Two earn All-State honors

Jennifer Thomas / American Fork Citizen

This season, the American Fork cheer squad competed at State for the first time since the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) designated cheer as a sanctioned sport in 2022. The state competition took place on Friday, Jan. 23.

They made their mark at the event, earning a well-deserved overall fifth-place finish. In addition, two members of the squad, Taycie Greenwood and Paisley Laycock, were included on the All-State team.

Each school in 6A sends three representatives to the All-State team tryout. Selection for the All-State recognition is determined by a live audition, during which cheerleaders perform for a panel of judges and are scored on designated criteria.

Throughout the team competition, squads are rated on a combination of total adjusted execution, stunts/pyramids difficulty, and minimum deductions and receive points for their efforts.

Scores are broken down by category, including crowd leading, tumbling, jumps and dance, with judges evaluating technique and difficulty. The teams with the highest total points place in the top five.

American Fork competes in the 6A All Girls Division and the cheer squad demonstrated immense technical skill and stamina, maintaining high energy levels across all three competition categories. They placed fifth in both the dance and show divisions.

“This year we set a goal as a team and coaching staff that we wanted to make it to State,” said Allison Routson, head coach of the American Fork cheer team.

“This is a hard thing to accomplish, only seven teams out of all the 6A All Girl teams across Utah make it to state finals and we did it,” she added.

“This being the first time AF Cheer went to state since cheer was made a sanctioned sport, and the first time for the majority of our coaching staff, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Routson. “Utah cheer teams are some of the best in the nation.

“Utah teams are nationally ranked both in all-star teams and high school teams,” the coach continued. “We don’t just compete against good Utah teams at State, we compete against some of the best teams in the nation. We are so proud of our fifth-place finish.”

The cheer team coaching staff is led by Routson with assistant coaches Bri Croft, Baylie Clark, McKenna Delis and Ellie Runolfson.

Student leaders include varsity competition captains Macey Byers and Paisley Laycock with varsity team captains Sophie Haselton, Gabriella Lindsay, Grace Merrill and Taycie Greenwood.

Haselton said, “It was such an awesome experience qualifying and competing at State this year. We’ve been working hard all season and I’m happy that we not only participated at State but also made it to the top five.”

“If I had to sum up this season in one word for this team it would be resilience,” said Routson. “We have had setback after setback from serious injuries, illnesses and hard things that teenagers face in their lives as student athletes.

“We have had to dig deep and truly learn what being a team means. These girls have been amazing in the face of so much change and adversity,” the coach said.

“Typically, you have the same people competing at every competition throughout the year. This year that has not been the case. At almost every competition we’ve had this year, there has been someone new filling in for an athlete who hasn’t been able to compete for one reason or another.

“So, a new person has to learn a new routine, new skills, new everything in one day and then compete that week and they have stepped up and handled the pressure,” added Routson.

“Our team has worked hard all season long and has faced so much adversity, but we have made it through every single thing thrown our way,” said Lindsay. “Qualifying for State was such a tender moment and an unforgettable experience.

“When competing, we have two minutes and 30 seconds to show off our year of hard work.  We did our best and we are so proud of what we put on the mat at State. I’m proud to be a Caveman,” she said.

“We have amazingly talented athletes on this team. We cheer all the time for all the sports at school, and we compete in our own sport on top of it all,” Lindsay said.

“No other sport involves that amount of time commitment and to be recognized at State as one of the top five teams is a huge accomplishment,” she said.

The cheer team looks forward to competing at the National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) competition Feb. 6-8 in Orlando, Florida.

“We will compete against hundreds of other teams at the NHSCC in Orlando, Florida this week. We have high goals set for ourselves for that competition,” Routson said. “We hope we can keep progressing as a program and give a good performance.

“These athletes deserve to be recognized for their hard work. We want the American Fork Cavemen to become a household name in high school cheer. It takes time and effort, but we are well on our way,” the coach concluded.

Jennifer Thomas / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School Drill Team competed in the top-tier state semifinals competition on Wednesday (Jan. 28) at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Center.

Although the drill team did not advance to the state finals, the American Fork Cavettes were technically polished and bursting with personality in all three categories at the semifinals competition.

