Dominating region and state titles

Bob McLellan/ShootingStar Photography

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SALT LAKE CITY — State championship titles in various sports were earned by all three Utah Catholic high schools during the 2011-2012 school year.

The Juan Diego Catholic High School lacrosse team won the first 3A state championship title for the school, while Soaring Eagle sophomore Brendan Kempin took the number one singles 3A state championship in tennis. Senior Kelsey Leeson placed third in the 2012 UHSAA 3A Swimming State Championship, winning individual gold medals in the 50 free and 100 butterfly; she also was a member of the 200 and 400 free relays, which each set a state record on their way to state championships. Other relay members were Megan Stephanz, Erin Testone and Alaina Finley.

In Ogden, Saint Joseph Catholic High School girls’ tennis and basketball teams won the region and state championships, with senior Katie Berry being named the state’s most valuable player in basketball. Seniors Ivee Barton and Natalie Behnken were the state champion doubles team in tennis.

Meanwhile, Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s girls swimming team won its ninth UHSAA 3A state title in 10 years. Girls tennis earned the 3A state title. Boys hockey claimed the Utah High School Hockey State Championship. In track and field, senior Christian Weidle set school records at both the 100 and 200 distances and was the individual state champion in the 200.

Judge Memorial

"This senior group of athletes has been together for a long time, playing in youth leagues and then coming up through Judge," said Dan Quinn, athletic director. "The girls taking state in tennis was a great start for us in the fall, and Matt Finnigan has run a phenomenal program in swimming, winning a state title nine out of the last 10 years."

Athletic award recipients for Judge were: Knights of Columbus/Yerkovich Award for Boys’ Basketball, Vincent Mancini; Knights of Columbus/Moran Award for Football, John Barnett; Knights of Columbus/Marjorie Pierce Award for Outstanding Female Athlete, Danielle Gaztambide; Frank Klekas Award for Most Outstanding Male Athlete, J. Miles Ellis; Bulldog of the Year award, Matthew Crispo; Demi Candelaria "Shining Star" award 2011-2012, Hannah Brodke, girls’ soccer and Sydney Richards, girls’ basketball; Demi Candelaria Scholarship Award 2012-13, Adanna Foley, girls basketball and Jacqueline Sliwinski, girls soccer.

Judge Memorial senior Matt Hirning was recognized as a United States Lacrosse Academic All-American. He also received the 2011-2012 Gary Barber Award for Most Valuable Player in lacrosse. Senior Noah Hughes was chosen to participate in the UHSAA 3A Baseball All-Star game. He also received the 2011-2012 Gary Barber Award for Most Valuable Player in baseball.

The Bulldogs had six final four state appearances in girls’ tennis, girls’ basketball, hockey, boys’ swimming, girls’ swimming and boys’ lacrosse. There were Region XI championships in girls’ tennis, girls’ volleyball, girls’ swimming and boys’ basketball.

Judge claimed 11 individual state champions and 10 individual state runners-up in athletics, 24 individual Region XI athletic champions and four student-athletes named region/league MVP’s: Miles Ellis, senior, defensive MVP for Region 10 football; Jacob Gondrezick, senior, MVP for Region 10 boys’ basketball; Wilson Lamb, senior, Utah High School Hockey’s "Robinson MVP-North" and Kailie Quinn, sophomore, MVP for Region 10 girls’ basketball.

Senior Sydney Richards was one of five girls’ basketball players in Utah nominated for the McDonald’s All-American game. Sophomore girls’ basketball player Kalie Quinn was named Utah Blaze "Ironman of the Week" and nominated for "Ironman of the Year" award.

Judge Memorial athletes named "Prep of the Week" were Joe Cremer, Jacob Gondrezick and Alex Mancini for boys’ basketball; Kailie Quinn, girls’ basketball; and Christian Weidle, football.

Over 50 Bulldog All-State scholar athletes were named to first team, second team and honorable mention for fall and winter sports.

Juan Diego

"We have had so much success that the bar for Juan Diego athletics is set pretty high," said Chris Long, Juan Diego athletic director. "The success of our programs is due to a number of factors, including the work ethic of our students and coaches, the expertise and passion of our coaches, and our parents and staff – it’s a group effort and we expect excellence in all things."

Twelve Soaring Eagle athletes have signed scholarships to play collegiately and 15 were Academic All-State athletes. Two students were named Academic All-State in two sports: Courtney May in cross-country and track and A.J. Barbiero in football and track.

In lacrosse, Luke Graney was recognized as a United States Lacrosse All-American and First Team All-Conference. Also First Team All-Conference were Tommy Maddox, Tyler Buck and Matt Jungemann.

The Juan Diego girls’ soccer team won its third in a row region championship, while the football team won its 10th straight region championship. The volleyball team also won the region championship.

Juan Diego senior Nick Smart and freshman Ryan Lowe both finished in the top five in state in golf. The drill team won the national competition in Florida, and the cheerleading squad won the national championship in California.

Leeson won nine individual swimming state championships in four years. On the boys’ side, Phillip Hojnacki was the state runner-up in the 100 free and the 50 free.

The girls’ basketball team won the region championship and the boys’ baseball team won their 12th straight region championship; they were the 3A state runner-up. The defending champion boys’ soccer team was the state runner-up.

St. Joseph

"Overall St. Joseph had an excellent year," said Alex Salvo, athletic director. "The results show the quality of our athletic program and coaches, which makes us very proud. One of the beauties of our school is we encourage the students to play more than one sport. The kids often play more than one sport in a season. The teachers, coaches and parents work together and that’s what makes us so successful."

This year, junior Jared Kenny finished second place in the state golf tournament and his team finished second in Region 17 and second in the state championship. Lyna Garcia took second place in track and field in the 3200 meter. Thirteen athletes were named Academic All-State.

The girls’ soccer team won the Region 14 championship and placed second in state. The girls’ volleyball team was Region 17 champions and took third place in state. The girls’ golf team won the Region 17 championship and finished third place in state. In track and field, the girls won the Region 17 championship and the boys finished in second place.

The boys advanced to the first round in state in baseball. The boys and girls won the Region 17 championship in cross country and finished third in state. The boys’ basketball team won third place in Region 17; the boys’ soccer team was co-champions of Region 14 and state runners-up.