State Volleyball Tournament Action and AF Pre-Footlocker Cross Country Meet

Timp  Sports Weekly

November 10, 2015

Publisher's Message

This week's issue covers the annual American Fork Pre-Footlocker Cross CountryMeet and the state 5-A volleyball tournament.  While much of this issue will deal with how the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, did at the tournament, we will look at one state volleyball match that the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, played against the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA Silverpups, at the state tournament. We also see how the Awesome American Fork Cavemen and Cavewomen did at Pre-Footlocker on Nov. 7. Let's dig into those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Lone Peak Loners Still Howlin' Riverton Silverpups at State 5-A Volleyball Tournament

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

After having gotten picked apart by the Bingham Miners, AKA the Pickers, in the Nov. 5 octafinals of the State 5-A volleyball tournament, the Lone Peak Knights survived long enough to win sixth place by defeating the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Howlin' Silverpups, in a four-game match at Utah Valley University's McKay Events center Nov. 7.

Guided by Classia Candelot, Shaylee Kartchner, and Alexis Averett, the Silverpups dominated the first game. Makayla Pollard and Jaysa "What Da" Funk did they could to keep their Loners' cause alive. Lone Peak managed to pull witin 23-21, but the Silverpups howled away with a 25-21 win.

Aided by Madelyn Olson's serving, the Loners took a 3-0 lead in the second game. Pollard, What Da Funk, and Kacie Huntsman built up a strong, united efforts to keep their Loners ahead through the entire second game, despite fierce attempts by Aspen "Big Tree" Rodridquez and Akala Freeman to tip the moment back to the Silverpups' favor. The Loners won Game 2 25-18.

In taking an early 4-0 lead in the third game, the Loners encountered strong resistance from Kartchner at the net. Huntsman, Pollard, and Allison Anderson went to work on keeping Kartchner from doing severe damage to the Loners' front row. Lone Peak took Game 3 by a score of 25-15.

The fourth game saw the Silverpups tied the score at several times on hits from Kartchner, Freeman,and Rodriguez. Pollard provided the punches that Lone Peak to keep the Silverpups from forcing the match into a fifth game. Riverton looked as though it would do so, though, when the Silverpups howled ahead 21-2- an 22-21. Hits by Pollard eventually produced a 25-23 win that earned the match point for the Loners.

Awesome AF Cavemen and Cavewomen Dominate Pre-Footlocker Cross Country Meet
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

The Awesome American Fork Cavemen didn't let the recent end of their five-year reign as state cross country champions stop them from dominating the Pre-Footlocker Cross Country Invitational held at right behind American Fork High Nov. 7. The Awesome Cavewomen also dominated the meet. In fact, American racers won both the girls' and boys' division of the race.

Even though several high schools sent teams to the invitational, no team scores were kept. American Fork nevertheless still dominated the meet.

Awesome Cavewoman Sarah "Mussels" Musselman won the girls' division. Its champion said. "It was a great performance that I had today. The whole team did a good job in running as a pack. I wouldn't have done so great without Sammy [Hollingsworth]. She pushed me hard."

American Fork had eight runners win spots among the girls' race's top 30 finishes. Among the other Awesome Cavewomen who finished in the top 30, Hollingsworth took fourth, Cami Squires fifth, Katie Cornell ninth, Katie Bradshaw 18th, Lacie Evans 22nd, Anna Gunther 25th, and Bonnie Schellenberg 26th. Among other Awesome Cavewomen to place in the race's top 100, Swifty McKendrick took 37th, Kendra Heath 50th, and Katy Phillipi 57th.

American Fork Coach Bruno Hunziker said, "We were running in a pack in today's girls' race. That was how they won this year's state title. Today's race was a great tune-up for the Great Southwest in Casa Grand, Arizona. Our top 12 girls are going to run in that meet."

Having won the state 5-A boys' championship race last month, Awesome Caveman Casey Clinger took first in the boys' division at the Pre-Footlocker meet. A "distant cousin" of MASH character Corporal Clinger, Casey said, "I ran the way I wanted to today. The state course was more difficult, but today's course still got me ready for my race the Great Southwest in  Casa Grande, Arizona, later this month. I'm looking forward to attempt to post a new personal best at that race."

Among the other Awesome Cavemen to place in the boys' race's top 30 finishes, McKay Johns took fifth, Joe Simmons seventh, Pat Larkin 13th, Jason Manning 20th. Among the other Awesome Cavemen who finished in their race's top 100 places. Cole Phillip took 35th and Dalton Bren 44th.

American Fork boys' coach Timo Mostert said, "Today showed us what we needed to do to get ready for the Great Southwest."

Westlake, Lehi, and Pleasant Grove also had runners compete at last weekend's Pre-Footlocker.

Westlake's Micaela Case finished 27th in the girls' race while it saw her teammates Brittin Roth take 31st, Kelsi Westphal 52nd, Brittin Morrison 100th, and Allison Rowley 111th.

The girls' race saw Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings Hailey Tanne finish 12th and Skye Jeppson 14th Nicole Sheridan 73rd, Aspen Lucas 83rd, Lauren McArthur 157th, Paige Endicott 174th, Hailey Wright 184, and Natalie Beckstrand 181st.

Viking Coach Mark Morrison said, "They ran pretty good today. The race is a tune-up for our trip to Footlocker in Walnut Grove, Calif., later this month."

Lehi Froggies Karli Branch took 29th, Alexis Watson 30th, Kaylee Kenison 53rd, Sami Austin 54th, Meg Bartholomew 72nd, Amelia Phillips 102nd, Rachel MacDonald 112th, Brunlee Harmon 118th, Rachel Morgan 144th, Sophie Gordon 170th, Emma Watts 171st, and Maddie Harris 175th..

In the boys' division, Froggies Tommy Heaps took 12th, Connor Arnell 21st, Micky Hinckley 31st, Nate Allen 71st, Kobe Mickleson 96th, Dallin Bartholomew 104th, Garrison Martin 113th,  and Tommy Phillips 115th. Running for Westlake in the boys' division, Jimmy Lewis took 41st, Logan Anderson 56th, and Awet Tesgay 85th.

Lehi Coach Jamie Aviso said, "I was proud of what our runners showed how dedicated they have been in their training since the state meet. Our varsity is going to be going to the Great Southwest while our jayvees will be competing at Footlocker."

Among the Ferocious Vikings to place in the boys' race, Riley Taylor took 51st, Reed Muir 62nd, Ali Ashtaway 82nd, Price Walker 85th, Joe Lamb 88th, and Josh Walker 91st.

Lehi Froggies and Ferocious PG Vikings Brush Aside Opponents and Engage in Ribbiting Rematch in State 5-A Volleyball Game, Ending in Web-Footed Team Hopping Home With State Trophy
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

This year's state 5-A volleyball tournament went down as a real-life version of a classic plot from a sports movie: A squad of players who put forth an amazing effort to win a state trophy for their head coach, who has decided to retire and move on to doing something else with her life.

The team of such players this year was the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. Jamie Ingersoll, their head coach for the past 13 years, had recently decided to step after this volleyball season to take a teaching position next fall at a new high school on the north end of Lehi, nicknamed by American Forkers and Pleasant Grovers generations ago as Swamptown. Also going with her to that school will be her longtime assistant Angie "T-Bear" Roberts, who had played sports for the Mountain View Teddy Bears a generation ago.

