New Beginnings in 2026, Mailbag & High School Coaches Q&A
Happy New Year, fellow lax fans! I cannot be more grateful for you and your support. This year is going to be special. My staff and I are working hard to provide the best lacrosse coverage possible and we’re very excited for what’s in store. But first, let’s take a look back at where I’ve been.
My name is Tim Haslam, and I played defense at Highland High School in Salt Lake City in the early 2000s. I went to college at the University of Utah, where I studied Mass Communications. I took an Intro to News Writing course, and the professor at the time encouraged me to see if The Daily Utah Chronicle (the student paper at Utah) needed any new writers. I trotted to the Union building and found the Sports Editor, Tony Pizza, and asked if I could cover the Utah club lacrosse team. He said, “Of course!” Later that semester, I found myself at Stillwell Field watching Utah take on Utah State in a fall ball matchup.
I was hooked. I covered the Utah and Westminster club teams in 2009 and 2010 for an MCLA website called CollegeLAX.us, where I became the Editor-in-Chief in 2011. That same year, I started a local lacrosse site called Utah Lacrosse News. I ran ULN for six seasons. In the summer of 2016, I got a call from Rick Kladis, the head coach of the Utah club team. There was a group assembling to form an NCAA D-I team at Utah, and they wanted me to run the media side, which I did for two seasons.
After the club team was elevated to NCAA status, I created the Utah Lax Report. I wanted to still write about lacrosse but didn’t want to manage a full-blown website. I felt and still feel that an email newsletter is a great way to share thoughts, news, etc. Spring of 2020 came along and while there were no games, I ran a series of Senior Spotlights where we highlighted Seniors from around the state who had lost their last season. The 2021 and 2022 seasons were some of the best we’ve had. I started the Utah Lax Report Podcast and found a friend in Dane Stewart at KSL Sports Rewind, and we live-streamed dozens of lacrosse games.
In the summer of 2022, I was asked to be the Director of Lacrosse Operations for Utah. I couldn’t resist, but it meant I couldn’t run ULR anymore since the site deals with prospective student-athletes, and my new role at Utah wouldn’t allow me to.
Fast forward to November 2025. I received a promotion at my day job and just couldn’t do that job and be the Director of Ops. I had to resign at Utah. If you would have told 13 year old Tim that he would have 1) Had a job in Utah Athletics, 2) It would have been for the Utah NCAA lacrosse team (which didn’t exist when I was 13) and 3) I’d have an office in the Huntsman Center where I’d spent a lot of time in my youth watching Utah Basketball, I would have thought you were crazy! It was a dream job, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
With that said, I’m back running the Utah Lax Report, and I’m really excited to rub shoulders with the high school coaches and players once again as well as covering all Utah college teams.
I’m grateful to Patrick Sanger, Kenzie Christiansen, Megan Chambers, Ron Hill, Libby Mitchell, Dane Stewart and others for taking over the site and carrying on great lacrosse coverage. None of this is possible without the great sponsors that have continued to support the site over the years: Tribal West, Vessel Kitchen, Minerstown PC, Salty Lacrosse, and others.
That’s what I’ve been up to and here’s where I’m hoping we, the lacrosse community, can go. First, I’m going to bring back the Utah Lax Report Podcast. I loved having conversations with coaches and players and I have some fun guests lined up. My goal is to publish a new podcast every Thursday that will provide great insights and tidbits. I love the podcast format and hope you will too.
Second, ULR is officially joining forces with KSL Sports Rewind to provide and promote more live lacrosse. I’m really excited about what this means for our programs and student-athletes - more exposure!
Third, we are going to host a Photo Contest for the 2026 season. The Name/Sponsor/Prizes are TBD but we’re going to have a high school student award and an adult award. It’s an exciting time for lacrosse photographers.
There is more on the horizon and I’m really excited about what this year has in store.
Mailbag Questions
I asked our Instagram followers to submit their questions for the upcoming season. Here are a few of them.
Question: Which games are you looking forward to?
ULR: Oh man, this is probably a topic that could take a whole newsletter, so for that reason I’m going to stick to just high school on this one. I love when teams travel to face outside competition so seeing the Skyridge, Olympus and Snow Canyon boys go to Southern California in the first two weeks of the season has me intrigued. I then love to see matchups against top teams in the different classifications. So this would be Corner Canyon versus Brighton on March 20. Judge has moved to 5A so seeing how they adjust will also be a storyline to follow. They are also heading to Southern California in April. I also love a good rivalry game, especially the Judge v. Juan Diego game that is played on St. Patrick’s Day! On the girls side, the same principles apply. The Skyridge girls are also heading to Southern California. Farmington is taking on Park City on March 21 and for rivalry games I love Brighton v. Olympus on May 6. I’m also trying to get to Southern Utah for a game or two!