“We are disappointed that we barely fell short of our team goal of continuing on to the top eight highly competitive 6A teams for the finals,” said American Fork Drill Team head coach Jeana Harmon.

“We still feel that we ‘left our mark,’ and that has been our slogan for the year,” she said. “We have loved our competition season and our journey this year and I hope this team will remember that we are Cavette sisters forever.”

The American Fork Cavettes competed at the 2026 Contest of Champions in Florida, Feb. 25 to March 2.

Prior to the trip, Harmon said, “We are so excited to go to Florida and for the opportunity to compete with teams outside of Utah. We will represent American Fork High School as athletic dancers with pride.”

The drill team has had a successful season with placements at various invitational competitions as well as receiving an award for sportsmanship.

“The girls have worked so hard and I am such a proud coach. They have really put their hearts on the dance floor at every competition,” said Harmon. “Not only are they smart, beautiful, loveable, spirited, and talented athletes but they also have awesome character and a positive attitude with a strong work ethic,” the coach concluded.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork boys wrestling team finished a close sixth at the 6A Division A regional competition on Saturday (Jan. 31) at Syracuse High School and had 11 competitors qualify for the state wrestling tournament at Utah Valley University’s UCCU Center on Feb. 11-12.

Layton won the event with 355.5 points, followed by Syracuse at 328 and Westlake at 277.5. The Cavemen tallied 128 points and finished just behind Farmington in fifth place at 136.

Junior Cohen Mortensen was the top seed entering the event and won the bracket title in the 144 weight class. He got started by defeating the No. 32 entrant from Westlake by technical fall 17-2 at 1:30 in the first round. The next opponent was the No. 16 from Herriman and he pinned him in 48 seconds.

Mortensen earned a 16-8 major decision over No. 4 Lincoln Catenzaro of Farmington in the semifinal and managed a second-round pin over No. 3 Uriah Auguletto of Syracuse at 3:34 in the championship match. He was also named the Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament.

“Our goal going into Divisionals was to qualify eight kids for state and we ended up qualifying 11,” said Coach Cody Mortensen. “We are very happy and excited about the weekend. We are especially excited about our two freshmen TJ Varney, and Myers Carter who qualified.

“Our team has battled through injuries the last month or so but got it together enough to make a nice showing,” he continued. “Koa fought back from a broken nose mid-season.

“Cohen tore a ligament in his foot earlier this week that put the tournament in jeopardy for him. Hudson has been doing rehab on his elbow the last three weeks but refused to sit out the weekend,” he said. “Overall, I’m very proud of this group. They came, fought, and refused to quit.”

Divisional results are used not only to determine eligibility for the state event but also factor in the seeding which is used to assign the matchups. Those who finish in the top four at Divisionals will get the most favorable seeds.

Here’s how the other Caveman qualifiers placed by weight class:

• At 113, Jacob Pletsch finished in sixth place.
• At 120, TJ Varney placed seventh, and Hudson Bauerle came in eighth.
• At 126, Cougar Wilson took fourth place.
• At 144, Koa Stotts ended up in fifth place.
• At 150, Michael Holman qualified in eighth place.
• At 157, Hyrum Rowley also garnered a spot with eighth place.
• At 190, Kade Durrant earned seventh place.
• At 215, Mitt Palmer captured fourth place.
• At 285, Myers Carter placed eighth.

Other American Fork wrestlers who competed at this meet included Andrew Jenson (190, placed 10th), Derik Robertson (106), Grant Mangrum (126), Dhyan Patel (132), Ethan Krein (132), Colson Clegg (138), Cole Manning (150), Jonah Crowther (157), Hayden Sumsion (165), Jacob Jarrett (215) and Kaden Brown (285).

The Cavemen don’t have a girls team, but some American Fork girls practice and compete with the Skyridge squad and represent their own school at events.

During the 6A Division B tournament on Jan. 29 at Syracuse High School, two of them competed and qualified to advance to the girls state meet, which will be held concurrently with the boys event at the same venue.

