Riverton Journal | December 2023

Dec. 2023 | Vol. 33 Iss. 12

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By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

S

heena Rose was 16 years old when she worked at a day care. It was 1996 and the Bingham High student was talking to the kids about Christmas. A little boy named Austin Hansen told her he didn’t have a Christmas tree and his aunt had told him Santa wouldn’t be able to come that year.

Rose, a Riverton resident, did some investigating and discovered Austin’s family was struggling and didn’t have extra money for Christmas. She took matters into her own hands.

At school, she asked students for their lunch money, explaining she wanted to give Austin’s family a tree and presents for the holiday. So many students gave her money that Rose was called into the principal’s office because he was concerned she was stealing money. When she explained her plan, he supported her wholeheartedly, and The Giving Grinch was started.

“I went to Smith’s in South Jordan, because I worked there too, and I told the manager I had $30 and there was a little boy in my class who needed presents and stocking stuffers and a Christmas tree,” Rose said. “He told me $30 wouldn’t cover it. But he told me to pull my truck up and he threw a Christmas tree in the back and gave me store credit for everything I needed.”

The Giving Grinch has gone from helping one family to helping hundreds of families and senior citizens each year.

Rose goes into assisted living centers to ask the seniors what

Sheena Rose (right) started The Giving Grinch in 1996, providing presents for senior citizens and families. She’s joined here with her mother Becci Denison (left). (Photo courtesy Sheena Rose)

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70th anniversary

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they’d like for Christmas. Requests range from Oreo cookies to new socks and Rose is happy to accommodate their wishes.

Last year The Giving Grinch helped 900 senior citizens and 100 families, and she expects to assist that many people again this year. Community members can visit TheGivingGrinch.org to donate to a senior, a teenager, a child or an infant.

Or money can be donated for pajamas, shoes, socks and toys to help make someone’s Christmas a little brighter.

“With the elderly homes, we actually go on every holiday,” Rose said. “They love when we go in around Valentine’s.

We try to visit them all the time just because they’re forgotten.

So people can donate all year on our website for these different things.”

Rose’s daughter, Gentry Rose, serves as Miss Utah Volunteer and the duo enjoy serving the community together.

They often support other charities and encourage people to get involved.

“It doesn't matter what the charity is, as long as you’re doing good in your neighborhood,” she said. “Go support each other. That’s what it’s all about. We’ve had so much fun supporting so many different things this year.”

The Giving Grinch holds two fundraisers each year to raise money. It hosts a car show in June and a Bingo night in October. During the last Bingo event, Hansen, now a grown man, showed up to support Rose and the organization.

“He’s the reason for beginning The Giving Grinch,” Rose said. “I just thank him for coming tonight because it means a lot.”l

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Fall/winter sports

Page 2 | Dec. 2023

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Here are

5 tips to survive the holiday season with your family:

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you have some bad feelings about others, acknowledge those feelings are there, and maybe for a good reason, but decide not to let them grow.

2. Set healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries will help reduce stress and give you a sense of control over your environment.

3. Be sensitive to those around you. Utah has the nation’s highest rate of mental illness. Be aware that the holidays can be especially stressful for some people. Be on the lookout to help someone around you.

4. Have realistic expectations. Here’s the thing about families: You know a

lot about each other — the good and the bad. Avoid the temptation to make a case against those who bother you and make an effort to see their strengths in addition to their weaknesses in order to keep a balanced view. Remember this: everyone has something they’re battling.

5. There’s some very real pain out there. If you find yourself in an

emotionally abusive situation, you need to look for a healthier place to be. Families can come in all forms, so if relatives are distanced because of abuse or trauma, find your "family" with people who enhance your health and well-being.

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Commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the KOR-US Alliance in Utah

By Dylan Wilcox | d.wilcox@mycityjournals.com

O

n Oct. 12 and 13, a remarkable and meaningful event unfolded in Utah, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Korean-American alliance. In honor of the 120th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States and the enduring alliance between the two nations, the state of Utah came together to organize a special event that embodied the values of "Memory, Friendship, and Gratitude."

YongJae Kim, a Taekwondo Master based in Riverton and the visionary behind this commemorative event, played a pivotal role in planning and directing it. His experience in organizing various international events, movies and performances in Korea prepared him to undertake this significant endeavor. However, what truly fueled his passion and dedication for this project was his personal connection to the Korean War and the alliance it birthed.

Kim's father was a Korean War veteran who dedicated his life to serving as a soldier in the Republic of Korea. Tragically, Mr. Kim passed away when YongJae was just 5 years old, succumbing to a chronic illness. This left behind a single mother and six siblings to navigate life without him.

Despite not having tangible memories of his father, Kim saw his father's legacy in his words and actions. He saw the spirit of his father reflected in the Korean War veterans who attended the event. Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke about the profound impact the veterans had on him and his commitment to making this event a reality. For Kim, this event was not just a commemoration of history; it was a deeply personal tribute to his father's sacrifice and the sacrifices of countless other veterans who fought for freedom and peace.

Through his leadership and heartfelt dedication, Kim ensured that this event was a fitting tribute to the enduring legacy of the Korean War and the strong alliance between the United States and Korea. His personal story

Journals T H E

Ceremonies were carried out for the 70th Anniversary of the Korea-US Alliance in Utah on Oct. 12.

(YongJae Kim, World Martial Arts)

and the stories of the veterans served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the previous generation and the responsibility we all share in upholding the values of "Memory, Friendship, and Gratitude" that lie at the heart of the KOR-US alliance.

While numerous events, both large and small, were planned throughout the United States to mark this historic occasion, the one in Utah stood out. The event was specially organized by the Utah State Government, the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, and the Korean American Federation in Utah.

These organizations united under the motto of "Memory, Friendship, and Gratitude" to create a memorable and heartfelt celebration.

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Commemorating the end of the Korean War and the 70th anniversary of the alliance in the United States, large-scale events were primarily concentrated in major cities, making it challenging for Utah to receive the attention and support it deserved.

Nevertheless, Utah boasts a vibrant community of approximately 15,000 Korean residents and has nurtured long-standing exchanges with Korea in the areas of education, resources, economy, diplomacy and culture. In particular, this year marked the 40th anniversary of the sisterhood relationship between Utah and Gyeonggi-do, Korea, adding an extra layer of significance to the event.

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Utah, led by President Jeongae Green, commenced preparations for this event in October 2022. They raised voluntary funds in May of this year and, with the support and cooperation of the Utah State Government and the Consulate General in San Francisco, established the Organizing Committee to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Korea-US Alliance in June. The preparation process began in earnest.

What made this event even more meaningful was that it was executed through the dedication of Utah's Korean community members, state government officials and Veterans Affairs officials, who volunteered their time and resources to ensure its success.

The ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the KOR-US alliance in Utah was a heartfelt and dignified affair.

Approximately 500 veterans and their families, representatives from the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, the Korean American Federation in Utah, the Consulate General in San Francisco, and the Korean Taekwondo Demonstration Team attended the event. It was a profound and educational experience for all those in attendance, who were reminded of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom and the enduring bonds between the United States and Korea.

This event not only celebrated the 70th anniversary of the KOR-US alliance but also highlighted the power of community, remembrance and gratitude. It exemplified the unity and dedication of those in Utah who came together to ensure that this significant milestone was commemorated in a meaningful and impactful way. As we look to the future, events like this remind us of the importance of fostering strong international alliances and the need to honor the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and peace.l

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Riverton City Journal

La inteligencia artificial/artificial intelligence for multilingual students

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com Editor’s note: this is part of a series of articles about artificial intelligence in schools.

J

ordan School District has 4,200 English language learners, also called multilingual students, which has pushed educators to look for effective methods and tools to provide a good education for these students.

“As teachers, we always want to try and do better to help all of our students, including our multilingual ones,” fourth grade teacher Elizabeth Clay said. “Just based on our abilities and our students’ abilities, we do what we can with the resources that we have and through help from others at the school as well, using their skills and what resources they have to help our students.”

Many teachers get their ESL endorsement and receive training on teaching strategies for students who are learning English as a second language. Common strategies include using hands-on activities and visual demonstrations.

An example is when fifth-grade teacher McKenna Stowell tears paper into pieces to teach the concept of fractions.