Ingersoll's web-footed players demonstrated in all four of their state matches how anxious they were in wanting to hop away with the 2015 state championship trophy. To win it, they had to get through the Jordan Beetdiggers (AKA the Plowgirls), the Davis Darts (AKA the Tarts), the Bingham Miners (AKA the Pickers), and the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings.

Eager to hold on to their state title for a fourth straight season, the Ferocious Vikings engaged in tight battles with the West Jordan Jaguars (AKA Pussycats), the Vicious Viewmonth Vikings, and Brighton Bengals (AKA the Bad Old Puddy Tats) before they faced off with the Froggies, their sworn Region Four arch rivals.

In having bested the Froggies for the Region Four crown, the Ferocious Vikings seemed certain of drying up Lehi in three games. However, the Froggies would not be pushovers this time.

To look at how Lehi and Pleasant Grove made it to the state championship match Nov. 7, let's look at how they did during the first three rounds of state playoff action.

It took the Froggies only three games to flood away the Jordan Plowgirls by scores of 25-16, 25-9, 25-13. The first game opened with Froggie Rylin Roberts, "distant cousin" of US Supreme Chief Justice Johnny Roberts, posting an ace. Guided by Kendra Dean, the Plowgirls battled their web-footed foes to a 2-2 draw. An Amber Lamborn kill sent the Froggies leaping ahead to 5-2. Dean and Lizzie Clark paced the Plowgirls to pull back within 6-5. For a spell, the Froggies continued keeping Jordan at bay. However, with help from Lorraine "Miss Pain" Peterson and Clark, Dean led the Plowgirls out to a 9-8 lead. The Plowgirls expectations of harvesting a upset win over the Froggies suddenly vanished as Roberts, Marta Ellsworth, and Faith Crabb moved back and froth along the net like a trio of Energy Bunnies, registering devastating hits into Jordan holes. For a spell, the Plowgirls didn't let themselves fall more than five points behind thanks to Dean's hitting. However, after the score read 19-15, Roberts went really wild at the net as teammate Sidney "The Happy Croaker" White dished out great serves that produced the 25-16 win for the Froggies.

A Lamborn kill sent Lehi leaping out to a 9-2 lead in Game 2. It saw Mikayla Upham and Faith Crabb join Roberts, Ellsworth, and Crabb in hammering out kills that demoralized the Plowgirls so much that they couldn't put together either an effective offense or defensive. As the game ended in a 25-9 win for the Froggies, their fans croaked, "We want PG! We want PG!"

In order for those web-footed spectators to get their met, their team had to finish off the Plowgirls first. While UVU campus police officers escorted two Lehi boys out of the arena over some offense during Game 3, the Froggie players leaped out to a 9-1 lead on White's serving and Roberts' hitting. When the Froggies' lead had swollen to 14-2, Dean stirred up a rally. Assisted by Vicky Dennis, the Plowgirls battled back within 20-10. That turned out to be the closest Jordan could get to Lehi. Through Lamborn and Roberts' hitting, the Froggies flooded the Plowgirls into the consolation bracket, where Jordan couldn't last long.

In their octafinal match against the West Jordan Pussycats, the Ferocious Vikings showed why they deserved a shot at a fourth consecutive crown. In the game affair, the Ferocious Vikings fixed the Pussycats by scores of 25-14, 25-15, 25-20.

A Malli Valguardson kill sent the Ferocious Vikings rowing out to an early 6-1 lead. Kills by Sara Hamson, Brooklyn Dahl, Kazna Tarawhitt, and Kennedy Redd soon produced a 15-7 lead for Pleasant Grove. Siki Suguturanga and Jessica Pilvi stirred a rally that moved the Pussycats within 18-13. Redd and Hamson went on a hitting spree which created the 25-14 win for the Ferocious Vikings.

In the second game, Hamson did an effective job in keeping Suguturanga from doing much damage to Pleasant Grove as the Ferocious Vikings rowed out to an early 5-1 lead. Good serving by Elena DeSpain paced the Pussycats to claw their way back within 7-6. A bad Pussycat hit gave the Ferocious Vikings fresh momentum. Dahl and Jaquelyn Langhaim produced hits that enabled the Ferocious Vikings to row away after West Jordan had pulled within 10-8. Before long, Hamson hits yielded a double-digit lead for Pleasant Grove. A Natalie Ridder kill gave the Ferocious Vikings 25-15.

West Jordan finally became a serious opponent in the third game. Hits by Hamson and Valguardson created an 11-5 lead. Xena Moeai'i and Taylor strongly tested the Ferocious Viking front row as those two Pussycats hammered out kills that placed West Jordan within 14-12 and 17-15. Ridder and Dahl delivered key kills to keep Pleasant Grove narrowly ahead in the game's closing moments. A Madelyn Robinson kill gave Pleasant Grove a 25-20 win that moved the Ferocious Vikings into a quarterfinal showdown with the Viewmont Vicious Vikings.

Viewmont's Vikings were not exactly vicious in the first game. Hits by Hamson and Dahl empowered Pleasant Grove to row out to a 12-4 lead. It gave the impression that Game 1 would end quicker than you could say Ali Lamb Chop. Robinson, Dahl, Valguardson, Robinson, and Hamson pounded the Vicious Viking front into nothingness, producing a 25-11 win.

In the second game, Viewmont's Vikings produced a vicious performance as they took a 2-0 lead over Pleasant Grove. It took the Ferocious Vikings a spell to secure their first lead over the Vicious Vikings. Once a Valguardson kill put Pleasant Grove ahead 4-3, the game turned into a seesaw fight. Langhaim joined Hamson and Valguardson in keeping Vicious Vikings Liz Hewlett and Lillie Peterson from shoving the momentum into Viewmont's control. Still, the lead kept switching hands frequently, especially during the closing minutes. A bad Viewmont bump made Pleasant Grove a 25-23 victor.

Holland Hutchings' serving gave the Vicious Vikings a 6-0 lead in Game 3. A Dahl kill sparked an incredible comeback for Pleasant Grove. Dahl's hitting gave the Ferocious Vikings the momentum to stay in the contest, even though Viewmont led most of Game 3, because efforts from Hewlett and Peterson. Finally, Redd kill put Pleasant Grove ahead 20-19. Hits from Dahl and Hamson soon gave Pleasant Grove a 25-21 win that would set them up for a semifinal contest against the Brighton Bad Old Puddy Tats.

Ferocious PG Viking-Lehi Froggie Volleyball Thriller

Timp Sports Weekly

November 3, 2015

Publisher's Message

With the recent completion of the regular volleyball season, we're going to look at the most important volleyball match of Region Four play this year: the Oct. 27 showdown between the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. At stake in that match was the question of whether the Ferocious Vikings would win sole possession of the region championship or have to share it with the Froggies, their web-footed arch rivals. To answer that question, let's look my account of the five-game match, which I must say was quite riveting -- correction, ribbiting.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

Ferocious PG Vikings Sink Lehi Froggies in 5-Game Volleyball Match Oct. 27

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four volleyball thriller at Pleasant Grove Oct. 27, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings drained the Lehi Pioneers during five games of riveting -- correction, ribbiting action by scores of 25-27-25, 25-20, 25-21, 9-25. 15-10.

