Boy's High School and Men's College Issue
March 25th Article Part 2
Due to the length of this weeks content we had to divide the article into two.
Good morning Utah lacrosse fans. As I sit down to write this report, I can't help but reflect on how different this season has been so far compared to the previous years. The weather has been quite unpredictable, with snow, ice, cold winds, rain, and occasional sunshine. With only a few weeks into the spring season, it's hard to know where each team and athlete stand in the respective rankings. Wins and losses don't always reflect the true talent level of each team and athlete. Monitoring this year's stats, for the boys’ state leaders, we have Junior Gage Wright from Roy High with 24 goals and 34 points, Junior Austin Taylor from Brighton High with 17 assists, and Junior Luke Richardson from Pleasant Grove High with 64 ground balls. As for the girls' state leaders, we have Sophomore Cecelia Walton from Viewmont High with 34 goals and 37 points, Junior Sammy McMaster from Skyline High with 13 assists, and Junior Ava Andreasen from Box Elder with 48 ground balls. These are athletes that we haven’t heard much about until now, as they are leading the state in their respective categories.
ULR sponsors make this all possible. Visit our title sponsors Tribal West Lacrosse (website) & MinersTown Strength and Condition(website).
UHSAA Academic All-State Athletes
Coaches, it’s time to reach out to your Athletic Directors to ensure your athletes are entered for the Utah High School Athletic Association Academic All-State Athletes. Opened March 19th – April 18th
What does it mean to be an Academic All-State Athlete? It’s an honorable recognition for student-athletes that excel in the classroom and on the field. Athletes are chosen by their athletic ability and academic proficiency. This award is highly respected as these students are picked out of 10,000 students that are involved in high school lacrosse. To be eligible you must uphold the academics, playing ability but also you must be a 2024 senior.
ULR Coaches Poll
In this week's ULR Coaches poll, we shine a light on our head coaches. They serve as the leaders of the teams, and we acknowledge their valuable contributions to the game.
No. 1 Brighton – The Bengals are under the leadership of Head Coach Chris O'Donnell. O’Donnell's lacrosse journey began in 2nd grade as a bobble head, that’s when his passion for the game started. He continued his lacrosse endeavors in college, attending Radford University in Virginia. Following his college years, O’Donnell transitioned into coaching, starting his career at Freedom South Riding in Chantilly, VA. In 2018, he made the move to Utah and served as an assistant coach at Brighton for two years before being promoted to head coach in 2020.
Recap on Brighton games this past week: The first battle was at No. 4 Fremont, where they defeated the Silverwolves, 7-5. Brighton recognizes Junior Mason Sauer as the standout player of the game, showcasing exceptional skills with 4 ground balls. Following this, Brighton hosted Bountiful on their home turf, securing a decisive win with a score of 14-3.
Next: Brighton is hosting Green Canyon March 26th and going to No. 2 Corner Canyon March 29th.
No. 2 Corner Canyon – Aaron Ika is the Head Coach at Corner Canyon High School. Ika started his coaching career with Corner Canyon High School in 2017. With nearly 7 years under his belt with the Chargers. Outside Corner Canyon Ika is also the Head Coach for boy 2027 at Utah Summit LC.
Recap on Corner Canyon game this past week: Corner Cayon took on Herriman at their turf. Croner Cayon defeated Herriman, 15-4.
Next: Corner Canyon will be taking on No. 9 Alta March 36 and No. 1 Brighton March 29th.
No. 3 Olympus - With the Titans stands Head Coach Nick Merrell. He's a Utah native with an impressive coaching resume that holds over 11 years of experience. Coach Merrell started playing lacrosse at West High, where he was a top athlete before graduating and joining the University of Utah team. He was team captain for two years at the U! His coaching style was influenced by his college coaches, and he's had some great moments playing lacrosse, like when his brother coached him at the University of Utah and when they won against Colorado schools (CSU and CU). Coach Merrell started coaching at West High with his brother Cory Merrell before transferring to Olympus High, where he's been the head coach for four years. He's proud of his coaching staff and loves making his team better both on and off the field. Coach Merrell really cares about Olympus and its community.