“My ESL students are able to pick up on what I am doing even though there is a language barrier,” Stowell said. “Students are hearing what I’m saying but they are also visually seeing what I am saying.”

Elementary teachers often use pictures to label classroom objects in multiple languages to help students build their vocabulary. Secondary teachers incorporate pictures into study guides to help explain concepts.

But these simple techniques have limited impact. Technology tools, including AI, provide teachers and multilingual students with the resources for effective learning to take place.

Laura Halverson, English Language Development coordinator at Joel P. Jensen Middle School, said Chromebook tools, such as speech-to-text and translation settings, allow multilingual students to navigate websites and get real time translation of teachers’ instruction.

Teachers have found additional translation tools to meet their needs.

“There's a lot of those types of apps nowadays,” Clay said. “You can take pictures of worksheets or documents and it'll translate it into Spanish for them so they can read it on there and fill out the worksheet. I use the app to translate it and it will also read it out loud, too, so that way [the student] can hear it in Spanish and is able to more easily follow along with what we're doing.”

West Jordan Middle School teachers and students use Microsoft Translate, which requires a class code to join a conversation.

Users can choose a language for written translations and a voice type and accent in which to hear the translation read aloud.

West Jordan Middle Principal Eric Price said that because Microsoft Translate uses a

RivertonJournal.com

Students who aren’t proficient in English use translating apps on Chromebooks and tablets to be able to keep up with their peers. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Clay)

large language model, the same model as OpenAI ChatGPT, the translations will become increasingly more accurate.

“We are using AI to level the playing field for English language learners,” Price said.

Price is constantly discovering new AI tools that benefit teachers and students. One app he recommends to teachers makes the translation process more natural.

“You can clone your own voice, and then you can change it into different languages,” Price said. “So you can have the same lesson be taught, or the same video can be made, in multiple different languages.”

Price recorded a video about parent conferences using an AI tool called HeyGen. It not only translated the audio in his own voice to speak another language, but also made his mouth move in sync to the new audio so that it appeared that he was actually speaking the language.

Price is quick to share tools he discovers with his staff and colleagues, just as most educators who’ve embraced AI technologies. Clay said some of the tools she uses to translate assignments, provide vocabulary definitions, access bilingual lessons and differentiate the reading level and language of a text were introduced to her by colleagues.

“There's a bunch of things online, and that's the hard part, trying to find that information online of what would be most beneficial,” Clay said. “That's part of why we collaborate as teachers, to see what tools are working for others. A lot of these tools are found through just talking with other teachers, other people in education, about what they're noticing that they need in their own class and finding oth-

er teachers or people at the school that have resources that fill those holes. That's the case in education in general, but particularly with multilingual students, just being able to collaborate with other teachers really helps to be able to meet those kids where they're at as best we can.”

The second-grade teaching team at Ridge View Elementary created a collaborative Google classroom in order to share videos they find that teach basic reading and counting skills.

“Then, when we're doing something on our Chromebooks that would be too difficult for [our multilingual students], we can tell them, ‘Go and watch these videos,’” second grade teacher Kristie Alexander said.

Alexander, who speaks Spanish, said teachers have to determine which lessons and activities need to be adapted for multilingual students and then they have to create alternative activities and schedules for the various levels of language proficiency.

“It is a lot of work and it's really hard because I want to be able to help all of them,” Alexander said.

Alicia Rassmussen, an instructional coach, created a resource website for Ridge View Elementary teachers with links to teaching ideas, bilingual lesson plans, and an overview of the culture and customs of various countries.

“That has helped me a lot to better understand my students and really get to know them and connect with them,” Stowell said.

Jordan District provides some district-wide tools for teachers of multilingual students, including two digital programs: Imagine Learning and Ellevation.

Students use Imagine Learning for targeted lessons in reading, writing and speaking skills. Stowell said it is the tool she uses most to keep her multilingual students involved in the lesson as much as possible.

While students read during independent reading time, Imagine Learning stories can be adapted to a multilingual students’ reading level.

“I use Imagine Learning a lot for one of my students who has only come to the country in the last six months,” Clay said. “He is still learning basic vocabulary and reading skills in general, so he uses Imagine Learning most days during our reading instruction time.”

Alexander said Imagine Learning provides alternative instruction when the lesson she is teaching doesn’t meet her multilingual students’ needs. She can customize activities and set up games based on students’ abilities, which she can monitor through the program.

Ellevation is a program teachers use to track multilingual students’ progress in reading, writing, listening and speaking skills and to set their educational goals with suggested activities and specific techniques.

Some schools, such as Herriman High and Joel P. Jensen Middle, have invested in their multilingual students by purchasing translation headphones.

In the JROTC class at Herriman High, SFC (R) Konrad Wilson regularly uses the translating headphones and app with his students.

“It's very effective because I can talk to the students and we can have a conversation back and forth,” Wilson said.

Because JROTC is a demonstration-based class, it attracts many multilingual students, but Wilson said language is still a big part of the students’ experience. When teaching students military lingo, he provides a glossary with definitions in both English and Spanish.

Going without translation is sometimes beneficial for the English-speaking students, he said, because when Spanish-speaking student leaders run a drill or recite the creed in Spanish, the English-speaking students get to experience how their peers feel when they don’t understand the language.

“It helps everybody understand that frustration and brings everybody in on the same level field,” Wilson said.

With the many tools available, there are still gaps in meeting multilingual students’ needs. Neither Google Translate nor the translation headphones app supports the African dialect of a JPJMS student who recently arrived in the country.

The capabilities of AI are expanding at an accelerated rate and many teachers are excited to find and use new tools to meet the needs of their multilingual students.

“I love to learn new things, always, so that I can support my students the best way possible,” Stowell said. l

Dec. 2023 | Page 5

Young Mountain Ridge cross country team makes strides

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

A

mong strong competition, the Mountain Ridge cross country team qualified its entire squad for the state championships and competed hard. The Sentinels finished ninth on the girls’ side, while the boys placed 13th.

“We have a young and very inexperienced team and have a ways to go to be a state contender again, but we had a lot of athletes that performed well throughout the season, and we are excited about the future,” head coach James Barnes said.

Out of the 14 competitors at state for the Sentinels, four had never run on that stage before. Still, Mountain Ridge held its own and boasted some strong performances.

The top runner for the Sentinels was Jaren Barnes, the coach’s son, who placed 49th out of all runners in Class 6A, finishing the 5k race in 16:19.9. His time was good enough for a school record. On the girls team, Cailey Bracken placed seventh at state—even while battling through a calf injury.

“Considering that half our kids that ended up competing at state were JV kids, for various reasons, they did well, and about as expected for that,” James Barnes said.

“We had higher expectations for our girls team at the beginning of the season but ended up running half of our JV as varsity, so considering that we did OK.”

Page 6 | Dec. 2023

Jaren Barnes was the recipient of the America First Credit Union, KJZZ and KMYU 2023 Student Athlete Scholarship. They highlighted him during the halftime show at the Mountain Ridge–Lone Peak football game on Oct. 27. He also had the opportunity to appear on TV with KUTV’s Adam Mikulich on the Sunday program “Talkin’ Sports.”

Aside from Jaren Barnes, James Barnes highlighted the performance and efforts of Nathan Burningham. Despite having never run at state before, Burningham did well and was second on the team with a time of 16:48.2. For the girls team, Bracken ran hard all season, and sophomore Brooklyn Tarr was solid, placing 23rd at state. James Barnes said, “she has a bright future.”

James Barnes is pleased with how well the team represented the school and with how hard the team members ran at state.

He enjoyed coaching his son and his son’s closest friends, all of whom are seniors. The Sentinels lose other key members and will have to find some young runners to replace them.

“We have a few good young runners coming back, but we need to build back the varsity team during the offseason,” he said. “We have a couple runners that we can

The Mountain Ridge cross country team had several runners place in the top half of the state championships this fall. (Photo courtesy James Barnes)

build a team around, but we have to build it. They need to work on getting stronger. A lot of kids come into high school nowadays having not played many sports other than some club or rec league soccer, kids aren't as active. We get a lot of Minecraft kids, and they aren't used to physically exerting themselves, and cross country is very physically

exerting. So, we need to work on strength.”

