would have the inside track to hoisting the state championship trophy.
The match started out tight and neither team was able to gain much of an advantage, but the Bees were able to make a few key plays late and came away with the first set 25-23.
From there, the Falcons proved to be the aggressors and kept the Bees chasing and playing catch-up for the rest of the match.
“We just couldn’t find our rhythm,” said head coach Kristine Harding. “[The Falcons] played in system for most of the match and controlled the tempo. They forced us into giving them some free balls and just kept us chasing the whole match. So a lot of credit goes to them, they are a really tough team.”
In spite of their best efforts, the Bees couldn’t grab the momentum and the Falcons took the next three sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-22.
The Falcons went on to defeat Springville, who upset Corner Canyon in the semifinals, to earn a spot in the championship for their first-ever state volleyball title.
The Bees got to play the Chargers in the consolation match and ended up winning an emotion-charged match in five sets 25-18, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10 to finish in third place.
After all was said and done, coach Harding said, “I’m really proud of our girls. Their hearts were in it and they did as much as they could do. They worked through a lot of emotions along the way and, in the end, we had a great season.”
As the top seed from Region 5, the Bees drew the fourth seed from Region 8, Wasatch, in the opening round of the tournament, and won in straight sets, 25-12, 25-17, 25-15.
“[The Wasps] were a tough four-seed. They were ranked pretty high early in the year. Then things happened and they lost some key matches, but they were still a really hard team to start with,” Harding said.
That win moved the Bees into the quarterfinal match on Thursday evening where they faced Skyline, who knocked off Timpview in four sets in the first round.
The Eagles came into the match looking to avenge a loss to the Bees on Aug. 30 in Brigham City in a preseason match for both teams.
Despite the added motivation of the state tournament, the result was the same as the Bees took the match in three straight sets, winning 25-22, 25-20, 25-16.
After another straight-set victory, coach Harding said, “[The Eagles] were another tough team. The big advantage we had against them was we had played them before. We struggled blocking some of their sets in the first match, so we had a chance to clean some of that up and that helped out a lot.”
The Bees were led as they have been all season long by outside hitter Emily Isaacson, who finished with 15 kills, and middle blocker Jaida Burt, who added 10 kills.
After the tournament, coach Harding said that Isaacson brought a special kind of energy and enthusiasm that picked the whole team up at crucial moments throughout the tournament. She said, “Emily made some big plays for us at big times that just pumped everyone up and pulled us through some tough spots.”
Isaacson and Burt also each added two aces to keep the Eagles on their heels all night long.
On the back line, Morgan Reeder led the way digging up 22 balls and Annie Mecham served up 33 assists to lead the team.
That win advanced the Bees into the semifinals where they faced the Falcons, who had been ranked number two in the 5A classification, right behind the Bees, all season.
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team made it to championship Saturday last week at the 5A state volleyball tournament before bowing out to eventual champion Skyridge in the semifinals.
It was the first meeting between the two of the year, and many believed that the winner would have the inside track to hoisting the state championship trophy.
The match started out tight and neither team was able to gain much of an advantage, but the Bees were able to make a few key plays late and came away with the first set 25-23.
From there, the Falcons proved to be the aggressors and kept the Bees chasing and playing catch-up for the rest of the match.
“We just couldn’t find our rhythm,” said head coach Kristine Harding. “[The Falcons] played in system for most of the match and controlled the tempo. They forced us into giving them some free balls and just kept us chasing the whole match. So a lot of credit goes to them, they are a really tough team.”
In spite of their best efforts, the Bees couldn’t grab the momentum and the Falcons took the next three sets 25-21, 25-20, 25-22.
The Falcons went on to defeat Springville, who upset Corner Canyon in the semifinals, to earn a spot in the championship for their first-ever state volleyball title.
The Bees got to play the Chargers in the consolation match and ended up winning an emotion-charged match in five sets 25-18, 19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10 to finish in third place.
After all was said and done, coach Harding said, “I’m really proud of our girls. Their hearts were in it and they did as much as they could do. They worked through a lot of emotions along the way and, in the end, we had a great season.”
As the top seed from Region 5, the Bees drew the fourth seed from Region 8, Wasatch, in the opening round of the tournament, and won in straight sets, 25-12, 25-17, 25-15.
“[The Wasps] were a tough four-seed. They were ranked pretty high early in the year. Then things happened and they lost some key matches, but they were still a really hard team to start with,” Harding said.
That win moved the Bees into the quarterfinal match on Thursday evening where they faced Skyline, who knocked off Timpview in four sets in the first round.
The Eagles came into the match looking to avenge a loss to the Bees on Aug. 30 in Brigham City in a preseason match for both teams.
Despite the added motivation of the state tournament, the result was the same as the Bees took the match in three straight sets, winning 25-22, 25-20, 25-16.
After another straight-set victory, coach Harding said, “[The Eagles] were another tough team. The big advantage we had against them was we had played them before. We struggled blocking some of their sets in the first match, so we had a chance to clean some of that up and that helped out a lot.”
The Bees were led as they have been all season long by outside hitter Emily Isaacson, who finished with 15 kills, and middle blocker Jaida Burt, who added 10 kills.
After the tournament, coach Harding said that Isaacson brought a special kind of energy and enthusiasm that picked the whole team up at crucial moments throughout the tournament. She said, “Emily made some big plays for us at big times that just pumped everyone up and pulled us through some tough spots.”
Isaacson and Burt also each added two aces to keep the Eagles on their heels all night long.
On the back line, Morgan Reeder led the way digging up 22 balls and Annie Mecham served up 33 assists to lead the team.
That win advanced the Bees into the semifinals where they faced the Falcons, who had been ranked number two in the 5A classification, right behind the Bees, all season.
Players and coaches celebrate Box Elder High School’s overtime victory against Viewmont in September.
Thrilling finishes marked 2018 season
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a year full of overtime games and last-second heroics, 2018 will surely be remembered as a season of highs and lows for the Box Elder High School football team.
The team kept fans—and coaching staff—on the edge of their seats as they finished an impressive 4-0 in games decided in the final minute, including pulling off three overtime wins on their way to a share of their first region championship since 2004.
When asked about the season, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter said, “I feel like this was a group of kids that competed hard and stayed together. They had every bit of confidence right until the game was over that they could win, and they just did a great job all year.”
This season also served as a turnaround from last year’s campaign, which saw the Bees finish 4-6 overall, including 0-4 in region play.
