2023 4A Region Recap, Coaches Spotlight: Cliff Yerkes, Coaches' Region Poll, Utes Men's Game, and WCLA Santa Barbara

Written by: Megan Chambers and McKenzie Christiansen

The lacrosse landscape in Utah is ablaze with triumphs, challenges, and promising prospects as the 2024 season unfolds. Recapping on Sky View High School, under the strategic guidance of Coach Bryant Cannell, emerges as the 2023 North Region Champs, flaunting an impeccable 10-0 record and a roster laden with standout players. Meanwhile, in the 2023 South Region, Judge Memorial and Juan Diego share the co-championship, setting the stage for a memorable season characterized by balance and skill. Amidst these triumphs, the spotlight shifts to Salem Hills High School, introducing the experienced Cliff Yerkes as the new girls' lacrosse coach, bringing a wealth of coaching experience and a philosophy centered around respect, challenge, and teamwork. As the lacrosse storyline develops across diverse regions, we encouraged all Utah coaches to engage in the Coaches’ Region Poll. This poll allows coaches to cast their votes on their predictions for the winning teams in each region. In conclusion, summarizing the University of Utah Men's first game of the season and the 2024 WCLA Santa Barbara tournament.

As always, please visit our title sponsors Tribal West Lacrosse (website) & MinersTown Strength and Condition (website).

---

North Region Champs: Sky View

In an outstanding display of dominance, Sky View High School secured the title of 2023 North Region Champs with an impeccable 10-0 record in the region. Head Coach Bryant Cannell's strategic guidance proved instrumental in steering the team toward an unbeaten streak and eventual championship triumph. The Region 4A North 2023 Lacrosse All-Region Awards showcased the remarkable talents of Sky View's standout players. The first-team selections featured: Attack Sean Tempest (2023 Senior), Midfield Easton Ballard (2024 Senior), Defense Koji Schwartz (2023 Senior), Face-Off Specialist (FOS) Parley Thacker (2024 Senior), Goalie Jake Spackman (2023 Senior). These players demonstrated exceptional skill and strength on the field, contributing significantly to Sky View's undefeated run in the North Region. Sean Tempest (2023 Senior) stood out not only as a first-team attacker but also claimed the prestigious title of Region 4A North Player of the Year for his outstanding offensive contributions. His stellar performances undoubtedly played a crucial role in Sky View's success.

Acknowledging the overall excellence of the team, Coach Bryant Cannell of Sky View was rightfully named the Region 4A North Coach of the Year. His strategic acumen and leadership were instrumental in shaping the team into a cohesive and unstoppable force in the North Region. As the 2023 North Region Lacrosse season concludes, Sky View High School's triumph stands as a testament to their skill, determination, and the exceptional coaching prowess of Bryant Cannell. The team's flawless 10-0 record and the individual accolades received by its players underscore Sky View's position as the undisputed champions of the North Region.

South Region Co-Champs: Judge Memorial and Juan Diego

Judge Memorial and Juan Diego jointly claimed the title of co-champions in the South Regions during the 2023 lacrosse season, characterized by an impressive balance between the two teams. Finishing with a mirror-like record of wins and losses at 3-1, the season showcased an extraordinary level of competition, marking it as an unforgettable chapter in the history of South Regions lacrosse. Guiding Judge Memorial's lacrosse program with seasoned expertise is Head Coach Jeff Brzoska, while on the opposite side, the accomplished Head Coach Greg Stamatov led Juan Diego to success. Their leadership and tactical acumen were pivotal in steering their teams to a shared co-championship.

The All-Region Awards highlighted the exceptional talents on both sides of the competition. Notable players from Juan Diego who secured first-team selections included Lance Ebner (2023 Senior), Aiden Wigton (2024 Senior), Joe Funes (2023 Senior), Jacob Anderson (2023 Senior), Weston Eder (2024 Senior), and Austin Lund (2024 Senior). Meanwhile, Judge Memorial's first-team all-region athletes comprised Rome Swanwick (2024 Sophomore), Sean Jerome (2024 Sophomore), Frederick Gowski (2024 Sophomore), Dylan Krannich (2024 Sophomore), and Matthew Evans (2024 Sophomore). Rome Swanwick (2024 Sophomore) of Judge Memorial was honored as the Region 4A South Player of the Year for his remarkable offensive contributions, while on the defensive front, Joe Funes (2023 Senior) and Jacob Anderson (2023 Senior) of Juan Diego earned Players of the Year accolades for their exceptional skills and pivotal roles in securing victories.