Mountain Ridge runners also excelled in the classroom. Jaren Barnes, Lance Belcher, Grace Waite, Zarah Wiet and Nikki Phipps were all awarded 6A Academic All-State.

This is double the amount of Academic AllState recipients any team at Mountain Ridge has had. l

Riverton City Journal

Youngsters advocate for donations to put every child in a coat this winter

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

bout 1,000 kids may be warmer this holiday season, if some elementary kids have a say.

Five-year-old Ember and 6-year-old Lucas heard the story, “The Coat” by Séverine Vidal, and wanted to do the same thing — only they are teaming up with friends to give on a grander scale.

“It’s a story about a little girl who gave away the red coat she loved because there was a little girl who was cold and poor and didn’t have a coat,” Ember said. “It made her happy to give it away. She was being nice.”

Her big brother added: “We made boxes and glued them together so people can donate coats. I don’t want anyone to be cold.”

Coats and monetary donations are still needed for the youngsters and their friends to reach their goal. Coats can be donated through AAA Garage Door. The company’s drivers will pick up coats from donors who reach out by text at 801-792-6597. Drop-off donation sites are listed at the end of this article.

Monetary contributions made to the Every Kid in a Coat’s Go Fund Me page, https://www.gofundme.com/f/every-kid-ina-coat-2023, and at the Venmo account @ Nicole-Hofer-4 will go toward purchasing new children’s coats. More information is available at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1033927014067936.

Kat Naessens, Ember and Lucas’s mother, said donated coats can be new or gently used. Any hand-me-down coats are being washed and mended, if necessary, before being donated to a child.

The grass roots coat drive came about from the youngsters, their friends and their parents.

“I looked for books about kindness and checked it out from the (county) library,” Naessens said. “We always do things so our kids understand they have a lot of blessings in their lives. After reading the book, we decided a coat drive would be something simple for them to understand the act of kindness and giving and it would have a big impact on those who need coats.”

While her children attend Providence Hall, which is not a Jordan School District school, Naessens learned Jordan Education Foundation serves many of the schools in the area and has a way to distribute the coats to those who need them the most. When she asked how many coats were needed, she was told 1,000.

“To be honest, I thought we’d just do a coat drive in our community and turn everything over to someone who was doing a bigger fundraiser, but there wasn’t someone.

That’s when we decided it would be us. It’s really shocking, actually, to learn how many kids are living in food scarcity, and obviously, if the families in food scarcity don’t have the spare cash for food, then they won’t have it for other things like winter coats,” she said.

RivertonJournal.com

Local families sort coats that were donated for “Every Kid in a Coat” drive; the coats will be distributed to Jordan School District students. (Photo courtesy of Jason Watson)

Coat donation drop-off locations:

Herriman: 6022 W. Champlain Way Herriman: Tiffany’s Dance Co., 6361 W. 13400 South Daybreak: 11843 S. Logan’s Run Cove South Jordan: 3171 W. 9765 South Bluffdale: City Hall, 2222 W. 14400 South West Jordan: West Jordan county library, 8030 S. 1825 West Jordan Education Foundation Associate Director Anne Gould said that about 2,100 students in Jordan School District are considered homeless.

“There’s definitely a higher need than ever before,” she said.

Jordan Education Foundation regularly distributes donated food, hygiene and school supplies and some clothing to students who are identified as being in need by teachers, counselors, principals and other professionals in the school.

“Usually, we receive a donation from someone somewhere in the universe and it’s miraculous how then we get a phone call that someone needs that exact item. We have an amazing, generous community,” Gould said.

Approximately 40 percent of the District’s school children are refugees; a great many of them reside in the Herriman community. Beds and bedding supplies that have been donated are often given to those who have none, Gould said.

For Naessens and her children, this coat drive is being held in addition to their school’s food drive.

“I always grew up being aware of people with higher needs than ourselves and how we’d help other people,” she said. “I’m hoping my own kids see through their eyes that people aren’t as blessed as we are. We live in a very affluent part of the world.”

Naessens grew up in Nairobi, the capitol of Kenya.

“As you can imagine, there’s an incredible amount of poverty in Nairobi. My primary school was next to a shanty town. So, from a very young age, we knew that there were people living in poverty and everybody would be involved with helping. We’d visit orphanages or homes for disabled kids and do fundraisers for them. That culture is what I want to make sure my kids know. Living in wonderful Utah is a bit more insulated to that. There is need here, but you don’t see it in the same way.”

Through the coat drive, Naessens has seen people’s generosity.

“It’s inspiring to see when people give, and some people have donated massive donations. It’s lovely when people send that positive message; it’s seeing kindness in action, and spreading it,” she said. “AAA garage doors has given us a lot of help. They made and paid for our fliers, they’re picking up donations and they gave us a big donation because they feel strongly about kids and wanting to make sure that they’re well stocked and supplied.”

She’s also grateful for Mountain Ridge High School’s service club students who helped distribute fliers.

“It’s inspiring to see our community come together to help our kids,” she said.

Gould said that the family itself is an inspiration.

“Kat is one of the many examples of a caring community member who sees a need and wants to help out,” she said, adding that it’s great that children are involved in every step of the drive as well. “The Jordan Education Foundation is the receiving house for these donations. We work with the schools directly and with people who know the needs of the students so we can make sure that those items get out to those students who need them the most.” l

Dec. 2023 | Page 7

Riverton Police earn accreditation from Utah Chiefs of Police

By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

T

Write for the City Journal.

people@thecityjournals.com

he Riverton Police Department completed accreditation status through the Utah Chiefs of Police this fall.

UCOPA is an association dedicated to promoting effective, professional law enforcement services through unity and leadership, according to its website. Its Region 2 Vice President Brad Bishop, also Payson’s chief of police, presented Riverton Police Chief Blair Barfuss and the department with its accreditation certificate in October. It’s a process, Bishop said, that goes through 176 standards which is “quite tedious.”

“It’s often intimidating to have a group of outside people come in and look at your department and policies and procedures and make sure you’re up to that standard,” Bishop said. “Chief Barfuss and his team have done a great job.”

Jason Watterson, a consultant with the Utah Local Governments Trust, works as a risk management partner with the city and reimbursed the department for undergoing the process.

“We believe in accreditation,” he said.

“We know this is an important part of the overall policing process, this is essential.”

Barfuss was quick to credit Deputy Chief Shane Taylor and Executive Assistant Mia Chase for spearheading the accredita-

The Riverton Police Department, seen here being sworn in when the department was first formed, was presented with the Utah Chiefs of Police Association Accreditation. (File photo City Journals)

tion process which involves adhering to a set of standards to ensure professionalism, ethical conduct and compliance with laws and regulations.

Accreditation lasts five years, so Riverton would be required to undergo the process again in 2027 to keep its accreditation. There are 25 other agencies in Utah to have also

earned this distinction from UCOPA. South Jordan and Draper are the only other agencies in Salt Lake County to hold this accreditation. West Valley City and Salt Lake City are nationally accredited.

“This is a huge foundational piece to our future success,” Barfuss said. l

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Riverton City Journal

Young Riverton girls basketball team confident it can defy expectations

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

W

ith only two returning players with varsity experience on a Riverton girls basketball team that went 11-11 last season, projections aren’t lofty for the 2023–24 campaign.

But that isn’t deterring the Silverwolves.

Riverton is eager to compete this season despite having a bunch of new faces in the lineup. Head coach Jonathan Haag acknowledges the early part of the season could have some rough patches as his players get accustomed to one another and playing at a higher level. But he is confident the team will gel and get better as the season progresses. He has high hopes that the Silverwolves can surprise some people and advance at state.

“I think we are going to outperform the preseason rankings pretty easily,” he said. “Our goals for this season are to be top three in region and to make it to at least the third round of the state playoffs.”

Last season, Riverton placed fourth in Region 3 with a 4-6 record. The team lost to region rival Herriman in the second round of the Class 6A tournament.

Riverton’s top returners are junior guard Faythe Stauffer and senior guard Emmalee Christiansen. Stauffer paced the team in scoring last season with 12.4 points per game. She also knocked down 18 three-pointers and averaged 4.7 rebounds and nearly two steals a game. Christiansen averaged 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season. Lots of newcomers will fill the roles left by those players who graduated after last season.