“I feel like, coming in, the kids worked really hard in the summer,” Gunter said. “Plus, a lot of these kids played last year, and I think because of the year we had last year, these kids pushed a little harder. They also did a great job with leadership. All the kids that came back from last year came back with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder like they wanted to be better.”
Coach Gunter also attributed that chip to a lot of the late-game success the team had this season. “That chip gives you that little extra at the end of a game, and they did a great job with that this year. There was a point when we were 6-1 and we were about eight plays away from being more like 2-5. Every game is a game of inches, and we got the inches we needed, for the most part.”
The Bees started off the season notching wins over Layton and rival Bear River to reclaim the coveted Golden Spike trophy before getting tripped up by Mountain Crest in a game held at E.L. Romney stadium on the campus of Utah State University.
The Bees then started a run of exciting games with a dramatic, last-second win over Green Canyon in their final preseason game, followed by two straight overtime victories against Bountiful and Viewmont to start region play.
Several players cited the win over the Vikings during the homecoming game as their highlight of the season and favorite memory they’ll take with them going forward.
Three-year starter Ethyn Butler said, “From this year, it was definitely the triple overtime win for homecoming. That was a pretty fun game, so, for me, it would most definitely be that.”
Fellow senior Mike Davis echoed Butler’s feelings about his favorite memory when he said, “Beating Viewmont for homecoming in triple overtime was sick, so that was definitely my favorite.”
The Bees then got a win over first-year school, Farmington, before losing to Roy on the road for their lone region loss on the year.
The team then secured a share of the region championship with their third overtime win, this one coming over Woods Cross.
With so many come-from-behind and last-second victories under their belt this season, everyone on the team was shocked when they had a chance to win their first playoff game, but were unable to finish the job as the Bees were bounced in the first round, 17-13, by Springville.
Looking ahead to next season, the Bees have a lot of reason for excitement with several key players returning, including sophomore quarterback Parker Buchanan.
Of the underclassmen, coach Gunter said, “The example of hardwork and leadership that these seniors set is what we need the younger guys to take into next year. We need them to set the example of being good students, be great in their other sports, and then come summertime, we need them to be the leaders of the work. We have a great group coming back that is capable of some great things, but it’s the effort that they’ll have to put in that will make all the difference.”
Thrilling finishes marked 2018 season
November 7, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
In a year full of overtime games and last-second heroics, 2018 will surely be remembered as a season of highs and lows for the Box Elder High School football team.
The team kept fans—and coaching staff—on the edge of their seats as they finished an impressive 4-0 in games decided in the final minute, including pulling off three overtime wins on their way to a share of their first region championship since 2004.
When asked about the season, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter said, “I feel like this was a group of kids that competed hard and stayed together. They had every bit of confidence right until the game was over that they could win, and they just did a great job all year.”
This season also served as a turnaround from last year’s campaign, which saw the Bees finish 4-6 overall, including 0-4 in region play.
“I feel like, coming in, the kids worked really hard in the summer,” Gunter said. “Plus, a lot of these kids played last year, and I think because of the year we had last year, these kids pushed a little harder. They also did a great job with leadership. All the kids that came back from last year came back with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder like they wanted to be better.”
Coach Gunter also attributed that chip to a lot of the late-game success the team had this season. “That chip gives you that little extra at the end of a game, and they did a great job with that this year. There was a point when we were 6-1 and we were about eight plays away from being more like 2-5. Every game is a game of inches, and we got the inches we needed, for the most part.”
The Bees started off the season notching wins over Layton and rival Bear River to reclaim the coveted Golden Spike trophy before getting tripped up by Mountain Crest in a game held at E.L. Romney stadium on the campus of Utah State University.
The Bees then started a run of exciting games with a dramatic, last-second win over Green Canyon in their final preseason game, followed by two straight overtime victories against Bountiful and Viewmont to start region play.
Several players cited the win over the Vikings during the homecoming game as their highlight of the season and favorite memory they’ll take with them going forward.
Three-year starter Ethyn Butler said, “From this year, it was definitely the triple overtime win for homecoming. That was a pretty fun game, so, for me, it would most definitely be that.”
Fellow senior Mike Davis echoed Butler’s feelings about his favorite memory when he said, “Beating Viewmont for homecoming in triple overtime was sick, so that was definitely my favorite.”
The Bees then got a win over first-year school, Farmington, before losing to Roy on the road for their lone region loss on the year.
The team then secured a share of the region championship with their third overtime win, this one coming over Woods Cross.
With so many come-from-behind and last-second victories under their belt this season, everyone on the team was shocked when they had a chance to win their first playoff game, but were unable to finish the job as the Bees were bounced in the first round, 17-13, by Springville.
Looking ahead to next season, the Bees have a lot of reason for excitement with several key players returning, including sophomore quarterback Parker Buchanan.
Of the underclassmen, coach Gunter said, “The example of hardwork and leadership that these seniors set is what we need the younger guys to take into next year. We need them to set the example of being good students, be great in their other sports, and then come summertime, we need them to be the leaders of the work. We have a great group coming back that is capable of some great things, but it’s the effort that they’ll have to put in that will make all the difference.”
Girls claim elusive title
Bees post perfect region record, set to defend state title this week
October 31, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team capped a perfect run through region play last Thursday with yet another straight-set win, this time over Roy.
The match against the Royals served mostly as a victory lap for the Bees as they had wrapped up the region title with their win over Bountiful last week, however, the team wanted to leave their mark and legacy by running the table in region.
With emotions running high during their final home game of the year, the Bees seemed to make more errors than they were accustomed to and let the visitors hang around in the match.
But, each time the Royals tried to make a run, the Bees had an answer as they cruised to a 25-15, 25-13, 25-14 win.
Statistically, the Bees showed a lot more firepower than the Royals. Box Elder racked up 40 kills on the night as a team while limiting the visitors to just 17.
Senior middle blocker Jaida Burt led the offensive charge with 13 kills in the match.
Burt and fellow senior Emily Isaacson also led the Bees defensively with 13 and 14 digs respectively.
Following the match, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said it has taken a lot of focus and dedication over a long time to get the team to this point.
“It’s always a huge accomplishment to win region,” Harding said. “It hasn’t happened for us since 2011, and even then, it was co-champions. So to outright win it, it takes a lot of mental strength and consistent play throughout the season to come out 10-0. It’s a huge accomplishment for the girls and it’s always great for the program as well.”
The Bees didn’t simply just manage a perfect region record, they dominated the competition, and in 10 matches only lost three sets.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Bees will begin their state title defense when they square off against Wasatch in the first round of the state tournament.
The Wasps enter the tournament as the fourth seed from Region 8 and are winners of three out of their last four matches.