Beyond the field, Juan Diego's Jacob Anderson showcased a commitment to excellence by earning a spot on the 2023 USA Lacrosse All-Academics (UHSAA) list. Serving as a Long Stick Midfielder, Anderson's dedication to both academics and athletics stands as a testament to the holistic development fostered within the lacrosse community. In recognition of outstanding coaching efforts, Jeff Brzoska of Judge Memorial was named the Region 4A South Coach of the Year, underscoring his strategic vision and leadership that were instrumental in achieving co-championship glory.

---

New Coach Spotlight: Cliff Yerkes 

Cliff Yerkes, the newly appointed girls' lacrosse coach at Salem Hills High School, brings 25 years of coaching experience in high school athletics from Connecticut, specializing in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. His coaching philosophy centers around building relationships with athletes by prioritizing respect and challenging them daily, because “once [his] athletes know [he] sincerely cares, [he] can reach and help them push past perceived limits”. Emphasizing teamwork and camaraderie, Yerkes fosters a positive team culture by highlighting how the team is bigger than the individual, “shared sweat equity”,  or everyone needs to pull the same side of the rope together. 

Adapting strategies based on his team's strengths and weaknesses, Yerkes prioritizes player-focused development in the early stages of the program.. Cliff applies pressure in practices to acclimate athletes to high-pressure situations, and creates meaningful, game-like repetitions is an essential building block to the program’s success. Motivation is driven by relationships, respect, and love, with an emphasis on the process rather than results.

Yerkes finds reward in athletes recognizing individual and team growth, building self-esteem and character. His advice to aspiring coaches is to ”put the players first and build relationships, [because] that is what will last and where you will have the most impact.” 

Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Yerkes aims to have 40 players on the team, split between varsity and junior varsity. The team's goals include fielding a tough, hardworking team, fostering personal growth, building relationships, and creating lasting memories. Yerkes sees lacrosse's future in Utah as promising, drawing parallels to the sport's growth in Connecticut since the 90s.

---

Utah Coaches’ Region Poll

Many of you are undoubtedly familiar with the Coaches Poll, which showcases the top ten teams in the state as selected by Utah coaches. This year, we're thrilled to expand our content by introducing the Coaches Region Poll.

The Coaches Region Poll, we've invited coaches to share their unfiltered perspectives on the following question: Which team do they genuinely believe will emerge as the regional champion in 2024? This straightforward inquiry aims to capture the authentic insights of seasoned coaches, encouraging them to provide honest assessments of the teams within their regions.

Region 1 - Fremont has earned recognition as one of the premier teams in Region 1, led by head coach Brad Searle. The Fremont team returned key players for the upcoming season. The team boasts the experience of senior attacker Davis Searly, senior attacker Carson Isaacson, senior defender Luke Robins and senior defender Cam Jenkins. As they embark on the new season, these seasoned players are determined to surpass the impressive stats and records set in the previous year. Notable achievements include Davis Searle's outstanding 85 assists and 76 goals. The team is poised to build on these accomplishments and further solidify their standing in Region 1. Fremont will be diving into their season with a tournament play against, Cedar Valley, Riverton and Roy on March 9th.

Statement from Coach Searle: “Fremont has a ton of talent this year with a lot of playoff experience. We have some outstanding senior players with Davis Searle and Carson Isaacson leading our offense and Luke Robins and Cam Jenkins running the defense. 

We will have some tough competition in Region 1 with Davis and Farmington.  Our success will hinge on one thing, playing together as one team.” 

Region 2 – Corner Canyon reclaims the top position in the Region 2 Coaches’ Region Poll, guided by the esteemed head coach Aaron Ika. The Chargers' roster boasts the return of key players, including Senior Kisen Muramoto, Junior Midfielder Easton Daynes, and Senior Goalie Mitchell Phippen. Notably, in 2023, Corner Canyon secured the title of Region 4 Champions, triumphing in 16 out of 18 games and emerging as the 6A champions. Corner Canyon will be starting their season off against 2023 co-region champs Northridge on March 8th.  

