Megan Wallgren / American Fork Citizen

American Fork’s boys and girls cross country teams capped their seasons with top-10 national finishes at Nike Cross Nationals after both squads earned one of only four at-large bids granted nationwide in the competition held at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on December 6.

The Cavemen made the most of the rare invitation, with the boys placing fifth overall and the girls finishing seventh in a field of 22 of the country’s strongest programs.

American Fork’s boys scored 195 points and ended the year ranked 10th nationally by DyeStat. The team title went to Niwot, Colorado, with 61 points, followed by Utah’s Herriman in second with 97.

The Cavemen posted an impressive 16:11 average for the 5K and a tight 32-second spread among their scoring runners.

Herriman’s Jackson Spencer claimed the individual national title in the boys race, winning in 15:01.1.

Sophomore Chase Hejny led the American Fork boys squad, finishing 50th in 15:55.8. He was followed by sophomore David Webb in 59th at 16:01.5.

Freshman Bennett Jensen came in 77th at 16:12.5, senior Dallin Harrington in 86th at 16:18.6, and junior Roy Jones finished out the scoring five, crossing 111th at 16:28.6.

Seniors Austin Plewe in 155th at 16:30.9 and Grant Hejny in 120th at 16:33.2 rounded out the varsity team.

“This was a great culmination to a stellar season,” said boys Coach Timo Mostert. “The boys team kept their tradition of excellence alive.”

On the girls side, American Fork placed seventh with 178 points. The team averaged 19:01 and had a 1:28 spread between their first and fifth runners. Wayzata of Minnesota won the girls championship, while Utah’s Lone Peak finished fourth.

Junior and reigning 6A state champion Skye Jensen led the Cavemen girls, placing 56th in 18:28.7.

Jensen was followed by freshman Mae Glassford in 58th at 18:30.0 and freshman Cali Dooley in 89th at 18:56.9.

Sophomore Sarah Watson finished in 109th at 19:14.6 and junior Shay Smith was the final scoring runner, finishing 146th at 19:57.0.

Sophomore Rebekah Jacob in 153rd at 20:04.1, and junior Sophie Bahr in 173rd at 20:29.7, completed the girls national varsity team.

“These girls worked so hard this year,” said girls Coach Bruno Hunziker. “This was their goal six months ago, to get to Nationals. They bonded together as a team and went and just ran an outstanding race. It was quite an accomplishment.”

Both squads delivered strong showings on the sport’s biggest stage, solidifying American Fork’s reputation as one of the premier distance-running programs in the country.

In the girls team standings, Utah powerhouse Lone Peak secured the Southwest regional title with 68 points, while Colorado’s Liberty Bell Distance Club earned the second NXN berth with 114 points.

This season was an important building year for both the boys and girls squads. The teams relied heavily on young runners who rose to the challenge on the regional stage. The Cavemen demonstrated not only current strength but a deep foundation for the future.

Their results in Arizona highlighted the program’s ability to reload quickly and remain nationally competitive year after year.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

A pair of American Fork football standouts accepted opportunities to continue their athletic careers with in-state universities on Wednesday (Dec. 3), the first day of the early signing period for the sport.

Dyson Richards, TE, WR (6-5, 220) – Weber State University Wildcats (Ogden)

Richards collected 33 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns this season with 25 catches for 276 yards as a junior. The Wildcats earned a 4-8 record this year and were 2-6 in the Big Sky Conference, which competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision with ESPN+ as their broadcast partner.

Jaybian Na’a, NG, DT (6-2, 280) – Utah Tech University Trailblazers (St. George) Na’a tallied 16 solo and 25 assisted tackles including 5.5 tackles for a loss (2.5 sacks) with two fumbles caused and one recovered during this year’s fall campaign. The Trailblazers played in the Western Athletic Conference under Coach Lance Anderson this season, but the school will be joining the Big Sky Conference in 2026.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School girls basketball team has posted a 1-2 record in non-region games to open the new season with Coach Robert Harmon at the helm.

