High school sports: Lone Peak's Brody Berry contending for a triple crown

HIGHLAND — Most athletes pass through high school hoping for just a single state championship.

A few make that dream a reality, and a small handful of others are lucky enough to win multiple championships.

But to win three state championships in a single year?

It's almost unheard of.

Unless, that is, you're Lone Peak's Brody Berry, who will be vying for his third state championship of this school year when the 5A state soccer playoffs begin this coming week.

The year started with Berry helping to secure the 5A state football championship for Lone Peak. He started at free safety while handling the kicking and punting duties. He then played an integral role starting at guard to help Lone Peak win its second straight state basketball title.

This spring, he's been on the soccer pitch, playing a key role to help his team exceed expectations and earn a spot in the 5A playoffs.

As one could imagine, competing in three straight sports for the duration of an entire school year is taxing. Berry admits to wearing down a bit, including battling through some ligament damage which keeps his ankles sore all the time.

So why do it?

"I just love to always be competing, and I think I'd get really bored if I wasn't playing," answered Berry. "Going home and just hanging out just sounds boring to me, so this way I always have something to do and I love all three sports that I play.

"I've loved them ever since I started playing them."

Like a lot of people, Berry started off playing soccer when he was barely old enough to walk. Basketball came next with Berry competing on the hardwood since the fourth grade before taking to the gridiron in the eighth grade.

To compete and excel at all three sports takes a lot of dedication — not just from Berry, but from his family as well. His father, Todd, describes the support as being expensive but well worth it.

"All the fundraising and everything else has taken a lot of time and money, but it's sure been fun watching Brody play like he has over the years," said Todd. "I knew early on that Brody had the type of personality that he'd want to compete. He had an older brother that he'd always be fighting with and pushing — he just doesn't like to lose, so we always knew he'd want to compete in sports."

Fortunately for Brody and his family, he's not only been able to compete — he's been able to compete at Lone Peak, whose basketball and now football and even soccer programs are top notch.

"It's just an accomplishment to be able to play on a team at Lone Peak when you consider all the kids that played the same sports that Brody did and the quality of the programs," said Todd. "To start in just one sport is great, but to start in three is quite the accomplishment, so to see him do that makes me think that all the time and money we put into it was well worth it."

If Brody had to play just one sport, it would be basketball. And fortunately for him he'll have the opportunity to play basketball at the next level with BYU-Hawaii offering him a scholarship. His plan is to play a year for the Seasiders before leaving on a planned LDS mission where he'll have to make do just playing one sport.

"They actually wanted me to play soccer as well, but after talking it over with my dad, we decided that playing just one sport would be enough with all the extra studying and being in college," said Brody. "Ever since I was little it's been a goal of mine to serve a mission, so it will be hard giving up playing to serve for two years, but it's easier having made that decision such a long time ago and having that as a constant goal. I'm excited to have that opportunity to serve."

Email: bgurney@desnews.com

Twitter: BrandonCGurney