Salt Lake Academy’s Brock Rhodes (19), Cooper Rushton (23), Ryder Harrison (10) and Damian Rivadeneira (29) celebrating after defeating American Heritage to win the boys 2A state volleyball championship at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
By Aidan Baller

The first official 2A boys volleyball championship match ended in a 3-1 victory for the Salt Lake Academy Griffins over the American Heritage Patriots on Saturday.

It is the Griffins’ first state title in boys volleyball, and the first for head coach Brogan Johnson.

“It’s a feeling like no other, really, looking for all the hard work that we’ve put in this season, and past seasons. There are no words to explain it,” he said.

Photo Gallery: 1 of 26
1 of 26
Salt Lake Academy head coach Brogan Johnson is embraced by his players after defeating American Heritage to win the boys 2A state volleyball championship at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 2 of 26
2 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Takeo Derby (17) celebrates with his teammates after a kill during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 3 of 26
3 of 26
Salt Lake Academy head coach Brogan Johnson reacts after a point during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 4 of 26
4 of 26
The officials lead American Heritage and Salt Lake Academy onto the court for player introductions before the boys 2A state volleyball championship at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 5 of 26
5 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Cooper Rushton (23) celebrates after a point during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 6 of 26
6 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Brock Rhodes (19) celebrates a point during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 7 of 26
7 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Ryder Harrison (10) sets the ball during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 8 of 26
8 of 26
American Heritage’s Peter Jacobson (24), second right, celebrates after a kill during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 9 of 26
9 of 26
American Heritage’s Lincoln Ericson (6) sets the ball during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 10 of 26
10 of 26
American Heritage’s Peter Jacobson (24) lunges to dig the ball during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 11 of 26
11 of 26
American Heritage’s Dallin Castle (23) tips the ball over the net during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 12 of 26
12 of 26
The American Heritage bench celebrates a point during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 13 of 26
13 of 26
American Heritage head coach Bradley Castle looks on during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 14 of 26
14 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Elijah Johnson (27) hits past the block of American Heritage’s Sam Reed (27) and Jacob Fullmer (19) during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 15 of 26
15 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Takeo Derby (17) tips the ball over the net during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 16 of 26
16 of 26
American Heritage’s Dallin Castle (23) serves during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 17 of 26
17 of 26
American Heritage’s Peter Jacobson (24) jumps up for a n attack during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 18 of 26
18 of 26
American Heritage’s Peter Jacobson (24) goes up for an attack during the boys 2A state volleyball championship against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 19 of 26
19 of 26
American Heritage’s Peter Jacobson (24) and Jacob Fullmer (19) celebrate after a point during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 20 of 26
20 of 26
American Heritage’s Peter Jacobson (24) returns a serve during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 21 of 26
21 of 26
American Heritage’s Lincoln Ericson (6) shoulder bumps Sam Reed (27) during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match against Salt Lake Academy at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 22 of 26
22 of 26
Salt Lake Academy fans cheer during the boys 2A state volleyball championship match between Salt Lake Academy and American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 23 of 26
23 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Cooper Rushton celebrates after defeating American Heritage to win the boys 2A state volleyball championship at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 24 of 26
24 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Cooper Rushton celebrates with Elijah Johnson (27) after defeating American Heritage to win the boys 2A state volleyball championship at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 25 of 26
25 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Ryder Harrison (10) walks to accept the boys 2A state volleyball championship trophy after defeating American Heritage at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
Photo Gallery: 26 of 26
26 of 26
Salt Lake Academy’s Brock Rhodes (19), Cooper Rushton (23), Ryder Harrison (10) and Damian Rivadeneira (29) celebrating after defeating American Heritage to win the boys 2A state volleyball championship at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

As well as things turned out for Salt Lake Academy, they didn’t start all that great. The Griffins had set point in the opening game but committed a net violation and the Patriots scored five consecutive points to tie it up at 24.

American Heritage then won the set as outside hitter Dallin Castle hit two straight kills to give his team the lead.

View Comments

But Salt Lake Academy regrouped and went on to win the next three sets, never trailing by more than four points. Johnson gave particular credit to Ryder Harrison, who helped right the ship in the second set.

“Ryder Harrison is our fore-captain, and I think he’s been controlling the emotions on the court very well,” Johnson said. “How far he’s come since the beginning of the season in a leadership role is incredible.”

In addition to Harrison, outside-hitters Takeo Derby and Elijah Johnson were unstoppable from the left side of the court for. They carried Salt Lake Academy to a 25-14 second set victory, and the Griffins went on to win the third and fourth sets 25-20 and 25-21, respectively, to claim the state title.

“I hope they know how much all of our coaching staff loves and cares about them,” Johnson said of his players. “Ultimately we care more about them individually and as people than athletes. We’re lucky to see them in both aspects of life.”

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.