Presenting the 2026 All-American, Academic All-American, Coach of the Year and Photo of the Year Awards
Plus, Bob Scott/Jackie Pitts, Blake Strebel and more!
Welcome in lacrosse fans! I hope your summer has been off to a great start and you’re doing well. It took me a bit to compile this because we had some really great photos submitted and I wanted to give them their due! You can see the Photo of the Year below. But first, I reached out to each coach of the All-Americans to get their perspective on the winner from their team. You’ll see those below as well. I also went through the fan survey results so thank you to all those who contributed. You’ll see some notes about it at the very end of this email.
And last, but not least, this is the last call to submit someone for the Utah Lacrosse Hall of Fame for this year. Submit a nomination here.
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Boys
All-American
Beckham Horoba, Attack, Alta, 2027
Horoba finished the year with 47 goals and 61 assists. The highlight of the season was 3 goals and 4 assists against Brighton and 3 goals, 3 assists against Corner Canyon in the regular season matchups.
“Beckham was the driving force behind our offense this season and has played an instrumental role in the success of our team,” said Alta Head Coach Brandon Horoba. “His impact goes far beyond the statistics, although his production alone speaks volumes. At the same time, he is one of the first players to encourage and support his teammates when they need confidence or guidance. His ability to balance accountability with genuine care for the people around him has made him one of the most respected leaders on our team.”
Carter Terry, Attack, Bountiful, 2026
Terry just looks like a lacrosse player. He was very impressive this year and finished his career with 158 goals and 90 assists for a 6.1 points per game average. Terry had 9 goals and 3 assists against East in the regular season and 4 goals, 7 assists against Davis.
“Carter is a leader on and off the field,” said Bountiful Head Coach Peter Jordan. “He suffered a torn ACL in the first half of our second game of his Junior season. He didn’t spend a single second feeling bad for himself. He immediately found new ways to make an impact on our team while he battled through recovery. Coming into the season he was constantly organizing player practices while waiting to be fully cleared for play. More importantly his ‘no quit’ mentally was contagious and was a major reason for our success this season.”
Zachary Anderson, Midfield, Brighton, 2027
Anderson finished the season with 53 goals and 16 assists and 64 ground balls. The shifty midfielder was key to the playoff run of the Bengals including 5 goals and 3 assists against Alta in the semifinals. Anderson has committed to RPI after he returns for his senior season next year.
“Zac is a true two‑way midfielder who excels on both sides of the ball,” said Brighton Head Coach Chris O’Donnell. “Offensively, he is an initiator and a pure goal scorer. He wins his matchup more often than not, and at times drew so much attention that teams chose to shut him off entirely. Defensively, Zac led our team in ground balls (64) and finished third in caused turnovers (28) remarkable numbers for a midfielder. His ability to take the ball away, push transition, and finish on the other end made him one of the toughest matchups anywhere on the field. Zac’s combination of athleticism, toughness, and competitiveness allowed him to impact the game in every phase. He embodies what a complete midfielder looks like.”
Gabriel Carrera, Attack, Brighton, 2026
Carrera finished his career at Brighton with 210 goals, 116 assists (326 career points), 178 ground balls, and 77 caused turnovers which all came while playing attack. Carrera had three 8-point games this year. Two against Skyline (both 3 goals and 5 assists) and one in the semifinals against Alta where he had 6 goals and 2 assists. Carrera is headed to Stony Brook this fall.
“Gabe’s numbers alone speak volumes, but they still don’t capture the full picture of who he became as a player,” said O’Donnell. “Gabe is one of the most complete players I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching. He began his career as a pure scorer and graduated as a true playmaker and distributor. He never forced the issue; he let the game come to him. But when we needed someone to take over, Gabe had the rare ability to elevate the entire team and seize the moment.”
Pierson DeGracie, Attack, Corner Canyon, 2027
DeGracie finished the season with 71 goals and 109 points and a career total of 202 points as just a junior. DeGracie had two, 10-point games.