Besides going down with Pleasant Grove winning another championship trophy for the Ferocious Vikings' already over-crowded awards cases, the match marked the last time that the Ferocious Vikings would be playing their home matches in their main gym. Next season, they will host visiting teams in the nearby field house. 

Not wishing to lose to the same team that had lost at home to American Fork in late last September, the Froggies came out with a fierce performance against the Ferocious Vikings in the first game. Hits by Rylin Roberts, a "distant cousin" of BY Zoobie basketball legend Fred "Boo"Roberts, gave the Froggies an early 2-0 lead.  Kennedy Redd smashed a hit in hopes of sparking the Ferocious Vikings into rallying back. They tied the game at six, and a Malli Valguardson kill put Pleasant Grove ahead 7-6. The Ferocious Vikings couldn't stay ahead for long, though. Serves by Sydney White, especially one ace, inspired the Froggies to leap ahead 8-7 on a Roberts' kill.

The Ferocious Vikings didn't let their web-footed guests stay ahead for long. Guided by Sara Hamson, Malli Valguardson, Kazman Tarawhittti, Brooklyn Dahl, and Redd, the Ferocious Vikings battled back to take a 12-11 lead. Hamson's fierce hits kept the Ferocious Vikings narrowly ahead for a while. Nevertheless, the Froggies' determination couldn't be dried up. Aided by White's serves, Roberts, Faith Crabb, Rachel Richards, Marta Ellsworth, and Amber Lamborn revved up a big Froggie rally after Pleasant Grove had improved its lead at 18-14. The Froggies quickly tied the game at 20. A Richards kill put Lehi ahead 21-20, drawing loud croaks of joy from the gym's upper bleachers, occupied mainly by Lehi supporters. The lead went through a brief series of switches of ownership. The game finally ended through the Ferocious Vikings failing to return a shot over the net.

The Froggies' 27-25 win in the first game gave their fans high expectations that Lehi would flood away the Ferocious Vikings in the three games. That scenario didn't come true. Hamson's hits sent the Ferocious Vikings rowing out to an early 1-0 lead. However, Roberts paced the Froggies out to a 2-1 advantage. Aided by Hamson's smacking, Dahl put Pleasant Grove ahead 3-2, but the Froggies jumped out in front 4-3. This time, they couldn't keep their webbed hands on the momentum for long. With Tania Muniz taking a turn at serving for the Ferocious Vikings, Hamson hammered hits that put Pleasant Grove ahead 7-6. Tarawhitti, Dahl, and Valguardson stepped forward to help Hamson at the net to protect the Ferocious Vikings' narrow lead. It grew as wide as 13-7. The Froggies refused to let the Ferocious Vikings row farther ahead. Roberts, Crabb, and Mikayla Upham hammered out kills that produced a 15-14 lead for the Froggies. Ferocious Viking Natalie "Easy" Ridder socked a kill that tied the game at 15, and Pleasant Grove pulled back ahead 16-15. Though a Richards ace tied the game at 17, the Ferocious Vikings didn't let the Froggies steal the lead again. Aided by Jaquelyn Langhaim's serving, hits from Hamson, Dahl, and Jenelle Biggs permitted the Ferocious Vikings to 25-21 on Hamson tip.

In the third game, Hamson's hitting soon produced a 7-2 lead for the Ferocious Vikings. That score could have spelled a quick, blowout win for the Ferocious Vikings, but their opponents proved immediately that they still had a lot of jump left in them. Lamborn and Roberts punched kills that sent Lehi leaping back within 10-9. However, Hamson's hitting enabled Pleasant Grove to stay narrowly ahead. Ridder produced key kills late in the game that improved the Ferocious Viking lead at 22-16. Roberts' hitting paced Lehi to stroke back within 24-21. A Kennedy Redd kill gave Pleasant Grove a 25-21.

Ferocious Viking fans' expectation of their team draining Lehi completely in Game 4 turned out to be a mirage. Richards, Roberts, and Lamborn guided Lehi out to a 9-1 lead. It made clear that the Ferocious Vikings would soon get flooded out of their own gym by the Froggies. The Ferocious Vikings made that scenario come true through making frequent bad hits and missed serves. The Froggies hopped at the golden opportunity that the Ferocious Vikings' mistakes had given Lehi. Roberts, Lamborn, Ellsworth, Crabb, and Richards each took a turn at registering kills devastating to the Froggies. By the time a Lamborn tip had given the Froggies a 25-9 win, Pleasant Grove fans wondered whether they had traveled back in time to the night that the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen had sunk the Ferocious Vikings in a five-game match last September.

"After the fourth game, we made changes in our focus," said Hamson. "We took Lehi more seriously."

A White kill sent the Froggies jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Hamson didn't let them take total control of the game. She registered hits that gave Pleasant Grove the momentum it needed to stay in the game. After Tarawhitti hits had tied the game at seven and eight, Redd registered a kill that put Pleasant Grove ahead 9-8. Hamson and Redd's hits kept the Ferocious Vikings narrowly ahead. When the score read 14-10, Ferocious Viking Coach Alyce Jones sent Bailey Nixon to serve. On Nixon's only official serve of the game, Hamson produced a block that gave Pleasant Grove a match point and sole ownership of the Region Four title.

"It was great to end our era in this gym with a win," Hamson said.

"I liked the way we hit the ball all the way through the match," Jones said. "It was great for us close out our era in this gym with another region championship."

The trophy for it was given to the Ferocious Vikings immediately after the match.

Ferocious Viking and Lehi Froggie Volleyball Wins at Home

Timp Sports Weekly

October 27, 2015

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at volleyball wins that the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Lehi Pioneers (AKA the Froggies) had posted at home against the Riverton Silverwolves (AKA the Silverpups) and the Lone Peak Knights (AKA the Loners) last week. Let's see why the Ferocious Vikings and the Froggies did so well in their home matches last week. As they say in Lehi, those contests were quite riveting -- correction, ribbiting.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Ferocious PG Vikings Quiet Howlin' Riverton Silverpups in 3-Game Match Oct. 20

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four volleyball match at Pleasant Grove on Oct. 20, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings quieted the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Howlin' Silverpups, in three games by scores of 25-14, 25-20, 25-13.

Under the leadership of Sara Hamson, Malli Valguardson, Brooklynn Dahl, Kennedy Redd, and  Kazman Tarawhitti, the Ferocious Vikings hammered the Silverpups into submission in the first game by a score of 25-20.

The Silverpups turned into credible opponents in Game 2. Aided by digs made by Brielle Fowler and Hannah Waddell, the Ferocious Vikings secured a 4-1 lead to create an impression that they would make short work of the Silverpups. However, through Shae Kartchner's blocking and the combined spiking of Calissa Candalot, Jenessa Robinson, and Alexis Averett sent the Silverpups howling back within 8-7. Good serving by Giana Rasmussen aided Valguardson and Hamson in making key kills that enabled the Ferocious Vikings to maintain their hold on their narrow lead. The Silverpups pulled within 21-19, but Kennedy's blocking prevented them from catching up with the Ferocious Vikings. A Hamson kill gave the Ferocious Vikings a 25-20 lead.