Junior Aleana Curley earned second-period pins over Weber and Westlake and finished in seventh place in the 130 weight class. In the 190 bracket, junior Lacey Watrous came in sixth with a forfeit win over Farmington.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

After 33 years in education, Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) Executive Director Rob Cuff has announced his retirement effective July 31, 2026.

Cuff joined the UHSAA staff 25 years ago in 2001 as an Assistant Director, about six months after his family moved to the North County, where he raised his children and still lives. He’s the brother of American Fork teacher and boys basketball coach Ryan Cuff.

Cuff began his career in education at Mountain View High School as an English teacher and the head boys basketball coach. The Bruins won two state championships and several region championships in his seven years of coaching.

Getting into administration, Cuff served as the athletic administrator at Mountain View for a brief time, prior to moving on to his next position at the UHSAA. He was also a high school certified football official for 12 years, officiating several state playoff games, including three state championship contests.

Cuff said the initial job opportunity at the UHSAA was unexpected. “I loved coaching, but I wanted to get into administration at some point,” he said. “I thought I would apply at UHSAA, and then maybe I would work there someday. I didn’t really anticipate that I would be offered the job so soon.

“Once that happened, I then had to make a big decision to leave teaching and coaching shortly after we had won back-to-back basketball state championships at Mountain View,” Cuff added. “It was one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make.”

He was hired later as the sixth Executive Director in the organization’s 99-year history, a position he has filled for the past 17 years. 

Cuff said “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the UHSAA, our member schools and students for the past three decades.

“When I joined the UHSAA staff, I could not have imagined a more challenging and satisfying journey. The opportunity to serve as UHSAA Executive Director has been extremely rewarding,” he said.

Asked what his favorite things about the job were, Cuff said, “Without a doubt, all of the opportunities to be with the students and student-athletes and the many ‘trophy lifts’ that I have been part of throughout my career.

“They are all different, but they bring so much joy to the teams who are able to win,” he continued. “We present 138 state champions per year now. I figure I have been involved in more than 2,500 trophy presentations over the years.”

There was one occasion in particular which stood out in his mind. “A trophy presentation that will always remain special is to the 2018 Skyridge volleyball state champions when I was able to hand the trophy to my daughter and her teammates.”

He added, “the trophy presentations to the second-place teams have also brought some great moments, rewarding them for a great season and a great accomplishment,” though he acknowledged that the players don’t always see it that way at the time.

“Because of the agony of defeat, many times the second-place teams don’t appreciate their extraordinary achievement until years down the road,” Cuff said.

The job has not been without some surprises. “The adversity and difficulties of the job have certainly helped me to grow in many ways,” Cuff said. “The experiences have been challenging yet rewarding at the same time.

“To see high school activities and student participation expand statewide has been encouraging,” he went on. During Cuff’s time at the UHSAA, the Association added girls golf, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, girls wrestling, boys volleyball, competitive cheer, and most recently the activity of Esports.

The number of UHSAA member schools when Cuff arrived was 122 with 85,000 participants. Today the number of UHSAA member schools is 160 with more than 113,000 participants in sanctioned activities.

“Working with outstanding individuals over the years, both in our member schools and on my staff, has provided me so many memorable moments and so much joy and happiness,” he said.

“I am grateful for my family and the great support they have provided to me in allowing me to spend so much time and energy in helping others succeed in education-based activities,” Cuff said. Although he’s still determining the shape his future will take, his family is part of the focus.

“I look forward to spending more time with my family, and especially my grandchildren,” he said. “It has been a great ride of 33 years working with students and student-athletes through high school activities. Those memories, teachable moments and life lessons will stay with me forever.”

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School community celebrated the semicentennial of the 1976 state championship basketball team with a special ceremony in between the girls and boys basketball games on Friday (Jan. 30).

Team members flew in from across the country to participate in the commemoration. Extraordinarily, all the players gathered except for two who were unable to attend because of health issues, and the team’s three coaches were also on hand for the festivities.

“American Fork High School is built on a rich history and strong traditions,” said Cole Perry, assistant principal over athletics. “We are proud to be Cavemen, and we honor all who have worn the red and white over the past 125 years.

“Tonight, it is a special privilege to recognize the 1976 state championship team and celebrate their lasting legacy,” he said.