Recap on Olympus game this past week: Olympus traveled north to No.5 Davis as they competed in a competitive match ultimately winning, 7-5. Coach Merrell nominated the entire defense as this game’s MVP, “We had 9 minutes’ worth of penalties and defense bailed us out of almost all of them. The team had to lean on them, and they didn’t break.” Final thought on this game “Davis is the real deal. They are a well-coached team. I am proud of how our guys dug deep and were able to secure a win against a great team.”
Next: Olympus hosts No. 4 Fremont Monday March 25th. Watch on KSL Rewind Sports
No. 4 Fremont – Leading the Silverwolves pack is head Coach Brad Searle, with him coming up on his 15th year of coaching lacrosse he is feeling very fortunate to have coached all three of his sons (Easton, Porter and Davis – 2024 Senior). Coach Searle got into coaching in a unique way. “I was just a dad on the sideline at practice when a coach said if you’re going to stand there, you might as well coach. At the time I didn’t know anything about lacrosse, having never played the sport myself. I knew I was at a disadvantage. I loved to coach sports, so I dove all in. There wasn’t much on the internet or YouTube as there is today, but I found whatever I could and started to learn. I went to other coaches' practices just to watch and learn. I have coached at all levels from the Juniors program to competitive and now in the High School setting. I have a great passion for learning the game. I always consider myself one of the “great YouTube Dad coaches” you see on the sidelines. I have always appreciated all the great friends I have made over the years who are coaches and everything I have learned from them, and I am still learning from them today. The big reward for me is watching these young men get better at lacrosse and more importantly, get better at life.”
Recap on Fremont games this past week: Fremont took on No. 1 Brighton, falling to them 5-7. Fremont recognizes goalie Riley Souza as the player of the game. “Riley played fantastic as our goalie. He kept us in the game against the high-powered offense of Brighton.” The second game of the week was a victory over Sky View, 16-10.
Next: Fremont travels to No. 3 Olympus Monday March 25th. Watch on KSL Rewind Sports
No. 5 Davis – The astounding Head Coach at Davis is Dillon Yocom. Coach Yocom is married to his high school sweetheart where they’re about to welcome their third child into the world (of lacrosse) here soon. During High School Yocom played lacrosse and was able to earn the All-Region, All-State and MVP awards. He has now been the coach at Davis for five years. The Yocom family started the youth and high school program at Davis when they moved to Utah from New Hampshire. With the growth of the program, also came Dillon Yocom’s love for lacrosse at the age of 7. Coach Yocom has been involved ever sense the move to Utah. “During my time as head coach, we have gone 47-9 in the past three years and were region champs in 2021 and 2022. I was voted Region 1 Coach of the Year during the 2022 season, which was a great honor given the fantastic coaches we have in such a strong region. I'm supported by amazing assistant coaches: Trevor Yocom, Josh Bell, Nick Erickson, Berklee Baskin, Luke Johnson, Boston Frasure, and Kyle Hoskins. I'm grateful for the opportunity to run the Davis program and for the support I have from the school, parents, coaches, and players. We are looking forward to doing great things this year as a team and being the best team we can be.”
Recap on Davis games this past week: Davis fell to No. 3 Olympus, 7-5. Coach Yocom honors his entire defense for this game. “Our entire defense had a standout game. Goalie Hunter Keller had a huge day with 15 saves against a high-powered offense. Carter Sant and Kash Gates had the tough task of guarding two elite attackman and limited each of those guys to 1 point each and causing multiple turnovers.” Concluding the thoughts on this game, “Olympus is one of the top teams in the state and we have a ton of respect for their program. It was a battle all night long and we proved a lot to ourselves and are excited about the opportunity to keep showing what we can do.”
Next: Davis will be hosting No. 8 Farmington March 28th.