Nov. 18: Pleasant Grove 79, American Fork 53

The Cavemen started very slowly on the road against a very good Viking squad, but they bounced back nicely after the break, scoring more in each of the final two periods than they had in the entire first half.

Pleasant Grove built a 23-7 advantage in the first quarter and widened the advantage to 36-15 by the break. American Fork returned from the locker room with energy and prevailed in the third period 20-19. They added 18 points in the fourth quarter, but the earlier deficit was too much to overcome.

Junior shooting guard Jalise Chatman led the offense with 22 points including three triples while senior wing Julia Fugal added 14 points and junior point guard Morgan Felix posted six points.

“We definitely had first-game jitters,” said Harmon. “We came out and we were not quite ready to play. We got punched in the mouth early and had to fight the rest of the game to give ourselves a chance.

“However, after the first quarter, I thought we responded well and were right in every quarter that followed,” the coach continued. “Our intensity picked up, and I thought the girls played hard and gave everything they had throughout the whole game regardless of the score.

“That’s a real tribute to the fight these girls have,” Harmon said. “We will learn from this and we will grow, no doubt.”

Nov. 21: American Fork 54, Spanish Fork 37

The Cavemen dueled toe-to-toe with the Dons in the opening stanza on the road, which ended with the home squad ahead 11-10. American Fork took control of the contest after that, outscoring Spanish Fork 14-4 in the second quarter and continuing on to the comfortable victory.

Fugal netted 17 points and grabbed five rebounds while Felix also scored 17 with three boards and three steals. Chatman had an active floor game with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and seven steals. Sophomore shooting guard Ruby Dunford added five points and three rebounds.

“This was a good test for us,” Harmon said. “Spanish Fork plays hard and they were more physical than us the first quarter. In the second quarter we started to play our game and our defensive intensity really stepped up and fueled our offense.

“We had some underclassmen who also accepted the challenge and came up big for us in some key moments,” the coach said. “Little by little things are starting to click and we’re starting to find our identity.”

Nov. 25: Springville 53, American Fork 43

This contest was close most of the way with multiple lead changes. The visiting Red Devils were narrowly in front for most of the first half, but the Cavemen surged in the third quarter behind the efforts of Chatman and moved ahead at 39-34 with 6:40 left to play.

Springville responded with a run to retake the lead a minute later and continued on to the win from there.

Fugal finished with 18 points, five rebounds and three steals while Chatman added 12 points, five boards and three steals. Felix contributed six points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Freshman small forward Maya Durrant garnered four boards and two steals.

“The girls played hard throughout the whole game,” Harmon said. “We just couldn’t finish at the rim. Credit Springville and their aggressive defense. It kept us on our heels to start, and we had to fight to get back in it.

“With credit to our girls, we were able to do that but just couldn’t hold on to the lead at some key moments in the game and ultimately fell short,” the coach said. “But, I’m proud of the effort and fight the girls showed.”

The Cavemen travel to Weber on Tuesday (Dec. 2) and are scheduled to host Olympus on Friday (Dec. 5). Both games tip off at 7 p.m.

Beky Beaton / America Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School boys basketball team opened the season against three excellent programs and earned a 1-2 record to launch the new season.

Nov. 21: Bingham 63, American Fork 59

The Cavemen hit the ground running with a top-five matchup against the Miners at home. The teams battled through a back-and-forth first quarter, which ended with the visitors having a slim lead of 13-12. Bingham ended the half with a 31-25 advantage.

The Miners had worked to a 54-43 margin by the end of the third period, but American Fork responded with a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter and reduced the deficit to just two points with five minutes left to play.

Senior forward Jax Clark got the run started with a layup following some nifty footwork in the paint. Working the full-court press, a steal by sophomore guard Dieter Tuitavuki led to a fast-break score with a bonus free-throw.

Junior guard Jax Oyler passed in-bounds to senior guard Bryce Mella, who promptly put the ball in the net from the left baseline. Next time down the floor, Oyler tipped the ball to Mella for a defensive rebound, and he eventually converted on that play to draw his team within two.

