The Utah High School National Rodeo Team has already done what no other team in the country has done — won three straight national titles. This week at the Wasatch County Fair Grounds hundreds of high school rodeo athletes will compete in hopes of earning state titles, as well as making the national team and becoming part of the attempt to win a fourth straight national title.

The top qualifiers in each event for the season will compete for the state championships, the chance to go to nationals, as well as thousands of dollars in scholarship money.

The rodeo competitions begin Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The schedule is the same for Thursday and Friday with the Wrangler Championships scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday. The top 10 in each event after three days will compete for state titles Saturday night.

Cow Cutting Championships will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The top four qualifiers for the season, including this week's Finals, will travel to Nationals in Farmington, N.M., July 19-25.

COACHING POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Taylorsville High School has two coaching positions open. The Warriors are looking for a head baseball coach, as well as a head track and/or cross country coach. Interested applicants can contact the high school at 801-646-5455 or Human Resources at Granite School District. Applications for the baseball job will be accepted until Friday, June 12, at 3 p.m. Applicants must have a current Utah teaching license. For the track/cross country opening, a teaching certificate is preferred.

SILVERWOLVES MOVING ON: While it may be difficult for high school athletes to juggle more than one sport or activity, seven Riverton seniors showed that it can be done — and it can be done well. Not only did the teams these girls were involved with have success, but all seven of the seniors on the basketball team will have the opportunity to play sports in college.

Dani Lockhart and Alle Finch will play basketball for Snow College next season, while Shelby Ostler will play soccer for Southern Utah University. Angie Smith will play both soccer and basketball at Aurora University of Illinois, and Chelsea Sorensen will play volleyball for Western Wyoming Junior College.

Bri Campbell is the only senior still undecided on where and what to play and finished the year by winning the 5A state high jump championship and earning Academic All-State honors.

"It's hard to share, but girls who participate in more than one sport really can help your program," said Riverton head basketball coach Ron Ence, who guided the squad to the best finish (second-place) in school history for the girls basketball program.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE BEETDIGGERS: Jordan head boys basketball coach Rob Geertsen offered any player who could maintain a 4.0 for the year a dinner at Bonsai. Five players met that challenge and they are: Ryan Nemelka, Tanner Barlow, Colton Burgon, Beau Kallas, and Bill McConnell. Two other players achieved a 3.9 GPA for the year — Nate Monson and Chase Armstrong. The team's cumulative GPA was an impressive 3.6 for the year.

E-MAIL: adonaldson@desnews.com