Sophomore post player Maggie Hamblin, senior forward Savannah Drury, sophomore guard Halle Talbot and sophomore guard Gabby Murdoch will be major contributors this season.

Haag is also excited about senior post player Ashley Halladay and junior forward Ella Lange.

Faythe Stauffer led the Silverwolves in scoring last year and returns this season as a junior. (City Journals)

Haag is impressed with his team’s camaraderie as well as how the seniors have taken younger players under their wings to build team unity.

“This varsity group understands the game well, is gritty and plays really well together,” he said. “I haven't been around a team with such a high quality of leadership before. The seniors have done an unbelievable job of leading and helping develop offseason chemistry, and it's showing up in practice every day.”

The Silverwolves should be a tough defensive team. Last season, Riverton allowed just under 50 points per game.

“Our defense is tough, gritty and going to be our strength and will keep us in games, regardless of how highly ranked our opponents are,” he said. “We are quick, alert, physical and

committed to the defensive end, which is just going to make the offensive end even easier. The girls really like each other and celebrate each other’s success as well, which shows up in every facet of their game. For us to reach our top potential, we need to limit turnovers and be willing to make plays for our teammates.”

Along with breaking in some new players, Riverton faces some other stiff challenges. The Silverwolves will play in Region 2 alongside some excellent teams: Bingham, Copper Hills, Corner Canyon, Herriman and Mountain Ridge. Haag said his players will need to be tough, determined and courageous to be successful.

“Our region is loaded, and every team has a chance to be a top-two team in region and even ranked top five in all of 6A,” he said. “So, we will have to be on our toes every single game. Every team poses a different challenge (Herriman's shooting, Mountain Ridge's press, Bingham's physicality and attack, Corner Canyon’s length and athleticism, Copper Hills’ experience, physical play, defense and talent), and with our lack of varsity experience, it will be a difficult challenge to be able to answer all of those challenges. To get it done, we have to come together, embrace our own identity and not back down from anyone.”

The Silverwolves opened the season Nov. 21 at home against Roy. Region action gets underway Jan. 11 at Corner Canyon. Haag and his players can’t wait to get started.

“I've been in awe with how hungry this group is to compete, improve and to ultimately win,” he said. “I look forward to practice every day because they hold each other accountable, look forward to the challenge and are asking to be held to a higher standard than the day before.” l

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Reigning region champion Riverton boys basketball team focused on new season

L

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

ast season, the Riverton boys basketball team made significant strides. This year, head coach Skyler Wilson wants the team to take things one game at a time. He believes if his players do this, everything will take care of itself, and the Silverwolves will be right there with some of the top teams in the state.

“The main expectation we have this season is to compete at the highest level of high school basketball in Utah,” Wilson said. “We don't spend a lot of time talking to our team about outcomes like taking state or winning a region title. I want our players to focus on the process of getting better every day and enjoy their time together.”

Riverton won Region 3 last season with an 8-2 record. Overall, the Silverwolves were 17-7 and narrowly lost to Davis in the second round of the Class 6A state tournament. It was quite a turnaround from 2021–22 when Riverton went 7-16 overall and 2-8 in league play.

To build on last year’s success and have another solid year, Wilson said the players need to be unselfish and play together as a single unit.

“An indicator for success this season will be whether or not this group of players truly comes together as a team,” he said. “One thing I love about basketball is that every single member of the team has a role to play. Despite what their parents may tell them, it isn't everyone's job to score the most points on the team or play the

Page 10 | Dec. 2023

most minutes. But everyone’s job is important.

In order for us to have a great season, our players will have to embrace and become a star in their respective roles. That's when this game gets really fun.”

Four players return this season who played major varsity minutes last season. All seniors, the players will have expectations of providing leadership and producing on the floor. Forward Zach Edwards (the only returning starter from last season), center Christian Heninger, guard Kaden Allred and guard/forward Ben Barrus were integral last season and will be once again this year.

Wilson has glowing reviews of the four players. “[Edwards] is the best athlete in our school,” he said. “[Edwards] is a great scorer and passer around the basket. He's also a terrific rebounder.

[Heninger] is entering his fourth season of varsity basketball at RHS. His 6-foot-11-inch size gives us a huge presence inside. I'm excited to see what he can do in the paint this year. [Allred] and [Barrus] are tough as nails. They are two of our best defenders, which will be so important for us this year. [Barrus] can score inside and outside, and he has a motor that just keeps going.

[Allred] is the best passer on our team, and he makes everyone around him better. Our players all love playing with him.”

It won’t be easy for opponents to score on

Riverton. The Silverwolves excel on defense, especially around the basket. Wilson also said the team has good versatility and length at the wing position. However, Riverton competes in a difficult region, Region 2, which features Bingham, Copper Hills, Corner Canyon, Herriman and Mountain Ridge. Corner Canyon is a new region opponent for the Silverwolves, and the Chargers just so happened to win the 6A title last season.

“I think there are really great coaches in our region, so we will have to be ready for every single game,” Wilson said. “Beyond that, it's the ups and downs of competitive team sports. These guys are going to have to respond when things inevitably don't go our way. We will have to rely on our senior leadership to guide us through.”

The Silverwolves open the season Nov. 28 at Brighton. The first Region 2 game is Jan. 12 at Corner Canyon.

Wilson, a former Riverton High School student and basketball team member loves coaching this group and is fond of the time he has spent leading the Silverwolves.

“I'm so lucky to coach where I do,” he said.

“I've spent 20 seasons here, first as a player, then an assistant coach and now as head coach. This place is really special to me. I learned so much about life and basketball from my coaches— Steve Galley, Dan Henderson and Jay Applegate—in my time at RHS. And I enjoy passing

With players such as Zach Edwards (pictured here going up for a dunk), the Riverton boys basketball team is looking to contend for a region championship. (Photo courtesy Dave Sanderson)

those lessons on to a fabulous group of young men. I'm so proud of this team. They make up some of the best students in our school and community. I know they will represent us well in the upcoming season.” l

Riverton City Journal

December 2023

RIVERTON REVIEW Official Newsletter of the Riverton, Utah City Government MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety

By Mayor Trent Staggs

The UDOT state contractors successfully removed the bridges and UDOT placed one of crews are them on an open in the initial field three blocks phases of away. Next converting year, Riverton the contractors are Bangerter intersections scheduled to install the span at 13400 S and 2700 W into of the bridge a fully-fledged freeway. Near over 13400 S. the end of last month, state Our team has crews permanently removed the already designed UDOT removing the pedesrian bridge at Bangerter and 13400 S. pedestrian bridges spanning the a state-of-the-art Much of the bridge was saved and will be used for a new pedestrian highway at these two intersections. support structure bridge at the Welby Canal Trail near Mountain View Village. that is graciously Although the state is running this congestion and closures. But once funded by a $2 million grant from project, the city saw a way we these freeway style interchanges the county. This will save the city could save taxpayer money. The are completed residents will enjoy hundreds of thousands of dollars in state’s initial plan was to allocate significant traffic flow benefits. construction costs. significant funds to later demolish For more information on these bridges. the Bangerter Interchange Proper foresight and However, the project and tentative timeline, intragovernmental Riverton City you can visit: udot.utah.gov/ collaboration like Council and I “The Riverton City bangerter12600south. on this pedestrian decided to save Council and I decided bridge is critical to taxpayer money by to save taxpayer money our future. Riverton repurposing one by repurposing one of City’s strategic of the bridges to plan calls for a the bridges to create a create a walkable well-connected community walkable community community with and enhance and enhance properly maintained pedestrian safety. pedestrian safety.” infrastructure. I am determined We’ve seen to preserve our unprecedented quality of life as levels of road the southwestern part of Salt Lake traffic in this commercial district of Valley continues to grow. the city. Our new pedestrian bridge will not only connect the Welby The state’s construction converting Jacob Canal Trail but also ensure customers at Mountain View Village Bangerter into a freeway will temporarily cause east/west traffic can cross the street safely.

RIVERTON REVIEW | DECEMBER 2023

3

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PAGE 1

COUNCIL MESSAGE

Riverton’s Secret to Success By Councilmember Andy Pierucci

ELECTED OFFICIALS Trent Staggs - Mayor Andy Pierucci - District 1 Troy McDougal - District 2 Tawnee McCay - District 3 Tish Buroker - District 4 Claude Wells - District 5

UPCOMING CITY MEETINGS CITY COUNCIL December 6, 7 p.m.