No. 6 Park City – At the helm of Park City is Head Coach Mike Persky. Coach Persky has been with the Miners going on 6 years now. He started with the program once he moved here to Utah. “As a result, I’ve been fortunate to meet some truly great people, here in Park City and in the greater Utah lacrosse community. Every day I appreciate the opportunity I’ve been given and the support this community shows for the lacrosse program.”
Recap on Park City games this past week: Park City hosted East on March 19th where they won, 10-2. Park City hosted Green Canyon on March 22nd where they won, 7-4.
Next: Park City host Bountiful March 26th and then traveling to Colorado to play Valor Christian Eagles and Cherry Creek Bruins.
No. 7 Judge Memorial – The Bulldogs are led by Jeff Brzoska, the head coach, has had quite a journey in lacrosse. He played in high school at Norwalk High School in Connecticut, where he was on the varsity team for three years as an attack player. He jokes that when he was in high school, there were no club lacrosse teams because, as he puts it, "I’m old." Although he didn't win any awards in high school lacrosse, he was a standout hockey player. In college, he played for Western Connecticut State University in Division 3 before joining the club teams at the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa. During his college years, he earned two 1st Team Little East Conference awards and was a team captain for multiple years. Even though he didn't start coaching until later, Jeff found his passion in coaching high school lacrosse. He's been coaching at Judge Memorial Catholic High School since 2023, with previous coaching roles at Corner Canyon and Park City high schools. Alongside coaching high school teams, he's been coaching club lacrosse teams like Utah Summit LC and Utah Blackhawks (founder 2012-2016). Current coach for Under Armor/New Balance All American Team Southwest. Jeff's dedication to coaching was recognized when he was named the Region 4A South Coach of the Year.
Recap on Judge Memorial games this past week: Judge won two competitive games, First against Alta March 20th, 11-10. Second being against Highland, 13-10.
Next: Traveling to California to take on Huntington Beach and Trabuco Hills March 28th and 30th.
No. 8 Farmington – Ringleader of the Phoenix is Head Coach Christian Taylor. He's been coaching there since the program started in Fall 2018, bringing players from Viewmont and Davis together. Originally from Bountiful, he attended Bountiful High School where he played Attack on the state championship teams of 2008 and 2009. After his mission, he played lacrosse at BYU. A fun fact about Coach Taylor is that he's a Black Belt in Karate! When he was offered the coaching job, he initially had doubts about the time commitment, but his wife Lauren encouraged him, saying he could have a positive influence on many boys.
Recap on Farmington games this past week: Farmington traveled to No.10 Lone Peak March 19th where they won 8-3. Secondly, Farmington hosted Viewmont where they won, 17-4.
Next: Farmington host the No.5 Davis March 28th.
No. 9 Alta – Coach Brandon Horoba is currently in his seventh season at Alta High School, marking a return to where he first started coaching alongside his brother-in-law as the head coach back in 2002. Prior to his time at Alta, Coach Horobas spent eight years coaching at Brighton High School, where he served as both an assistant and head coach, leading the team to three state titles. Following his tenure at Brighton, he spent a season at Utah Valley University as an offensive coordinator. At Alta, Coach Horobas has assembled a strong coaching staff, including Kevin Parry and Mike Willmore, who have been with the team since 2017. Tennison Schmidt, a former player of Coach Horobas, joined the staff last season after his career at SVU. This year, they've added Logan Lund, a former player of Coach Horobas who brings expertise as a face-off specialist and hype man, having played college lacrosse at St. Mary's and SVU. Additionally, Tony Tueller has joined the coaching staff for this season. Despite not having played lacrosse himself, Coach Horobas has a background in college and semi-pro soccer. He and his wife, who also played college soccer, have five children, all of whom have either played or currently play lacrosse.
Recap on Alta game this past week: Alta faced No. 7 Judge March 20th where they fell by one goal, 11-10.
Next: Alta Host No. 2 Corner Canyon March 26th. Second is at No. 10 Lone Peak March 29th.