In Game 3, te Kartchner and Candalot guided the Silverpups within 3-2, Waddell and Jacquelyn Langhaim's fine serving helped Hamson, Tarawhitti, and Valguardon to come up with hits that permitted the Ferocious Vikings to row away. The closest that Riverton could get to Pleasant Grove was 12-6. Late in the game, Ferocious Viking Coach Alyce Jones sent Bailey Nixon into action as a server. This was the first time that Nixon played this season, because of a knee injury. Nixon's entruy into the game drew applause from Ferocious Viking fans. Through making serves, Nixon helped the Vikings coast to winning the match. A Janell Biggs ace won the match for Pleasant Grove.

Jones said, "We had a lot of great hits tonight. Sara Hamson, Kennedy Redd, and Kazman Tarawhitti each registered nine kills for us tonight. Also, in seeing how much Bailey's knee had healed, we decided to give her an opportunity tonight to play. We sent her in just to serve. She did a good job as a servers."

Lehi Froggies Defeat Lone Peak Loners in 4-Game Match Oct. 22 to Conclude Home Season
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In closing out their home season on Oct. 22, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, deluged the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, in a four-game match by scores of 25-18, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20.

Even though the Froggies won three of the games, the entire match still went down as a classic tough contest between the Loners and their web-footed, high-jumpin' opponents. Game 1 made that fact clear.

It opened with Loner Linda Fonbuena smacking a kill into a Froggie front-row hole, sending Lone Peak out to an 2-1 lead. However, Marta Ellsworth and Mikayla Upham organized a rally that sent the Froggies leaping ahead to a 5-2 lead. Soon, two straight Faith Crabb kills improved the Froggies' lead at 8-4. The Loners refused to let the Froggies flood them away. A "distant relative" of former Utah Governor Big Jon Huntsman, Kacie "Arrow" Huntsman got Fonbuena, Macie "Biggie" Cannon, and Jaysa "What Da" Funk to pace the Loners to battle back to tie the game at eight. A Loner missed serve tipped the Froggies back ahead 9-8. A cousin of former Awesome American Fork Cavewoman volleyball legend Cassidy Roberts, Rylin Roberts registered two straight kills that gave the Froggies enough momentum to build up a 20-11 lead. Loner Kennedi Boyd, a "distant cousin" of late Hollywood actor Stephen Boyd, guided her squad into charging back within 20-16. However, a Roberts kill gave the Froggies the spark they needed to jump away with a 25-18 win.

With the second game opening with a Funk ace, the Loners charged out to a 4-0 lead. A Roberts kill sparked the Froggies into leaping back 8-6 on Upham, Roberts, and Rachel Richards' kills. A close relative of Mountain View Teddy Bear sports legends Carl and Lynne Pollard, Mikayla Pollard shined as she used her tremendous height much to the Loners' advantage as she kept Roberts, Upham, and Ellsworth from making crucial kills. Pollard's performance inspired Huntsman, Funk, and Biggie Cannon to lob devastating shots into holes throughout the Froggies' defensive network. Although Roberts and Ellworth continued to keep Game 2 close for Lehi, the Froggies could never catch up with the Loners. A Pollard kill gave the Loners a 25-22 win.

The Loners took a 4-1 lead in Game 3, giving the impression that the Froggies were going to get boiled again like they did in Game 2. However, Amber Lamborn and Roberts produced hits that tipped the Froggies back ahead 5-4 on an Upham ace. Though an Ally Anderson kill tied the game at five for the Loners, Lehi battled hard to ensure that Lone Peak couldn't maintain permanent domination of the third game. The Loners obtained leads of 6-5 and 9-8 on Funk and Fonbuena kills. However, the Froggies leaped ahead 10-8 quicker than you could say Rocky J. Flying Squirrel. Lamborn registered kills that gave the Froggies to keep leaping a few points ahead of the Loners. Holding their own against Pollard, Crabb and Ellsworth collaborated in producing a 25-21 win for Lehi.

In the fourth game, the Loners charged out to a 6-0 lead. Before the Loners could dream of taking down their web-footed opponents in the fifth game, the Froggies commenced a long leap back into the game. For a spell, the combined hitting of Pollard, Huntsman, and Fonbuena kept the Loners narrowly ahead. Suddenly, a spell of hitting errors beset the Loners. The Froggies turned those mistakes into a big break for themselves. Guided by Roberts and Upham, the Froggies eventually pulled ahead 16-15. Lehi then presented a strong defense of its lead through great efforts of Roberts, Ellsworth, Upham, Crabb, and Sydney White. White's serves and digs helped the Froggies to stay ahead for the rest of the game. An Ellsworth block scored the match point for the Froggies.

Roberts produced 17 kills for the Froggies while Upham came up with another  10. Crabb produced seven blocks and Richards served four aces.

Lone Peak Loner Soccer, Ferocious PG-Awesome AF Cavewoman Volleyball, and Lehi Froggie Football Action

Timp Sports Weekly

October 20, 2015

Publisher's Message

This week's issue looks at the Lone Peak Knights (AKA the Loners) shutting out the Mountain Crest Mustangs, AKA the Ponies, in a state 5-A girls' soccer game. We will also look at how much the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings took the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen's volleyball team seriously this time and the Herriman Mustangs, AKA the Pretty Ponies, stampeded the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, in a football game. Let's go to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Lone Peak Loners Gallop Past Mountain Crest Ponies 2-0 in State 5-A Girls' Soccer Quarterfinal

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a state 5-A girls' soccer quarterfinal at Lone Peak Oct. 15, the Lone Peak Knights, AKA the Loners, galloped past the Mountain Crest Mustangs 2-0.

Lone Peak Coach Heather Dahl said, "Our defense was really tough. We know that Mountain Crest had a really strong front line. So we had to maintain possession as often as we could. We had great efforts in the midfield."

The Loners held the Ponies to one corner kick during the game while Lone Peak managed to have nine corner kicks in the contest. The Loners didn't make either of their goals on corner kicks, however. When they would make those kinds of kicks, the game announcer would play a CD recording of swords banging against one another, and he would say, "It's now time for another Knight corner kick."

Spectators always repeated that announcement after him in excited tones.

Ponies Whitney Stanko, Taylor Wolford, Abby Harris, and Haley Shroeder applied much pressure on Loner goalie Megan Running as they kept looking for great spots for shot selections. Aided by teammates such as McKenna Kondel, Siri Dahl, Natalee Wells, and McKelle Cahoon, the Lone Peak goalie held up the pressure all the way through the game. Running's teammates constantly stole ball from Ponies like Harris, Kanyan Ward, and Brynnley Simpson, a "distant cousin" of TV character Bart Simpson. So the Ponies became frustrated in not being able to secure chances for great shot selections.

Mary Clark scored the first goal 28 minutes into the game. Clark recalled, "Natalee [Wells] crossed the ball to me, and I headed it in. I made sure I had my head down in the right position, so I could bump the ball into the net."