Meanwhile, the Bees, who started the season as the number one ranked team in 5A after winning the state tournament last year, have maintained that position throughout the season as they finished 22-4 overall.
When asked about any additional pressure of being the top team, coach Harding said, “One of the biggest strengths of our team is, we are tunnel-vision. The only thing that matters is the first match, 3:30 on Thursday. That’s it. And when that match is over, we’ll start thinking about match number two. We’ll prepare our girls for multiple teams and multiple looks, but we’re not talking about anything other than match one and getting to match two.”
A win in their first match would set the Bees up with a quarterfinal matchup with the winner between Skyline and Timpview tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., while a loss would send them to the consolation bracket to face the loser.
Two wins on Thursday would see the Bees through to the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday morning starting at 11:30. A loss in either of their first two matches tomorrow would mean the Bees will play Friday as well.
Check back next week for full coverage and results from the 2018 5A state volleyball tournament.
October 31, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team capped a perfect run through region play last Thursday with yet another straight-set win, this time over Roy.
The match against the Royals served mostly as a victory lap for the Bees as they had wrapped up the region title with their win over Bountiful last week, however, the team wanted to leave their mark and legacy by running the table in region.
With emotions running high during their final home game of the year, the Bees seemed to make more errors than they were accustomed to and let the visitors hang around in the match.
But, each time the Royals tried to make a run, the Bees had an answer as they cruised to a 25-15, 25-13, 25-14 win.
Statistically, the Bees showed a lot more firepower than the Royals. Box Elder racked up 40 kills on the night as a team while limiting the visitors to just 17.
Senior middle blocker Jaida Burt led the offensive charge with 13 kills in the match.
Burt and fellow senior Emily Isaacson also led the Bees defensively with 13 and 14 digs respectively.
Following the match, Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding said it has taken a lot of focus and dedication over a long time to get the team to this point.
“It’s always a huge accomplishment to win region,” Harding said. “It hasn’t happened for us since 2011, and even then, it was co-champions. So to outright win it, it takes a lot of mental strength and consistent play throughout the season to come out 10-0. It’s a huge accomplishment for the girls and it’s always great for the program as well.”
The Bees didn’t simply just manage a perfect region record, they dominated the competition, and in 10 matches only lost three sets.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Bees will begin their state title defense when they square off against Wasatch in the first round of the state tournament.
The Wasps enter the tournament as the fourth seed from Region 8 and are winners of three out of their last four matches.
Meanwhile, the Bees, who started the season as the number one ranked team in 5A after winning the state tournament last year, have maintained that position throughout the season as they finished 22-4 overall.
When asked about any additional pressure of being the top team, coach Harding said, “One of the biggest strengths of our team is, we are tunnel-vision. The only thing that matters is the first match, 3:30 on Thursday. That’s it. And when that match is over, we’ll start thinking about match number two. We’ll prepare our girls for multiple teams and multiple looks, but we’re not talking about anything other than match one and getting to match two.”
A win in their first match would set the Bees up with a quarterfinal matchup with the winner between Skyline and Timpview tomorrow at 6:30 p.m., while a loss would send them to the consolation bracket to face the loser.
Two wins on Thursday would see the Bees through to the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday morning starting at 11:30. A loss in either of their first two matches tomorrow would mean the Bees will play Friday as well.
Check back next week for full coverage and results from the 2018 5A state volleyball tournament.
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Fumble in final minutes is killer for Bees
October 31, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer After a season full of them, the Box Elder High School football team couldn’t come up with another final-minute miracle last Friday in their first-round playoff game against Springville as the Red Devils advanced with a 17-13 win. The Bees were managing a promising drive in the final minutes of the game that became even more promising after converting a fourth down to set themselves up on Springville’s 15-yard line with just over two minutes to play. But a missed exchange between quarterback Parker Buchanan and running back Bernard Pena resulted in a fumble, which the Red Devils recovered to preserve the win. After the game, Bees’ head coach Robbie Gunter said that, despite some mistakes, the team executed their game plan and gave themselves a chance to win, which is exactly what they wanted. “We had a game plan to control the ball tonight,” Gunter said. “We knew [the Red Devils] were a power team, and we did a good job stopping the run. We wanted to keep them off the field and we were able to do that.” Even heading into the final minutes trailing by a score, coach Gunter said his team never lost any faith on the sideline. He said, “We always felt like we were going to win that game. Late-game heroics are very common for this team and that’s something that has been a lot of fun about this season. We’ve been on the other side of close games a lot, so this one definitely hurts.” The Bees finished with a big advantage in time of possession, 35:07 - 12:40, and number of offensive plays run, 72 - 32, but were unable to muster enough scoring drives to advance in the tournament. |
Senior Ryan Gunn reacts to the Bees’ defeat at the hands of Springville in the first round of the state playoffs last Friday, as junior Bentley Miles consoles senior Kash Christoffersen as they leave the field.
Tyson Madson stretches the ball forward as he’s pushed out of bounds to secure the first down and keep the Bees’ final drive alive. Madson had four receptions for 52 yards.
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The need for speed
At 36 feet long, three feet wide, 28 inches tall and weighing in at 4,900 pounds, the Turbinator II smashed its own world record this month.
New record in land speed racing set by Vesco family
Rick Vesco
By Nancy Brown · Staff writer · Oct. 24, 2108
Even when many in the auto racing industry said it couldn’t be done, former Brighamite Rick Vesco’s race car was clocked on the Bonneville Salt Flats Oct. 2, at 503 mph.
Christened the Turbinator II, Vesco’s streamliner car crossed the finish with the fastest time ever recorded for a wheel-driven car, breaking the 500-mph barrier in land speed racing.
Never before has a car with an internal combustion engine and pneumatic tires hit such a speed, but undoubtedly, the 5,000-horse power gas turbine engine had something to do with it.
Vesco, who formerly owned and operated a motorcycle and snowmobile sports center for 30 years in Brigham City with his brother, Chuck, now lives in St. George.
“I’d been creeping up on 500 in other races,” he said in an interview. “People from all over the world were just going crazy over it. It’s a huge deal in the racing world; a major, major accomplishment.”
Rick Vesco hit 455 mph in August during the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association Speed Week, then 482 mph in September at the World of Speed event, followed by 503 mph on Oct. 2, at the World Finals Speed event.
The record was hit during a qualifying run, with the final race scheduled for the next day, Vesco said. Unfortunately, rain cancelled the final run. Normally, an average of the two races would be taken.
So, while the 503 mph is not considered an official record for the event, it is still the fastest speed ever recorded in the world.