Question: Which champions from last year have the best chance of repeating?
ULR: I love this question. On the boys side, Corner Canyon is the favorite until proven otherwise. Even if/when they lose in the regular season, I’d still consider them the favorite simply because it’s built into their culture to make (and win) the championship. The 5A race is tight at the top and the 4A champion from last year (Judge) moved up to 5A so there won’t be a repeat 4A champion. I think some circles will say Judge is a favorite for 5A though. For the girls, Bear River has the best chance to repeat as they have dominated 4A for awhile. Park City is just as dominate but typically has stiffer competition. Farmington graduated its core so I’d say that 6A is wide open. What do you think?
Boys Coaches Updates
David Sumner - Westlake
ULR: What is your lacrosse background?
Sumner: I grew up playing lacrosse just south of Washington, DC, in Stafford, VA. I went on to school at BYU-Idaho, where I coached and played intramural lacrosse. After a couple of seasons, I was asked by the Idaho Falls Lacrosse Club to come coach their high school team in 2018. I then moved down to Utah to attend the University of Utah for my Master’s Degree. My wife and I bought a house in Eagle Mountain, and I wanted to get involved with the local lacrosse scene. I coached 7th/8th grade for a season and then was asked to coach JV at the high school. I did that for two seasons before taking on this role as head of the lacrosse program at Westlake.
ULR: What are you looking forward to the most about coaching?
Sumner: What I’ve always loved most about coaching is the connection with the boys. Seeing them develop collectively as a team, individually as athletes, and as men. Also, I love the sport! That combination makes coaching highly fulfilling.
ULR: What else should people know about you?
Sumner: I’m married to my amazing wife of almost 10 years, Kylee. We have three kids, ages two, five, and seven. In my free time, I enjoy home projects, dirt biking, golfing, and spending time with my family. I work as a Senior Manager at SCA Health, in charge of contract negotiations with the company’s surgery centers.
Austin Doyle - Viewmont
ULR: What is your lacrosse background?
Doyle: I grew up in Bend, Oregon, where I played lacrosse all through high school at Bend Senior High. Funny enough, our new Defensive Coordinator at Viewmont this season, Jake Marcus, is an old teammate of mine from back home. He went on to play at Siena University and now lives here in Utah as well! When I moved to Utah, I initially coached at Green Canyon with Troy Oldham, who really inspired a lot of my coaching philosophy. After a season, falling back in love with the game, I left to play at UVU. After graduating from college, I helped out at Hillcrest last season, and now I’m super excited to step into a bigger role here at Viewmont.
ULR: What are you looking forward to the most about coaching?
Doyle: I’m really looking forward to helping the Viewmont program reach its full potential. I feel like I’m in a unique spot as a coach, where we really have all the pieces we need to be successful in all aspects of the game. Now it’s just about putting those pieces together. These kids have been putting in a lot of work this fall/winter, and I’m excited to see the players grow this season, especially our seniors. We have guys who are absolutely capable of playing at the next level, and even though we don’t have commitments right now, I’d love to help them get there.
ULR: What else should people know about you?
Doyle: Outside of lacrosse, I love to rock climb, ice climb, bike and ski! My wife and dog and I take every chance we can to get up the canyons!
Warren Wright - Cedar Valley
ULR: What is your lacrosse background?
Wright: I have over 20 plus years of lacrosse as a player and coach. I played for American Fork and BYU and recently graduated from college this past spring.
ULR: What are you looking forward to the most about coaching?
Wright: Of course I’m excited and look forward to being a head coach at such a young age but that isn’t my priority. My priority is to know each and every single one of my players and build a personal relationship with them and install the culture I want for this team. One of the biggest blessings I’ve had with playing the sport of lacrosse is being on teams with a winning culture/expectation from Coach Matheny at American Fork and Coach Schneck at BYU. This is done with love for the game, the players, and community. I need to earn the respect from the lacrosse community of Eagle Mountain or else nothing gets done.
ULR: What else should people know about you?