The Cavemen continued to compete through the end of the period but never got closer than that. Clark and Mella finished with 19 points and eight rebounds apiece, while Oyler added 10 points with four assists.

“We dropped a tough one at home against Bingham,” said Coach Ryan Cuff. “We seem to always have a battle when the two of us meet. The story of the game was at the free-throw line. We didn’t get there enough tonight, nine times vs. Bingham’s 17.

“We learned a few things about our team tonight,” he said. “We’ll use this loss to prepare us for the competition we’ll face next week. We love our guys and saw some impressive things out of each of them.”

Nov. 25: American Fork 77, Mt. Zion Prep (Lanham MD) 67

The Cavemen dueled toe-to-toe with the Warriors through the initial period, with the visitors from an athletics-focused private school earning a 17-16 lead which expanded to 42-36 at the break.

American Fork returned from the locker room and once again launched a big run, fueled by defensive intensity which yielded just two points in the first half of the third quarter. “That kind of defensive effort is what led us to a breakout stretch on offense,” Cuff said.

The Cavemen outscored the visitors 28-8 during the period and while the gap closed slightly in the final quarter, the lead was never seriously threatened down the stretch.

After struggling to finish shots in their first contest, American Fork netted 51 percent of their field goals, including nine treys at a 45-percent clip, and also went 14-of-18 (78%) at the line.

Mella exploded for 33 points with five rebounds to lead the way while Clark added 13 points with five boards and senior guard Ashton Hucks contributed a solid floor game with 10 points, four rebounds, six assists and a couple of steals. Senior guard Bridger Burnside scored nine points with six boards.

“We played a really strong and athletic team from Maryland in the PG Hoopfest,” the coach said. “They were tremendous athletes.

“We played a strong brand of team defense and with good poise and ball movement on offense we were able to find the right advantages,” Cuff added. “The kids played super tough and had a great approach to the game.”

Nov. 26: Timpview 62, American Fork 60

The Cavemen stayed within reach in this contest but played from behind the whole night until the very end. The Thunderbirds were up just 13-12 after the first quarter but led 37-29 by halftime.

American Fork earned their only lead with five seconds to go at 60-59. “Timpview advanced the ball to half court and took their final timeout,” Cuff said. “The inbound play found one of their players in the corner who launched a three-pointer that went in with no time remaining.

“I’m proud of our boys who battled against a lot of adversity in this game, which easily could have one either way,” the coach concluded.

Mella netted 21 points with five rebounds while Clark posted 13 points with eight boards. Oyler added nine points with three assists and Hucks contributed seven points and five assists.

The Cavemen will be participating in the Corner Canyon Tournament this weekend. They are scheduled to play Highland on Thursday (Dec. 4) at noon, Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch CO) on Friday (Dec. 5) at 5 p.m. and Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch CO) on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 10:40 a.m.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

There’s new kids in town, and they’ve put the rest of the Region 3 swim teams on notice that they are a force to be reckoned with. And no, it isn’t Corner Canyon, although the Chargers did join the group this season in all sports.

Wasatch High School competes in Class 5A Region 7 in all other sports, but UHSAA rules allow a school to petition to play up in specific sports or activities. The Wasps requested to compete in 6A for swimming only. The petition was granted, and Wasatch was added to the already-loaded Region 3 collection.

The Wasps hosted the pre-region meet on Thursday (Nov. 20) in Heber and swept their new league neighbors. The girls tallied 488 points, outdistancing Lone Peak at 448. Skyridge was third with 300, Corner Canyon fourth at 225, Lehi fifth at 208, and American Fork sixth at 78.

In the boys events, the margin was even bigger. Wasatch earned 485.5 points to 422 for the Knights, 399 for the Cavemen, 196 for the Falcons, and the Pioneers squeaked by the Chargers 146 to 145.5.

Following are the American Fork swimmers who earned top-eight places to contribute double-digit points to the team totals at this meet, beginning with two double-gold winners.