Statement from Coach Ika: “This year’s team is excited to start the season, to prove to themselves they have what it takes to carry on the legacy that wearing a Corner Canyon jersey brings. They understand the history and players that have played before them. 

This is the time of the year when the “chatter” around the season can be bigger than the work going into it. That is not the CC way. We take pride in our hard work as both coaches and players. The boys have been working extremely hard to raise our level of play and be Consistent in everything we do. 

Since taking over at Corner Canyon, we faced our old region teams 45 times with 0 losses, including the playoffs. Something the boys take extreme pride in. Consistency in how hard we work, how hard we challenge each other, consistency in how fast we are there to pick each other up, consistency in how fast we let things go and consistency in Making the NEXT PLAY is always our focus and what we plan to bring to the table in Region 2 as we prepare for a new challenge and a new adventure. We are bringing the staples of who we are. These are the staples that make up our program.” 

Region 3 – American Fork secures the top position in Region 3 as voted by fellow coaches, under the leadership of head coach Adam Lisonbee. The Cavemen boast a roster featuring returning players, such as Senior Attacker Chaz Mooney, who was the second lead scorer in 2023, securing first place in assists and turnovers for the team. Additionally, Senior Preston Beeman returns to the field, showcasing his strength in ground balls during the 2023 season.

Statement from Coach Lisonbee, “Being acknowledged by fellow coaches is always a gratifying experience. American Fork is anticipating a highly competitive season in our region this year, we're eagerly looking forward to getting started.”

Region 5 – Bountiful claims the top spot in the Coaches’ Region Poll, as indicated by the votes from their peer coaches. In 2023, Bountiful earned the title of co-region champions, and the current polling suggests they are strongly favored by fans to repeat this achievement. At the helm of Bountiful team is head coach Peter Jordan. The Redhawks' roster includes returning players such as Senior Attacker Tate Terry, Sophomore Midfielder Carter Terry, Junior Attacker Ryland Hewitt, and Sophomore Face-Off specialist Dawson Allsop.

Region 6 – Olympus makes its return to region 6 this year, clinching the top votes from fellow Head Coaches and solidifying their position as the anticipated team to win Region 6 in 2024. Olympus is taught by head coach Nick Merrell. The team showcases a formidable roster, with key returnees including Senior Attacker Andrew Clayton, Senior Attacker Charlie Droitsch, Senior Long Stick Midfielder Samuel Smith, Senior Midfielder Weston Holtby, and Senior Goalie Caleb Johnson. Olympus’ first match up will be against the Lone Peak Knights on March 7^th.

Statement from Coach Merrell: “W e are honored to be recognized to be in this position with so many great teams in region 6 this year.  The boys have worked hard to this point, having had a fantastic fall ball that transitioned into great winter conditioning sessions.  These guys are hungry to get this year started as we have, what we believe to be, our most challenging schedule that we've ever had!  We are led by a very stingy group of talented defenders with two Allstate caliber goalies behind them.  Offensively we lost some great pieces from a season ago, but love what our Attack will look like again this year and have a core of solid midfielders that are ready to step up and shine this year. Can't wait to get things going and see how it all shakes out! “ 

Region 7- Wasatch emerges as the frontrunner for the anticipated winner of the Region 7 title as they enter the competition. Head coach Kenvin Wallace leads these boys into a bright season. Having clinched the championship in Region 9 in 2023, the team is equipped with returning talents such as Senior Attacker Cole Lent and Sophomore Goalie Cam Goode. Wasatch's preseason schedule is packed with formidable opponents, including matchups against Sky View, American Fork, Northridge, and Payson.

Statement from Coach Wallace: “We're really excited for this season. We've got a very skilled group of upper classmen returning and some talented younger players so we're looking to build on our success from the past two years.”

Region 8 – Payson has shifted from Region 9 to Region 8 this year. Despite facing tough competition in 2023 and securing a 1-6 record in Region 9, Payson now finds itself in the first seat in the equally competitive Region 8. Head coach Daniel Sisneros has been pushing his team these last four years to play to their full potential. Playing against highly skilled teams in Region 9 proved to be a valuable learning experience for Payson, enabling them to transition to Region 8 with the aim of becoming the top team in their new competitive landscape.