No. 10 Lone Peak - The ringleader at Lone Peak is Head Coach Rich Farr. Coach Rich Farr hails from the small town of St. Johns in Eastern Arizona, nestled below the Navajo Reservation. His introduction to lacrosse came unexpectedly during his freshman year at BYU, and it wasn't until one of his daughters took up the sport nearly 15 years ago that he became familiar with it. Initially volunteering as an assistant coach to "herd the cats," Farr soon found himself immersed in coaching youth lacrosse and quickly fell in love with the boys' game. After several years leading the Lone Peak youth program, Farr transitioned to the high school level, joining Lone Peak as an assistant coach last year. Following the departure of the previous coaching staff, Farr took on the challenge of building a new coaching team and nurturing the school's lacrosse culture from the ground up. He cherishes every aspect of lacrosse, from its speed and toughness to its emphasis on teamwork. Above all, Farr values the sport's ability to instill character, commitment, and camaraderie in young men. He believes that belonging to a team provides valuable opportunities for personal growth and development, particularly for freshmen welcomed into the fold by senior players. Committed to expanding lacrosse opportunities in the area, Lone Peak now boasts a Freshman/Sophomore team alongside its JV and Varsity squads. Beyond lacrosse, Farr is known affectionately as "RFarr" to friends and family, holds degrees in Computer Science and Information Security from BYU, and serves as the VP of Technology for C.R. England Trucking. As a coach, he instills a sense of excitement in his players by reminding them that every day is "a great day to play lacrosse."
Recap on Lone Peak game this past week: The first game of the week was against No. 8 Farmington where Lone peak lost, 8-3. Thoughts on this game from coach Farr “Lone Peak started out slow and gave up a 5-0 head start to Farmington in the first half of the game. From there we fought hard to gain back that time and allow Farmington to get minimal goals in the rest of the game.”
Next: Lone Peak goes to Highland March 26th and Alta March 29th.
Westminster Men’s Lacrosse (D2 NCAA)
The Westminster Griffins lacrosse squad kicked off their 2024 season with some seriously exciting matchups. Starting with scrimmages against Brigham Young University and Utah Valley University, the Griffins wasted no time finding their groove. Their first official win was against Concordia University Irvine, and let me tell you, it was a commanding victory with a score of 20-15. Merritt McMahon really shone, netting an impressive five goals against Dominican University of California, helping us clinch a solid 20-10 win. We kept the momentum going with a nail-biting 18-16 victory against Florida Tech. Sure, we took a tough loss against #4 University of Tampa, but we bounced right back with a solid 12-7 win over #14 Maryville University. Needless to say, we're looking pretty sharp as we keep grinding on the field.
Now, let's talk about Coach Joe Kerwin. He's been leading the Men's Lacrosse team for four seasons now, and boy, has he made an impact. With two RMAC Championships under his belt and the RMAC Coach of the Year title in 2023, he's really been steering the ship. Despite the curveballs thrown by the pandemic and a jam-packed 2021 season, Kerwin managed to guide the team to back-to-back conference championships, and that's no small feat. Before joining Westminster, he had quite the coaching journey, making waves at the University of Oregon and Notre Dame de Namur University. Plus, his high school coaching days at Bend High School in Oregon earned him the Oregon High School Coach of the Year title in 2015. You can bet we're in good hands with Coach Kerwin at the helm.
Looking ahead, Westminster has Adams State coming up on March 28th, and based on Westminster’s track record, I'd say they’re feeling pretty confident. I mean, they’ve beaten them seven years in a row now, so it's safe to say they’re favored to win. Westminster’s offense has been firing on all cylinders this season, scoring a whopping 111 goals compared to their opponents' 85. They’re all about teamwork, racking up 77 assists to contribute to those goals. And let's not forget about our killer shot percentage—over 60%—which means they’re keeping those goalies on their toes. With an average of about 46 shots per game, they’re showing everyone that Westminster mean business and they’re here to dominate.