The group stood together under the spotlight at center court as the announcer gave their names and told a little of their story. The original trophy was symbolically awarded again, and then the members of this year’s team posed for pictures with their illustrious predecessors.

The Cavemen had previously won titles in 1950 and 1962 in Class B, which was essentially for Utah’s rural schools at the time. The 1976 title was earned in Class 3A when 4A was as high as the divisions went, so it was American Fork’s first championship of the “modern” era.

The Cavemen had finished second in the previous two tournaments so the program had been building for some time, but it was “do or die” for the outstanding senior class. The third chance turned out to be the charm as American Fork prevailed after a thrilling playoff run.

The now-legendary Carl Ingersoll was the head coach at that time, early in what eventually became an illustrious career. Bob Eckles and Art Allred were his assistants, and both of them went on to contribute decades of service to the school’s athletic programs.

The designated centers for the team included Ron Allen (Sr. 6-6), Mike Bond (Sr. 6-4) and Chris Monson (Jr. 6-2½). The forwards included Andy Burgess (Sr. 6-2), David Nerdin (Sr. 6-2), Brad Adamson (Jr. 6-1) and Frank Pulley (Jr. 6-0).

The guard corps consisted of seniors Brian Hansen (6-1), David Dean (5-7), Robert Shelley (5-9), Gary Cook (6-2) and Randy Thomas (6-2); juniors Mark Farnsworth (5-10), Marty Hall (6-2) and Paul Peters (5-9); plus Scott Rackman (5-9), the squad’s only sophomore.

Many of the players gathered at the home of a local member on Thursday night to share memories and laughter. The school hosted a dinner for the entire group prior to the ceremony, and they also got a tour of the modern locker room.

Dean’s wife Molly said, “Dave and his teammates have stayed lifelong friends, still getting together for golf, lunch, trips and regular checking in with each other, always with the most hilarious stories. It is a wonderful thing to witness.”

Lynn Anderson, an assistant coach for the present boys team and a longtime coach and teacher at the school, was instrumental in making the arrangements for the team reunion. He said, “Welcoming the 1976 state championship team back to our school was a special experience.

“Nearly 50 years later, their legacy is still felt in our program,” he continued. “As a current coach, it was inspiring to see the bond the players still share and to be reminded that championships are about more than wins — they’re about relationships, standards, and pride that lasts a lifetime.

“Seeing them on the court together once again with their coaches was incredible,” Anderson said. “It was a special night for sure, and one I think our players of today will also remember.”

Check back later in the week for more stories about the team’s title run and what happened to the players after high school.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School girls basketball team posted a 2-2 record in the past two weeks. They finished the first round of Region 3 play with a 2-2 mark and sit in third place there, with an overall record of 12-5. Of note, the Cavemen are currently third in the state 6A RPI rankings.

Full statistical information was unavailable for the first two of these games.

Jan. 13: Lone Peak 54, American Fork 40

The Cavemen fell behind early against the 6A No. 1 Knights and they trailed 7-14 after the initial period and 15-27 at the half. They played Lone Peak nearly even in the final two quarters but couldn’t overcome the early deficit.

Junior shooting guard Jalise Chatman scored a game-high 17 points including a pair of triples for the home squad. Junior point guard Morgan Felix also sank a pair from long distance and finished with seven points.

Freshman small forward Maya Durrant added seven points as well and senior power forward Taylor Jensen provided four points.

Jan. 16: American Fork 66, Corner Canyon 30

The Cavemen bounced back nicely on the road against the Chargers. They raced out to a 19-11 advantage in a fast-paced first quarter and expanded the lead to 40-16 by the break, cruising to the big victory from there.

Senior small forward Julia Fugal led the effort for the visitors with 18 points followed by Chatman with 15 points. Jensen, senior power forward Brooke Grunander and Felix each netted two treys.

Jensen tallied 11 points while Grunander, Felix and Durrant added six apiece and sophomore power forward Rebekah Jacob contributed four points.

Jan. 23: Skyridge 45, American Fork 44

The Cavemen came out on the short end of a region barnburner against the Falcons. American Fork was out in front 15-9 after the first period, 22-18 at the break and 39-29 heading into the final stanza.

