To say the year 2020 was an odd one for sports would be an understatement. From high school sports events that were cancelled, rescheduled, then cancelled a few times this fall due to COVID, to abbreviated tournaments and complete loss of seasons, sports were affected at least as much as most every other part of our lives.

There were some highlights from the year of virus, however:

Price wins 501st game

In January, Farmington girls’ basketball coach Van Price earned his 501st win, making him the coach with the most victories in Utah history. Price was a long time coach at Layton High, helping lead the Lancers to championship glory. And thus far this fall, as of this writing, the Phoenix are unbeaten in seven games. Many years of dedication to high school athletes earned him a very-worthy achievement.

Region titles last spring

Both Farmington girls’ and Woods Cross boys’ basketball teams took Region 5 titles as basketball wound up the regular season. They played deep into the state tournaments as well. Davis High’s boys led the way at the state 6A tournament, losing a heartbreaker in the finals but bringing a silver plaque back to the already jammed-packed awards cases in Kaysville.

Drill champs

Farmington High’s drill team took the 5A state title for the school’s first championship in that discipline.

Salvo honored

Long-time Davis High coach Lori Salvo was honored by the Utah High School Activities Association for her decades of leading the Darts in girls basketball, volleyball and golf. She received the honor during the state basketball tournament.

Merrill stars for Utah State

Bountiful High graduate Sam Merrill capped his amazing collegiate career by hitting the game winner and leading the Utah State University Aggies to the Mountain West Conference tournament title, including an upset of fifth-ranked San Diego State in the final game. He went on to be picked in the second round of the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

PGA pros return to Farmington

The Korn Ferry Tour, which features future and past PGA stars, returned to Oakridge Country Club in Farmington, albeit without fans in attendance. That was a shame, because Farmington resident Daniel Summerhays tied for the lead after four rounds, finishing second after losing in a playoff in what was expected to be his final tournament as a pro. Summerhays began coaching the boys’ golf team at Davis High this fall (the Darts took second at state 6A). He may play a few tournaments occasionally, but decided to retire from the weekly grind of the PGA tour, where he won more than $12 million as a pro.

State cross country champs

Oct. 22 was a big day for local prep cross country. At Soldier Hollow, Bountiful High senior Dalton Mortensen and Woods Cross senior Carlee Hansen won individual 5A state titles by dominating their classifications. It was the second consecutive title for Mortensen and third for Hansen (who will run for North Carolina next year). Farmington’s boys’ team also won the state 5A title.

Soccer queens

Davis High won the 6A girls soccer championship on Oct. 30, keeping the Darts’ strong tradition of great girls’ soccer teams going. 

State success this past fall

Bountiful High’s volleyball team advanced to the final four in this year’s 5A state tournament after a great season. Farmington and Davis boys’ golf teams won region titles and advanced to state, and Davis football won the Region 1 title and moved on to play at state.

Hoping for a bit more normality in 2021!