PLANNING COMMISSION December 14, 6:30 p.m.

I was honored to be elected for a full term on the Riverton city council in this last election.

Thank you for placing your trust in me. In my time as a public servant, it is thrilling to see how well our community comes together to look after one another.

During this holiday season, we will be busy buying gifts for loved ones and baking food for family. All are worthy of our time. I also encourage you to make time with family to serve a neighbor or one outside your normal circle of association.

An unexpected plate of cookies or a thoughtful Christmas card that shows your care is what truly makes our community great.

Thinking of others in their time of need will form your family’s most cherished memories. Riverton City is partnering with The Christmas Box House to collect donations during the holidays. This charity is dedicated to providing emergency

CONTACT US

Please join us on December 16 to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony this holiday season as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

shelter to children in need. Donation items such as children’s clothes, sneakers, hairbrushes, diapers and numerous other things are needed.

Please visit the city website to learn more about how you and your family can help.

Additionally, our city is happy to once again place wreaths on each of the veterans’ graves at the Riverton City Cemetery. Thank you for donating to make this possible.

Remembering our loved ones who served in uniform fortifies the next

generation’s conviction in following their examples of defending freedom. Please join us on December 16 to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony as part of the Wreaths Across America program.

Families across Riverton do so much to look after one another. I am delighted to continue serving you into this next year. This spirit of giving and neighborly care is the secret to our community’s success. Merry Christmas and I hope you all have a wonderful new year!

Winter Parking Policy & Snow Removal Protocol

rivertonutah.gov 801-254-0704

The following snow removal protocol and winter parking policy is in effect in Riverton:

Report a problem at rivertonutah.gov/report

• Between November 1 and March 1, no vehicle may be parked on city streets during a snow storm OR where snow has accumulated on road shoulders.

FIND US ONLINE!

• Major roadways, high-traffic areas and school zones are prioritized in snow removal efforts as a matter of public safety.

@rivertonutahgov

• Minor roads and cul-de-sacs are cleared if 4 inches of snow or more has accumulated once main roadways are clear.

PAGE 2

For additional details, visit rivertonutah.gov/snow RIVERTON REVIEW | DECEMBER 2023

PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGE

Holiday Fire Safety Tips By Chief Wade Watkins

trees, make sure your turkey is fully thawed, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your fryer.

Christmas Trees

Here we are!!

The holidays have arrived!

Let’s celebrate while providing for safety first.

U.S. fire departments respond to an estimated average of 790 home structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of four civilian fire deaths, 33 civilian fire injuries and $14 million in direct property damage.

Below are some very sound tips from the American Red Cross.

When this information is applied, we can prevent and lessen the impact of accidental fires.

Cooking and Baking No holiday celebration would be complete without a feast but be sure to take precautions against kitchen fires when you’re cooking and baking. That includes keeping children and flammable items, such as grocery bags and kitchen towels, away from the stove and oven. Clean up greasy spills as you go to remove another fire hazard. If you’re deep frying a turkey, keep the fryer well away from structures and

Old-fashioned Christmas celebrations featured wax candles on live tree branches – inside homes!

Today we know better, but risks remain. If your family prefers real trees, be sure to water yours every day because dry needles and wood catch fire more easily. Go ahead and use many strings of light, but don’t plug more than three strings into each other (opt for a power strip instead). Discard light strings that are worn or broken. And be sure to always unplug the lights before leaving the house or going to sleep.

Fireplaces Nothing takes the chill off winter holidays like the light and heat of a fireplace. Just be sure to keep “fuel” – from wrapping paper to rugs to clothing – at least three feet away from the flames. Use a fire screen to keep embers and logs from escaping. Lastly, make sure all embers are fully extinguished before you turn in for the night.

Calling 911 If you or the community needs the assistance of emergency responders: Wreaths Across America

Wreath-Laying

Ceremony

Join us to remember veterans buried at Riverton City Cemetery and help place wreaths on their graves.

Saturday, December 16, 10 a.m.

Riverton City Cemetery, 1500 W 13200 S

RIVERTON REVIEW | DECEMBER 2023

When you call 911, be prepared to answer the call-taker’s questions, which may include: • The location of the emergency, including the street address • The phone number you are calling from • The nature of the emergency • Details about the emergency Remember, the call-taker’s questions are important to get the right kind of help to you quickly.

Thank you for taking a minute out of your day to prepare to be safe!

Please feel free to reach out to me at wwatkins@unifiedfire.org if you have any questions on how Unified Fire Authority (UFA) serves Riverton City.

Christmas Tree Recycling Properly dispose of live Christmas trees at one of three free drop-off locations through the end of January.

Centennial Park 13000 S 2700 W Monarch Meadows Park 13675 S Monarch Meadows Parkway Riverton Rodeo Arena 12800 S 1300 W A Riverton Holiday Tradition!

Come enjoy this free family event featuring wonderful holiday music with a 100+ member choir and full orchestra.

Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m.

Riverton High School 12476 2700 W

PAGE 3

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join us in the new year for the Mission Slim Possible Weight Loss Challenge, an individual 8-week mission to lose weight and feel great!

Mission Slim Possible is a weight loss challenge, not a weight loss program. It is up to you to lose the weight. Cash prizes will be given out for the highest percentage of body fat lost, most pounds lost, and male and female division winners.

For a list of items to donate, visit: rivertonutah.gov/holiday-donations Riverton City is collecting holiday donations for The Christmas Box House – an organization dedicated to providing emergency shelter to children in need. Donations will be accepted until Monday, December 11 at Riverton City Hall. Donated items must be new and unwrapped.

Couch to 5K Training Program Have you ever wanted to start running, but just aren’t sure how? Join us for a Couch to 5K program to gradually build up your running ability in just eight weeks. This program is for people looking for a structured introduction to running with support along the way. Cost is $30.

Free entry in the 4Life 5K on March 23, 2024, with a race t-shirt training support and much more.

Register at: rivertonutah.gov/couch-to-5k

PAGE 4

RIVERTON REVIEW

January 3 - February 28, 2024 | $30 per person Registration Deadline: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 Register at rivertonutah.gov/slimpossible

December 15 to Sunday, December 25 Drive by homes decked out in lights and decorations for the holidays during the Riverton Tour of Lights! A map will be made available to the public at the website URL listed below on December 13 to help you identify locations to drive by on this self-guided tour.

ENTRY DETAILS Riverton residents who put up awesome holiday light displays are encouraged to enter their home in the Riverton Tour of Lights! The entry deadline is Sunday, December 13. Entry is free. Participants will have their name and address included on a map and will receive a sign to place in their yard during the tour.

To see the tour map or enter your home, visit:

rivertonutah.gov/tour-of-lights

Half Marathon & 4Life 5K Be part of a Riverton tradition and come participate in one of the valley’s best races. The race is designed for all ages and abilities with medals and prizes awarded for participants and winners.

General registration opens January 1 for the Riverton ½ Marathon & 4Life 5K Race Day is Saturday, March 23, 2024 9 a.m. (Half), 9:15 a.m. (5K), City Park

Register at: rivertonutah.gov/half

RIVERTON REVIEW | DECEMBER 2023

Excitement building for Mountain Ridge girls wrestling

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

G

irls wrestling has only been a sanctioned high school sport in Utah since 2020, but momentum is already building for the sport at Mountain Ridge.

The Sentinels continue to attract girls to their squad, as numbers for this year’s team are higher than ever.

“This is my third year as a girls head wrestling coach,” head coach Brandon Birch said. “It's amazing to see the progress every year in girls wrestling. Numbers are skyrocketing, and competition is increasing."

Birch said a big reason for the interest is that girls have more options than ever before to compete in the sport after high school.

“There are opportunities now for girls to get college scholarships in wrestling and compete at the college level, and every year I have more and more girls that are gaining interest in competing at the next level,” he said. “The first year I coached, it was very difficult to recruit anybody, but now that we have some established girls wrestlers, and people are seeing and hearing about how girls can actually wrestle, I am now seeing girls come in on their own wanting to wrestle because they see that it's just like any other girls sport, and not just a boys sport. Very exciting.”