However, Skyridge mounted a furious rally in the fourth quarter and clamped down defensively. The Falcons managed to convert a 3-point game-winner with just seconds left on the clock.

Chatman turned in an active all-around game with 18 points including two long bombs plus two rebounds, two assists and three steals. Fugal added a near double-double of 13 points with nine boards plus three steals and a pair of blocks.

Jensen furnished eight points while Jacob collected five rebounds plus four steals.  Durrant captured six boards and Grunander got three.

Jan. 27: American Fork 52, Layton 48

Back on the road, the Cavemen played a tough defensive second period and appeared to have a comfortable lead at 33-16 going to the locker room. The home squad surged in the second half with a major comeback attempt, but American Fork was able to do enough down the stretch to secure the win.

Chatman led the way with an inspired 20 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Felix sank three triples and finished with 10 points.

Jacob added seven points and five steals while Fugal garnered five points, six boards, three assists and three steals. Grunander scored five points and had three rebounds. Durrant gathered three boards and three steals.

The Cavemen will start the final round of Region 3 play on Friday (Jan. 30), when they will welcome Lehi with the girls varsity game set for 5:15 p.m. followed by the boys varsity contest at 7 p.m. American Fork will visit Lone Peak on Tuesday (Feb. 3) with the same tipoff times.

Beky Beaton / America Fork Citizen

The 6A No. 3 American Fork High School boys basketball team went 3-1 in the first round of Region 3 play and is tied for first place with No. 2 Corner Canyon. The team has a 12-7 record overall.

Jan. 13: American Fork 77, Lone Peak 63

The Cavemen started hot against the Knights at home and raced out to a 19-11 advantage after the first quarter, expanding it to 39-18 at the half. Lone Peak reduced the deficit after the break, but they weren’t able to climb out of the hole.
Senior guard Bryce Mella led the effort with a perfect shooting night from short distance and at the stripe, finishing with 21 points and six rebounds. Senior forward Jax Clark had a monster outing as well with a double-double of 17 points and 12 boards plus nine assists and a block.

Sophomore wing Dieter Tuitavuki also netted 17 points along with four rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Ashton Hucks added 12 points, four boards and three gives while senior guard Bridger Burnside captured three rebounds.

American Fork’s players combined to win the battle of the boards 36-20 and made 20 assists in the contest. They converted 74 percent of their shots inside the paint and were 40 percent from distance.

“I’m so proud of our boys,” said Coach Ryan Cuff. “They played an exceptionally talented and athletic Lone Peak team. We continue to live in a defensive mindset of mental toughness and a desire to be the first to collect rebounds and 50/50 balls.

“We executed our offense with precision, and the ball movement was key,” the coach added.

Jan. 16: Corner Canyon 65, American Fork 49

Cold shooting in the second quarter and all night from beyond the arc set up a difficult task for the Cavemen on the road. After edging their hosts 14-13 in the initial period, American Fork managed to board just two points in the second quarter to 17 by the Chargers and never recovered.

However, Clark got about whatever he wanted, shooting 80 percent in the paint and 100 percent at the line for 19 points plus 10 rebounds for another double-double. Mella added 10 points, six boards plus four assists in the effort.

“We lost to a really solid Corner Canyon team,” Cuff said. “They’re big, strong and physical, which is a great matchup for us. We got off to a great start in the first quarter with our fast break and inside game.

“We just didn’t execute as well as we normally do in the second quarter, and that proved to be where the game was lost,” the coach added. “We will be going to work to improve but I’m still very excited about our team and our projection.”

Jan. 23: American Fork 57, Skyridge 49

Back at home, the Cavemen flipped the script against the Falcons, doubling them up 16-8 in the first quarter and taking a comfortable 29-15 advantage to the locker room. Skyridge won the second half, but they were too far behind at the break to cover the spread.

American Fork outrebounded the visitors 33-17 and also had twice as many assists with a margin of 15-7. The Cavemen made five steals and seven deflections in the contest.

Clark led the scoring with 19 points plus six rebounds and four assists, while Mella chipped in for 14 points along with four boards and three assists.