University of Utah Men’s Lacrosse (D1 NCAA)
Utah had a pair of home games this week, starting with a midweek matinee when they hosted Air Force Wednesday. Utah started off with the first goal of the game, with Bryce Horton’s first goal of the season. While Utah had chances, generating more shots, face off wins, ground balls, and extra man chances than Air Force, the Utes found themselves trailing the visiting Falcons 4-1 at the end of the first quarter, and 8-3 at the half. It was the second consecutive game where an early lead gave way to a multi-goal halftime deficit.
The second half saw the Utes ratchet up the pressure, with a third quarter that had the home Utes sparking the comeback. Despite goals from Hyde, Hart and Stines, Utah still trailed 10-6 heading into the final frame. However, that momentum the Utes build up in the third carried into the fourth as Utah scored four goals in the first 5 minutes to tie the contest at 10.
Air Force responded with a pair of goals, but as Utah has done the last couple of weeks, Jordan Hyde scored with just under 2:00 left to pull Utah back to within one. Hyde would be penalized after the goal, and Utah would be man-down the remainder of the contest. Air Force took off as much time as possible, but it left Utah with 0:21 to make a final push. Ryan Stines had a look that hit off the crossbar in the final seconds, and Utah dropped their first ASUN game since the 2022 ASUN Tournament Championship.
On Saturday, Utah was back at Ute Field to host Detroit Mercy. It was a game where Utah flexed the muscles that people expected this year as Utah had another dominating second half to defeat the Titans 21-9. Utah led early and grew that lead in every frame as this was never really in doubt.
The Utes had 12 different players score goals, while Jordan Hyde led all scorers with 5 goals and 2 assists while Colby Plotts had a pair of goals, and a pair of assists. Utah finished with 63 shots, 40 of them on goals and had 15 assists on the 21 goals scored, including 3 extra man goals. It was the kind of dominating performance fans hoped for coming off a loss, with Jacksonville around the corner.
Utah is now 4-4 and 2-1 in ASUN play. The Utes have a huge game this week as they head back on the road to take on the Jacksonville Dolphins on Saturday, March 30.
MCLA Action
Division I
#1 BYU found themselves atop the MCLA poll by a mere 3 points over their cross-town rival Wolverines…that matchup is coming up later. In the meantime, BYU took on Boise State and #21 Simon Fraser in Boise this weekend. The Cougars remained undefeated as they defeated the Broncos 16-6 and the Red Leafs 11-6. Individual stats had not been reported as of the time of publication.
BYU returns home for their conference opener against Utah Tech, Thursday, March 28 at 7pm.
Utah split their trip to Oregon last week, defeating Oregon State but falling to Oregon. This week the Utes also travelled up to Idaho to take on #21 Simon Fraser in Boise, falling to the Red Leafs 21-12. Trevor Douglis had 3 goals, as did Colin Warme, but the Simon Fraser offense was too much peppering the Utah cage frequently to drop the Utes below .500, now 3-4.
Utah will return back home this week to host Boise State on Friday, March 29 at 7pm.
#2 Utah Valley had a chance this week on the road to make their case as the top team (just 3 points behind BYU in the rankings) when they took on Liberty and Virginia Tech this week. Chances are, they won’t be staying there. The Wolverines dropped two games this week, against #8 Liberty (14-13) and #4 Virginia Tech (17-10). Individual stats had not been reports as of the time of publication.
UVU will open up conference play @ Colorado State and @ Colorado this week on Thursday, and Saturday, respectively.
Division II
#22 Utah State had a busy week with three games this week, hosting Montana, Northern Arizona, and conference foe Montana State. The Aggies overpowered the Grizzlies 16-6. Cooper Williams had a game to remember, an impressive 8 goals to lead the way for the Aggies against the Grizz, and then added 4 more in the win over Northern Arizona. Ben Booth also added 4 goals for the Aggies in the 9-8 Aggie victory over the Lumberjacks. Utah State ended the week on a sour note, losing to Montana State 17-7.
 | A guest post by
|