“Pierson really stepped into his own this year,” said Corner Canyon Head Coach Jeff King. “He has a combination of size and speed that makes him hard to cover for opposing defenses. He is also a great rider with the ability to create goals for us in that phase of the game. When we needed a goal, DeGracie stepped up for us.”
Maddox Green, LSM, Corner Canyon, 2028
Green made his mark on the season on both ends of the field. On defense, he finished with 46 takeaways and offensively had 14 goals and 11 assists.
“Maddox made an immediate impact when he moved to LSM,” said King. “He is tenacious on ground balls and spearheaded our fast breaks. He also played on our man-up at times and has a rocket shot with his long stick.”
JT Rigby, Attack, Mountain Ridge, 2026
Rigby led the state in goals (89) and points (132) and finished with a career point total of 271. Rigby will continue his lacrosse career at the University of Utah after a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rigby also won the Jeffrey Glass Robinson League MVP in hockey this year.
“I feel like JT took his game to another level this year and became more of a complete player,” said Mountain Ridge Head Coach Justin Rigby. “JT was also willing to play any role he needed to help the team reach our goals, which included playing LSM in some games. He also opened up space for other players, allowing them to have breakout years, and mentorship to younger players who grew and developed over the season. JT was one of those unique and special leaders this year who pushed our team to its first ever semi-final appearance.”
Dallas Mattena, FOS, Judge Memorial, 2026
Entering high school, Mattena played defense but stepped up to become a dedicated faceoff specialist. Mattena, a four-year starter, continued to improve each year as his career played out. He is the all-time leader in faceoff wins (788), faceoff attempts (1,228), groundballs (502) and win percentage (64.2%) in Judge history. Mattena finished this season winning 192 of 269 for a win percentage of 71.4%.
“Without Dallas doing the dirty work on the ground, the Bulldogs would never have been able to accomplish all the wins (52) and championships (2) it has accumulated over the past 4 years,” said Judge Head Coach Jeff Brzoska. “Even though he was sidelined for 6 games this year, Dallas remained a great teammate working with other players getting them ready at his position for the remainder of the season. In what would be our final game of the year Dallas decided to give it a shot against Brighton and get back to his job at the “x” with limited range of motion and pain on every clamp but still found a way to go 59% on 22 attempts and scored a goal as we almost pulled off the upset.”
Wade Birch, Midfield, Park City, 2026
Birch was the steady presence for the Miners this season as he notched 34 goals and 27 assists. He finished his career with 120 points, was a 2-time captain and will take his talents to Wake Forest.
“Wade is one of our all time special players,” said Park City Head Coach Mike Persky. “He is fast, smart, and physically beyond his size. He is a 100% effort 100% of the time. He is one of those rare players that makes everyone around him better through his unselfish commitment to win. I truly believe he is one of the best all round players in Utah.”
Tommy Davis, SSDM, Park City, 2026
The SSDM is the unsung hero of any lacrosse team, mainly because their impact isn’t as apparent on the score sheet. For Davis, he finished the season with 29 takeaways, 60 groundballs, 4 goals and 7 assists.
“Tommy is tough as nails,” said Persky. “He just didn’t get beat all year. He has great footwork and is a great communicator. Tommy is technically rock solid and had the ability to make plays, including open field hits that changed games.”
Cabell Buechner, Midfield, Skyridge, 2026
Buechner led the Falcons in points with 89 which came from 50 goals and 39 assists. In his four-year career, Buchner finished with 161 goals and 117 assists for 278 total points and will continue his playing career at Washington & Lee.
“He’s a very talented, physical and well conditioned player who can play nearly any position on the field,” said Skyridge Head Coach Bart Butterfield. “He’s a strong defender with a high number of takeaways and a ground ball magnet with a relentless mentality that makes him a strong presence in any position. Offensively he is one of the state’s most prolific scorers and a great off ball player with good field vision. Cabell is an incredible leader on and off the field and he is a big part of the culture that we have established at Skyridge.”