In the boys events:

• Sam Petersen won the gold medal in the 200-yard freestyle in a photo finish at 1:46.76 as well as the 500-yard freestyle by nearly three seconds.
• Noah Christensen claimed the gold in the 200-yard individual medley by about half a second with a mark of 2:01.59. He also garnered gold in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:01.88.
• Oakley James earned a silver medal in the 100-yard backstroke and was the bronze medalist in the 200-yard individual medley.
• Zack Stevens captured the silver medal in the 100-yard breaststroke in a tight race with his teammate. He was the third finisher for the Cavemen in the 200-yard medley in sixth place.
• Conner Fellingham earned bronze in the 100-yard breaststroke plus sixth place in the 50-yard freestyle.
• Jacob Dolinar came in fifth in the 100-yard freestyle.
• Luke Nelson captured fifth place in the 100-yard backstroke as well as seventh in the 100-yard butterfly.
• Taevin Day garnered seventh place in the 500-yard freestyle.
• In the 400-yard freestyle relay, American Fork garnered bronze with Petersen, James, Nelson and Christensen. The second entrant earned eighth place with Dolinar, Noah Bailor, Sam Smith and Sawyer Manis.
•  The Cavemen earned bronze in the 200-yard medley relay with James, Zack Stevens, Kyle Robinson and Fellingham.
• In the 200-yard freestyle relay, American Fork claimed bronze with Fellingham, Robinson, Petersen and Christensen. A second squad took fifth place with Dolinar, Stevens, Bailor and Nelson.

In the girls division:

• Gracee Marlowe claimed fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke.
• Mayla Harward got eighth place in the 100-yard freestyle.

Megan Wallgren / American Fork Citizen

American Fork High School’s cross country program once again proved its national caliber as both the boys and girls teams finished fourth at the Nike Cross Regional Southwest meet on Nov. 23 in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Facing some of the deepest competition in the country, the Cavemen delivered strong, disciplined performances and placed themselves firmly in the conversation for at-large bids to Nike Cross Nationals (NXN).

The NXR Southwest meet covers a highly competitive region that includes Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada. It is one of eight qualifying meets held nationwide, with only the top two teams from each region earning automatic entry into the NXN championship race, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, in Portland, Oregon.

Teams may also qualify for one of four at-large berths selected by committee from third- and fourth-place teams at the regional competitions. In a region famous for producing NXN champions, a fourth-place finish is widely regarded as a mark of national-level strength.

In the Boys 5K Championship Race, Colorado’s REAL Training captured the team title with just 79 points, followed by Utah’s Herriman High School, which earned the second NXN automatic berth with 174 points. American Fork finished fourth with 218 points, only two points behind the third-place squad.

The Cavemen, racing under the banner American Fork XC Club, posted a team time of 1:16:44, averaging 15:21 per athlete with an impressively narrow 54-second gap among the scoring five.

Sophomore David Webb led the charge, placing 10th overall in 14:48.47. Webb’s performance not only set the tone but also placed him among the elite individual contenders in the Southwest region.

Sophomore Chase Hejny followed as the team’s second finisher, taking 32nd place in a strong 15:09.8. Senior Dallin Harrington contributed with his 68th-place finish in 15:28.0. Freshman Bennet Jensen took 90th overall in 15:36.2.

Junior Roy Jones completed the scoring five with a 99th-place finish in 15:41.6. Also competing for the Cavemen were seniors Austin Plewe and Grant Hejny, both adding depth and experience to a squad known for its quality.

The American Fork girls mirrored the boys’ success, also finishing fourth in the 5K Championship Race. Their performance was marked by a blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent, including standout contributions from multiple underclassmen.

The Cavemen scored 143 points with a team time of 1:30:26 and an average of 18:06 per entrant. They had a tight 1:08 gap between their top five runners

Junior Skye Jensen led the girls team with a commanding run, placing 21st overall in 17:34.4. Just seconds behind her, freshman Mae Glassford impressed with a 23rd-place finish in 17:41.7, continuing a breakout season.

