Sports

Two county schools “on the bubble” in first classification realignment proposal

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor Schools in San Juan County factor into the controversy that is always part of the Utah High School Activity Association’s (UHSAA) biennial classification realignment process. The UHSAA released its first consideration of new classifications for the 2023-25 seasons...

San Juan senior Jerzy Nieves lifts the 2022 2A Utah State championship trophy in celebration at Utah Tech University November 14. The Broncos beat the Beavers for the second straight year 41-21 to earn back-to-back state titles for the second time in school history. San Juan also completed their second 13-0 season in school history with the win. They outscored their opponents 603-228 and trailed for just 18:26 of playing time all season. Richard Kaer photo

Broncos take down Beaver again for second straight 2A Utah State football championship

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor Three months ago, before the 2022 Utah high school football season began, the annual Deseret News coaches’ poll predicted Beaver to finish first in the state in 2A and San Juan to finish second. Most thought the Broncos’ loss of 20 seniors from their 2021 state...

The Monticello Buckaroo football team poses for a photo after competing in the 8-player football state championship. Anna Fredericks photo

Monticello battles tough but falls to Gunnison 26-22 in inaugural 8-player championship

by David Boyle News Director The Monticello Buckaroo football team wrapped up the inaugural Utah 8-player season playing for a state title against Gunnison Valley High School in Cedar City at Southern Utah University on November 12. Monticello battled back from an early 19-0 deficit to take a lead...

High school basketball season tips off this week for county teams

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor The 2022-23 basketball season will tip off this week for high school teams in San Juan County. The defending 2A state champion San Juan Broncos will do the honors on Wednesday, November 16 when they travel all the way to Junction, UT to take on Piute in the 1A-2A...

Buckaroo Easton Young leaves his Rebel defender in the snow during the exciting eight-player state semifinal game between Monticello and Rich on November 3 in Cedar City. Young scored the decisive two-point conversion that helped the Bucks come from behind to beat the Rebels 21-20 and earn a spot in the state championship game this Saturday, November 12 on the same field. Anna Fredericks photo

Bucks earn spot in title game with epic 21-20 win over Rebels

By David Boyle News Director The Monticello High School football team advanced to the inaugural 8-player Utah state championship game by beating the Rebels of Rich County 21-20 in a tightly-contested snowy game at Southern Utah University on Thursday, November 3. The Buckaroos battled in the game...

San Juan receiver Jerzy Nieves battles an Emery defender for yardage in the 2A state semifinals November 4 as teammates Collin Baker (#22) and Garrett Young (#13) search for opponents to block. The Emery defender is doing his best to remove Jerzy’s jersey. Ironically November 4 happened to be National Jersey Day. The Broncos won the offensive shootout 56-48 to advance to their second-straight state championship game. Richard Kaer photo

Broncos outlast Spartans in shootout to earn rematch with Beaver in 2A Utah state championship game

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor The San Juan Broncos didn’t know exactly what to expect when they met Emery in the 2A Utah State Football Semifinals this past Friday, November 4 at Southern Utah University, other than the Spartans had a good passing game. It didn’t take long to prove that fact, and...

Monument Valley volleyball team at state tourney

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor Entering the 1A Utah State Volleyball Tournament as the #12 seed the Monument Valley Cougars came up against a tough second-round opponent in the #5 Wayne Badgers at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield October 28. The Cougars battled hard, tying the match at a set...

San Juan junior Edward Lyman competes in the Boggy Draw Bear Chase in Dolores, CO earlier on August 20. Lyman paced the Broncos this season with a Region 19 championship and a seventh-place overall finish at the state meet. Joel Priest photo

Lyman captures Region 19 XC title

by Jessica Walker Contributing Writer This story was inadvertently ommitted from the October 26 issue. Region cross country is an exciting time for athletes who have put in months of hard work. Every runner hopes a great performance and hard work will combine to earn a trip, individually and as a...

Bronco boys earn solid sixth-place team finish at Utah 2A state cross country meet

by Jessica Walker Contributing Writer The combination of anticipation, nervousness, and pure excitement that accompanies a state cross country race is matched by few other experiences. Athletes who have trained for months, coaches who have helped each athlete in their attempts to reach their...

San Juan volleyball team rallies for strong finish at state tourney

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor The San Juan High School volleyball team played in their first genuine state tournament match in two seasons this past Friday, October 28 when they met #6-ranked Millard at the Sevier Valley Center in Richfield in the 2A second round. It was a tough start to the...