Boys Basketball
Jack Anderton, Highland (Sr.)
Coming off a semifinal appearance a year ago, expectations were high for Highland coming into the season and Jack Anderton has helped the Rams live up to those expectations.
Highland is off to a 4-0 start, including last week’s 73-43 thrashing of Cottonwood.
“Jack has started out this season great on the offensive end, but more importantly guards the other team’s best player and has held that player well below their average,” said Highland coach Chris Jones. “His leadership is special and cares only points winning.”
Through four games, Anderton is averaging 16.0 ppg and shooting 60 percent. He’s also averaging four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
Last season as a junior Anderton averaged 6.0 points for the Rams.
He will look to continue the momentum this week as Highland plays three games at the Northern Utah Challenge.
Girls Basketball
Avery Allred, Grantsville (Sr.)
Avery Allred is coming off one of the best games of her career last week in leading Grantsville to a 51-49 win over 6A No. 1 Ridgeline.
She notched 23 points, five rebounds and four steals in the win.
In many ways though, it was the type of performance that Grantsville coach Megan Vera has come to expect from the senior returning first team all-stater.
“Avery is one of those kids that every coach hopes to be able to coach in their career. I’ve never known her to take a rep off, she’s a competitor at heart and her consistent work and effort over the years is what really sets her apart,” Vera said.
“She is an exceptional athlete that can play at any position on the floor. Even at 5-foot-8 she’s able to post up and score on girls that are 6-foot plus. She can hit the 3 and take kids off the dribble to get to the rim or set her teammates up for great shots.”
For the season Allred is averaging 17.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 5.0 steals.
“Defensively, she is so tough and can guard every position because of how intense, quick and physical she is. She can cause havoc for team’s best ball handlers, she takes charges and truly is a “glue guy” for us,” said Vera.
Boys Swimming
Keegan Elgie, Park City (Sr.)
A 4A state champ in the 500 freestyle last season, Park City senior Keegan Elgie is again proving himself to be one of the best distance swimmers in Utah.
A month into the 2024-25 season, Elgie owns the top 500 free time in Utah as he swam a 4:39.32 at the Bingham Invite before Thanksgiving. His time is eight seconds faster than anyone in the state this season.
“Keegan has been a fantastic swimmer and team leader this year, as Park City High School is going for the 4A state championship title. Keegan’s hard work has paid qualifying him for junior nationals in Texas this week. After the holidays, Keegan and his team will shift their focus on winning state,” said Park City coach Gadi Shamah.
Elgie’s time this season is three seconds faster already than the 4:42.14 he posted in winning the state title a year ago.
Elgie also owns the second-fastest time in the 200 free as he recorded a 1:43.25 at the Bingham Invite as well.
Girls Swimming
Ana Diedrichs, Wasatch (Jr.)
Ana Diedrichs, the 5A state champ last season in the 100 freestyle, is picking up right where she left off.
A month into the season, Diedrichs owns the fastest 100 free time in the state as she posted a time of 52.19 in the Wasatch Kickoff Invite last month. She also swam a 56.82 in the 100 backstroke in that same meet, the second best time in the state.
“Ana is a great athlete, working tirelessly to become better, constantly pushing her limits. Beyond her athletic ability she is a great person that makes others around her better, someone who you can build a team around,” said Wasatch coach Shawn Marsing.
Diedrichs owns the seventh-best 50 free time this season.
A year ago during the 5A state meet, Diedrichs swam a 52.30 in the 100 free, a performance she’s already bettered this high school season. She has two more months to lower it further before the state meet in February.
Boys Wrestling
Braxton Atkin, Panguitch (Sr.)
Braxton Atkin’s quest for a fourth-straight state championship is off to a terrific start.
Atkin went a perfect 5-0 at the Panguitch Invite last week, winning the 150-pound championship match by technical fall.
“Braxton is an outstanding athlete and a great young man, whose hard work and leadership sets the tone for our team. His performance this weekend was phenomenal, and winning the Panguitch tournament is a testament to his hard work,” said Panguitch coach Colin Marshall.
As a freshman in 2022, Atkin went 33-14 to win the 120-pound title. Two years ago as a sophomore he posted a 36-16 record en route to the 132-pound title, and last year his record was 50-11 in claiming the 138-pound title.
As a team, Panguitch has won five straight state championships, and with Atkin leading the way the Bobcats are the favorite for No. 6 this season.
Girls Wrestling
Janessa Esquivel, Bear River (Sr.)
Janessa Esquivel finished in third place at last year’s 4A state tournament, and the senior is off to a strong start as she looks to improve upon that finish her senior year.
Last week at the F.I.G.H.T. tournament at Farmington High School, Esquivel went 5-0 as she won the 130-pound title. She racked up 33.5 points, including a technical fall win over Park City’s Abigail Pray in the final.
“Janessa, or JJ, is a great leader for our team this year. She works hard in the room and helps the other wrestlers get better,” said Bear River coach Jason Bingham. “She has worked hard during the offseason to improve her skills and become a great wrestler.”
Four of Esquivel’s five wins at Farmington were by pin.
Esquivel is a multi-sport athlete for Bear River, and is coming off a soccer season in which she tallied 10 goals for the Bears and was voted 4A honorable mention.