But it isn’t just newcomers who are filling spots on the mat for the Sentinels. Each year, more and more girls are coming with experience.

“When I started 3 years ago, there were three girls out of my 13 who had one year of wrestling experience,” Birch said. “This year, I have 16 girls with at least one year of experience and four with multiple years of experience out of 29 right now.”

Four wrestlers are back for Mountain Ridge who placed at the 2023 girls wrestling tournament. Karlie Bishop, a sophomore at the 100-pound class, was fourth in state a year ago.

Maddi Fulks, a junior, was third in state at the 170-pound class last season. Olivia Merino, a sophomore wrestling in the 145-pound group, was sixth a year ago at state. Junior Eva Newland placed sixth at state last season. A fifth returner, senior Cedar Curtis, was sixth at the

state tournament in 2022 but took last season off.

Sophomores Sadie Ashton (130 pounds), Naidelyn Lucio (145 pounds) and Eden Hunt (110 pounds) are others Birch is counting on to qualify for state once again, as they did a year ago. Juniors McKenna Housekeeper (125 pounds), Danae Fisher (125 pounds), Gloria Jessop (120 pounds), Vanhessa Vu (115 pounds), Hannah Whitlock (235 pounds) and Gabi Merino (155 pounds) also qualified for state last season and are back to bolster the Sentinels this year.

Birch loves how hard the girls work and how they work well together.

“They work hard together, support each other and push each other in the wrestling room,” he said. “They are great scholar-athletes and have a desire to be as good as they possibly can. They teach and mentor our new wrestlers at the same time, so they have the same mindset. They are not afraid to go out and try their hardest, and they are not afraid of pushing through to the last whistle.”

Birch said team unity is the Sentinels’ biggest strength. The girls genuinely like one another and love competing with one another.

“We like each other and want to see everyone succeed,” he said. “We have the kind of team where, after a tough match, win or lose, I have half the team lining up to high-five, hug or show support in one way or another. It's fantastic.”

Birch admits there is a stigma against girls wrestling, with some people believing it is a boys-only sport. He said multiple girls have wanted to wrestle on the team but have declined because of friends shaming them or parents forbidding it, stating that it is a boys’ sport.

But Mountain Ridge is moving forward, undeterred and eager to improve on what was a solid season a year ago.

“Our goals and expectations this year are to go out and wrestle our best and get better each day,” Birch said. “We placed fifth in state the last two years, and feel like we have gotten even better, so we hope to do even better this

The Mountain Ridge girls wrestling team placed fifth in state last season and returns several experienced competitors this year. (Photo courtesy Brandon Birch)

year.”

Birch also credits his coaching staff— Zan Elder, Jim Birch, Melanie Thornhill and Paris Bowen—for the team’s success and improvement.

“Honestly, it's been great to have the op-

portunity to be a part of something that has been so great and to help build what I think will be a solid competitive sport for years to come,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for a better, more fun, tight-knit team to be around.” l

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Dec. 2023 | Page 15

Navigating Grief and the Holidays

By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW The holiday season is nearly upon us. This is the time of year when grieving people often feel dread and sorrow about the very events and traditions that formerly brought happiness.

As every grieving person handles loss in their own way, each one of us observes holidays in our own way in time of bereavement. There simply is no one right way to experience the holidays. Some find meaning in following cherished traditions, and others benefit from avoiding traditions because their associations are now tinged with loss. Some people find great comfort in being with other people, others prefer solitude to camaraderie. For all of us, how we gather is as important as gathering at all.

Plan ahead for the holidays: The first step in planning is to listen to yourself….what will help you most at this time? You may have strong memories and powerful feelings. Accept this as normal, but prepare for it. Anticipate the pleasures and the stresses of events, and select those you want to participate in. If you expect to be lonely, arrange supportive companionship. If you can’t bear the thought of connecting with the entire extended family, let the family know of your needs. Be creative and accept support by using distance technology.

Accommodate your plans to your new limits: Most grieving people have significantly lowered physical stamina and emotional reserve. Perhaps you can’t get every decoration out this year. Accept these limits as temporary, and good enough for this year. Choose to put your energy into the things that matter most to you.

Accept that the holidays will be different this year: The holidays are often filled with unrealistic expectations that may overwhelm you. You may need to revisit your goals and find a balance between continuity and change. Many people find a special comfort in establishing a new holiday tradition that honors the memory of the person who died.

Recognize that other family members or friends may have struggles, too: Look for opportunities to discuss your feelings and wishes with others who may also be grieving for your family member. Try to respect their choices, if they are different from yours. You all may need to make compromises.

If the holidays have always been hard for you: Use this transition in your life to try something completely new…an untraditional-tradition. Perhaps you have never taken the occasion create a new experience on your own. As challenging as loss can be, it can bring momentum to grow and to try something new.

For all of us, whether the holidays are a time of personal significance or not, it can be a season in which we reflect on what we do cherish as we journey through grief.

Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program.

Caring Connections is a not-for-profit program that offers clinician-facilitated grief support groups in Utah.

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www.LarkinCares.com Page 16 | Dec. 2023

Riverton City Journal

Mountain Ridge swim team hits the water, excited for new season

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

F

or the past two seasons, the Mountain Ridge High School boys swim team has won the region title. The girls haven’t been far behind, placing third both years. But head coach Katherine Crenshaw is looking for a lot more than more titles.

“Our team goals are to create a team legacy by building better athletes, better people and a team family,” she said. “Ultimately, that is what we hope to accomplish this season.”

This doesn’t mean Crenshaw and her team don’t want to do well in the pool. The team is still aiming for more success, and Crenshaw is confident it will continue.

“We also like to swim fast and win,” she said. “We definitely want to repeat those great finishes. And looking to state, we are hoping to take our largest ever group of qualifiers to compete at state this year and get more of our swimmers on the medals podium. That is several months off, so our expectations now are to work hard to earn those times and those wins, and to have a great time along the way.”

To win another region title on the boys’ side and move up the standings on the girls’ side, Crenshaw is emphasizing doing the little things in addition to focusing on training and conditioning.

“We have been talking a lot this year about how focusing on the training process will yield greater results than focusing on the end goal time,” she said. “On the team, we call this being root vs. fruit focused. With that in mind, we have been putting a lot of effort into how we’re approaching our training in the pool and weight room, including working on having individual goals for each day and each workout. We have seen some big improvements from this approach and expect to see this help them reach the goals they have set for themselves.”

Mountain Ridge swimmer Aiden Tarin, shown here swimming the butterfly stroke, is one of several state qualifiers expected to help the Sentinels boys team defend its region title. (Photo by L1quid Studios)

The Sentinels have several returning state qualifiers on the team. Leading the way is senior Steven Collins, who swam a 1:03.23 in the 100-meter breaststroke and a 2:07.38 in the individual medley last year. Also, junior Huckleberry Burton had a time of 55.01 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke last season, while junior Aiden Tarin swam the 500-meter freestyle in 5:19.11.

“We expect them to lead and push their teammates this year,” Crenshaw said. “Right now, our team has a lot of depth; a lot of swimmers we believe are ready to step up and take a place as the big point earners for our team. It’s going to be exciting to see who really performs and takes those top spots on the team this year.”

At-Home

Crenshaw said Mountain Ridge has a lot of strong butterfly swimmers, which is saying something considering it is arguably the most difficult stroke. She is also impressed with the backstroke and breaststroke competitors. The Sentinels have potential in the sprint and distance freestyle events, too.

“It’s going to be really exciting to see how the team shapes up as we start getting into our meets and clocking times,” she said.

The Sentinels are young this season, with 75% of the swimmers being freshmen and sophomores. The young team puts Mountain Ridge at a disadvantage, but Crenshaw appreciates how older swimmers are setting the example and pushing everyone else. The Sentinels do have good depth, and many underclassmen are working their way into bigger roles on the team.

The swim team will be busy in the pool through Feb. 23 and 24 when the state tournament is held at Brigham Young University. Crenshaw can’t wait to see how her team performs.

She said she loves this group’s work ethic and attitude.