Freshman Cali Dooley was next across the line for American Fork, placing 40th in 17:59.0 as she continues to emerge as a key varsity contributor. Sophomore Sarah Watson finished 77th in 18:28.8, and junior Sophie Bahr sealed the scoring effort by placing 99th in 18:41.6.

Sophomore Rebekah Jacob and junior Shay Smith also represented the Cavemen in the Championship Race.

In the girls team standings, Utah powerhouse Lone Peak secured the Southwest regional title with 68 points, while Colorado’s Liberty Bell Distance Club earned the second NXN berth with 114 points.

This season was an important building year for both the boys and girls squads. The teams relied heavily on young runners who rose to the challenge on the regional stage. The Cavemen demonstrated not only current strength but a deep foundation for the future.

Their results in Arizona highlighted the program’s ability to reload quickly and remain nationally competitive year after year.

Elizabeth Spencer | American Fork Citizen

After twelve seasons, Erin Tetro is hanging up his helmet as the American Fork High School Mountain Bike coach. Tetro started the team with the idea of coaching his son, who never actually raced but became a soccer star instead.

“I remember wondering how Tetro could be so deeply committed even without having a child on the team. The answer is simple: this team is his family. Tetro cares for every rider individually while also nurturing the team as a whole, creating an environment where athletes feel seen, valued and part of something truly meaningful. He’s built a space where riders can challenge themselves, be vulnerable and grow, not just as athletes but as people,” shared Weston Lunsford. He served as assistant coach with Tetro for ten seasons.

One of those athletes is Logan Eccles, who shared, “Coach Tetro has been one of the best coaches I’ve ever had, and I’m so grateful I got the chance to race under him. He’s been there through all the ups and downs, and I’m thankful he was part of my entire career — and all the great memories that came with it.”

Garrett Rogers remembers his experience on the team, “Mountain biking taught me grit both on and off the bike. This team has literally changed my life.”

“Being on a bike is where I can clear my head and be at peace with the world,” stated Tetro, who found his love of mountain biking as a kid when he moved to Springville from California. The Tetros home backed up against the mountains, where he enjoyed biking the horse trails.

Tetro said he started the Mountain Biking team at AFHS after seeing a help-wanted flier at a local bike shop for the Pleasant Grove High School MTB team. Tetro then learned that AFHS didn’t have their own team of bikers. Over the past 12 years, he has grown the program to include 200 students from grades seven through 12.

The team has seen great success over the years, finishing third at state championships for two consecutive years with three individual bikers earning state titles. In the last season, 85 AFHS Mountain Bikers qualified to compete at the state level.

Tetro says one of his favorite things to see is the progress a kid makes on their bike, with some bikers coming in with really minimal skills. “To see them really take to it and get really good on their bike … that’s a really cool progression to see.”

“He wanted every athlete, regardless of background, skill level or confidence to feel welcome, valued and seen. And because of that, I’ve watched this team transform hundreds of lives,” said Lunsford.

Tetro will never forget one new team member from years ago who didn’t know how to ride a bike but joined anyway. He took time to teach her how to ride a bike one-on-one. Tetro said she completed every single race throughout her high school career.

Tetro says kids on the MTB Team find their tribe. “That’s my favorite thing, to see kids find a place where they actually belong and make friends,” remarked Tetro.

“I’ve seen kids join without direction or belief in themselves and leave with purpose, confidence and lifelong friendships. I’ve seen already-confident athletes grow in ways they never expected to grow. The growth that happens here isn’t just athletic — it’s personal. Everyone wins, both on and off the bike,” shared Lunsford.

“For Erin, this was never just about racing bikes. It was about creating something unique, something lasting — a place where riders, parents, coaches and volunteers could come together and feel part of something bigger. A family,” added Lunsford.

AFHS Principal Peter Glahn noted that the mountain bike team’s culture is one of kindness, support, grit, family and friendship. Glahn writes, “That culture and structure have all been set up by Coach Tetro. He has found incredible people to work alongside him, and I believe the team will be able to maintain their positive momentum long after he has gone, though he will be sorely missed.”