Hucks had a productive night with eight points, six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore forward Lincoln Zimmerman scored six points while Tuitavuki collected six boards and Burnside got five.

“This was a tough game,” Cuff said. “We weathered a really good Skyridge team. They pushed the pace, but our defense did a great job of finding stops and getting rebounds.”

Jan. 27: American Fork 70, Layton 58

The Cavemen fell behind on the road against the Lancers and trailed 38-33 at the half, but they outscored their hosts 37-20 in the final two periods to win going away.

Clark went on a rampage, hitting 13-of-14 shots inside the arc and finishing with 28 points plus six rebounds, three assists and a block. Mella had an effective night too with 21 points, six boards and three gives.

Junior guard Jax Oyler contributed seven points, four rebounds and three assists. Hucks garnered eight rebounds with five points while Burnside scored six and Tuitavuki provided four boards and four assists. American Fork had a 26-16 edge in rebounds.

“We were down at the half but stuck with our defensive strategy and just focused on toughness and rebounds,” Cuff said. “We also had 20 assists, which tells a story of our culture and belief in each other.”

The Cavemen will begin the second round of Region 3 play on Friday (Jan. 30), when they will host Lehi with the girls varsity game set for 5:15 p.m. followed by the boys varsity contest at 7 p.m. They will head to Lone Peak on Tuesday (Feb. 3) for the same tipoff times.

Elizabeth Spencer | American Fork Citizen

 Members of the American Fork High School Football team and the AFHS marching band traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, for recognition on the national stage for good sportsmanship. The recognition wasn’t because of the football team’s performance on the field, but because of their conduct in the bleachers. Every fall, when AFHS hosts the Mount Timpanogos Marching Band Competition, the football team files into the stands to support fellow Cavemen as they march on the football field.

In 2024, a social media post about the event went viral, attracting national attention. That’s when the Musial Awards picked up the story. The awards are named after former St. Louis Cardinal and baseball hall of famer, Stan Musial, who exemplified good sportsmanship through class, character, kindness, selflessness, and perseverance.

 The Musial Awards are sponsored under the leadership of the St. Louis Sports Commission and the National Sportsmanship Foundation. CBS broadcasts the event nationwide annually. Instead of recognizing athletic abilities, the Musial Awards honor outstanding sportsmanship. The awards are given to those offering humble acts of kindness. The organization spotlights those acts as powerful examples for others to follow.

Tim Ryan, Director of Communications for the foundation, commented on how the Musial Awards came across the AFHS Football team’s story. “We are always looking for things that are a little unique or different than what you’re used to seeing when it comes to sportsmanship, and we thought that this one fit that bill perfectly.”

“If there’s a story, we’re all about it. We try to select managers, team managers, all sorts of different stories. It’s not an athletic achievement award; it purely focuses on spotlighting and rewarding great sportsmanship.” Recognition can come to anyone involved in sports, from little league or recreational sports to high school and collegiate levels, all the way up to the professional world.

Past recipients of the Musial Awards have included iconic athletes such as Wayne Gretzky, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Cal Ripken Jr., Hank Aaron, Arnold Palmer, Albert Pujols, and more.

Among the 2025 honorees was professional ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi, who received the Lifetime Achievement award for Sportsmanship, which is the pinnacle honor the organization bestows. After finishing her competitive ice-skating career, Yamaguchi has been a mentor for Asian American skaters and an ambassador for the ice-skating world. “She was every bit as genuine and classy and kind and generous with her time in person as she was said to be,” said Ryan of Yamaguchi.

The AFHS football team and marching band got to share the Stifel Theatre’s stage with the iconic ice skater. Madden Jensen, one of the captains on the football team, said, “It was a super great experience.” The team got the red-carpet treatment, with flights and hotels paid. The organization took the players on a tour of the Busch Baseball Stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals, and the team got to see the famous Gateway Arch.

AFHS Principal Peter Glahn shared, “One of my favorite things about American Fork is the camaraderie shared by our faculty and staff. It’s even better when students feel like they can cross invisible barriers and appreciate their peers when they excel in different spaces at the school. It was such an honor for this small thing to be recognized on a grand stage. We hope that this sense of community continues throughout our students’ lives wherever they go.”