The Loners came really close to losing their 1-0 lead. Early in the second half, they drew a foul in their penalty area. Pony Marli "Boom Boom" Niederhauser got picked to make the indirect kick for the penalty. A wall of Loners assembled on the goal line in hopes of blocking Niederhauser's shot. With the specter of overtime looming, Niederhauser made the kick. The Pony's shot bounced off one of the Loners defending the goal line. Ponies and Loners scrambled into the penalty box to get the ball. A Loner cleared the ball out. That moment turned out to be Mountain Crest's lost opportunity for turning the game to its favor.

Meanwhile, the score stayed at 1-0  until the game clock read 25:00 when Cameron Tucker scored the second Loner goal. Tucker said, "Breesa [Nawahine] crossed the ball to me and I kicked it from just outside the penalty box. They didn't let my successful shot discourage. They kept fighting us for the ball clear to the final whistle."

Ferocious PG Vikings Display Serious Effort in Road Win at American Fork Oct. 14
By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

This time the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings took the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen's volleyball team seriously. In a three-game match at American Fork Oct. 14, the Ferocious Vikings defeated the Awesome Cavewomen  by scores of 25-20, 25-20, 25-12.

In the last meeting between the two schools, the Awesome Cavemen defeated the Ferocious Vikings three games to two. In spite of being the three-time defending state 5-A champs, the Ferocious Vikings played so awful in that match's three games that American Fork, which had not seen state tournament action in seven years, sank them with much ease.

With that memory on their minds, the Pleasant Grove players came into the American Fork field house anxious to prove that they could sink the Awesome Cavewomen in three games. Despite being staffed by inexperienced varsity players, the Awesome Cavewomen still managed to secure a 3-1 lead in the first game. Hits by Brooklyn Dahl and Sara Hamson enabled Pleasant Grove to tie the game at three. Morgan Starkie registered a kill that put the Awesome Cavewomen ahead 4-3. Hamson hits soon produced a 5-4 lead for Pleasant Grove. The lead frequently switched hands until Ferocious Viking Kennedy Redd smacked a spike that tied the game at 11. A Jaquelynn Langhaim ace put Pleasant Grove ahead 12-11. Even though Hamson and Dahl guided the Ferocious Vikings in staying ahead for the rest of the game, Starkie, Nicole Gilbert, and Alyssa Owen enabled the Awesome Cavewomen in staying close to Pleasant Grove. Tips by Gilbert put American Fork as close as 24-20. A Hamson kill produced a 25-20 win for the Ferocious Vikings.

In the second game, the combined hitting of Starkie, Owen, and Whitley Bezzant created a 5-1 lead for the Awesome Cavemen. They looked as though they were going to have the match go for four or five games. The Ferocious Vikings did not want that possible scenario coming true. Hamson, Redd, Dahl, Malli Valguardson, and Kazman Tarawhitti put together a strong hitting attack that produced a 9-9 draw. A Valguardson kill put the Ferocious Vikings ahead 10-9. Dahl and Hamson constantly registered hits that demonstrated that Pleasant Grove's desire to complete the match in three games as the Ferocious Vikings battled to pull away. Owen and Starkie didn't let Pleasant Grove take a double-digit lead, for those two Awesome Cavewomen seriously challenged every serve made by Hannah Waddall and Brielle Fowler. American Fork battled back within 22-20. The combined hitting of Valguardson and Tarawhitti produced another 25-20 win for the Ferocious Vikings.

The Ferocious Vikings never trailed at all during the third game, even though the Awesome Cavewomen did tie the game at one. Hamson kills produced a 4-2 lead for Pleasant Grove. Owen and Bezzant guided the Awesome Cavewomen in battling back within 7-5. Suddenly, their inexperience started showing as they made some hitting mistakes that the Ferocious Vikings capitalized on. Valguardson kills gave the Ferocious Vikings the momentum to pull away. Once a Dahl kill put the game score at 18-8, the Ferocious Vikings hastened the arrival of the match's end. Tarawhitti kills soon produced a 25-12 win for Pleasant Grove.

Hamson produced 11 kills for Pleasant while Tarawhitti came up with another seven. Fowler came up with 14 digs for the Ferocious Vikings.

Herriman Pretty Ponies Gallop Past Lehi Froggies 35-7 Region 4 Football Action
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

During Region Four football play at Lehi Oct. 14, the Herriman Mustangs, AKA the Pretty Ponies, galloped past the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 35-7.

With the contest being their home season finale, the Froggies counted on thrilling their hometown fans with a win that they prayed would be downright riveting-- correction, ribbiting. However, in their lust for a Region Four championship trophy, the Pretty Ponies wasted no time in stampeding past their web-footed hosts.

Under the guidance of quarterback Hayden Reynolds, a "distant cousin" of movie star Burt Reynolds, the Pretty Ponies resorted to a ground game in their first march. Taking handoffs from Reynolds, running back Jake Jutkins made long rushes for the Pretty Ponies. At 8:41, Jutkins scored, and J.D. Meyers kicked an extra point to put Herriman's lead at 7-0.

The Pretty Ponies snuffed out the first Lehi march quicker than you could say Bullwinkle J. Moose.
Herriman then opened its second drive with a long carry made by Brig Rush. Jutkins followed it up with a 62-yard sprint into the Froggie 10-yard zone. On the next play, he scored his second touchdown, frosted with another Meyers PAT.

The Froggies looked as though they were going to make a slash in the Pretty Ponies' 14-0 lead. Froggie quarterback Gammon Cooper went to the air, hurling long shots to Wyatt Parkinson, Kade Moore, and Ben Slagowski. The Froggie march got stopped at the Herriman  24-yard line, where they tried for a field goal attempt. The kick got blocked, and Pretty Pony Jake Anderson recovered the pigskin, but got stopped at the Herriman 25-yard line.

 The Froggies prevented the Pretty Ponies from capitalizing on Anderson's recovery of the ball. However, in the late second quarter, Cooper quarterbacked a drive that stabbed deep into Herriman territory. Suddenly, he threw an interception to Pretty Pony Cody Eldredge, who raced the pigskin 60 yards into the Froggie end zone, but his touchdown got canceled by a Herriman penalty. The Pretty Ponies still got to keep the ball, though. After making a 50-yard run to the Lehi 2-yard line, Jutkins scored a touchdown at 1:54, and Meyers' third straight extra-point kick put the halftime lead at 21-0.


In the third quarter, Cooper resorted to a passing game to turn Lehi's situation around, but the Herriman defense held Lehi scoreless that entire period. Meanwhile, Reynolds scored on a touchdown on a two-yard keeper play. That went down as the last Herriman touchdown for the night. The Pretty Ponies still continued tacking on points. At 2:15 in the final quarter, Denver "Ozzie" Osborne kicked a 30-yard field goal for the Ponies.

After having hurt themselves with turnovers and incomplete passes all night, the Froggies finally put an effective offensive game together. Cooper went to the air, lobbing long passes to Moore, Slagowski, and Cody Frampton. Finally at 0:21, Cooper connected a 18-yard pass to Parkinson for a touchdown, frosted by a Jacob Keeslar extra-point kick.