Land speed racing uses a track five miles long from the starting line to the last timing light. The first four miles of the record-setting race lasted 65 seconds, with the last mile completed in seven seconds.
“That translates into 727 feet per second or two and a half football fields per second,” said Vesco.
Streamliners have a very low center of gravity. They are 36 feet long, three feet wide, 28 inches tall and weigh 4,900 pounds.
Every part on a streamliner has to be completely custom made, like the customization of a turbine engine from a Chinook helicopter in the Turbinator II.
“The low center of gravity helps with stability,” Vesco said. “When you’re close to the ground like that there’s less chance of tipping over.
“On the Salt Flats, there’s nothing to hit. One guy crashed at 450 miles per hour and didn’t get hurt at all. It’s always dangerous to be going at those speeds but even if the car goes upside down and the parachute is out, you’re going to be okay.”
Winning driver, Dave Spangler, who has driven race cars for Vesco since the late 1970s, said it was an honor to drive Turbinator II and set a new world record in October.
He said he and Vesco have been pushing their “Project first to 500” since Vesco’s brother, Don, first set the world record at 458 mph in 2001. “That’s when we decided to set the goal of 500.”
There is no speedometer in the vehicle so Spangler said he didn’t know for sure if he’d passed 500 mph until the crew signaled him.
“I’ve done it enough to know it was fast,” he said. “I set a record at all three meets this year so I knew it was a pretty good run.”
Was it scary?
Spangler said he gets asked that question a lot and that his answer is probably anti-climactic.
“I’m concentrating so hard that I don’t have any feelings of an adrenalin rush,” he said. “I’m all business in there and super concentrating so as to stay ahead of the car.”
He said at those speeds you need to make micro adjustments in your steering. If the car starts moving around too much requiring macro adjustments then you’re going to be in trouble.
Vesco added, “It’s your brain that tells you when things are scarier than they really are,” he said. “The car is designed to go fast so you just don’t feel it like you’d think. When you start coasting down to 100 miles per hour, it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving.”
The family has only had one major accident in a streamliner. In 1981, Vesco blew a rear tire while racing at Bonneville and flipped over. He whizzed past the finish at about 300 mph upside down but thanks to seatbelts and leg and arm restraints, he wasn’t hurt.
Vesco was born into an auto racing family with his dad, Johnny Vesco, competing in the first Utah Salt Flats Racing Association race in 1949. But Johnny’s passion for the sport began in the early 1930s in Southern California.
Rick’s brother Don, “is the only human in history to hold the world speed record in both a car and a motorcycle.” Rick’s daughter, Rhonnie Vesco, a Box Elder High School graduate, also has taken up the sport, hitting a 310-mph record of her own.
At only six years old, Rhonnie can be heard in a family recording stating her intentions to be a race car driver, said her father.
There is no prize money awarded in land speed racing, “just trophies and bragging rights and a chance to have fun with our crew of about 20 people,” said Vesco. “We have a great time together out there.”
With a cache of trophies in his possession, Vesco said the “holy grail” of trophies is the Hot Rod Magazine Trophy. “I won it three times in a turbine car and once in 1978, on a motorcycle going 330 miles per hour.”
He said that particular trophy is given to the fastest timed mile on any vehicle during the Speed Week competition. “That year, a motorcycle just happened to beat the cars.”
The Turbinator II streamliner was featured on the History Channel’s program, “Counting Cars.” Filming began at the Team Vesco shop in February and was aired in October 2017, in a two-part episode, “Bonneville Bound.”
Even when many in the auto racing industry said it couldn’t be done, former Brighamite Rick Vesco’s race car was clocked on the Bonneville Salt Flats Oct. 2, at 503 mph.
Christened the Turbinator II, Vesco’s streamliner car crossed the finish with the fastest time ever recorded for a wheel-driven car, breaking the 500-mph barrier in land speed racing.
Never before has a car with an internal combustion engine and pneumatic tires hit such a speed, but undoubtedly, the 5,000-horse power gas turbine engine had something to do with it.
Vesco, who formerly owned and operated a motorcycle and snowmobile sports center for 30 years in Brigham City with his brother, Chuck, now lives in St. George.
“I’d been creeping up on 500 in other races,” he said in an interview. “People from all over the world were just going crazy over it. It’s a huge deal in the racing world; a major, major accomplishment.”
Rick Vesco hit 455 mph in August during the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association Speed Week, then 482 mph in September at the World of Speed event, followed by 503 mph on Oct. 2, at the World Finals Speed event.
The record was hit during a qualifying run, with the final race scheduled for the next day, Vesco said. Unfortunately, rain cancelled the final run. Normally, an average of the two races would be taken.
So, while the 503 mph is not considered an official record for the event, it is still the fastest speed ever recorded in the world.
Land speed racing uses a track five miles long from the starting line to the last timing light. The first four miles of the record-setting race lasted 65 seconds, with the last mile completed in seven seconds.
“That translates into 727 feet per second or two and a half football fields per second,” said Vesco.
Streamliners have a very low center of gravity. They are 36 feet long, three feet wide, 28 inches tall and weigh 4,900 pounds.
Every part on a streamliner has to be completely custom made, like the customization of a turbine engine from a Chinook helicopter in the Turbinator II.
“The low center of gravity helps with stability,” Vesco said. “When you’re close to the ground like that there’s less chance of tipping over.
“On the Salt Flats, there’s nothing to hit. One guy crashed at 450 miles per hour and didn’t get hurt at all. It’s always dangerous to be going at those speeds but even if the car goes upside down and the parachute is out, you’re going to be okay.”
Winning driver, Dave Spangler, who has driven race cars for Vesco since the late 1970s, said it was an honor to drive Turbinator II and set a new world record in October.
He said he and Vesco have been pushing their “Project first to 500” since Vesco’s brother, Don, first set the world record at 458 mph in 2001. “That’s when we decided to set the goal of 500.”
There is no speedometer in the vehicle so Spangler said he didn’t know for sure if he’d passed 500 mph until the crew signaled him.
“I’ve done it enough to know it was fast,” he said. “I set a record at all three meets this year so I knew it was a pretty good run.”
Was it scary?
Spangler said he gets asked that question a lot and that his answer is probably anti-climactic.
“I’m concentrating so hard that I don’t have any feelings of an adrenalin rush,” he said. “I’m all business in there and super concentrating so as to stay ahead of the car.”
He said at those speeds you need to make micro adjustments in your steering. If the car starts moving around too much requiring macro adjustments then you’re going to be in trouble.