Wright: I am intentional and personal in the way I carry myself. Currently I work in real estate and am pursuing a masters from the University of Utah in their Business School. I love the outdoors and ski across the state of Utah and throughout the west coast. Though I am no longer a college athlete, I still have a very competitive side of me. I’ll be doing another Ironman this summer and enjoy the process of getting better every day and the refinement of discipline this gives me. I am a first-generation lacrosse player. My parents raised me to be a student first and I am forever grateful for that mindset but though not from a traditional sports family, playing lacrosse from such an early age gave me such an appreciation for this sport in Utah with very limited resources at the time. I do not take the gift that this sport has grown so much within recent years throughout the state for granted. With it now being sanctioned, I will teach my players to be grateful for all the support we have from the families, faculty, and community. Go Aviators!
Girls Coaches Updates
Jocelyn Jensen - Farmington
ULR: What is your lacrosse background?
Jensen: I started playing lacrosse at Fremont High School and played since I was a sophomore and played all 3 years of high school! After I graduated high school, I was interested in coaching and was picked up by Farmington High School, and I immediately loved it! When I was 19, I was asked to step up and take over the team for the 2025-26 season and said yes! I have now coached at Farmington for almost 3 season and I have loved every second of coaching at Farmington. The girls I coach are truly amazing, and I am so lucky to say I’m their coach!
ULR: What are you looking forward to the most about coaching?
Jensen: I always look forward to making more memories and watching my girls dominate on and off the field! My girls are so funny and so full of life they are always such a joy to be around, but they also know when it’s time to be serious and get the job done!
URL: What else should people know about you?
Jensen: My family and I own a restaurant in Bear Lake that’s only open in the summer, and I do all the baking and really enjoy that, and after we close up for the summer, I put my focus back on lacrosse!
Brooklyn Perry - Maple Mountain
ULR: What is your lacrosse background?
Perry: I decided to play lacrosse in my junior year of high school and played on the Varsity team both my junior and senior years. After high school, I attended BYU and played on BYU’s lacrosse team during the fall season before going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Once returning home, I decided that I wanted to start coaching. Last season I was the assistant varsity coach, and now this year I am the head coach!
ULR: What are you looking forward to the most about coaching?
Perry: I am so excited for this upcoming season! Our girls have so much talent and I am so excited to see them use and improve upon this talent throughout the upcoming spring season. I’m also looking forward to helping the girls on the team set goals and watch them achieve their goals throughout the season! This is going to be a highlight for me!
URL: What else should people know about you?
Perry: I love the outdoors! Hiking, boating, rock climbing, and running are a few of my favorites! I love keeping my body as active as I can. I grew up as the oldest of 5 kids in Utah. I’ve really enjoyed being able to stay local to keep coaching where I grew up. Currently, I am studying at BYU to get my bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Wellness, and along with this, I am attending Weber State University and am currently in their ultrasound program and am working towards my bachelor’s in Radiographic Sciences. After completion of this program, I plan to work as a cardiac sonographer.
Addison England - Highland
ULR: What is your lacrosse background?
England: I started playing lacrosse at Brighton High School and played all four years. I began as a defender, but quickly moved to midfield, then draw. I went on to play DIII collegiate lacrosse at Southern Virginia University. During my summers in Utah, I coached for Elevate, a club team I had previously played for. I stayed at SVU for 3 years and graduated, then moved back home to Utah. Once I came home, I continued to coach summers and winters with Elevate, and also became an assistant coach at Alta High School. I was interim head coach for a time there while the head coach was on leave. Now, I am the head coach at Highland High School and couldn’t be more excited for this new challenge!
ULR: What are you looking forward to the most about coaching?
England: I really look forward to watching players grow. That is my absolute favorite part of coaching. Watching them begin to understand new concepts is the best, and once it finally clicks and translates to the field, there is nothing more rewarding! I hope to make an impact on my players both on and off the field, and I look forward to making those connections. I have a lot to learn, and I am ready to take it on.
URL: What else should people know about you?
England: I come from a big, loud family of all boys! I was raised here in Utah and I love it. I met my partner at school in Virginia, and we are now engaged and planning a wedding for July 2026! We have a dog and two cats together. I LOVE cats - I always thought I was a dog person, but that has definitely changed, haha. Outside of lacrosse, I love to climb! My fiancée and I got into climbing this past winter, and I’ve had so much fun. She prefers top rope, but I prefer bouldering. I hope to continue to get better! Career-wise, I graduated in psychology and was planning on becoming an LCSW, but I am changing paths and looking into physical therapy school. And of course, staying in the lacrosse world!
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are putting together sponsor packages for the upcoming season and will start reaching out to businesses soon. To register interest in sponsorships, please fill out this form.
Video & Photo Packages
Video and Photo Media packages will be back this year! Be on the lookout for details on our Instagram soon.
Thanks for reading, that’s all for this week. Don’t forget to like and share!