Statement from Coach Sisneros: “2024 should be a high point in Payson lacrosse as our players continue to build the culture they started when the program was founded four years ago. We return 7 starters from last season’s team which went 7-13 and won the first playoff game in school history against Lehi. We return 5 of our top 7 leading scorers and 5 of 7 varsity defenseman including 3 starters and all our defensive midfielders. While our team is relatively new with no player having played more than 3 seasons of lacrosse, they have made significant improvements year over year and most of our varsity team has multiple years of varsity experience. This continuity and strong senior leadership led by a tough physical defense should lead to a successful 2024 season.

Key Returners: Senior Defensemen Colby Olson with his 2023 stats: 41 takeaways and 85 groundballs, First team All-Region 9 (5A), 3 year starter and 2 year Captain. Senior FOS Aiden Hardy with his 2023 stats: 4th in State with 75.7 FO Win%, 221 Wins, 8th in State for 135 groundballs, First Team All-Region 9 (5A), 3 year starter and 2 Year Captain. Junior Attackman Gary Bolton 2023 stats: 20 Goals 13 Assists in his Sophomore Season. Senior Midfielder Ryan Rowley with his 2023 stats: 16 Goals 104 groundballs 24 Takeaways. Junior Attackman Jared Keel with his 2023 stats: 13 Goals 3 Assists in Sophomore Season. Senior Defense Easton Andreason with his 2023 stats: 17 groundballs 13 takeaways, 2 Year Starter. Senior Defense Jarrett Johnson with his 2023 stats: 37 groundballs, 24 takeaways, and  2 Year Starter at Defense.

Key Newcomers: Senior Goalie Nick Gonzalez, Sophomore Midfielder Austin Ewell and Sophomore Attackman Scott Rasmussen.

Region 10 – Judge Memorial makes a transition from the South Region to Region 10, presenting a shift that introduces additional teams to contend with for the regional title. In 2023, they shared the region title with Juan Diego. The coaches' region poll for this year predicts that Judge will emerge as the superior team, with Coach Jeff Brzoska noting, "Judge is returning everybody," unlike some other teams in the region.

Region 11 – Sky View stays in the familiar territory while rebranded 4A North, now simply known as region 11. Sky View is no stranger to being region champs are they held the title for 2023. Within the Coaches’ Region Poll Sky View is the star for the coaches votes. Head Coach Bryant Cannell, recognized as Region Coach of the Year in 2023, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, emphasizing his coaching excellence. Sky View has knoble players like

Statement from Coach Cannell: “We lost a few key players from last season, but we have a lot of experienced and talented players returning.  There is a lot of excitement in the program to go out there and show everyone else what we are capable of.  We have a tough preseason schedule ahead and we are excited to go out there, compete, and at the end of the day improve and grow as much as we can.  Overall, I fully believe in this team, and I know they believe in themselves.  I’m very excited to see how the season goes.” 

Region X – Crimson Cliffs has excelled into the first position for Region X. As this region is newer to us in lacrosse Crimson Cliffs is making their name known so when they enter senctioning in 2025. Crimson Cliffs is led by the knowledgeable Shaun Layton.

Region 1 - Farmington claims the top position in the Region 1 Coaches’ Region Poll, led by returning head coach Chris MacAulay, after emerging as region champs in 2023 with a region record of 14-0. Key players on the varsity Phoenix roster this 2024 season include senior Ruby Roche, senior Alex Stephens, and junior Alexandra MacAulay. Additionally, players to watch for such are junior Elle Erickson in goal (#2 in the state with a 60% save rate), and junior midfielder Hailey Larsen (31st in the nation for her draw percentage at 68%). Farmington’s first game of the season is against Bingham on March 14th. 

Region 2 -  Reclaiming the top position in their region, Mountain Ridge has been recognized in the Coaches’ Region Poll to do it all again for the 2024 season. Led by returning coach Angie Maughan, key players to watch will be senior Emmery Clark on attack and in midfield, junior Taya Clark over the draw controls, junior Brielle Fabert and senior Liv Mackey. The Sentinels will begin their season displaying their team’s determination and skill at a home game on March 5th at 7pm against non-region competitors, the Davis Darts.  