Vesco added, “It’s your brain that tells you when things are scarier than they really are,” he said. “The car is designed to go fast so you just don’t feel it like you’d think. When you start coasting down to 100 miles per hour, it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving.”
The family has only had one major accident in a streamliner. In 1981, Vesco blew a rear tire while racing at Bonneville and flipped over. He whizzed past the finish at about 300 mph upside down but thanks to seatbelts and leg and arm restraints, he wasn’t hurt.
Vesco was born into an auto racing family with his dad, Johnny Vesco, competing in the first Utah Salt Flats Racing Association race in 1949. But Johnny’s passion for the sport began in the early 1930s in Southern California.
Rick’s brother Don, “is the only human in history to hold the world speed record in both a car and a motorcycle.” Rick’s daughter, Rhonnie Vesco, a Box Elder High School graduate, also has taken up the sport, hitting a 310-mph record of her own.
At only six years old, Rhonnie can be heard in a family recording stating her intentions to be a race car driver, said her father.
There is no prize money awarded in land speed racing, “just trophies and bragging rights and a chance to have fun with our crew of about 20 people,” said Vesco. “We have a great time together out there.”
With a cache of trophies in his possession, Vesco said the “holy grail” of trophies is the Hot Rod Magazine Trophy. “I won it three times in a turbine car and once in 1978, on a motorcycle going 330 miles per hour.”
He said that particular trophy is given to the fastest timed mile on any vehicle during the Speed Week competition. “That year, a motorcycle just happened to beat the cars.”
The Turbinator II streamliner was featured on the History Channel’s program, “Counting Cars.” Filming began at the Team Vesco shop in February and was aired in October 2017, in a two-part episode, “Bonneville Bound.”
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Bees survive Wildcats, claim share of region title
October 17, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
A key penalty, some late game heroics by Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan, and a missed extra point by the Woods Cross’ place kicker, combined to help propel the Bees past the Wildcats, 35-34, and claim a share of the Region 5 championship.
With 8:34 left in the game, and with the game tied, Box Elder was looking at punting the ball away, and potentially going down another score. But a Woods Cross roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive.
But the Bees’ starting quarterback, Parker Buchannan had been on the sidelines since suffering an ankle injury on a fake punt earlier in the game. After converting one first down, the Bees’ running game stagnated, and they faced a 4th-and-6 from the Woods Cross’ 28-yard line.
Still not at 100 percent, Buchanan came off the sidelines and promptly hit Tyson Madson with a pass for a first down. Two plays later, Buchanan found Connor Stevenson from 17 yards out for a touchdown, and to take the lead, 35-28.
On the ensuing drive, Wildcat quarterback Carston Naegle found Jordan Johnson for a two-yard touchdown to pull the visitors within a point with just 25 seconds left in regulation.
But the Wildcats were unable to convert the extra point, and all the Bees needed was to kneel down once before celebrating their first region championship since 2004, when they shared the title with Mountain Crest.
After the game, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter gave a lot of credit to the Wildcats, especially their offense, for making it such a tight contest.
“[The Wildcats] had some guys get hurt a few weeks ago and they had everybody back healthy tonight,” Gunter said. “They are a really explosive team and we knew we’d have our hands full with them.”
In a game of contrasting styles, coach Gunter went on to say, “I felt like from our end, our O-line did a great job creating holes for our backs and we had good balance with all the position groups touching the ball. I loved how our kids kept competing and they never got rattled on the sideline. We thought the game was headed to overtime, but our kids were ready for that because we’ve been there before.”
The win moves the Bees to 4-0 this season in games decided in the final minute or overtime, so they had a lot of past experience from which to draw.
The Bees knew coming into the game that the Wildcats would look to throw the ball in most any situation that presented itself and Woods Cross did not deviate from their plan.
Naegle found wide receiver Luke Hyde from 10 yards out on their first drive to open the scoring in the game.
Not to be deterred from their game plan, the Bees came out wanting to establish a physical presence and run the ball.
Buchanan capped the Bees’ opening drive with an eight yard run for a touchdown to tie the score.
Running back Bernard Pena gave the Bees their first lead early in the second quarter when he plowed in from a yard out.
Woods Cross was able to tie things up again just before the half when Naegle found Tucker Goodfellow for an 18 yard score.
But it was the Bees who would have the final say in the first half as senior speedster Nate Wheatley found a crease on the ensuing kickoff and took it 85 yards to the house to put the Bees up 21-14.
The Wildcats tried to seize the momentum before the break, but their drive was squashed when Box Elder defensive back Kash Cristoffersen stepped in front of a pass from Naegle to end the drive and preserve the lead.
The Bees got the ball to start the second half and made the most of that chance with Pena finishing the drive from four yards out to put the home team up two scores, 28-14
Pena finished the night with 53 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.
The Wildcats were threatening again on their next possession, but the defensive secondary again came up big for the Bees as Skyler Laurenti came up with an interception in the end zone to keep the Wildcats off the board.
But the momentum shifted right back to the Wildcats as a fumble by Pena set up the Wildcats with excellent field position.
They capitalized on the next play as Naegle connected with Johnson from 19 yards out to cut the lead to 28-20. The extra point was no good—foreshadowing how the game would ultimately be decided.
Following a failed fourth down try from the Bees, the Wildcats were able to tie the game as Naegle again found Hyde, this time from 24 yards out, for the score. Naegle then hit Goodfellow in the corner of the end zone on the two-point try to knot the game at 28 all.
Stevenson lead all Bees receivers with four catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. Buchanan completed 7-of-13 passing attempts for 90 yards and the one score.
The win put the Bees in a three-way tie for first place in Region 5 as Roy took down Farmington, 52-21, and Viewmont blanked Bountiful, 35-0, to land all three teams at 4-1.
A coin toss decided the final standings. The Royals landed in the top spot, with the Bees second and Vikings third.
The Bees will host their first state playoff game against the No. 3 seed from Region 8. The Utah County-based teams look to be headed to a play-in game coming down the stretch, so the Bees may not find out who their opponent is until early next week.
The state playoff game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m., but could get pushed to Saturday if a play-in game ends up being necessary.
As for this week, the Bees scheduled a tune-up game during their short week and will be in action tonight in Washington Terrace against Bonneville. The game against the Lakers is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
A key penalty, some late game heroics by Box Elder quarterback Parker Buchanan, and a missed extra point by the Woods Cross’ place kicker, combined to help propel the Bees past the Wildcats, 35-34, and claim a share of the Region 5 championship.
