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Top-10 high school stories of 2008

Rich High Winning tradition | 8:11 a.m. Dec. 30, 2008

So I think you are right all those stories being in the top ten and not wanting to take anything away from any of them but... Rich won its something like 15th volleyball title in 17 years and did it this year without one starter being over 5'8" tall. How does Coach Stuart year in and year out come up with teams (from a group of 60 girls total in the school from Freshman to sophomore) that travel around beating Mountain Crest, Skyline, Cottonwood, etc.. with their talest starter being 5'8" tall. It think it is a story for Coach Stuart and her tradition of excellance and getting these girls to work incredibly hard and beleive in themselves no matter their athletic dominance or not. She was recruited to play in the WNBA, never played volleyball before Coaching it, ...it is a great story that she continues to build every year. It seems as if everyone just figures on Rich dominating 1A and it just is not a story. I am just saying, this is not an easy task that Coach Stuart has accomplished. It is nothing short of amazing!

1A | 8:53 a.m. Dec. 30, 2008

Rich High Winning Tradition, you just proved your point as to why this is not a story its 1A no body cares about 1A. 1A schools are smaller then most peoples 1st grade classes. Nobody cares about 1A or 2A except for the people that play for those schools or the parents of the kids that play for those schools.

Basketball Lover | 9:39 a.m. Dec. 30, 2008

I'm sure all these stories deserve recognition but one I was surprised that didn't even get an "honorable mention" was the Wasatch Girls Basketball team going 26-0, the only basketball team in the state to go undefeated. And I'm a Carbon Fan!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 11:50 a.m. Dec. 30, 2008

The Lone Peak Davis semifinal basketball game should have been much higher on this list. It was probably the greatest basketball game in the past decade. This is my list.

1. Realignment
2. Lone Peak Davis semifinal game
3. Timpview football record and 3peat
4. Syracuse football turnaround
5. Alta's football comebacks to repeat as champs
6. Football recruits
7. Judge runner
8. Girls golf
9. BYU signs 4 local prep players
10. Waynes baseball streak

Reply to 1A | 11:54 a.m. Dec. 30, 2008

You're absolutely right about no one caring about 1A or 2A, but i don't believe that's right. The athletes in these schools work just as hard and possibly harder because they grow up in small farming communities with strong work ethics city people don't often possess. This story about Rich's volleyball team is incredible no matter what classification they are. Why can't you just give them and their coach the recognition they deserve? Obviously myself being from one of these smaller schools one of my biggest joys came from beating the crap out of the bigger schools, which happens more than you know.

Where is Rich? | 1:22 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

Is that a town? or is it some dude's house or farm?

GO LUKE | 2:50 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

Puskedra is my Hero. At Oregon, he finished 2nd in the PAC-10 championships, 6th in the West Regional, and 5th at the Division 1 NCAA Championshp race. He's the FIFTH best college runner in the NATION and he's only a FRESHMAN!
If you didn't get to watch Puskedra run while he was in High School at Judge, I'm really sorry. He was so Amazing. I even got the opportunity to race against him three times in my high school career. He beat me by more than 3 minutes each time, but hey "I raced against LUKE".
As long as Luke's racing at Oregon, GO DUCKS.

From Southern Utah- | 3:31 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

What the Rich volleyball program has done speaks for itself, and any true sports fan is impressed. I thing it's great that they consistently dominate 5A teams.

Duchesne drill team | 4:16 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

If we are going to include all sanctioned sports, lets not forget that drill team is a sanctioned sport by the UHSAA, and that Duchesne High's drill team won their 5th straight state title behind coach Kellee Grant. That should of at least been an honorable mention. And by the way Des News, get down to UVU on Jan 31, and get some state drill team coverage this year. These girls deserve it.

Hmmm . . . | 4:25 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

Typical Jay Drew - only "boy" sports stories, except for one, make the top ten? Jay needs to remember that there HS girls play sports too.

Drill team? | 4:45 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

Will Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell be there to judge the competition on January 31?

Anonymous | 5:10 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

I will never forget the Davis Lone Peak game. NEVER will a game of this caliber happen in Utah, the only thing that could have made it better is if it was for the state title.

Anonymous | 6:53 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

first its wrestling, then cheerleading, now DRILL TEAM!!!!

I love it

Anonymous | 6:56 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

Natalie Stewart from Spanish Fork High sets three state track records in the 5A ranks leading her team to their third state title in the last four years. She was also ranked # 1 in the nation most of the year in the 400m. Finished 2nd at the national meet. This young lady was every bit as dominating as Luke Puskedra in track and she can't even make your "honorable mention list." Great list boys!!!!