 As the football team was being honored, the AFHS band played a jazz arrangement of the Caveman fight song, arranged by the band’s bassist, as well as the theme from the movie “Rocky.” Senior Band Member Calan Spens shared, “It was overall just a fun experience. It was really cool to see a bunch of people enjoy the performance we did up on stage.”

 AFHS Football Coach Aaron Behm has had players attend the marching band’s competition for years. But up until last year’s social media post went viral, there wasn’t much recognition for the kind act.

 “What I find most fulfilling about the experience is that Aaron (Coach Behm) was taken aback by receiving the award. I remember him saying something like, “We’ve been doing this for nine years. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal now?” And that’s why he received the award and what the award represents. Aaron had his team come because he knew it would create a better community and culture here at the school,” shared AFHS Band Director, Orien Landis.

 “He never expected or wanted recognition for it. He just did it because he wanted to be a builder and molder of men. It was awesome to see him get that recognition because there are thousands of football teams across the country, and none have done what the Cavemen have. It was a role reversal one that has made the team and the band better,” added Landis.

 One inspiring moment highlighted during the Musial Awards included Behm teaching his players a philosophy he learned as a young athlete. Behm encourages athletes to adopt an outward-looking mindset, using the mirror room and the window room. The philosophy teaches young men that they can choose to focus on themselves or others.

 “I was fortunate to play small college football at Trinity International University, under Head Coach Andy Lambert. Coach Lambert truly used football as a vehicle to build up young men and gave me a vision for what I wanted to do with my life.  He used the analogy of the mirror room and the window room often,” wrote Behm.

 “I wish we had more time and could support more of what goes on at the school, but we cross paths with the band often during the Fall. Sharing the field, coming and going at practices, and they have had such a long history of being great, we felt like it would be a good opportunity to learn from them, support them, and do something that is entirely focused on other people and others’ success rather than our own,” added Behm.

 “It’s a real thrill,” said Ryan of working with those receiving the honor for good sportsmanship. “They are every bit the genuine, sincere, good-hearted person that they have appeared to be.” He said recipients of the award “couldn’t be more gracious.”

 Ryan said the celebrities are often blown away by the stories of the other recipients, like those of the AFHS Football team. “Through the power and reach of the Musial awards, it (good sportsmanship) can spread to the entire country and to sports celebrities on the highest levels that are also involved in this special event,” remarked Ryan.

Spens says of good sportsmanship, “It helps create a better sense of community within the school and allows one to meet more people.”

 “More fun that way,” Jensen said of showing good sportsmanship. He thinks you can connect with more people when you support others. He believes what goes around comes around, saying the band will be more willing to support the team since the team has supported the band.

 “Attending the awards show was a top-notch, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They do such a great job with the entire event; they truly go all out to celebrate the best sides of sports. The other stories that were celebrated at the Musials were amazing as well. What the city of St. Louis does with the Musial Awards is outstanding, and it was so fun to be a part of it,” shared Coach Behm.

 “The experience was amazing! The Musial Awards made it special not only for the football team but also for the band members. Everyone felt like an honored guest,” concluded Landis.

Regarding the Musial honorees, Ryan shared, “We have a deep belief that their stories are incredibly important to tell now more than ever.”

The AFHS Football team received a special, custom-made trophy shaped like the number 6, Musial’s baseball jersey number when he played for the Cardinals. A video of the AFHS Marching Band presenting the Musial Award to the football team is on YouTube.

Beky Beaton | American Fork Citizen

The Cavemen wrapped up the most prolific state title stretch in school history this past year, claiming six gold and three silver trophies to add to their already-bulging cases.

The first championship came early on in February, when the boys swim team earned the 6A crown by setting a classification record in the final event.

American Fork went on to capture five more gold trophies in a single week in May.

The boys tennis team beat the Region 3 champions they lost to during the regular season.

The boys track team won their first-ever title, and the girls team repeated as state champs.

The boys soccer team only managed third place in the region but went on to win a second-consecutive title.

And finally, the baseball team finished the season on a 15-game win streak to add the 12^th championship in the sport to the list.

Fast-forward to the fall and the Cavemen were at it again, no championships this time but three silver trophies for strong runner-up showings.