With 8:34 left in the game, and with the game tied, Box Elder was looking at punting the ball away, and potentially going down another score. But a Woods Cross roughing the kicker penalty kept the drive alive.
But the Bees’ starting quarterback, Parker Buchannan had been on the sidelines since suffering an ankle injury on a fake punt earlier in the game. After converting one first down, the Bees’ running game stagnated, and they faced a 4th-and-6 from the Woods Cross’ 28-yard line.
Still not at 100 percent, Buchanan came off the sidelines and promptly hit Tyson Madson with a pass for a first down. Two plays later, Buchanan found Connor Stevenson from 17 yards out for a touchdown, and to take the lead, 35-28.
On the ensuing drive, Wildcat quarterback Carston Naegle found Jordan Johnson for a two-yard touchdown to pull the visitors within a point with just 25 seconds left in regulation.
But the Wildcats were unable to convert the extra point, and all the Bees needed was to kneel down once before celebrating their first region championship since 2004, when they shared the title with Mountain Crest.
After the game, Bees head coach Robbie Gunter gave a lot of credit to the Wildcats, especially their offense, for making it such a tight contest.
“[The Wildcats] had some guys get hurt a few weeks ago and they had everybody back healthy tonight,” Gunter said. “They are a really explosive team and we knew we’d have our hands full with them.”
In a game of contrasting styles, coach Gunter went on to say, “I felt like from our end, our O-line did a great job creating holes for our backs and we had good balance with all the position groups touching the ball. I loved how our kids kept competing and they never got rattled on the sideline. We thought the game was headed to overtime, but our kids were ready for that because we’ve been there before.”
The win moves the Bees to 4-0 this season in games decided in the final minute or overtime, so they had a lot of past experience from which to draw.
The Bees knew coming into the game that the Wildcats would look to throw the ball in most any situation that presented itself and Woods Cross did not deviate from their plan.
Naegle found wide receiver Luke Hyde from 10 yards out on their first drive to open the scoring in the game.
Not to be deterred from their game plan, the Bees came out wanting to establish a physical presence and run the ball.
Buchanan capped the Bees’ opening drive with an eight yard run for a touchdown to tie the score.
Running back Bernard Pena gave the Bees their first lead early in the second quarter when he plowed in from a yard out.
Woods Cross was able to tie things up again just before the half when Naegle found Tucker Goodfellow for an 18 yard score.
But it was the Bees who would have the final say in the first half as senior speedster Nate Wheatley found a crease on the ensuing kickoff and took it 85 yards to the house to put the Bees up 21-14.
The Wildcats tried to seize the momentum before the break, but their drive was squashed when Box Elder defensive back Kash Cristoffersen stepped in front of a pass from Naegle to end the drive and preserve the lead.
The Bees got the ball to start the second half and made the most of that chance with Pena finishing the drive from four yards out to put the home team up two scores, 28-14
Pena finished the night with 53 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.
The Wildcats were threatening again on their next possession, but the defensive secondary again came up big for the Bees as Skyler Laurenti came up with an interception in the end zone to keep the Wildcats off the board.
But the momentum shifted right back to the Wildcats as a fumble by Pena set up the Wildcats with excellent field position.
They capitalized on the next play as Naegle connected with Johnson from 19 yards out to cut the lead to 28-20. The extra point was no good—foreshadowing how the game would ultimately be decided.
Following a failed fourth down try from the Bees, the Wildcats were able to tie the game as Naegle again found Hyde, this time from 24 yards out, for the score. Naegle then hit Goodfellow in the corner of the end zone on the two-point try to knot the game at 28 all.
Stevenson lead all Bees receivers with four catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. Buchanan completed 7-of-13 passing attempts for 90 yards and the one score.
The win put the Bees in a three-way tie for first place in Region 5 as Roy took down Farmington, 52-21, and Viewmont blanked Bountiful, 35-0, to land all three teams at 4-1.
A coin toss decided the final standings. The Royals landed in the top spot, with the Bees second and Vikings third.
The Bees will host their first state playoff game against the No. 3 seed from Region 8. The Utah County-based teams look to be headed to a play-in game coming down the stretch, so the Bees may not find out who their opponent is until early next week.
The state playoff game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m., but could get pushed to Saturday if a play-in game ends up being necessary.
As for this week, the Bees scheduled a tune-up game during their short week and will be in action tonight in Washington Terrace against Bonneville. The game against the Lakers is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Bees continue streak, roll over Royals, Vikings
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October 10, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team cruised to two easy wins last week, both in straight sets, over Roy and Viewmont to keep their stranglehold on the top spot in Region 5, as well as their number one ranking in 5A by the Deseret News.
With two road matches last week, the Bees were looking to prove their mettle in hostile environments and showed both their physical and mental toughness as they dominated matches on their opponents’ courts.
Against the Royals last Tuesday, the Bees were firing on all cylinders early both offensively and defensively. Roy struggled to score points, let alone make any kind of run against the heavily favored Bees.
In the end, the Box Elder left the Royals no chance to find their first region win of the season as the Bees coasted to wins of 25-10, 25-6, 25-8.
The Bees’ serving was especially tough and kept the Royals guessing all night. The team ended up with 12 aces in the match, lead by Sarah Reeder, who served up four.
Senior outside hitter Emily Isaacson lead all players with 11 kills on the offensive end.
Tiffany Horton helped keep things tough at the net for the Bees and lead the team with four blocks on the night.
On Thursday night, the Bees found a little more resistance when they travelled to Viewmont, but still managed a similar result as the team took the match 25-13, 25-16, 25-15.
The Bees again were able to jump out to early leads in each set and never looked back as they continued their journey to a region championship, which has eluded the team for the past eight years.
Isaacson again lead the way with 10 kills while Annie Mecham came up with four aces from the service line in the win. Reeder lead the Bees frontline blocking effort with six blocks on the night.
The wins keep the Bees a perfect 6-0 in Region 5 with just four matches left in the regular season.
Last night, the Bees were back in action against Farmington (results not available by press time). The Phoenix entered the match with a 2-4 region record and were clinging to the fourth seed in Region 5.
Tomorrow night, the Bees will be at home again to take on Woods Cross. The Bees dealt the Wildcats their first Region 5 loss last month. Since then, the Wildcats also fell to Bountiful in five sets to sit at 4-2.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
The Box Elder High School volleyball team cruised to two easy wins last week, both in straight sets, over Roy and Viewmont to keep their stranglehold on the top spot in Region 5, as well as their number one ranking in 5A by the Deseret News.
With two road matches last week, the Bees were looking to prove their mettle in hostile environments and showed both their physical and mental toughness as they dominated matches on their opponents’ courts.
