Top-10 high school stories of 2008

1. Realignment

One of the hottest topics in Utah this year was realignment for the 2009 to 2013 school years.

It began on Jan. 24 with the Board of Trustees' first draft proposal, and concluded on June 10 with the finalization of classification and region affiliation for the entire state. During the five months in between dozens and dozens of schools appealed their situation at UHSAA hearings. Some made a difference, whereas others didn't. In the end, the UHSAA made decisions based almost entirely on enrollment numbers.

Some of the biggest changes were as follows: Cottonwood, Granger, Cyprus, Murray, West and Roy are being bumped up to 5A. Lehi, Timpanogos and Spanish Fork are dropping down to 4A, whereas Logan, Ogden and Uintah are moving up to 4A. Juab, Manti, American Leadership and Richfield are making the jump from 2A to 3A, whereas Waterford is moving down to 2A.

2. Timpview sets record

Timpview's football team did more than just win a third straight state football championship this season, it did so in record-setting fashion. The T-Birds extended their winning streak to 36 games this year, breaking the old record of 28 straight wins by Rich High School from 1994-1997.

Timpview's last loss was a 10-0 defeat to Lone Peak on Sept. 1, 2006.

With 14 more victories next year Timpview could reach the magic No. 50 plateau.

3. Big-time football recruits

College football programs around the country are taking notice of Utah's increasing high school football talent pool. This year in particular, the elite programs around the country have shown tremendous interest in talented football players like Cottonwood's John Martinez, Timpview's Xavier Su'a-Filo and Highland's Latu Heimuli, among many others. All three are still undecided, but Cottonwood's Isi Sofele recently committed to California.

Despite the out-of-state interest, many Utahns are opting to stay home. On the Rivals.com list of the top 15 recruits in Utah, nine of the 10 who've already committed are either going to BYU or Utah.

4. One of a kind

Judge Memorial High School distance runner Luke Puskedra, who is now a freshman at the University of Oregon, had himself quite a spring this year.