Lehi Froggie Girls' Soccer and Volleyball Action

Timp Sports Weekly

October 13, 2015

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings' 1-0 win over the Lehi Pioneers in girls' soccer and the Froggies' fixing the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Silverpups, in a three-game volleyball match. As they say in Lehi, let's row straight to the action.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Ferocious PG Vikings Defeat Lehi Froggies 1-0 in Girls' Soccer Action Oct. 6

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a Region Four girls' soccer game at Lehi Oct. 6, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings defeated the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 1-0.

The Ferocious Vikings' road win went down as an atonement for their losing an overtime game at home to the Froggies last month. In that contest, the Ferocious Vikings got onto the scoreboard first, but a Lehi goal forced the game into double overtime. Froggie Audrey Robertson scored the winning goal in that game.

Determined not to their web-footed opponents flood them away again, the Ferocious Vikings played a very fierce defense after they had had taken control of the scoreboard early in the Oct, 6 rematch. Three minutes into it, Ferocious Viking Moriah Lucas, a "distant cousin" Star War director George Lucas, received a pass. The Ferocious Viking dribbled quickly away into the Froggie penalty box and scored. Ferocious Viking Coach Leo Tortorelli said, "Moriah has been pulling off that kind of play all season. After she scored tonight's goal for us, we played a really strong defense."

Jenny Reynolds and Brielle Evans aided Ferocious Viking goalie McKenna Eaves in putting forth a strong defensive efforts against Froggie attacks, which became all the more aggressive in the game's closing minutes.

Robertson, Hailey Hillock, Alex Allgaier, Taylor Takahashi, and Cassidy Clegg put much spark into the Froggies' attacks. They put much stress on the Ferocious Viking center, especially in the game's closing minutes.

Knowing all too well the risks on sitting on a 1-0 lead in a game against the Froggies, the Ferocious Vikings attempted repeatedly to score additional goals. The Ferocious Vikings tried scoring on Taylor Johnson's indirect kicks, but Froggie goalie Alyson Black kept the Pleasant Grove lead stuck at 1-0 through the entire game.

Lehi Coach Jerry Prisendorf said, "I was really proud that my players never gave up, including during the game's closing minutes. For most of those final few minutes, they kept the ball on PG's side of the field."

Lehi Froggies Defeat Riverton Silverpups in 3-Game Volleyball Match Oct. 8
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In a three-game volleyball match at Lehi Oct. 8, the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, washed away the Riverton Silverwolves, AKA the Howlin' Silverpups, by scores of 25-21, 25-12, 25-16.

The first game went down as the tightest of the three-round affair. During Game 1, the Silverpups had much to howl about, especially when they secured leads of 2-1, 6-5,  7-6, and 12-11. Alexis Avertt and Shae Kartchner provided much of the hitting power for the Silverpups as they strongly tested the resolve of Froggies Mikayla Upharm, Amber Lamborn, Rachel Richards, Marta Ellsworth, Faith Crabb, and Rylin Roberts, a "distant cousin" of former BY Zoobie basketball legend Fred "Boo" Roberts.

Aided by Sydney White's serves and nine digs, the Froggies finally secured momentum as an Ellsworth block deflected Callisa Candlot's spike, putting Lehi ahead 9-8. The Silverpups howled back out in 12-11 on an Averett kill. The Silverpups led by as far as 14-11. The Froggies leaped back, and a Richards kill tied the game at 15. Once the Froggies jumped ahead 16-15, they never fell behind again, even though the Silverpups kept nipping at their rear fins. Through her serving, Silverpup Jenessa Robinson tied the score at 19. A missed Riverton serve prevented the Silverpups from pulling ahead. Two straight Roberts kills produced a 25-21 win for Lehi.

The Silverpups didn't behave as the same team that they were in the first game. For some reason, they couldn't put together an effective defensive game as Roberts and Upham led a hitting attack that produced a 9-2 lead for Lehi through Richards' serving. Averett guided the Silverpups back within 15-7. That turned out to be the closest they could get to the Froggies.

With Riverton missing the opening serve in the third game, the match quickly went downhill for the Silverpups. The combined hitting of Roberts and Lamborn produced an 8-1 lead for the Froggies. The Silverpups' morale collapsed at that point, even though a Kartchner kill did put them within 12-5. Despite efforts by Kartchner and Averett did stir up a comeback, the Silverpups figuratively threw their  paws up and spent the rest of the game, going through the motions of playing. Meanwhile, the Froggies played intensely and stroked way ahead of the Silverpups. Finally, an Upham kill scored the match point for Lehi to produce their 25-16 win.

Lehi Coach Jamie Ingersoll said, "We stayed fired up all through tonight's match: something we didn't do at AF last Tuesday. We showed no fire there, and had to end up playing four games to win against AF. After that match, we spent yesterday going over things that we should have done better at AF. We definitely learned from that match."

Roberts produced 16 kills for the Froggies while Ellsworth posted two blocks.

Two Straight Lehi Froggie Volleyball Matches

Timp Sports Weekly

October 7, 2015

Publisher's Message

For this week's issue, we look at two home volleyball matches hosted by the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. Both matches were riveting -- correction, ribbiting to watch. Both matches were vital to Lehi's efforts to win a Region Four championship. How did the Froggies fare in those matches? As they say in Lehi, let's swim straight to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Ferocious PG Vikings Drain Lehi Froggies in 4-Game Match Sept. 29

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly

Because the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings had lost a recent five-game volleyball match at home to the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen, it was easy to assume that the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, would have an easy time in flooding away Pleasant in a Sept. 29 match at Lehi. The reason for that assumption was that the Froggies had washed away the Awesome Cavewomen in a three-game match in early September.

That assumption  turned out to be false, however, for the Ferocious Vikings drained Lehi in a four-game match by scores of 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23.

Ferocious Viking Kazman Tarawhitti said, "We wanted to stay focused on our playing tonight. So we played much better tonight than we did against AF."

Her teammate Malli Valuardson, "Our loss to American Fork taught us that any team in our region can beat any other one on any given night. So we have to be ready to play every time we go out onto the floor for a match."

Kills by Valguardson. Sara Hamson, and Kennedy Redd posted an 8-1 lead for the Ferocious Vikings in Game 1. Lehi suddenly realized that the Ferocious Vikings weren't going to be easy opponents like the Awesome Cavewomen were two weeks before. Rylin Roberts and Amber Lamborn sparked a comeback for the Froggies. They leaped back within 12-11. Aided by Sydney White's serves, Lamborn and Roberts applied much pressure on the Ferocious Vikings' front row. Despite efforts put forth by Hamson, Valguardson, and Brooklyn Dahl, a Lamborn kill put the Froggies ahead 15-14. Hamson's hitting tipped Pleasant Grove back ahead 16-15. Lehi stayed closely behind the Ferocious Vikings. However, after the Froggies had paddled within 24-23, a Dahl block scored a 25-23 for the Ferocious Vikings.

For the second game, Tarawhiti's serving produced a 2-0 lead for the Ferocious Vikings. However, Lehi soon stroked ahead 4-3. A seesaw battle ensued until the score got tied at seven. A Marta Ellsworth kill put Lehi ahead 8-7, and the Froggies never trailed again in Game 2, even though Pleasant Grove tied the game at 12 on a Kennedy Redd kill. A Roberts kill tipped the Froggies ahead 13-12. Hamson's hitting paced Pleasant Grove within 18-17, but Mikayla Upham's hitting prevented the Ferocious Vikings from catching up with the Froggies. A Faith Crabb kill gave the Froggies a 25-21 win, setting the stage for a fourth game.