The girls tennis team outhit five-time state champion Skyridge to garner second place.

In cross country, where American Fork has long dominated, the boys were edged for the title by two points and the girls finished second to a repeat state champion.

For more on all of these outstanding accomplishments, visit https://afcitizen.com/category/sports/.

Beky Beaton / American Fork Citizen

The American Fork High School girls basketball team earned four consecutive wins in the past two weeks including the Region 3 opener to improve their overall record to 10-3 and claim first place in the league.

Dec. 30: American Fork 64, Brighton 51

The Cavemen dominated the first and third quarters on the road, outpacing their hosts 38-22 in those two periods to secure a comfortable win.

Junior shooting guard Jalise Chatman sparked the effort with four triples and finished with 16 points. Senior power forward Brooke Grunander added 13 points, senior power forward Taylor Jensen scored 11 while senior wing Julia Fugal and junior point guard Morgan Felix provided nine points apiece.

“Brighton was a tough team and is coached really well,” said Coach Robert Harmon. “We had a hard time stopping their star player from attacking the rim, but the girls did a good job of playing unselfish ball and kept a balanced attack.

“Our players are really starting to understand the proper rotations and helping play team defense,” he continued. “Jalise had a really strong game for us and that gave our other girls some confidence to be more aggressive.”

Jan. 5: American Fork 67, Judge Memorial 41

After a close first period, the Cavemen clamped down defensively and continued steady offensive production to achieve a solid victory.

Four American Fork players posted double-figure scoring. Fugal netted 15 points, freshman small forward Maya Durrant added 12 points, Jensen got 11 points and Felix provided 10 points. Chatman boarded seven points and Grunander six.

“Judge is a really athletic team,” Harmon said. “When I first got this job, Judge was our very first game as a team during the summer at UVU and we got absolutely destroyed. So, this was a game the girls have been waiting for since summer to prove they aren’t the same team they were back then and they did that.

“We really struggled with their athleticism in the first half,” the coach said. “Then we settled down and started to just make the simple plays, and we were able to build and keep a lead throughout the game.”

Jan. 6: American Fork 52, Davis 42

The Cavemen and the Darts competed closely the entire evening, but a five-point scoring edge in the third quarter put American Fork in control and the team held on for the win. Fugal led the offense with 14 points followed by Felix with 13 and Chatman with 12.

“I don’t even know where to start talking about this one,” Harmon said. “I’m just so proud of these girls and the hard work they put in day after day. Davis is a Final 4-type of team. They play hard, they play fast and they play together.

“This was a game where it went back and forth the whole time,” he continued. “We got hit a couple of times and every time the girls responded.

“I’ve been preaching all year that if you just play with energy, effort and some confidence, good things are going to happen,” the coach said. “This game showed what they can accomplish when they just give all they have for 32 minutes.”

Jan. 9: American Fork 55, Lehi 51

The Cavemen and Pioneers battled back and forth all night and were tied for the final time at 50 points each with just 1:18 to play.

At that juncture, a Felix defensive board set up a Fugal triple to push American Fork back in front. Lehi added a free throw, and the spread was still two points with 13 seconds left. Chatman made a block to prevent a Pioneer score then iced the win with a pair of free throws.

Chatman scored nine of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to help lift her team to victory. Fugal added 15 points, Grunander contributed nine and Felix had eight points in the exciting contest.

“Oh my goodness, what a game,” Harmon said. “The beginning was a bit chaotic and it got us on our heels to start and we never really seemed to come out of it until the second half. Lehi is a very good and active team.

“We really struggled stopping their penetration and kicks and had to battle every possession just to stay in it, but these girls just keep finding ways to win,” the coach went on.

“When we needed it the most, players showed up. And we made free throws,” he said. “Free throws win games. We’ve stressed it all year, and each game keeps proving it. I’m so proud of the fight these girls show. They battle ‘til the last horn.”

The Cavemen will host Lone Peak on Tuesday (Jan. 13) as Region 3 play continues with the girls varsity playing at 6 p.m. followed by the boys at 7:30 p.m. They will visit Corner Canyon on Friday (Jan. 16) with the same start times.