Skyline hoops star pleased to be winning again at UVSC

OREM — Utah Valley State sophomore power forward Ashley Grimm regularly taps into lessons learned at Skyline High.

Grimm won early and often as an Eagle, playing on four straight region-title teams and the Skyline squad that went 21-2 and made a run to the finals of the 2005 5A state tournament. Although her UVSC career began somewhat ignominiously with an 11-16 record last season, Grimm is once again enjoying the sweet smell of victory as the Wolverines are off to a school-record 9-2 start.

"Our success (this year) is a great feeling, because in high school I was a winning athlete," Grimm said. "When I came here (to UVSC), we weren't as successful (as at Skyline) so it was kind of disheartening. But this year's great."

Grimm's Skyline career was inextricably linked with that of Joh-Teena Filipe. Playing in the same frontcourt with Filipe, the 6-foot-1 All-State forward-center who now averages 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds for the University of Utah, prepared Grimm to team with UVSC sophomore center Robyn Fairbanks, the Canadian import who is currently third in the nation with 24.1 points per game. In a similar mold as Filipe, Fairbanks is the rare player who combines nimble footwork and a soft touch with a center's body.

"Playing with Robyn is so much fun," Grimm said. "She's an amazing athlete. You get her the ball, and she's going to score.

"In high school, Joh-Teena was well-known and similar to Robyn. So I've had a great opportunity, to be able to play with these kinds of players."

Grimm averaged 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds last year as one of four freshmen in UVSC's starting lineup. With a year of experience under their belts, Grimm, Fairbanks and fellow sophomores Hollie Beaman and Sandy Marvin have already propelled the Wolverines to wins this season over in-state foes Utah State and Southern Utah.

"Last year, coming in as a freshman you don't know what to expect," Grimm said. "You're not sure; you're not experienced or anything. Last year, we were still trying to get to know each other, how (we) played, knowing personnel and stuff.

"This year, I think the biggest thing is we're all comfortable with each other; it's definitely a different team, more fundamentally sound and everything. (The success) is a little bit surprising, but overall I think we've earned it."

Grimm, who committed to come to Utah Valley State after being recruited by the Air Force Academy, Southern Utah and several Ivy League schools, has now started 33 consecutive games for the Wolverines.

"I'm one of those backseat people that in a way kind of drives the team," Grimm said. "I'm not the leading scorer; I'm more of a role player. In a way, I think I jumpstart the team in certain areas. But as far as anything else goes, I just play."