Academic All-American
Each of these players had a GPA of 3.83 or higher. Four had a 4.0. The average ACT score was 31.8 and an average GPA of 3.965.
Alexander West, Defense, Brighton, 2026
Hayden Reeder, Attack, Green Canyon, 2026
Kai Fairbanks, LSM, Juan Diego, 2027
Dylan Krannich, Defense, Judge Memorial, 2026
Frederick Gowski, Midfield, Judge Memorial, 2026
Chase Taylor, Midfield, Olympus, 2026
Wade Birch, Midfield, Park City, 2026
Parker Jones, Midfield, Park City, 2026
Wyatt Williamson, LSM, Park City, 2026
Cabell Buechner, Midfield, Skyridge, 2026
Dylan Forsgren, Attack, Skyridge, 2026
Bob Scott Award
The Bob Scott Award is given to high school seniors who go above and beyond in service to their team, school, and community. These athletes, who truly honor the game of lacrosse, are invested in the development of the game in their town and are exemplary teammates. In addition, they must be outstanding students with high academic achievement and serve as role models within their school community.
Maddox Comey, Judge Memorial, 2026
Blake Strebel Award
The Blake Strebel Memorial Award is given by the Utah High School Boys Head Coaches to a deserving Senior who has demonstrated academic excellence in the classroom, leadership abilities, school and community involvement over and above the lacrosse field and overall superior personal characteristics.
Wyatt Williamson, Park City, 2026
Coach of the Year
Michael Persky, Park City
Additional Awards
NILCA Utah Player of the Year - Gabe Carrera, Brighton
NILCA Coach of the Year - Will Manny, Waterford
NILCA Utah Man of the Year - Tim Haslam, Utah Lax Report
Daily Herald All-Valley Boys Team
Daily Herald Boys Lacrosse Valley Player of the Year - Cabell Beuchner
(I’ll update this online as more are released)
Elevate Lacrosse is Utah’s leading development AND elite girls’ and boys’ lacrosse program since 2012. Learn more at utahelevate.com.
Girls
All-American
Sophie Nielsen, Midfield, Brighton, 2026
Nielsen fits the All-American bill in every aspect, scoring 109 goals this season and finishing with 92 draw controls. She holds the school record for scoring in girls lacrosse and basketball.
Nielsen is headed to Colorado Mesa to play basketball for the Mavericks.
“I’ve coached for 14 years and have been lucky to coach several D1 players and Sophie is easily the most well-rounded, dynamic, and complete athlete of them all – there are no holes in her game,” said Brighton Head Coach Melissa Nash. “She plays with her whole heart and never settles – always wanting more from her game. She has carried our strong Brighton team for 4 years and has left a huge legacy at Brighton.”
Elise Southworth, Midfield, Copper Hills, 2026
Southworth finished her career with 128 goals and 39 assists. This year, the senior had 69 goals and 21 assists for 90 total points. She also won 53.4% of draws taken for the Grizzlies.
“Elise is hands down the best two-way midfielder in the state of Utah,” said Copper Hills Head Coach Maycie Gerber. “She is gritty, confident, hard working, smart, and kind. She is a great leader on and off the field, and has been an on-the-field coach for Copper Hills. Her field IQ is incredibly high. She has been known to pass the ball to a new player, and then when that player drops it Elise hustles from across the field to get it back, and then passes it right back to that same teammate to give her another chance. She holds every stat record for Copper Hills High School, and is the most humble player on the field.”
Lucy Rigby, Attack, Mountain Ridge, 2028
Rigby had another great season, adding to a successful freshman campaign last year. The sophomore scored 96 goals and dished 15 assists. Rigby had 9 goals against Fremont and Westview. Her best game was against American Fork where she had 8 goals and 3 assists.
“Lucy has been a leader since she came to our program last year,” said Mountain Ridge Head Coach Angie Brescia. “She is driven, humble, hard working, kind and a threat on the field. She shows up early to practice or on off days to do extra conditioning, pass and shoot. She is completely committed to a growth mindset and continues to push herself and her teammates on and off the field.”