Region 3 - The coaches have spoken, and Lone Peak has been voted the premier team for their region during the upcoming season. Returning as head coach, Weslie Lundell, states “Region 3 is a tough one. A lot of strong players come from here, most of the girls grow up playing on the same youth teams together, and so many are truly great friends. It makes playing some of our region opponents such fun games. We’ve had such a fun month back so far, but these girls just can’t wait to get back on the field to showcase what they are ready to do.” The Knights impressive roster includes seniors such as captain Eliza Agate, Katrina Maddox, Emrie Peterson, and Ianna Baldwin. Additionally, players to watch for are juniors Sadie Neuenschwander and Maya Siri. Showing up to the 2024 season as previous Region 4 champs, the Knights’ first game of the season is against Skyline on March 14th at 5pm. 

Region 5 - Here to claim the top spot in region 5 for a second consecutive year, Woods Cross will be led by new head coach, McKenzie Christiansen. Keep an eye on several standout players from the Wildcats team, including Ella Mathews, the senior midfielder with an impressive 80% draw control. Also, watch out for Ella Holland, a senior midfield attack, Olivia Mathews, who excels as both goalie and defender, and Eliza Sargent, a senior known for her defensive prowess. Emmy Richards, a junior in the midfield, and Dani Brey, a senior on defense, round out the formidable lineup. Notably, the addition of junior Rylee Linton, who recently joined the Wildcats from Clearfield, is expected to make a significant impact alongside Eliza Sargent on defense. Coach Christiansen explains it best: “To be a wildcat is to uphold the values of Confidence, Teamwork, Loyalty, Dedication and Fun. Woods Cross is stepping into 2024 with a vast amount of talent returning and even more joining for the first time. Woods Cross has held region title for two years in a row. As their new coach I would be honored and humbled to lead them to that title once more.” Woods Cross will take on their first game of the season against Mountain Crest on March 13th at 5:30pm 

Region 6 - The Park City Miners, led by returning head coach Mikki Clayton, have been recognized in the Coaches’ Region Poll to take region championship this 2024 season. Watch for key players like Sophie Neff, senior on attack and midfield (#3 in Region 6 for assists with 26 assists, and 59 goals), and Charlie Lacobelli, senior midfielder (44 ground balls, 76 draw controls, 54 points). Keep an eye on attack for sophomore Coco Crawford (36 points in 2023) and promising underclassmen Maddie McHenry, Lily Yatkeman, and Megan Magee while junior goalie Marcella Woolley commands the goal. Together, they bring a dynamic edge to the team. Park City is gearing up for their first game against Mountain Ridge, the reigning Region 3 champs on March 12th at 7pm. 

Region 7 - Voted the top-tier team in region 7, the Wasatch Wasps will be welcoming new coach Sara Rossberg to lead the team to victory. In addition, standout contributors will be senior Mackenzie Goode’s defense (57 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers), junior Kaia Anderson (49 ground balls and 22 goals), along with juniors Carlie Uhrich and Allie Parke. Their first game of the season is against West Jordan from Region 6, a non-region game scheduled for Friday, March 8th, at 7 pm. 

Region 8 -  Provo claims the top position in the Region 8 Coaches’ Region Poll, led by returning head coach Megan Jensen, after emerging as region champs in 2023 with a region record of 7-0. The Bulldog players to watch this year include senior Olivia Keleman (76% draw percentage, 60 ground balls, 6 CTs), junior Izzy Moyes (33 ground balls, 12 CTs), and Connie Mendez (10 CTs, 77% draw percentage). Senior goalie Hannah Lane, with 109 saves in 2023, adds a solid foundation to the team. With the first game of the season approaching on March 9th against American Fork, the Bulldogs’ coach explains how “we have big goals and dreams for our program!  We’ve been working hard and can’t wait to see what’s in store for us this season”! 

Region 10 - Emerging as 2023 region champs, Juan Diego has been voted the team to watch out for in region 10 this season! The soaring eagles returning head coach, Shaun Judd, has notable players to watch such as junior Olivia Prosper, ranking 12th in the nation with 129 goals, an impressive 81% shot percentage, 29 assists, 56 ground balls, and 18 caused turnovers. Junior Sarah Azar showcases versatility in midfield and attack, while senior Alex Moreno excels in both defense and attack. Senior Sam Horner adds experience, and sophomore Hannah Haney takes charge as the goalie. This dynamic lineup has their first game in an away game against Springville on March 6th at 6pm. 