The third game opened with the Ferocious Vikings pulling ahead 2-0. This time, Pleasant Grove stayed narrowly ahead all the way, even though a Crabb block did tie the score at seven. A Redd block put the Ferocious Vikings ahead 8-7. Hamson held firm against an extremely, aggressive Froggie effort at the net as Rachel Richard, Roberts, and Lamborn strived to throw her off rhythm. Hamson couldn't be shaken, though. Aided by Dahl, Valguardson, Tarawhiti, and Redd, Hamson eventually registered a kill that produced a 25-22 win for the Ferocious Vikings.

The fourth game went down as contest between Upham and Hamson as they each took turns registering kills that the game tight all the way through. When Lehi broke a 4-4 tie, the Froggies looked as though they would stroke easily to forcing a fifth game. Hits by Roberts, Upham, and Crabb kept Lehi ahead for most of the game. When the Froggie lead had swollen to 17-11, a fifth game looked inevitable. However, a Hamson kill sparked a strong Ferocious Viking comeback, which encountered strong resistance from Upham and Lamborn. Those two Froggies' valiant efforts could not stop Pleasant Grove from tying the game at 23 on a Dahl block. A Tarawhiti ace put Pleasant Grove ahead 24-23, and the Ferocious Vikings then won the match on a Froggie hitting error.

Pleasant Grove Coach Alyce Jones said, "We played with a lot of fire tonight. We had learned from American Fork that every team in this region had to be taken seriously."

Hamson produced 17 kills for the Ferocious Vikings. Roberts came up with 18 kills for the Froggies and Upham contributed another 12.

Lehi Froggies Dealt Westlake Shockers Shocking Loss in 3-Game Match Oct. 1
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

AKA the Froggies, the Lehi Pioneers rebounded from their loss to the Pleasant Grove Vikings, by winning at home Oct. 1 a three-game match against the Westlake Thunder, AKA the Shockers, by scores at 25-14, 25-15, 25-13.

"We served exceptionally well throughout the match," said Lehi Coach Jamie Ingersoll. "Mikayla Upham had a great night in serving."

Early in the first game, Westlake took five one-point leads. However, the Shockers couldn't keep Lehi in check. Amber Lamborn stirred a strong Lehi attack at the net. After Froggie Bryanna Raff registered a kill that tied the game at eight, Lamborn hammered two straight kills to produce a 10-8 lead for the Froggies. Tessa Riffle, Savannah Domgaard, and Avery Shields attempted to keep the Shockers in the game. However, Rachel Richards joined Marta Ellsworth, Rylin Roberts, and Lamborn in leading the Froggies far ahead of the Shockers. The closest they could get to the Froggies were seven points.

After Lehi won the first game 25-14, a Shields kill sent Westlake out to a 2-0 lead. It vanish through the hot hitting of Lamborn and Roberts. Shields and Domgaard pushed the Shockers within 7-6, but an Upham kill tipped the momentum into Lehi's favor. Ellsworth and Lamborn capitalized on Sydney White's serves to create a double-digit lead for the Froggies. They won the second game by a score of 25-13.

An Upham ace put Lehi on the scoreboard first. Before long, the Froggies commanded an 8-2 lead. Westlake fell apart at that point despite individual, good efforts by Shields, Riffle, and Domgaard. Faith Crabb, Lamborn and Upham guided the Froggies in pounding the Shockers into submission. A Lamborn kill produced the match point for Lehi as the Froggies won Game 3 by a score at 25-13.

Upham produced 13 kills for Lehi while Ellworth produced another 10. Crabb came up with five blocks and two aces.

AF-Lehi Sports Rivalry and Ferocious PG Viking Volleyball Match Against Herriman Pretty Ponies

Timp Sports Weekly

September 29, 2015

Publisher's Message

This week's issue will be focused on the four-generation-old sports rivalry between the Awesome American Fork Cavemen and the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies. The rivalry between their two schools have long been sore, even to the point of trading epithets. American Forkers would call Lehites Webfooters and Swamptowners. Even though most American Forkers were White Native Americans (my personal politically correct term for US-born whites), the Lehites loved to refer to them as African Freaks. The rivalry between the two schools went down as intense in a girls' soccer game and Lehi's Homecoming game this past week. We will look at both of those games as well as the Ferocious  Pleasant Grove Vikings' win over the Herriman Mustangs, AKA the Pretty Ponies, in a Sept. 24 volleyball match. As they say in Lehi, let's swim straight to those stories.

Dean Von Memmott

Publisher

magnanovelist@gmail.com

Awesome AF Cavewomen Defeat Lehi Froggies 2-0 in Girls' Soccer Action Sept. 22

By Dean Von Memmott

Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Region Four girls' soccer action at Lehi Sept. 22, the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen defeated the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 2-0. 

In both halves of the game, the Froggies, led Aubrey Robertson and Brooklyn Gentry, put much pressure of Awesome Cavewoman goalie Savanah Empey. Backed up by teammates like Lauren Jones  and Paige Orum, Empey held off her web-footed opponents successfully. Still, Froggie Cassidy Clegg came up with big steals that gave Lehi fine scoring opportunities.

Both teams played such great defense that no scoring could occur until late in the first half. American Fork Coach Derek "Big Gun" Dunn said, "Cassidy Taylor crossed to Emmeline Harris for our first goal."

Occurring a few minutes before halftime, Harris' goal gave the Awesome Cavewomen the momentum that they needed for the second half.

Snuffing out the first Froggie attack of the second period, the Awesome Cavewomen stayed on Lehi's side of the field for most of that half. Alex Allgaier guided the Froggies in rebuffing repeated American Fork attacks. The Awesome Cavewomen didn't let Allgaier's efforts discourage them. Finally at 7:30, Awesome Cavewoman Brooklyn Voglesberg scored her team's second goal on a breakaway play. The game returned to being a defensive battle for the rest of regulation play.

Dunn said, "This win puts our overall record at 7-1. We were really tactically in our approach to Lehi. We learned to be that after Fremont. That loss left a bad taste in our mouths. Fremont is now ranked No. 2 in the state, and they beat us 1-0. That game showed that we can compete."

Lehi Coach Jerry Prisendorf said, "Despite the fact that we lost tonight, this was our best game so far this season. We gave 100-percent out on the field. They got us only on two counts."

Ferocious PG Viking Spikers Corral Herriman Pretty Ponies in 4-Game Match Sept. 24
By Dean Von Memmott
Timp Sports Weekly Publisher

In Region Four volleyball action at Pleasant Grove Sept. 24, the Ferocious Pleasant Grove Vikings defeated the Herriman Mustangs, AKA the Pretty Ponies, in a four-game match by scores of 25-15, 22-25, 25-7, 25-12.

Through the combined efforts of Kazna Tarawhiti, Brooklyn Dahl, Kennedy Redd, and Sara Hamson, the Ferocious Vikings made short work of the Pretty Ponies, posting a 25-15 win in Game 1.