“Once Erin got this thing off the ground, he was all in. From that point forward, he gave everything — his time, his energy, his mind and his heart — to building not just a team, but a culture,” shared Weston Lunsford at the 12th annual year-end AFHS Mountain Bike banquet.

Tanner Burr learned from that culture, “Coach Tetro taught me how to smile no matter what, and that attitude matters more than the result. I’ll carry that lesson through every part of my life. It helped that every time I crossed the finish line, he was there smiling, too.”

Although she graduated years ago, Eve Wilson also remembers biking on the team. “I’m so grateful for AF MTB. It’s truly something that changed my life and taught me how to push through hard things, have fun and believe in myself. Coach Tetro believes in the kids on the MTB team, and he believed in me as a little freshman who had no idea what I was doing. He and the other coaches, ride leaders and riders have created an environment where there is so much growth to be experienced and so much joy to be felt, and I miss it every day.”

Displayed at the end-of-season banquet were jerseys from every season. “To some, these might just look like fabric. But to us, they represent so much more. Each jersey represents the lives that were changed that year — the lessons learned, the friendships formed, the confidence built,” said Lunsford. “They represent hundreds of athletes who became better people because of what this program gave them and, in turn, the families and future generations who will be shaped by the ripple effect of that growth.”

At the banquet, Tetro was presented with a personalized 2026 race jersey, sentimental in its use of the design from the team’s first season. “Erin, this jersey represents the thousandsof lives you’ve impacted over the years. Whether you wear it on a ride or frame it on your wall, we hope that when you see it, memories of these years and the people you’ve influenced come flooding back,” concluded Lunsford.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School girls basketball team begins the season with a new head coach in Robert Harmon, who had served as an assistant coach in the boys program for the past eight years. He took the helm towards the end of the school year and really got things rolling during the summer.

The team has four seniors but only one of them has significant varsity experience. That would be Julia Fugal, who will rotate between the forward spots initially but will likely be more of a wing player down the line.

“She’s long and lanky and quick,” Harmon said. “She can handle the ball and shoot. She does a little bit of everything for us but it’s when she attacks the rim that she’s the most dangerous. We’re looking to her to be our senior leader.”

 Junior Morgan Felix is the only other player with significant varsity experience. “She’s one of our more athletic players and will set the pace for us as the point guard. She’s starting to step up as a scorer and vocal leader,” the coach said.

Harmon noted that his team lacks significant size but has lots of players with ball-handling skills, so they will focus on trying to play to their strengths.

Among the new players to watch for is senior Taylor Jensen. “She’s a fantastic vocal leader with a great skill set,” Harmon said. “She will post and can shoot the three and is probably our most consistent player at this point.”

Senior Brooke Grunander will play at the power forward spot. “She’s a strong player with good moves around the post,” the coach said. Another interior player is senior Sarah Jacob, a transfer from Lehi who “can also shoot, command the floor and rebound.”

Junior shooting guard Jalise Chatman is a transfer from Washington state whose older brother Jace played at American Fork a few years back. “She’s quite a skilled player with an uncanny ability to get to the rim,” Harmon said. “She’s also a great 3-point shooter.”

Although he knows it will take a bit of time before his players settle in, the coach thinks he has five or six who could average 8-10 points per game, which would be “pretty good for us,” he said.

Harmon said his team will play a really solid slate, with a ranked opponent almost every game. “Our preseason schedule is pretty stacked, but that should help prepare us for our always-tough region and state after that,” Harmon said.

The coach aims to have his troops “play our style and set our tone. We want to get up and down the floor and the girls accepted the conditioning challenge. We’re miles away from where we started.

“I think we’re a little bit under the radar,” Harmon said. “We will be able to surprise some people. I think we have a better product than what people are expecting. This will be a fun team to watch.”

The coach knows the path will not be easy. “We have a lot of talent in this area,” he said. “We have (state champion) Lone Peak coming back. Lehi and Skyridge are always good. There’s never a game you can look at and say, ‘oh, we’ll get past that one.’ We have to be ready to play every single time.”