Ryann Hatch, Midfield, Orem, 2026
Hatch led the state in goals in the regular season and tallied an impressive 119 on the year. She also had 13 assists and averaged 6.9 points per game and broke the state record for career goals.
“Ryann is an all-around amazing lacrosse player,” said Orem Head Coach Jessica Christiansen. “I have seen her play every position on the field, except goalie, and she can do them all proficiently. She is very ambitious and goal oriented. She can give very good advice and direction to the newer players as well. Ryann has acute field IQ and can easily assess and understand what the other team is doing. This helps her react and change course at game speed to counter their plays.”
Coco Crawford, Midfield, Park City, 2026
Crawford finished the 2026 season with 62 goals and 32 assists. She also won 64.9% of draws taken. The trusty senior finished her career at Park City having played 78 games, scoring 181 goals, notching 54 assists and totaling 61.8% draws won having taken 498 draws.
Crawford will head to Florida Southern this fall to play college lacrosse.
“What separates Coco is her passion for the game,” said Park City Head Coach Adam Ghitelman. “She competes with intensity, toughness, and confidence every single possession. Whether she’s creating offense, controlling the midfield, or inspiring teammates with her energy, she plays the game the right way: selfless, fearless, and driven to win.”
McKinsey Darling, Goalie, Park City, 2028
Darling, who is one of the top sophomores in the state, finished the season with a 62.2% save percentage. She made 138 saves and even scored 2 goals! She tallied double-digit saves against Riverton, Mira Costa, Mountain Ridge, Olympus, Hillcrest and Bishop’s.
When not playing lacrosse, Darling is coaching in the Park City youth leagues and volunteering with Hat Trick Lacrosse to help grow the game.
“What makes McKinsey especially impressive is her composure and maturity in goal at such a young age,” said Ghitelman. “She combines quick reaction ability, confidence under pressure, strong communication, and leadership from the cage. As one of the top young goalkeepers in Utah’s 2028 class, she has already become a major part of Park City’s defensive identity and championship success.”
Natalia Szwajkun, Attack, Park City, 2028
Szwajkun tallied 100 goals and 16 assists for the Miners this year. On top of that, she shined in the playoffs, scoring 22 goals including 8 in the 5A championship game.
“What makes Natalia especially impressive is how early she has developed into a difference-maker,” said Ghitelman. “She combines elite finishing ability, high lacrosse IQ, and relentless competitiveness with the confidence to perform in championship moments.”
Maggie Bird, Midfield, Riverton, 2026
Bird finished her career with 141 goals and 112 assists for 253 points. This year, the senior had 42 goals and 46 assists including the game-winning goal in the 6A championship game.
Bird will head to Grand Valley State in the fall to play lacrosse.
“Maggie has been a huge contributor to Riverton Lacrosse since her freshman year,” said Riverton Head Coach Hannah Kelleher. “Maggie is a solid all-around player who impacts every area of the field. She excels in all three phases of the game and contributes far beyond impressive attacking statistics. In addition to her offensive production, she consistently posts outstanding defensive numbers and plays a critical role in the midfield. She is essential on the draw, both securing possessions and creating opportunities off the circle.”
Paisley Young, Midfield, Riverton, 2026
Young had an impressive 2026 campaign with 61 goals and 15 assists. She scored 103 goals and notched 27 assists in her career at Riverton. She also won 61.7% of draws taken this year.
“Paisley is one of the most consistent and reliable players on our team,” said Kelleher. “As a coaching staff, we know we can count on her whenever a big play needs to be made. Beyond her performance on the field, Paisley possesses one of the strongest work ethics I have seen. Once she sets a goal, nothing stands in her way. She is not only an outstanding lacrosse player, but also an exceptional teammate who leads by example and holds those around her accountable.”