Against the Royals last Tuesday, the Bees were firing on all cylinders early both offensively and defensively. Roy struggled to score points, let alone make any kind of run against the heavily favored Bees.
In the end, the Box Elder left the Royals no chance to find their first region win of the season as the Bees coasted to wins of 25-10, 25-6, 25-8.
The Bees’ serving was especially tough and kept the Royals guessing all night. The team ended up with 12 aces in the match, lead by Sarah Reeder, who served up four.
Senior outside hitter Emily Isaacson lead all players with 11 kills on the offensive end.
Tiffany Horton helped keep things tough at the net for the Bees and lead the team with four blocks on the night.
On Thursday night, the Bees found a little more resistance when they travelled to Viewmont, but still managed a similar result as the team took the match 25-13, 25-16, 25-15.
The Bees again were able to jump out to early leads in each set and never looked back as they continued their journey to a region championship, which has eluded the team for the past eight years.
Isaacson again lead the way with 10 kills while Annie Mecham came up with four aces from the service line in the win. Reeder lead the Bees frontline blocking effort with six blocks on the night.
The wins keep the Bees a perfect 6-0 in Region 5 with just four matches left in the regular season.
Last night, the Bees were back in action against Farmington (results not available by press time). The Phoenix entered the match with a 2-4 region record and were clinging to the fourth seed in Region 5.
Tomorrow night, the Bees will be at home again to take on Woods Cross. The Bees dealt the Wildcats their first Region 5 loss last month. Since then, the Wildcats also fell to Bountiful in five sets to sit at 4-2.
The game against the Wildcats is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Girls get third seed into state tourney
Grace Oki (left) and Molly Robb (right), who returned to the pitch after suffering a broken collar bone earlier this season, celebrate after Robb scored a first half goal en route to a 2-1 win over Roy last week. In a game that was fairly even and saw both teams making forays into their attacking zone and generating opportunities, Robb made the most of a shot from a difficult angle on the wing, curling the ball perfectly just inside the far post. Oki scored the Bees’ second goal of the game, in the second half, to secure the win. Box Elder finished the season tied with Roy for second place in the region, both with 18 points, but the Bees had to settle for the third seed in the state tournament. The Bees faced Skyridge, the No. 2 seed from Region 8, in the first round of the tournament on Tuesday (results not available by press time).Girls get third seed into state tourney
Bees remain undefeated in region, maintain top 5A ranking
Sophomore Gracie Gunderson (#33) and senior Jaida Burt put up a block in the Bees’ game against Bountiful last week. Gunderson, who stepped in for an injured Bekah Bennett, led the Bees with six blocks in the game. Burt helped the Bees earlier in the week with nine kills in a win over Woods Cross.
October 3, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team sent a loud and clear message last week that they are the team to beat in Region 5, and solidified their number one ranking in 5A when they took down Woods Cross in four games last Tuesday, Sept. 25, before sweeping Bountiful on Thursday.
Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding attributed their success to plenty of experience in facing adversity.
“Our girls have a lot of past experiences on the court and that helped a lot this week. We’re in constant conversation to tell the girls to play solid, not to drop down our momentum and not to drop down our energy,” Harding said.
On Tuesday night, the Bees were looking for revenge against the Wildcats, who handed the Bees a loss at the Rocky Mountain Champions Classic a few weeks ago.
That energy might have worked against the Bees in the opening minutes of the first game as the Wildcats jumped to an early lead that they turned into a win, 25-20.
After the match, coach Harding said that the girls were a little stiff and too focused to play really well in the beginning.
“[The Wildcats] are a tough battle because they beat us at the tournament,” Harding said. “If you look at the mental game of it, they got us before. So, on our part, in game one, we made a lot of errors. We hit a lot of balls out of bounds and that was emotionally kind of a downer.”
Harding said that her team started to turn things around in the first game, and even though it was too late to steal a win, that momentum carried through the remaining games on their way to the win.
“Our girls regrouped quickly. Halfway through game one, we closed the gap and just ran out of time,” Harding said. “Then we came out solid in the second game and were solid the rest of the way.”
The Bees were very solid in taking the next three games, and handed the Wildcats their first region loss of the season, 25-13, 25-15, 25-12.
Senior outside hitter Emily Isaacson lead the way with 15 kills on the night while fellow senior middle blocker Jaida Burt chipped in nine.
Sarah Reeder and Tiffany Hortin plugged up the middle for the Bees defensively and each recorded five blocks in the win.
On Thursday, the Bees had their first rematch with the Braves since winning a five-set thriller last November for the 5A state championship.
This time around, the Bees took the drama out of the game early as they built big leads in each game, with the Braves unable to come up with an answer.
Isaacson again lead the offensive attack with 14 kills on the night and Annie Mecham added eight in the win.
Six-foot tall sophomore, Gracie Gunderson, stepped in for an injured Bekah Bennett, who was out with a concussion, and lead the team with six blocks on the night to keep the Braves frustrated at the net.
In the end, the Bees simply overwhelmed their guests and took the match 25-17, 25-14, 25-12.
The wins move the Bees to 4-0 in region play and 14-2 overall on the season.
Yesterday, the Bees headed south to take on Roy, who entered the match at the bottom of the region at 0-3 (results not available by press time).
Tomorrow, the Bees will be on the road again to take on Viewmont. The match against the Vikings is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
October 3, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School volleyball team sent a loud and clear message last week that they are the team to beat in Region 5, and solidified their number one ranking in 5A when they took down Woods Cross in four games last Tuesday, Sept. 25, before sweeping Bountiful on Thursday.
Bees’ head coach Kristine Harding attributed their success to plenty of experience in facing adversity.
“Our girls have a lot of past experiences on the court and that helped a lot this week. We’re in constant conversation to tell the girls to play solid, not to drop down our momentum and not to drop down our energy,” Harding said.
On Tuesday night, the Bees were looking for revenge against the Wildcats, who handed the Bees a loss at the Rocky Mountain Champions Classic a few weeks ago.
That energy might have worked against the Bees in the opening minutes of the first game as the Wildcats jumped to an early lead that they turned into a win, 25-20.
After the match, coach Harding said that the girls were a little stiff and too focused to play really well in the beginning.
“[The Wildcats] are a tough battle because they beat us at the tournament,” Harding said. “If you look at the mental game of it, they got us before. So, on our part, in game one, we made a lot of errors. We hit a lot of balls out of bounds and that was emotionally kind of a downer.”