On the state level, he said Westlake has speed and precision and a high level of shooting with the athletes they have.

“Lone Peak has almost the entire team back, Lehi has some younger talent and Skyridge always has something going there. I think it’s up for grabs, so we’ll see who comes out on top this year,” Harmon concluded.

The Cavemen got started on the road against a really good Pleasant Grove team on Tuesday (Nov. 18). They struggled to score in the first half but really picked it up after the break, though the Vikings still prevailed 79-53.

Watch for more details on this and subsequent games in the newspaper and online at afcitizen.com.

American Fork will next visit Spanish Fork on Friday (Nov. 21). The home opener is Tuesday (Nov. 25) against Springville. Varsity tipoff for these contests is set for 7 p.m.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

With an inexperienced lineup plus some injuries and other unusual circumstances last season, the American Fork boys basketball team took its lumps with a lot of close losses.

However, the No. 15 Cavemen got everyone’s attention during the 6A state tournament, when they took eventual state champion Davis to double overtime before falling by just two points. And by every account, all the bumps they took last year are about to pay off.

Coach Ryan Cuff returns his entire starting lineup from that upstart squad. Together, they averaged about 42 points, 17 rebounds and five assists per game last year.

Now, after a busy offseason with the support of a senior-heavy group, it’s no wonder that American Fork emerged as the 6A favorite in the preseason coaches poll.

The returners are headlined by senior 6-foot-5 guard Bryce Mella, a spectacularly versatile player who averaged 17 points, five rebounds and three assists last season. Add in senior 6-8 forward Jax Clark, who averaged about 10 points and six boards per outing last year.

Round out the list with senior 6-0 guard Ashton Hucks, junior 6-0 guard Jax Oyler and sophomore 6-3 wing Dieter Tuitavuki, a trio that together netted 71 triples in the previous campaign.

“They all have great drive and passion for the game,” Cuff said. “They have all put a lot of time into their skills and working their bodies to get stronger.”

That group alone should be enough to excite Caveman fans, but that’s not all there is. The team’s reserves include seven senior guards who all bring something unique to the table: Sam Rutter (5-10, Bridger Burnside (6-0), Tyler Zabriskie (6-0), Nick Bramwell (6-1), Logan Nicholson (6-3), Jaxon Bramwell (6-0) and Ryan Feveryear (5-10).

“This is a senior-loaded team that really cares about each other and trusts each other,” Cuff said. “They don’t care who gets the credit.”

American Fork opens the season by welcoming Bingham on Friday (Nov. 21) at 7 p.m. They will play in a tournament at Pleasant Grove next week, with games at noon on Tuesday (Nov. 25) and against Timpview at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 26).

Those contests will be followed by a diverse set of opponents including some out-of-state teams, in the Corner Canyon tournament, Ingersoll Classic at American Fork, Holiday Hoopfest at Lehi and Damien Classic in California.

“We always try to play the best schedule to prepare ourselves against the best teams in the state,” Cuff said. “Our goal is always to be the best that we can be and to make everyone around us better on and off the court.” The coach said he recognizes the challenges of competing in the 6A classification.

“We know that we will always have one of the top regions in the state. We also believe that every region in our classification is good. We respect everyone,” Cuff concluded.

SKYE JENSEN

GRADE: 11

SPORT: Cross Country

RECENT HIGHLIGHT:

Skye is now a two-time state champion and one of the top runners in the state of Utah.  

COACH’S COMMENTS:

She is a very motivated girl. Skye is always focused at practice and a real team player. She would sacrifice giving up a state championship of her own to have her team win it all.

– Coach Bruno Hunziker

GRANT HEJNY

GRADE: 12

SPORT: Cross Country

RECENT HIGHLIGHT:

Top Finisher at the Utah State 6A Championships (4th Place All-State) helping the team place second.

COACH’S COMMENTS:

Grant has improved all year, and had a phenomenal race at the State Championships.

– Coach Timo Mostert

Sponsored by the Utah National Guard.