Region 11 - Bear River, with returning head coach Jeremy Webb, claims the top position in the Region 11 Coaches’ Region Poll. Keep an eye on these standout players: senior Jasey Larkin (70% draw control), junior Shelby Wilkinson (44 assists, 46 goals, 107 ground balls), junior Makenzie Mickelsen (86 ground balls, 21 CTs, 77% draw percentage), and goalies Saydee Pebley (junior) and Tristin Smart (sophomore). Coach Webb says it best, “One of the things I love about Coaching High School sports is you can’t really replace how a team is put together year after year, but it’s not about trying to fill a hole, it's about understanding and allowing your players to do it the way they do it, and I feel really optimistic about what we have coming up this season. There is a lot a positive things I could say about a lot of the girls on the Lady Bear River Lacrosse Team, but No one player will determine success for the Lady Bears Lacrosse Team, it always has been and always will be the way our team plays as a whole that will determine our success”. The Bears’ first game of the season is a non-region away game against Bonneville on March 12th at 6:30pm.

Region X - Dixie and Hurricane both claim a tied top position in the Region X Coaches’ Region Poll. Both the Dixie Flyers and Hurricane Tigers are up and coming teams who we will see being sanctioned soon! 

---

University of Utah at Ohio State

The University of Utah Lacrosse team experienced a tale of two halves in their season opener against the Ohio State Buckeyes, concluding with an 11-8 defeat on the road. The Utes started strong, scoring six goals in the first half, including four in the opening quarter. However, their offensive momentum dwindled in the second half, managing to score only two goals. Ohio State capitalized on Utah's offensive struggles to secure the victory.

Despite the loss, the Utes displayed noteworthy statistics, with 36 shots (18 on goal), 30 ground balls, and a strong clearing performance of 20-of-21. Notable individual performances included sophomore Ryan Stines' hat trick and senior Tyler Bradbury's career-high seven ground balls.

The game's breakdown highlighted Utah's early dominance in the first quarter, outshooting Ohio State and leading 4-1. However, the momentum shifted in the second quarter, with Ohio State narrowing the gap to a 6-5 score by halftime. The third quarter saw a tied score at 7-7, but Utah reclaimed the lead at 8-7 early in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Ohio State mounted a 4-0 run to secure an 11-8 victory, leaving the Utes scoreless in the final 14 minutes of the game. Utah's next challenge awaits on Saturday, Feb. 17, when they host the Denver Pioneers in Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Buy your University of Utah Men’s tickets HERE

2024 WCLA D1 Santa Barbara

BYU - On Friday, February 2nd and 3rd, 2024, BYU showcased their lacrosse prowess at the 2024 WCLA Santa Barbara Shootout, securing a commendable 7th place in the competition.

In a closely contested match, BYU faced off against Virginia, ultimately falling short with a score of BYU 8, Virginia 13. Despite this setback, BYU rebounded strongly in their subsequent game against Michigan State, emerging victorious with a solid scoreline of BYU 14, Michigan State 8.

Continuing their impressive performance, BYU demonstrated dominance in their final matchup against Oregon, securing a decisive win with a score of BYU 18, Oregon 6. These results reflect BYU's resilience and skill on the lacrosse field, solidifying their standing in the competitive landscape of the 2024 WCLA Santa Barbara Shootout.

USU - Over the weekend, Utah State University (USU) made their mark at the 2024 WCLA Santa Barbara Shootout, securing a commendable 17th place in the tournament.

In their opening match, Utah State faced a formidable opponent in Colorado, resulting in a competitive game with a final score of Colorado 14, Utah State 6. Undeterred, Utah State showcased their resilience in the following game against Oregon State, securing a convincing victory with a score line of Oregon State 9, Utah State 17.

The competition remained fierce as Utah State faced off against Michigan in a closely contested match, concluding with a narrow margin of Michigan 13, Utah State 12. The final match saw Utah State in a tight battle against San Marcos, ending with a score of Utah State 7, San Marcos 9.

These results highlight Utah State's competitive spirit and determination throughout the tournament, showcasing their prowess on the lacrosse field during the 2024 WCLA Santa Barbara Shootout.