Regional sports titles for Catholic high schools

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SALT LAKE CITY – Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions it imposed on athletes, Utah Catholic high schools had a strong winter season. Victories included firsts in girls wrestling and boys swimming.

Juan Diego Catholic High School

Wrestling

More than some other sports, pandemic conditions were particularly challenging for high school wrestling in Utah, coach Andrew Sedillo said.

“It was a tough year; COVID was kind of a pain for us,” Sedillo said. “We had a number of matches cancelled so we didn’t get quite the season and the work we were needing and looking forward to.”

Despite the challenges, all four JDCHS wrestlers did well. In girls wrestling in its first year as a UHSAA sanctioned sport, Belle Vargas (108 pounds) took state in her weight class, winning all four of her matches easily (her closest match was 10-0) and finishing the season with a 18-1 record. In the final match she won by fall over Brinley Crowley of Mountain Crest. This finished out a stellar season for Vargas (see story in the Jan. 29 Intermountain Catholic).

“To accomplish what she did was pretty amazing,” Sedillo said. “For the last three years, she always had to compete against the boys. She took her lumps the first couple of years and then last year she started wrestling much better, competing with the boys; and then this year, when they sanctioned the female side of it, she was just on it. She was just dominant; she just beat everybody.”

Sophomore Samantha Harker also qualified for state (140) took fifth place, finishing with a 9-5 record.

In boys wrestling, senior Brock Gutierrez (145) qualified for state where he won two matches and took fifth place, finishing with a 14-6 record. Senior Sione Vea also took fifth in his weight class (220), won two matches and finished with a 13-7 record. Konner Kegel (132) was an alternate at state but did not compete.

Boys basketball

The Soaring Eagle boys took the region championship for the seventh year in a row with a 12-0 record.

After a bye in the first round of state play, the boys defeated Pine View 72-39 at home Feb. 26. On March 1 at the Sevier Valley Center, they beat Snow Canyon 64-39. They saw a bitterly disappointing close finish 52-50 against Desert Hills in the semifinal game March 3 at SVC.

“We went back and forth, battling,” coach Drew Trost said. “The game was really close all along. We had a shot to win at the end and unfortunately we missed the shot.”

“It’s sad to see that group of guys go,” Trost said of the five seniors on the team, “because they put in a lot of hard work. We were hoping it was going to end with a championship but that doesn’t change anything. I’m still really proud of them; they’ve had an incredible career.”

Senior Talon Valdes scored 1,200 points during his years with the Soaring Eagle team, a third all-time record at Juan Diego.

“Scoring 1,000 points in high school is really hard,” Trost said. “So that’s a really big milestone.”

Valdez also set records in steals.

David Kinneberg, a senior who didn’t start playing varsity basketball until the second half of his junior year, improved “thanks to a lot of hard work in the gym, before practice, after practice, in the off-season,” Trost said. “He just got so much better and became really a terrific player, one of our best players this year, with 10 points a game, six rebounds and made some big baskets down the stretch.”

Trost said he is expecting great things next season especially from freshman Malick Diallo, who averaged 10 points per game this season.

“It was pretty incredible,” Trost said. “He’s just an incredible player, so we like to think that will give us definitely a good shot” along with some returning seniors. “The future is definitely still bright.”

The team finished the season 22-3 and 12-0 in region.

Girls basketball

After a first-round bye in the state playoffs, the girls beat Hurricane 37-33 at home on Feb. 26. In the quarterfinals at Sevier Valley Center on March 1, they were defeated 62-57 by Desert Hills.

“It was probably the best game I saw my girls play all year,” coach Ashlee McKray said. “We struggled with chemistry and playing together as a team, so it was one of the games where they did just that. Our bench was super-energetic and involved and it was one of the first times all year that they felt that connection too.”

Standout players included junior Mahinetea Tavanae, who “is just one that does everything for us,” McKray said. “She almost averages a triple-double; she just is an ultimate team player. She just makes people around her better.”

Another player who contributed significantly to the team was junior Kira Rhay.

“She is an ultimate competitor, and she brings up the skill level of everybody else because of that,” McKray said.

The Soaring Eagle came in first in Region 5 with a 11-1 record and finished the season 16-7 overall.

Swimming

At the state meet Feb. 12-13 at South Davis Recreation Center, in the 100 Yard butterfly senior Ethan McKenzie took fifth place. In the 50 Yard Freestyle junior Ethan Atzet took sixth place. He also came in ninth in the 100 Yard freestyle. In the 200 Yard Freestyle relay, the team of McKenzie, Atzet, sophomore Khristian Swick and freshman Charlie Gleason took seventh.

St. Joseph Catholic High School

Swimming

St. Joseph senior Blake Hanson qualified for the state meet Feb. 12-13 at South Davis Recreation Center. There he came in eighth in the 50 Yard Freestyle and ninth in the 100 Yard Butterfly.

Basketball

The Lady Jayhawks finished the season 7-10 overall; 4-5 in region. In state play, they Beat Monticello 40-39 in the first round Feb. 17 at home. They were defeated by Beaver, 69-18 in the second round Feb. 19 at Beaver.

Judge Memorial Catholic High School

Swimming

The Bulldog boys took home the state title while the girls team came in second (see story in the Feb. 26 Intermountain Catholic).

Girls basketball

The Lady Bulldogs finished the season 15-5 overall and 7-3 in region, coming in third in region. On Feb. 20, they beat San Juan 55-41 in the first round of the state tournament. They were defeated on Feb. 25 by Grantsville 58-46. They went on to play in the consolation bracket where they beat Delta 45-37. On Feb. 27 Judge defeated Richfield 41-38 to come in fifth.

“Overall, the season was a success,” coach Josh Pike said.

This season junior Teya Sidberry became the all-time leading scorer in Judge history and broke several school records including most points scored in a game (52), most points scored in a half (39) and most points in a quarter (19).

“She’s Top 10 in pretty much all categories in the state,” Pike said.

Boys basketball

The Bulldogs finished the season 14-9 overall; 7-3 in region, finishing second behind Grantsville. In the state tournament, they beat South Sevier 62-39, followed by a win against Manti 61-47. On Feb. 26, they lost to Juab 58-52 in the quarterfinals. In the consolation bracket, they lost to Grantsville  62-59 on Feb. 27 at the Sevier Valley Center.

“Overall, I was really pleased, mainly with the character of our team and how hard our kids worked and how quickly they embraced me as their new head coach,” said first-year coach Sanjin Kolovrat.

Senior Dom Burns broke a 48-year-old school record in scoring this season with almost 24 points per game.

“He was just Mr. Consistent,” Kolovrat said. “He was one of the hardest players to guard all year for anybody. He was phenomenal, one of the best players I’ve had the pleasure of coaching.”

This season Jace Holmes was tasked to guard all the big players, Kolovrat said. “At 6’1” he was a monster; he averaged almost 14 points and eight to nine rebounds a game. He just played much bigger than he actually is.”

Kolovrat is hoping for great things from freshman Aayden Saucedo next season.

“He stepped in and got comfortable early and was one of the 10 best shooters in 3A this year,” the coach said.