“This team has so much potential, and they are working hard to achieve their goals,” she said. “They are invested and determined, and that inspires us as coaches to give them everything we can to help them become the best athlete they can be. They also really like to have fun and make us laugh a lot, which makes two-a-day workouts something we look forward to coaching each day. We also see daily how much they care for and encourage their teammates. That makes us proud to be their coaches. As a coach, it’s extremely rewarding to see them push themselves beyond what they thought was possible as athletes, individuals and teammates.” l

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Dec. 2023 | Page 17

‘Amazing’ sport of girls wrestling catching on at Riverton

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

W

hen the Utah High School Activities Association decided to sanction girls wrestling for the 2020–21 school year, the news was met with mixed reviews.

Some people thought the sport wasn’t for girls, though many people celebrated the news. Some high school teams around the state already had girls participating on the boys team. The move to allow official girls wrestling teams has been a popular one.

Riverton head coach Becca Hamilton is happy the girls get to go up against one another and participate in something they enjoy.

“It’s very exciting for the girls to be able to compete, especially with other females. It makes tournaments and duals more fun to watch,” she said.

The Silverwolves have a wide range of girls on the team when it comes to experience and skill level. But Hamilton believes the sport is open to anyone.

“Wrestling is an amazing sport built for any body and any experience,” she said. “You just have to start. Currently, we have a pretty equal team; we have advanced girls, intermediate and our beginning girls. The only difference between the two is the more experienced girls have had time to figure out how the sport works and their way of wrestling.”

Hamilton also said wrestling allows girls with different skills, strengths and interests to succeed and have fun. And though it is more of an individual sport than others, team unity is crucial.

“With wrestling, it’s not a cookie-cutter sport, so what works well for some doesn’t for others, and that’s just fine,” she said. “And honestly, I think that adds to our strengths

The Riverton girls wrestling team. (Photo courtesy Becca Hamilton)

because our opponents can’t expect a cookie-cutter reaction.

The girls have their ‘what’ of wrestling. Our girls are resilient; they are able to recover mentally and physically from tough matches. Wrestling is an individual sport, but we are able to build that camaraderie.”

Riverton’s top two wrestlers are junior Mina Trinh (105-pound class) and senior Bella Butterfield (110). Not only do they perform well on the mat, but they lead by example and help the less experienced wrestlers.

“Our top competitors perform well because they apply themselves at practice and at tournaments,” Hamilton said.

“They face tough matches with a good head on their shoulders. Top competitors are great examples to girls that are still growing to show that tough matches are achievable and

rewarding and that the hard work is going to be worth it in the end—that they are capable of anything they apply themselves to and put their minds to.”

Hamilton would still like to see the number of participants increase on the team. When a team member is ill or has to miss practice for some other reason, it can be difficult for the others to find a partner to go against. Sometimes, a wrestler in one weight class has to move up or down a weight class just to get some practice in. This isn’t ideal because Hamilton prefers for her girls to practice against girls in the same weight class as they will compete against in regular matches.

To bolster the team’s numbers, Hamilton isn’t afraid to do some in-school recruiting.

“We try to overcome this by reeling in any girl that walks by the wrestling room and telling everyone to bring a friend,” she said. “‘Just try it,’ is what you’d often hear if you come into the doorway of the wrestling room.”

This season, Hamilton hopes the girls continue to have fun and improve every day. She wants every team member to have a positive experience, win or lose. What’s more important to her is that the girls get better, enjoy themselves and keep learning.

“My goals and expectations as a coach is to have the girls go out and compete their best, trying new moves and having fun,” she said. “Every coach wants state placers, but I don’t feel like you’re going to get the best results out of athletes that don’t enjoy the sport. I don’t expect them to win every match, but I do expect them to learn every match.” l

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Ready to defend region title, Mountain Ridge girls basketball set for season

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

L

ast season, the Mountain Ridge girls basketball team was pretty good. Despite losing some key players from the previous year, the Sentinels think they can be even better in 2023–24.

Mountain Ridge shared the Region 3 championship last season, going 8-2. The Sentinels were 19-6 overall and advanced to the Class 6A state quarterfinals where they lost to Fremont. Expectations are high going into this season.

“We are very excited for the 2023–2024 season,” head coach Kenzie Newton said. “The girls have been working hard and have a great chemistry. We believe this team has a high ceiling, and our goal is to be better today than we were yesterday.”

A trio of Sentinels, in particular, will lead the team this season. Sophomore forward Jessica Maynard, sophomore guard Jada Jangard and sophomore guard Kya Newton have experience, and each player brings something different to the court. They also play well together.

“These three have a great chemistry and played a key role in our team’s success last season,” Kenzsie Newton said. “We hope their experience will help their teammates play with confidence and reach their full potential. We are a young group but very talented and can be pushed to be great.”

Kya Newton is the leading returning scorer. She averaged 10.4 points per game last year as a freshman. She also contributed 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in 2022–23.

Maynard chipped in 4.2 points per game a year ago, while Jangard scored just under two points a game and hauled down 2.6 rebounds an outing last season. Kenzie Newton

The defending region champion Mountain Ridge girls basketball team has some new faces and some skilled returners. (Photo by L1quid Studios)

expects each player to do even more this season.

Kenzie Newton also wants to see good camaraderie and positive communication on the court.

“A big emphasis for our team this year is to focus on celebrating each other,” she said. “By doing this, we feel our goals are attainable and something to build upon each day.

The chemistry of this group is a big part of our strength.

These girls are driven and some of the hardest workers I've ever been around. It is going to be a lot of fun.”

Mountain Ridge likes to run a lot and push the ball up the court. The Sentinels averaged 58 points per game last season. Defense is something Kenzie Newton thinks the team can focus on, too.

“We also are looking to play at a fast tempo and put a big emphasis on the defensive end,” she said.

Mountain Ridge will have a lot of new faces this season.

Without a lot of varsity experience on the court, the early part of the campaign could have some struggles. But Kenzie Newton and her players are eager to see what they are made of.

“We do lack varsity experience,” Kenzie Newton said.

“Early on, we will face the challenges of these girls adjusting to the pace and physicality of the varsity level. With that being said, these girls are excited for this challenge.”

Mountain Ridge hosted Lehi Nov. 16 to open the season. The Sentinels will play a large slate of nonregion games in November and December before jumping into Region 2 action Jan. 11 at home against rival Herriman.

Kenzie Newton can’t wait to get started and see how this group of girls responds to defending their region title.

“I love the passion this group shares for the game of basketball,” she said. “I also love the way they compete and push each other. They also celebrate each other and have a team first mindset. We are excited for the season and to see what this team can accomplish.” l

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Dec. 2023 | Page 19

After coming in second at the region championships, the Riverton boys cross country team finished fourth at the 6A state meet. (Photo courtesy Chase Englestead)

The Riverton girls cross country team won Region 2 and placed fourth in state. (Photo courtesy Chase Englestead)

Silverwolves have great showing in 6A state cross country championship

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

I

n a deep and talented field of runners and teams, the Riverton cross country team more than held its own.

At the Oct. 26 state meet, Riverton placed fourth in Class 6A on both the boys’ and girls’ side. The boys had five runners in the top 61 of all participants, including three in the top 25.

Meanwhile, the girls edged out Herriman and were 34 points behind third-place Westlake.

The girls placed three runners in the top 25 and five in the top 48.

“The girls taking fourth overall was a huge highlight of the state meet,” assistant coach Janel Warren said. “This was their highest finish since 2015 and a huge confidence boost for what we are capable of as a team.

Both boys and girls finished about where we expected them to. Boys still looked very fit, even though some of their performances at state didn't reflect their fitness.”

Junior Mya Oyler was the top Riverton girls team runner. She finished the race in

18:33.3, good enough for 11th place overall.

Sophomore Grace Swanson was second on the team and 21st overall with a time of 19:14.3.

Senior Melanie Anderson was 25th with a time of 19:20. Freshman Isabel Preston ran the course in 19:44.8 for 44th place, while junior Chloe Swain was 48th, running the race in 19:49.9. Seniors Maggie Lund and Chloe Cornia ran the race in 19:55.0 and 20:24.5, respectively. “[Oyler], [Anderson] and [Swanson] stood out on the girls side at state,” Warren said. “All three ran top-10 all-time marks for Riverton. Oyler is second all-time, Swanson is eighth all-time and Anderson is 10th all-time.

They performed well at region too, with all three placing in the top 10. Oyler is the Region 2 champ, with a Riverton record of 18:36 on the region course.”