Summer Buechner, Midfield, Skyridge, 2028
Buechner had an impressive 75 goals this season, but even more impressive is the 99 assists for a state-leading 174 points, putting her on pace to break several state records. The sophomore had 4 goals and 7 assists against Huntington Beach and 13 points against Lone Peak in the 6A semifinals. Oh, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, Buechner took the majority of the draws for Skyridge, winning 72.2% on the season.
“Summer is a wizard with her stick and an all-around dominant player,” said Skyridge Head Coach Michelle Beuchner. “She set the state on fire in her freshman year and has somehow managed to outdo herself in year two, as she leads the team in every statistic except goals because she is a pass-first player. Anyone who has played with or against Summer knows that she is a rare talent not only in the state of Utah, but nationally. She directs traffic and makes her teammates better with her leadership and passing skills.”
Lily Henderson, Midfield, West Jordan, 2026
Henderson finished the year with 92 goals and 60 assists and was one of three players who have over 150 points. She also controlled 151 draws. Henderson totaled 273 goals and 136 assists in her four year career.
“Lily is a once in a lifetime athlete,” said West Jordan Head Coach Cliff Tomlinson. “While she is undoubtedly the best player on the field, you would never know it from her demeanor. She is humble, resilient, and carries a quiet confidence that never crosses into showboating. I have no doubt she will find success in every aspect of life.”
Academic All-American
Courtney Macfarlane, Midfield, Provo, 2026
Anna Jaussi, Attack, Provo, 2026
Sophie Nielsen, Midfield, Brighton, 2026
Kennedy Norton, Goalie, Brighton, 2026
Emery Gallegos, Defense, Brighton, 2026
Sophia Mondschein, Midfield, Park City, 2027
Sarah Larsen, Midfield, Northridge, 2026
Norah Lisonbee, Midfield, Lone Peak, 2026
Abigail Hoffman, Defense, Clearfield, 2026
Ashlyn Atkin, Midfield, Lehi, 2026
Lana Shallenberger, Defense, Wasatch, 2026
Jackie Pitts
The Jackie Pitts Award is given to high school seniors who go above and beyond in service to their team, school, and community. These athletes, who truly honor the game of lacrosse, are invested in the development of the game in their town and are exemplary teammates. In addition, they must be outstanding students with high academic achievement and serve as role models within their school community.
Cameron Gomez, Defense, Brighton, 2026
Coach of the Year
Hannah Kelleher, Riverton
Additional Awards
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2026 Photo of the Year
I had no expectations when we announced the Photo of the Year contest but the submissions this year were fantastic. There were dozens of really great photos that captured the heart and essence of the game. We had 5 judges who looked at each photo and then submitted their votes. Here are the winners!
Student Division
First Place: Juan-Diego Camarena Widdup
From the judges: Excellent framing with this photo showing the emotion from the post score celebration of the two players in focus, and the out of focus player celebrating. Great coloring as well. Amazing storytelling and composition; a very technically sound photo that shows the spirit of the game both in celebration and sorrow. Impactful work with a great narrative.
Second Place: Luke Denison (Westminster in the rain)
From the judges: Alfed Stieglitz (godfather of fine art photography) often advocated that photographers should go out into inclement weather more. Capturing the rain added a nice layer to this image to compliment the great timing capturing this players emotion. Great shot showing the emotion from the player. The true to life color and the added depth with the rain make it a great all around photo.
Third Place (tie): Max Clapham (Farmington helmet) & Juan-Diego Camarena Widdup (Provo Boys v. Timpanaogos)
Farmington helmet from the judges: Powerful and impactful imagery. This photo shows the quiet team moments while also focusing on the team brand. Lacrosse is a sport that cannot be played as a one man show and this image tells that story.
Provo v. Timpanogos from the judges: Great framing of the photo with both players being in the lower half of the photo. The colors seem true to life and, and has great action with the defender making contact with his pole on the offensive player protecting his pole/ball.
