Football
Lester Falatea, West (Jr.)
Lester Falatea did it all for West in last week’s blowout win over Brighton
Offensively, he caught two passes for 43 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he recorded five tackles, one interception and three pass deflections.
Read more Harry and Meghan pull children from U.K. school amid security concerns
On special teams, he returned four punts for 105 yards, including a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter.
“Lester is one of the hardest-working young men we have, both on and off the field. The way he prepares, competes and carries himself every day says a lot about who he is. He’s earned the respect of his teammates and coaches because he leads through his actions,” said West coach Olossa Solovi. “So it’s no surprise to us that he’s having the kind of season he is. The success people are seeing on game day is a direct reflection of the work he puts in when nobody is watching.”
For the season, Falatea has recorded 33 tackles and three interceptions.
Girls Volleyball
Dixie Werner, Pleasant Grove (Jr.)
Dixie Werner has been one of the catalysts to Pleasant Grove’s success this season with her strong defense and great serving.
The junior has tallied 43 aces this season as the Vikings have raced out to a 14-3 record. She’s also added 29 assists and 108 digs. She helped Pleasant Grove to a 4-2 record at the UVU Invite as well last week.
“She is one of our most consistent and deadly servers. Amazing defense and such a good teammate,” said Pleasant Grove coach Isa Takahashi.
Girl Soccer
Kate Austin, Maple Mountain (Sr.)
Maple Mountain has surged to the top of the Region 7 standings in the past few weeks, and a big reason has been the consistent play of senior defender Kate Austin.
Whether it’s getting up the wing and supporting the attack or locking things down defensively, she’s played a big role in the Golden Eagles’ six-game winning streak.
“From scoring first goal of the season to leading the season as one of our captains, Kate Austin has played a vital role for this season,” said Maple Mountain coach Brynlie Mellor. “As an outside back, she is one of our top scorers while simultaneously locking down our defense to eliminate threats from other teams. Kate actively seeks to be an example what it means to be a Golden Eagle.”
Austin leads Maple Mountain with seven goals this season, including two in last week’s big victory over Maple Mountain.
Boys Cross Country
Jack Grossen, Skyridge (Sr.)
Skyridge’s Jack Grossen turned in one of his best performances of the season last weekend.
He won the a.m. session of the Park City Invite last Friday, posting a time of 15:27.10 as he out-kicked teammate Landon Carter to win by three seconds.
After fishing in 25th place at the 6A state meet at Sugar House Park last fall, he’s made huge strides this year as he aims for a higher finish at state next month.
“Jack is everything you could hope for in an athlete. Level-headed, hard-working, dedicated, reflective, consistent, smart and talented. He is an exceptional leader who actively encourages and supports his teammates while maintaining high standards for his own performance,” said Skyridge coach Derek Bonney. “He is always working to improve. Jack is the type of athlete who focuses on the positive, finding what he can do instead of the things he cannot.”
Girls Cross Country
Hallee Sullivan, Skyline (Sr.)
Skyline senior Hallee Sullivan has been racing from the front of the pack throughout the season, and that trend continued last weekend.
Sullivan won the Park City Invite race last Friday, finishing first with a time of 17:49.7. She finished 11 seconds ahead of Layton’s Eliza Thornley.
“Hallee is such a great person and athlete. Having missed last season with injury, you can see her enjoying the season differently this year,” said Skyline coach Thomas Porter.
Read more House Democrat forces Trump impeachment vote over ICE
Earlier this season, Sullivan enjoyed a first-place finished at the Payson Night Hunt and then a second-place finish at the Timpanogos Invitational.
Sullivan didn’t participate in the 5A state meet last season, but as a sophomore the year prior she placed 16th, the fourth-best finish by a sophomore.
Girls Tennis
Mara Johncock, Judge Memorial (So.)
Mara Johncock has enjoyed a perfect start to the season for the Bulldogs this year.
The senior is 6-0 in First Singles action so far, most recently earning an impressive straight set win of East’s Jane Belcher, 6-1, 6-4.
She’s also earned wins over Waterford, Juan Diego, Woods Cross, Mountain View and Murray.
“Mara definitely makes our team stronger. Her success at First Singles is great, but she also supports her teammates by giving them guidance on match strategies and mental toughness,” said Judge Memorial coach Davit Mumladze. “She has a strong court awareness and remains calm during matches. She is willing to play singles or doubles and her game is complete so she can do both really well. She brings a great attitude and is fun to have around.”
Last season, Johncock qualified as the No. 5 seed for the 4A First Singles, advancing to the quarterfinals. She’s got eyes on an even better finish this season.
Boys Golf
Wyatt Biagi, Olympus (So.)
Just a sophomore, Wyatt Biagi is making a big impact for Olympus this fall.
With two weeks left in Region 6 play, Biagi sits at the top of the region standings with a 71.2 stroke average.
Last week he shot a 67 at Glendale Golf Course to finish in second place by one stroke.
“Wyatt has been playing really well the past three tournaments. He works really hard on his game and is playing at a high level,” said Olympus coach Matt Barnes. “Wyatt is a great student and leader for our team. I am really excited to see him finish the year.”
As a freshman last season, Biagi competed in the 5A state tournament and was the fourth-scoring golfer for the Titans in their runner-up finish.
He’ll look to maintain his Region 6 advantage this Thursday in the next region match at Lakeside Golf Course.
Baseball
Jonny Mitchell, Maeser Prep (Sr.)
Maeser Prep has won seven games in a row, and senior shortstop/pitcher Jonny Mitchell has been at the center of all that success with his contributions in the plate and on the mound.
“He helps lead by example in the dugout as a team captain, especially helping the younger players learn the game,” said Maeser Prep coach Erik Gulbrandsen.
For the season, he’s hitting .564 with 24 runs and 24 RBIs. He’s also stolen 21 bases. On the mound, he throws a four-seamer 84 mph and a two-seamer with tight movement.
“He throws an eephus that takes hitters off guard and then gasses them with the heater. I’m fortunate to have coached him these last four years and expect a bright future for this student-athlete,” said Gulbrandsen.
Read more Utah offers farmers an ‘unprecedented’ loan relief amid challenging year