Anonymous | 8:42 p.m. Dec. 30, 2008

What about Richfield beating south sevier in volleyball that was one of the greatest games and that rivalry is the toughest in the state no other can even compare in intensity these are two small towns right next to each other that share the same community and in reply to 1a just because you don't live in a small town doesn't mean there isn't anyone that does sports in one thing these communities revolve around they care a lot more about sports than anyone in the bigger towns the whole town shows up to see the. Big game

1A | 12:20 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

yes everyone in town goes to the games because either there kids are playing or grand kids are playing. 11:54 AM i live in a 4A school boundary and there are more cows then people that live here so don't tell me that kids that grow up on farms work harder, cause they don't when you get on the field or in the weight room the kids that want to be the best or the strongest will be. they will work harder then the rest of the kids so they can be the best or strongest. It doesn't matter if you live on a farm or not.

No one cares about 1A and 2A | 7:47 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

You are high school sports stupid and do not deserve a comment if you think the state does not care about 1A and 2A. They are the only schools left that really represent what high school sports are all about because they are not affected by open enrollment! Also, Rich is in Rich County. You might get off your butt and come up to Bear Lake which is the most beutiful lake in all the North West. Hey, you might even get away from X Box and go skiing in Park City (Yes I know they are 3A but you get my point) on your way, or maybe go see the 10 wonders of the world in Southern Utah. Yes, people do care about 1A and 2A sports and we are very good. There are more teams in 1A than any other classification in the state and a much harder tournament to win. Hey, stop playing X box and get out more!

Where is Rich? | 7:56 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Rich is a the High Schools name. It is located in the town of Randolph, which is located in Rich County, northern utah. It is half way between Evanston and Bear Lake. I pass through there every summer, headed to the lake. It is a nice little community.

And to the last comment - YOU can't tell me that that kid's raised on farms don't work harder than kid raised on xbox or play station. Come on, use common sense, those games are ruining our society.

1A | 9:03 a.m. Dec. 31, 2008

When did i ever mention anything about an xbox anywhere in my comment. I guess you can make whatever story you want up but go read what i said before you comment about my comments. And no i don't own an xbox or a PS3. There are plenty of 3A 4A and 5A schools that don't have open enrollment. Wow i love making old guys get all giddy cause someone made a comment about there comments. To Where is Rich? exactly where is rich no one knows where rich county is no one goes to bear lake any more theres this cool place called Lake Powell that people go to.

Anonymous | 12:55 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

Where is the Bingham High Softball team??? First team in history to lose the first game in state and come back to win 8 games in a row to win a state championship.

Spanish Fork track | 5:32 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

I agree, you missed that one. The Dons and Natalie Stewart were at least worthy of honorable mention.

Thanks | 11:00 p.m. Dec. 31, 2008

for recognizing the accomplishments of Jason Chamberlain--the most accomplished athlete in Utah this past year.

One possible omission: How about Coach Deanna Meyer and those nationally ranked back to back Lady Knights volleyball team!

Re: to 1A 9:03 | 11:52 p.m. Jan. 1, 2009

Boy you really did show your stupidity. By the way I am 18 years old. I do play x-box. Just thought you should put yours down. Lake Powell has been around for quite a few years even during Bear Lake's growth boom and also has a bunch of 1A teams around it also. (good come back though, you are really thinking deep) also, Bear Lake has doubled in growth for second homes in the last five years so your info is a little weird that no one is going to Bear Lake anymore. The State Parks have had a record year every year for the last five. Just keep on showing us your genius knowledge and keep coming back at us on this issue!

cityleague | 12:25 p.m. Jan. 4, 2009

Wow, you people who think nobody cares about 1A/2A. It's too bad when we beat you 3A/4A/5A teams and show you that little towns are capable of big things.

Big Schools | 7:00 p.m. Jan. 4, 2009

When the small schools beat a team from a big class that matters, then it is newsworthy. Beating the scum of 4A/5A doesn't make you any better than the teams in the middle of those classes--that don't make the playoffs.

Wow!! | 12:33 p.m. Jan. 5, 2009

1A and whoever is making comments about 1A, you both need to get a life. Sure people like 1A but only people that live in those boundaries, but 1A is still Respected every now and then they have good teams and they should be acknowledged for there accomplishments. 1A you really need to let it go someone made a comment about how nobody likes 1A just to get under the skin of people like you. Let it go and stop making yourself look like a nerd who plays video games and looks up facts about UT all day on your computer, I would have to say Lake Powell is a lot better then Bear Lake.

eric woodruff | 4:45 p.m. Jan. 24, 2009

coach jones deserves to be coach of the year, as a student at sHS i'm proud to be a TITAN! you're awesome coach jones. I AM A TITAN FOR LIFE!

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2 photos

Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News

4A MVP Xavier Su'a Filo (60) of Timpview tries to tackle Cottonwood's all-state running back Isi Sofele (3). Su'a Filo helped lead the T-Birds to a state title with a victory over the Colts.

Gallery (2 photos)