State lacrosse championship highlights spring sports season for Catholic high schools

Friday, May. 31, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Catholic Schools competed in a total of nine sports during the spring season. While there were some disappointments, each school had its shining moments, such as a state lacrosse title for Judge Memorial Catholic High School and a second-place state finish in girls golf for Juan Diego CHS. In addition, several athletes took home individual state medals.

Judge took home a championship trophy May 24 after defeating Sky View 13-8 in the state final at Zions Bank Stadium. (The story will run in the June 7 Intermountain Catholic.)

The Bulldogs took second in region, finishing 5-3. They defeated Juan Diego 13-11 in the first round of state play, then lost to Payson 14-6 May 18 in the quarterfinals at Payson.

The Bulldogs finished first in region 5-0; overall 7-8. After a first-round bye at state, they defeated Delta 6-0 in second round, but lost 2-1 to the eventual state champs, Manti, in quarterfinals at Manti.

At the state championships, the Judge Memorial softball team lost 16-4 against Delta in the first round on May 4 at Emery.

In the first round of the state championships, the Bulldogs lost 3-0 to Morgan on May 10 at Utah Valley University. In the consolation bracket, Judge beat Dugway 2-0, then Freedom Prep 2-0. In the final round on May 11 at Utah Valley University, Judge beat Ben Lomond 2-1.

The Bulldogs came in eighth place at the state meet May 17-18 at Liberty Park with 11 points.

The Judge girls 4x100 team of Kiki Booker, junior, Isabel Fowler, senior, Hannah Flynn, senior, Lorraine Hyngstrom, junior, Lucy Becker, sophomore, Anne Thompson, freshman were region champs. At state May 18 at Brigham Young University, they took ninth place in the 4x100. Booker came in fifth in the 100m dash.

The Jayhawks finished first in region 7-0, and 11-5 overall.

“They are amazing players,” interim coach Kevin Flores said. “They went undefeated throughout the [regular] season.”

Returning state champions from last year Daniel Fontes, junior, Tomas Paraizo, senior, along with new addition Isiah Flores, senior, helped propel the Jayhawks into the state tournament where they performed well, Kevin Flores said.

At state, after a first-round bye, the Jayhawks routed Freedom Prep Academy 10-1, then went on to defeat Gunnison Valley 4-1 in the May 4 quarterfinals at home. In the semifinals May 9 at Zions Bank stadium, they lost narrowly to eventual state champions Rowland Hall 2-1, ending a 10-game winning streak.

Throughout the semifinal game the teams seemed evenly matched, Flores said. 

“We played really well,” he said, even though for that game “we were down our main goal scorer, Alex Hernandez, and one of our center backs, Bento Lima.” 

The team brought in Ammon Stanger, a sophomore, to play center back. 

“He did really well; he held his own,” Flores said. “We had to stretch our team a little further and play more connected due to the players we were missing.”

After the Winged Lions scored two goals in the first half, the second from an overtime penalty kick, St. Joseph battled to even the score. They scored a goal in the last three minutes of the second half, but could not catch up to their opponents before the final whistle.

In girls golf the Jayhawks came in fifth in 2A play May 14 at Glendale Golf Course.

The Soaring Eagle girls golf team had its best season ever, coach Jason Andersen said. The team took first in region, and six of its 12 players then went on to place second in 3A play (+102) in the state tournament May 8-9 at Meadowbrook Golf Course.

Senior Grayson Gagnon was named the top golfer in 3A and was an individual state medalist. 

“I’m very proud of them,” Andersen said. “it’s the best season we’ve had as a program, start to finish. Having an individual medalist is a great accomplishment. On the girl side, we’ve never had that as a school.”

Incoming freshman Sabrina Macias was 6th at state and made first team Allstate.

“She played really well to close the year out, and will be one of our anchors going into the next four years,” Andersen said.

Lacrosse (Boys) 

The Soaring Eagle finished second in region, going 6-2 and 12-5 overall. At state, Juan Diego beat Provo 20-1 in the first round. They were defeated 9-8 in the quarterfinals at home on May 18.

Lacrosse (Girls)

Juan Diego came in third in region (5-3) and finished 8-6 overall. At state they lost to Judge 13-11 in the first round.

The Soaring Eagle took second in region, finishing 5-1. At state after a first-round bye, they beat Ben Lomond 3-2 in the second round. On May 4, they lost to Ogden 5-0 in the quarterfinals at Ogden.

At state Juan Diego beat Delta 16-4 in the first round but fell to Providence Hall 23-8 in the second round May 9 at the Spanish Fork Softball Complex.

At the state meet on May 18 the Soaring Eagle boys placed eighth overall; combined, the team finished 12th.

In the 4x100 the boys placed seventh (44.43) with the team of Andrew Garzella, senior, Hobie Hodlmair, senior, Braylen Fail, sophomore, Maui Richmond, senior, Connor Orgill, senior, Tristan Williams, sophomore. 

In the sprint medley relay, the Soaring Eagle placed eighth (3:46.23) with the team of Garzella, Fail, Richmond, Orgill Sebastian Galindo-Ramirez, junior and Garang Deng, sophomore. 

In individual performances, Richmond came in second in the long jump (21-3.5) and fourth in the high jump (6-0.0). In the 400-meter dash, Orgill placed sixth (50.70) and senior Noah Tebbin took ninth place in the 3200m run (10:00:79).

Several of the girls did well in individual events. Isabella Pickers, senior, was third in the 400-meter dash (59.65) and seventh in 200-meter dash (26.45). In discus, sophomore Maile Matele placed fifth (102-10.0) with sophomore Ila Jacobs at eighth (97-0.0). Matale also finished fourth in shot put (34-2.75), while Jacobs placed seventh in javelin (97-0.0).

The Soaring Eagle took fourth in region. Advancing to state, they lost 3-0 to Salt Lake Academy in the first round on May 10 at Utah Valley University. In the consolation bracket they were defeated by Ben Lomond 2-0 in the first round.