Harding said that her team started to turn things around in the first game, and even though it was too late to steal a win, that momentum carried through the remaining games on their way to the win.
“Our girls regrouped quickly. Halfway through game one, we closed the gap and just ran out of time,” Harding said. “Then we came out solid in the second game and were solid the rest of the way.”
The Bees were very solid in taking the next three games, and handed the Wildcats their first region loss of the season, 25-13, 25-15, 25-12.
Senior outside hitter Emily Isaacson lead the way with 15 kills on the night while fellow senior middle blocker Jaida Burt chipped in nine.
Sarah Reeder and Tiffany Hortin plugged up the middle for the Bees defensively and each recorded five blocks in the win.
On Thursday, the Bees had their first rematch with the Braves since winning a five-set thriller last November for the 5A state championship.
This time around, the Bees took the drama out of the game early as they built big leads in each game, with the Braves unable to come up with an answer.
Isaacson again lead the offensive attack with 14 kills on the night and Annie Mecham added eight in the win.
Six-foot tall sophomore, Gracie Gunderson, stepped in for an injured Bekah Bennett, who was out with a concussion, and lead the team with six blocks on the night to keep the Braves frustrated at the net.
In the end, the Bees simply overwhelmed their guests and took the match 25-17, 25-14, 25-12.
The wins move the Bees to 4-0 in region play and 14-2 overall on the season.
Yesterday, the Bees headed south to take on Roy, who entered the match at the bottom of the region at 0-3 (results not available by press time).
Tomorrow, the Bees will be on the road again to take on Viewmont. The match against the Vikings is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Bees extend win streak to four, take possession of top spot in Region 5
Connor Stevenson advances the ball after pulling in one of his two receptions against Farmington. Stevenson had the most explosive play of the game for the Bees when he ran 32 yards on the first offensive play to help set up the Bees’ first touchdown.
October 3, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School football team ran their current winning streak to four straight games last Friday night on the road as they bested Farmington, 17-7.
After three consecutive weeks of last-minute heroics, including two overtime thrillers, the Bees were able to take care of business in regulation against the Phoenix behind two rushing touchdowns by Bernard Pena and a big effort on the defensive side of the ball.
Box Elder head coach Robbie Gunter called the game, “a tough situation” as the Phoenix came into the game on an emotional high and with renewed confidence after earning their first win of the season, against Woods Cross, the week before.
“On film, [the Phoenix] looked like a good team and then, in person, we saw that they are good team,” Gunter said. “We definitely made some mistakes that we want to clean up, but our guys played hard as well. Every region win is a big win, so we’re happy with this one.”
The most glaring mistakes from the Bees were 10 penalties for 95 yards and three turnovers that kept the Phoenix in the game.
The Bees’ defense negated much of that damage with four takeaways and several big stops that kept the Phoenix chasing for much of the game.
Box Elder’s defense set the tempo early on when junior defensive back Bentley Miles came up with his first interception of the season to squash the opening drive of the game.
Five plays later, Pena ran in from 12 yards out for his first score to give the Bees an early advantage.
On the ensuing drive, the Bees looked to have stopped the home team on fourth down, but a roughing the passer penalty kept the drive alive and set up a first and goal. Three plays later, Phoenix quarterback Wyatt Evertsen dove in from a yard out to tie the game.
The Bees started the second quarter the same as the first, with Skyler Laurenti picking off the first pass of the period to keep the game tied.
The Bees had a chance to take the lead heading into the halftime break, but quarterback Parker Buchanan took a hit in the backfield and fumbled the ball with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter. Brayden Wilson jumped on the loose ball for the Phoenix to keep the game tied.
The Bees took the lead on the opening drive of the second half when Keaton Lamb connected on a 35-yard field goal to go up 10-7.
The defensive struggle continued for the remainder of the game until the Bees finally put it away with a two-yard touchdown run by Pena with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Pena finished with another monster stat line with 152 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns.
The win moves the Bees to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in region play while the Phoenix fall to 1-6 and 1-2 in the region.
This Friday night, the Bees will be on the road again to square off against preseason region favorite in Roy. The Royals sit at 2-1 in Region 5 after losing last week to Viewmont.
The game against the Royals is set to kick off at 7 p.m.
October 3, 2018 • Jeremy Jones • Staff Writer
The Box Elder High School football team ran their current winning streak to four straight games last Friday night on the road as they bested Farmington, 17-7.
After three consecutive weeks of last-minute heroics, including two overtime thrillers, the Bees were able to take care of business in regulation against the Phoenix behind two rushing touchdowns by Bernard Pena and a big effort on the defensive side of the ball.
Box Elder head coach Robbie Gunter called the game, “a tough situation” as the Phoenix came into the game on an emotional high and with renewed confidence after earning their first win of the season, against Woods Cross, the week before.
“On film, [the Phoenix] looked like a good team and then, in person, we saw that they are good team,” Gunter said. “We definitely made some mistakes that we want to clean up, but our guys played hard as well. Every region win is a big win, so we’re happy with this one.”
The most glaring mistakes from the Bees were 10 penalties for 95 yards and three turnovers that kept the Phoenix in the game.
The Bees’ defense negated much of that damage with four takeaways and several big stops that kept the Phoenix chasing for much of the game.
Box Elder’s defense set the tempo early on when junior defensive back Bentley Miles came up with his first interception of the season to squash the opening drive of the game.
Five plays later, Pena ran in from 12 yards out for his first score to give the Bees an early advantage.
On the ensuing drive, the Bees looked to have stopped the home team on fourth down, but a roughing the passer penalty kept the drive alive and set up a first and goal. Three plays later, Phoenix quarterback Wyatt Evertsen dove in from a yard out to tie the game.
The Bees started the second quarter the same as the first, with Skyler Laurenti picking off the first pass of the period to keep the game tied.
The Bees had a chance to take the lead heading into the halftime break, but quarterback Parker Buchanan took a hit in the backfield and fumbled the ball with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter. Brayden Wilson jumped on the loose ball for the Phoenix to keep the game tied.
The Bees took the lead on the opening drive of the second half when Keaton Lamb connected on a 35-yard field goal to go up 10-7.
The defensive struggle continued for the remainder of the game until the Bees finally put it away with a two-yard touchdown run by Pena with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Pena finished with another monster stat line with 152 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns.
The win moves the Bees to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in region play while the Phoenix fall to 1-6 and 1-2 in the region.
This Friday night, the Bees will be on the road again to square off against preseason region favorite in Roy. The Royals sit at 2-1 in Region 5 after losing last week to Viewmont.
The game against the Royals is set to kick off at 7 p.m.