In Game 2, the Pretty Ponies served the Ferocious Vikings the same reminder that the Awesome American Fork Cavewomen had taught Pleasant Grove nine days before: Lowly rated teams had to be taken seriously. The Ferocious Vikings and Pretty Ponies battled to tied scores of 8-8 and 9-9.  Hits by Tarawhiti and Hamson enabled the Ferocious Vikings to row ahead 11-9. However, Hannah Malvich and Leia Lapuacho's combined offensive efforts empowered the Pretty Ponies to tie the game at 11. A Tarawhiti kill prodded the Ferocious Vikings to move ahead 13-11. That turned out to be the last Pleasant Grove lead of the game.

The surprisingly aggressive Pretty Ponies galloped ahead 14-13. Lapuacho's hitting strengthened the Pretty Ponies' hold on the lead. Timmy McKee's strong serving for Herriman kept the Ferocious Vikings slightly off balance, even though they did sail within 16-14 on a Dahl kill. Pleasant Grove hitting and serving errors made Game 2 replay of the Ferocious Vikings' home loss to the Awesome Cavewomen on Sept. 15. Malvich hits late in the game gave the Pretty Ponies the energy they needed to win the game by a score of 25-22.

"That second game was a wake-up call for us. After it, we changed our minds on how we wanted to play. We wanted to win. We didn't want another American Fork," said Ferocious Viking Coach Alyce Jones.

With Ferocious Viking Hannah Waddall serving at the start of the third game, Pleasant Grove took an early 6-1 lead quicker than you could say Ali Lamb Chop. Tarawhiti and Hamson guided a very aggressive attack at the net. Malli Valguardson blocked some key Pretty Pony shots while Dahl and Redd did an impressive job in keeping Malvich and Lapuaho from much damage to Pleasant Grove. Before long, Pleasant Grove produced a 25-7 win.

Even though a Savannah Laws kill produced a 1-0 for the Pretty Ponies in the fourth game, Hamson produced kills that led to Pleasant Grove to taking an 8-2 lead. Valguardson and Dahl came up with hits that kept the Ferocious Vikings ahead throughout the entire fourth game. The Pretty Ponies did gallop within 18-10 on Cassidy Nelson's serving. A Hamson kill practically stopped them cold there. Aided by Natalie Ridder, Tarawhiti produced hits that eventually gave the Ferocious Vikings a 25-12 win and the match point.

Jones said, "Kazman produced 16 kills for us and Sara Hamson another 15. Malli Valguardson came up with four blocks for us."

Awesome AF Cavemen Defeat Lehi Froggies 25-21 in Ribbiting Region 4 Football Action Sept. 25
By Dean Von MemmottTimp Sports Weekly Publisher

At Lehi's Sept. 25 Homecoming Game, the Awesome American Fork Cavemen drained the Lehi Pioneers, AKA the Froggies, 26-21.

The game was in tradition of other classic Lehi-American Fork football thrillers so riveting -- correction, ribbiting, that no spectator could sleep for days afterwards. For instance, the lead changed hands twice during the contest.

Neither team played well in the first quarter. Both the Froggies and Awesome Cavemen plagued themselves with penalties that prevented them from picking up first downs. Both teams' defenses played well, though. For example, midway through Quarter 1, Froggie linebacker Kelton Higgins nailed Awesome Caveman quarterback Tanner Smith for an eight-yard loss that prompted American Fork to punt. Lehi later on sabotage an American Fork field goal attempt after Garrett Rusick had caught a 32-yard pass from Smith. Unsurprisingly, the first quarter ended in a 0-0 draw.

Early in the second quarter, the Awesome Cavemen scored a safety that gave them a big break. Starting an attack from their 38-yard line, the Awesome Cavemen soon widened their lead. Taking a handoff from Smith, Scotty "Cap'n" Hughes raced 58 yards for a touchdown, and Jacob Whitehead kicked in an extra point.

Lehi attempts to answer American Fork's first TD got snuffed out at the 50-yard line. Soon afterwards, Awesome Caveman wide receiver J. Coleson Worley, a "distant cousin" of Hollywood actress Joanne Worley, caught a 36-yard pass from Smith for a touchdown.

After Whitehead had kicked a second straight extra point, the Froggies finally got onto the scoreboard. In the first half's closing minutes, they penetrated deep into American Fork territory. At 1:58, Grayden "Gray Stallion" Hadfield took handoff from Froggie quarterback Cammon Cooper and flip-flopped quickly into the American Fork end zone. Froggie Jacob Keeslar kicked in an extra point.

The second half unfolded with the Froggie defense stopping the Awesome Cavemen at the Lehi 48-yard after Rusick had caught a 14-yard pass from Smith. Following Carson Terrill's catch of a 10-yard pass from Cooper, the quarterback connected a 73-yard shot to wide receiver Wyatt Parkinson for a touchdown. A Keeslar extra-point kick cut AF's lead down 16-14.

The Awesome Cavemen spent the rest of the quarter protecting their two-point lead. It vanished at 0:29.7, though, when Hadfield took a handoff from Cooper and stroked 26 yards to a go-ahead touchdown. Keeslar extra-point kick improved the Froggies' lead at 21-16.


The score stirred up memories of the Awesome Cavemen's 1963 football loss at Lehi. What made that game memorable was that right after it, American Fork's players initially headed home on foot. One version of that story was that those Awesome Cavemen were so ashamed of losing to Lehi that they opted to walk all the way back to AF rather than ride the bus home. I believed that story until 1984 when former AF head football coach Don Mower told me, "The reason they left on foot was because the team bus was late in returning for the end of the game. When the bus did arrive back, it picked up all of the players before any of them reach AF."

How we hate it when we hear a fact that ruins an embellished story. Anyway, the Awesome Cavemen didn't let Hadfield's second touchdown go unanswered. As the third quarter wound down, Hughes returned a kickoff to the American Fork 20-yard line. Smith went to the air. His long passes to Worley soon put American Fork at the Froggie 13-yard line. Taking a handoff from Smith in the early fourth quarter, Rusick scored a touchdown, and Whitehead contributed a third straight extra point to improve American Fork's new lead at 24-21.

Lehi quickly followed the Awesome Cavemen's example of going to the air. Cooper's long passes to Kade Moore and Hadfield put the Froggies deep in Awesome Caveman territory. Suddenly, Awesome Caveman Dylan Christensen picked off a Cooper pass at the American Fork 10-yard line. From there, the Awesome Cavemen marched clear to their 34-yard line, where defensive end Landon Tafoya sacked Smith, stopping American Fork's march. Whitehead punted deep into Lehi territory, and a strong Awesome Caveman defensive effort kept Lehi in the hole long enough to compel the Froggies to punt. A bad snap occurred in ensuing punt, and American Fork scored a safety to end the game's scoring.

American Fork Aaron Behm said, "It was great to have Worley back. The first time this season he has played an entire game. He's been in only 10 plays so far this season, because he had injured his ACL earlier this year. That 36-yard TD catch he made in the second period gave us a big spark.

"Tonight taught us that when we get the first lead, we had better fight hard to keep it. This was the first time this season that we took a first lead. We had to come from behind to win our other victories this season. Despite their record, Lehi, like all the other teams in this region, has to be taken seriously."