Honorable Mention: Juan-Diego Camarena Widdup (Provo Girls Celebration, Provo Girls Sunset), Max Clapham (Farmington warmup), Kaitlyn Jaussi (Provo Girls Celebration), Walker Reid (Corner Canyon finger point).
Adult Division
First Place: Jordan Lacey (West Field faceoff)
From the judges: Great shot with the player on the ground looking at the ball while the other has not noticed yet that the ball is out. Framed and colored well. The faceoff is one of the most unique plays in lacrosse and brings out effort in a very unique way. This photo does a great job of demonstrating that while aesthetically pleasing.
Second Place (tie): Christy Marshall (Maple Mountain celebration) & Ron Hill (Alta diving defense)
Maple Mountain celebration from the judges: Good composition showing the emotional celebration with the additional players running in and the scoreboard showing goal in the background.
Alta diving defense from the judges: Absolute perfect timing capturing this example of complete effort. Also, a nice formally balanced image.
Third Place (tie): Jordan Lacey (West Field shot) & Ron Hill (Bear River team shot)
West Field shot from the judges: This is a great action shot that captures the tight spaces that it takes to score a goal. The ball is in a perfect spot in frame.
Bear River team shot from the judges: An image that truly captures a story. While I am not sure if this team is celebrating or not, you can tell that these girls are going to support one another no matter what. This is what the spirit of the game is all about. Effective storytelling and on theme.
Honorable Mention: Bobbi Erickson (West Field v. Weber faceoff), Ron Hill (Brighton turf spray), Ron Hill (Bear River face), Oliver DelPouys (Judge Girls), Jeff Edwards (East Goalie Leap)
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Survey Results
Thank you to all those who filled out the form. We’ll do one again next year! Here are some things I found interesting in the responses.
What is one thing you would change about lacrosse in Utah if you could?
Officiating - As you can imagine, most feedback revolved around officiating. People want more consistency between officials game to game in both boys and girls games. I will say that I know the officials do have training systems in place and also look at the feedback loops that are in place. I will also say, we need more refs. I don’t think it’s a secret, but there needs to be more officials joining the ranks every year. It’s very possible that if we don’t, seasons will be shortened. I do think that as officials become more consistent, hopefully parents and coaches won’t yell at them as much, but I do think it’s a joint effort to improve officiating overall.
I reached out to a long time friend who is an official to get his stance. He said, “Coaches and fans often exhibit a contradiction by demanding strict player safety for their offensive players while advocating for decaptitatingly aggressive play on defense. This duality reflects a cognitive dissonance where the focus on player welfare shifts based on team possession (and makes it very easy for officials to dismiss any other requests from them). This seems to be worse at the youth level where we lose a lot of officials due to coach, fan, and sometimes player behavior. We need to strengthen that officiating pipeline (and we've had several people flip between coaching and officiating based on their career demands - let's normalize this). Also a great part time job for players at the level above (HS players reffing youth, college players reffing HS when not at practice or games, Masters League for all levels, etc etc).”
Parent & Sideline Behavior - There were several responses that touched on parents yelling from the stands and general sideline behavior. Let’s keep things in perspective!
High School Playoff Structure - Many people wanted to tweak the RPI and change the overall playoff structure. I tend to agree that a tweak in the RPI would be a good thing. I’m on the fence about whether to have a ‘most everyone makes the playoff’ type bracket or not. On one hand, it does extend the season for more players/coaches/teams which means there is more lacrosse played. However, I also think limiting the bracket to 16 teams makes sense. What do you think?
Other - There were some other responses:
Add shot clocks to high school
Get rid the saying “wheels”
Get lacrosse going at all/most high schools in SLC (Murray not having a team is insane to me) but Kearns, Hunter, West, Taylorsville come to mind (could they start as a conglomerate). Eventually as statewide as feasible. When are Weber State and SLCC gonna have teams?
These are just a few of the highlights. I really do appreciate the feedback and will use it as we continue to improve the Utah Lax Report moving forward.
That’s it for this week! See you on the sidelines.