Football
Price Armstrong, Juab (Sr.)
Juab senior quarterback Price Armstrong enjoyed a huge game last week in a Juab’s emphatic 58-29 victory over Manti.
He passed for 493 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for 50 yards and two more scores as he had a hand in six of Juab’s eight touchdowns.
“Price is a coach’s dream. He is such a positive kid, he plays with such enthusiasm and energy. He is so dynamic with his skill set and does such a great job running our offense. He makes a lot of calls and honestly is an extension of our staff out there,” said Juab coach Jake Downard.
“His positive attitude is very contagious for our whole team. It was one of the best offensive performances I’ve seen in quite some time. It was absolutely incredible.”
In leading Juab to a 3-1 record, he’s racked up 1,235 passing yards and 10 touchdowns in addition to three more rushing TDs.
He’s also kicked two field goals and made eight extra points.
Girls Volleyball
Lexi Rushton, Mountain Ridge (So.)
Sophomore Lexi Rushton has been a big part of Mountain Ridge’s early success this season, including a strong showing in Las Vegas two weeks ago.
Rushton leads Mountain Ridge in kills and aces as she’s helped Mountain Ridge jump out to a 7-4 record, including a third-place finish at the Las Vegas Invitational two weeks ago.
“Lexi is a two-year starter as a sophomore and involved in almost every play in some way or another. Leads the team in kills and aces but cheers louder for her teammates’ success than her own. Lexi is an unselfish player that will do whatever is asked to benefit the team,” said Mountain Ridge coach Bryan Nicholson.
For the season, Rushton’s tallied 86 kills with a .236 hitting percentage and 16 aces.
The outside hitter also maintains a 4.0 GPA in the classroom.
Girl Soccer
Madelyn Bridges, Manti (Jr.)
Manti ran its winning streak to nine straight last week with wins over Union and Carbon, and junior Madelyn Bridges was at the center of the success.
She logged a goal and two assists against Union, as well as an assist against Carbon. She’s notched either a goal or an assist in all 12 games.
“Madelyn has been playing very well for us this year by helping to generate a strong offense for our team. She is a threat from the midfield because she is capable of scoring while also doing a great job of setting up her teammates,” said Manti coach Nate Bridges.
“Her performance has been extremely consistent this season, as she has had a goal or recorded an assist in every game. She is dedicated and a hard worker in both practices and individual workouts. Madelyn is highly competitive and willing to put in the time to do whatever it takes to help her team win.”
She leads 3A with 13 assists this season, and her 12 goals ranks second.
Boys Cross Country
Eli Carling, Monticello (Jr.)
Eli Carling was one of the top runners in 1A as a sophomore a year ago, and he seems to have reached another level this season.
Carling won the Blue Mountain Classic last weekend, finishing with a time of 17:19.6 against five of six schools. He finished 25 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
“I don’t think anyone outworks Eli. He is constantly going the extra mile. His hard work and determination has inspired his teammates to put in the work as well. It has been exciting to see early this season seeing his improvement,” said Monticello coach Jeff Hunt.
Carling finished fifth at the 1A state meet a year ago, and he’ll be among the top contenders again next month.
Girls Cross Country
Avery Barton, Ogden (Sr.)
Avery Barton is a fierce yet humble competitor who is coming off her best performance of the season last week at the Timpanogos Invite.
The Ogden senior finished first at Lakeside Park in Orem with a time of 17:24.8 against a strong field that included 38 other teams. She finished 18 seconds ahead of the runner-up from Skyline.
“Avery Barton is the kind of athlete every coach hopes to have. She has tremendous talent, but what sets her apart is the relentless work she puts into her training. She does all the little things, day after day, when no one is watching. She leads by example, competes with integrity and is a great teammate,” said Ogden coach Missy Barton.
“When the gun goes off, Avery is fierce. She has a toughness and grit that you simply can’t teach. She’s willing to hurt, she refuses to back down, and when a race gets difficult, that’s often when she is at her best. She enjoys competing and she always wants to win.”
Barton finished second at the 3A state tournament a year ago, and based on her success so far this season she’s looking like the favorite.
Girls Tennis
Lulu Shiozawa, Desert Hills (Fr.)
Lulu Shiozawa is one of the best freshman tennis players in the country, so it’s no surprise she’s made a big impact for Desert Hills this fall.
Shiozawa improved her record to 7-0 last week as she won a pair of Region 9 matches in straight sets. She also beat Woods Cross standout Lyla Bergeson two weeks ago in one set match to eight.
“Lulu Shiozawa is a rare talent who comes to the court every day with great preparation and commitment. Her consistency, mental toughness and effort to battle for every point have made her a tremendous asset to our Desert Hills Thunder team,” said Desert Hills coach Emily Christensen.
“One of her biggest accomplishments so far this season was a key victory over rival Lyla Bergeson of Woods Cross High School at the St. George Invitational, which demonstrated her ability to compete with confidence and composure against a strong opponent.”
Tennis Recruiting has Shiozawa ranked as a 5-star recruit, and the No. 51 player in the country in her age group.
Boys Golf
Korver Hawkins, Uintah (Sr.)
Three Region 8 matches into the season, Korver Hawkins has established himself as the frontrunner for the region title and a legit contender in 4A.
Hawkins leads Region 8 with a 68.8 scoring average in three matches early this season, which also ranks five in all of 4A.
“Korver is the heart of our team. He is consistently strong as a player. His mind set is steady and he is wise beyond his years. Not only a great player but makes those around him better as well,” said Uintah coach John Ellison.
Hawkins shot a 71 at Mountain View Golf Course in his most recent region match
A year ago, Hawkins finished second in the final Region 8 standings and then tied for 14th at the 4A state tournament, one stroke out of a top-10 finish.
Baseball
Eli Lundstrom, UMA Hill Field (Sr.)
Senior Eli Lundstrom has been a key part of the T-Birds’ 6-3 season so far.
At the plate, he’s batting .750 with 10 doubles and 16 RBIs. He’s also stolen 16 bases. On the mound, he’s logged 8 1/3 innings in six appearances, with 19 strikeouts and only two runs allowed.
“A standout two-way player and team leader, he brings nonstop energy and an above-average baseball IQ to every game,” said UMA Hill Field coach Jaryd Olsen. “A clutch hitter who thrives with runners on base and a phenomenal reliever in high-leverage moments, he gives maximum effort on every play.”
“Eli is known for being very respectful and highly coachable. He regularly spends extra time helping teammates improve, setting a strong example for his entire program.”
Last week in a two-game sweep of Draper APA, Lundstrom went 5 for 8 at the plate.