The boys had some standouts too.

Junior Corbin Randall was the top Riverton competitor. He was 13th among all 6A

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runners with a time of 15:31.8. Senior Samuel Ghiz wasn’t far behind, running the race in 15:45.3. Fellow senior Gage Helm was 25th with a time of 15:49.1. Another senior, Luke Horner, had a good showing with a 16:07.6 race.

In region, the girls brought home the Region 2 title, while the boys were just four points behind Herriman and took second. For the boys, Ghiz and Andrew Ludwig both broke the all-time region course records. Ludwig was the region champion.

“Another great thing to remember about this season is how fun it was to see so many improvements throughout the season,” Warren said. “We took the JV kids to JV state, and they ran awesome. Lots of personal records were set. We have a group of freshmen boys working really hard right now, and it's going to be fun to see them continue to progress. Overall, we’re very happy with how the season went.

We saw progression on every level, from JV to

Varsity. It was fun to watch the kids get fitter and see improvement throughout the season.”

Next season, Riverton could be a force.

Warren said both teams will be difficult to beat.

“Next season looks to be really fun,” she said. “Both boys and girls should be able to compete with the best in the country. We return four out of our top five girls and three out of our top seven boys. The returning runners just need to keep showing up and working hard.

Consistency with doing the little things will always win out.”

Warren said she loves being on the Riverton staff where she gets to interact with great young people and see them grow and develop—not just in competition but away from it.

“These kids inspire us every day to be better,” she said. “It's been fun to watch them become the best versions of themselves, which makes us show up for them as the best versions of ourselves every day.” l

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Strong season takes Mountain Ridge volleyball to state quarterfinals

C

onsidering its difficult schedule, it was a highly successful season for the Mountain Ridge volleyball team.

The Sentinels hit the 20-win mark to finish the year with a 20-12 record. They were also 5-4 in Region 2 (third place), going up against the likes of Bingham and Corner Canyon, both of which amassed 27 wins and ended up playing one another in the third-place match. Mountain Ridge reached the Class 6A state quarterfinals on Nov. 2, falling to No. 1 seed and eventual runner-up Skyridge 3-0.

Head coach Bryan Nicholson loved his team’s effort and grit throughout the season.

“The season overall was extremely successful,” he said. “Finishing third in a very tough region and to finish with more than 20 wins in any season is quite an accomplishment. I was most happy with the poise and fight that this team displayed. We weren't always as consistent as a coach would like to see, but anytime we would drop sets badly, I knew this group would respond and fight back.”

The Sentinels reached the quarterfinals with a back-and-forth 3-2 win over Farmington in the second round. After dropping the first set 25-20, the Sentinels came back to win the second one 25-13. Set three went to Farmington, 25-19, but Mountain Ridge prevailed in the next two to advance in the state tournament. The Sentinels won sets four and five by the scores of 25-23, 15-4.

In the quarterfinals, Mountain Ridge had a rough second set against Skyridge, falling 25-6 to go down two games to none. But the team didn’t quit and gave the Falcons everything they could handle in the final set, falling 27-25.

“A five-set battle with a very good Farmington team was a great highlight for this tournament,” Nicholson said. “Then being able to turn around in the third set vs the No. 1 seed Skyridge after dropping a bad second set and to push them to extra points really showed the fight this group has in them.”

The Sentinels reached the state title game a year ago but had to replace some productive players. Still, Nicholson had high expectations for the season. He was pleased with how well the team played and noted highlight wins over Herriman on senior night and a big win over Corner Canyon at home in the final region game of the season.

Setter Sadie White and Addy Cook, in particular, had stellar seasons for Mountain Ridge. White was second in 6A in assists.

Cook was third in 6A in total kills. In addition, libero Ava Livolsi and Allie Grosenbach stood out with their play this season, particular down the stretch. “[White] really controlled the ball well for us all year, including the tournament,” Nicholson said. “[Cook] was a dominant force at the net offensively for us all year. [Livolsi] was digging everything at the tournament,

RivertonJournal.com

By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com

The Mountain Ridge volleyball team placed third in Region 2 and tallied 20 wins on the season.

Most of the starters will be back next season. (Photo courtesy Bryan Nicholson)

Sadie White, seen here at the 2022 state tournament, was second in 6A in assists this past season.

(File photo City Journals)

and [Grossenbach], our opposite hitter, ended the season hitting a .250 average with 252 kills.”

For the departing seniors, the end of the season is always emotional, as they realize their careers on the team have come to

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an end. Nicholson is pleased that the senior group helped to establish a culture of winning and success at Mountain Ridge. However, the team returns a good group of players, setting up the Sentinels for strong potential in 2024.

“With the majority of starters returning, we are hungry to make an even bigger impact next season,” Nicholson said.

The returning players don’t just put their volleyballs away and stay off the court until next fall. Nicholson said 95% of his players will play club ball in the spring. The team also has a robust summer conditioning program designed to help the girls be faster and strong for the next season.

Ultimately, wins and losses don’t determine the experience for Nicholson. He is grateful for his players’ hard work and attitudes. He appreciates the help he gets from others along the way in building the Mountain Ridge program.

“I truly have the best support staff in my coaches, parents, admin and community,” he said. “Everyone associated with Sentinel volleyball has been super supportive and have helped in any way asked. Coaching is never easy, but when you have great kids and a supportive community, you can really focus on the kids, and that's the rewarding part.” l

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Christmas Unwrapped

I

t was the Christmas season as I Peri Kinder wandered the aisles at Gibson’s Discount Center with a $5 bill Life and Laughter crumpled in my pocket. It was 1975 and parents didn’t care if their 7-year-old wandered alone through a store.

I’d earned money to buy my parents Christmas gifts and I had to find the perfect presents. I imagined mom’s surprise when she unwrapped a brand new purse that wasn’t filled with broken crayons, Cheerios and used tissues. I pictured dad’s excitement as he opened the model airplane he would assemble at the kitchen table. I would be an example of humility as they raved about my thoughtfulness.

Dad agreed to drive me to Gibson’s and we climbed into our blue Ford Pinto. Once there, I told him he couldn’t follow me, that I wanted the presents to be a surprise. He hung out at the soda fountain drinking root beer so I could shop with privacy.

It didn’t take long to realize my $5 wouldn’t cover the cost of a purse or a model airplane. My heart sank as I walked the aisles. Everything was so expensive. Maybe mom wanted an oven mitt or a wooden spoon. Perhaps dad would like a small bottle of model glue.

Then I saw it. A pint-sized, cut-glass pitcher that gleamed under the store’s fluorescent lighting. It looked so elegant. It wasn’t big enough to mix a half-gallon of Kool-Aid but I didn’t think mom would care. She would cherish it for all eternity. And it was only $3.

That left a present for dad.

Walking past the drugstore aisle, I saw a mini-size bottle of Brut aftershave for less than $2. Mission accomplished.

I wrapped the presents and placed them under the tree, right up front. On Christmas Eve, I had the holiday insomnia where you try to sleep but you hear jingle bells and ho-ho-hos and prancing reindeer on the roof. Finally, it was morning and I dashed down the stairs.

I don’t remember what I got for Christmas that year.

Probably a Madame Alexander doll, a Nancy Drew book and a journal with a heart-shaped lock. What I do remember is being so excited for my parents to open their presents.

Mom unwrapped her gift first. I watched with the giddy excitement of a child who knows she nailed the perfect present. She opened her glass pitcher and held it up for everyone to see. It sparkled in the tree’s lights.

Dad was so grateful for his little bottle of Brut that he never used it. The tiny green bottle sat on the bathroom shelf for at least a decade. I asked him once why he didn’t use it. Didn’t he like it?

“I love it!” he said. “But if I use it, it will be gone and then I won’t have it anymore.”

I get it, dad. I feel the same way about the expensive bottle of tequila in my office.

Mom filled the pitcher with her homemade syrup we poured on pancakes, waffles and French toast. She used

it for all my childhood. My grandkids ate pancakes with syrup poured from that pitcher. I think she even took it with her when she moved to North Carolina.

It takes so little to make a child feel loved. It’s sometimes hard to use the gifts kids give you for the holidays, but they’re always watching. Wear the macaroni necklace.

Use the syrup pitcher. Put on the reindeer earrings. Your child will never forget.l

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