Viewmont girls head coach Dana Fisher had given up coaching but decided to come back to help Viewmont rebuild their laUtah’s newest sanctioned high school sports began in March with boys and girls lacrosse.

crosse program and expose many new players to the sport.

“About half of our team is new to playing lacrosse,” Fisher said. “So, we are focusing on skills development with this young team. Our goals for each game are to compete, have each player do their personal best and finish strong.”

Olivia King, Hannah Bird and Toree Wheatly look to be significant contributors for the Vikings this season, according to Fisher, along with newcomers Avree Clark, Eliza Runolfson, Emma Lether and Elsie Tomlinson.

Even though Fisher played several sports in high school, lacrosse wasn’t one of them and it wouldn’t be until years later that she was introduced to the sport when her son began playing and there was a need for coaches. “I’m excited about the challenge and love watching the team work together and to see new players ‘getting it,’” she said. 

Fisher is being assisted on the coaching staff by former Viewmont all-state player Micala Harris. “Micala is a great assistant coach who I will rely a lot on,” Fisher said.

Also on the Vikings teams this season are Keely Banks, Bekan Bargeron, Avery Drake, Sarah Frasier, Rachel Lee, Brynn Patterson and Kylee Seaman. They are scheduled to play Olympus along with region games against Bountiful, Farmington, Bonneville and Box Elder.

Farmington High head coach Annabelle Roche, in her first year coaching in the high school ranks, said she is excited about the talent on her squad this season which includes seniors Paige Burwell, Emily Leavitt and Hailey Savage. “All three of these girls are excellent players and leaders on our team,” she said.

Roche also noted the addition of freshmen Edi Bayles, Ruby Roche and Tai Aston along with sophomore Mikayla Jackson who is one to watch. “Mikayla has proven her skills in the goal,” she said. “She works hard on and off the field and makes our team proud!”

The Phoenix squad has been focusing on the fundamentals of the game and used fall ball to improve on the basics regardless of the skill levels of each player.

Coach Roche began playing lacrosse just prior to high school and went on to play at Weber State. Since then, she has coached youth girls teams and is excited for the opportunity to help build the FHS program.

Also on the 2021 team this year are Leah Allen, Maleah Ballard, Ryann Franich, Rylee Guile, Kim Hadley, Emily Hawkins, Ashley Hintze, Kenzie Hintze, Grace Kunzler, Ali Murdock, Katie Reaveley, Riley Sant, Alexa Stephens, Karly Stephens, London Tholl, Abby Wood and Avery Yates. Coach Roche is being assisted by Doug Leavitt. The Phoenix are also slated to play region home-and-away games with Viewmont, Box Elder, Bountiful, Bonneville and Woods Cross. 

Viewmont High’s new boys coach Don Stringham credits last year’s coach Lance Week with putting together a competitive squad who competed “very well and showed a lot of promise” before the pandemic shut things down.

The Vikings return Zach Allington, Russell Cluff, Tommy Fraser, Presley Gruber, Mason Hepworth, Noah Horsley, Tanner McCurdy and Abe Salmon to a group hoping to be competitive within Region 5. Stringham also expects newcomers Will Brady and Ryker Zeh to be ones to watch on the field.

The VHS squad has been working on stick skills with “basically a ton of wall-ball practice,” according to Stringham.

“We are a young team learning to work as a unit and putting in the best effort possible to leave it all on the field,” Stringham said.

Stringham became familiar with lacrosse when his son’s team needed a coach and counts a highlight as a state semifinalist finish in 2011. He’s thrilled to be coaching at Viewmont where his children graduated from. “I want to give back to the school and the sport,” he said. 

Stringham said his coaching style is one of encouragement and positive reinforcement with expectations of “best effort” and learning from mistakes from his players.

Also on the Viewmont team this year are Jaden Alleron, Tanner Ames, Garrett Archer, Lincoln Braming, Liam Campana, Jaycen Cox, Sean Dautel, Henry Heidrich, Evan Larsen, Luke Larsen, Carson Mallo, Andy Pettingill, Braxton Siddoway, Max Stapells, Sam Terreros, Luk Vanderlinden, Max Wetzel and Taylor Wilson.

Stringham is being assisted on the coaching staff by Lucas Salmon and Matt Wilson.

The Farmington High boys lacrosse team salvaged their 2020 season by eventually playing a condensed schedule among Northern Utah teams and then focusing in their extended off-season on fundamentals and overall physical and mental development.

This year, eight returning seniors are expected by head coach Christian Taylor to lead the Phoenix in Cole Beynon, Easton Roberts, Jaden Bennett, Davis Roche, Brayden Buckley, Colton Thomas, Jaron Hales and Andy Leighter. Junior Marcus Ball is also a newcomer to watch for in the midfield.

“We want to develop these boys, focus on excellence and make a run at the championship,” Taylor said. “We have high expectations.”

Taylor, who lives in Kaysville with his wife and three children, played lacrosse at Bountiful High – where he won two state titles his junior and senior seasons – and then competed collegiately at BYU. He began coaching the sport six years ago because of the opportunity to influence young players. 

“All we ever want to do with coaching is to show these boys their potential and that they can do more and become more than they think,” Taylor said. “So, when we see a kid really get a vision of that and start to do things and sacrifice to become better, not just at lacrosse but in all aspects of life, that’s the highlight. Winning games is fun, and no one wants to win more than I do. But, I won in high school and I look back and that doesn’t really matter as much as the relationships I have with my coaches and with my teammates.”

Also on the FHS 2021 team are Hayden Anderson, Jaden Bennett, Caleb Bacon, Marcus Ball, Rylan Beck, Carson Beynon, Cole Beynon, Tyson Beynon, Jaden Brough, Brayden Buckley, Nick Carrino, Jairus Checketts, Jacob Duncan, Leif Erickson, Noah Evans, Eli Greenway, Jake Guile, Luke Guile, Jaron Hales, Brigham Harrison, Jackson Hoskins, Cooper Hyde, Tyler Jacobs, Jonah Jacobsen, Kenin Jones, Spencer Kauer, Dallin Larsen, Kai Leavitt, Andy Leighter, Tyson Mauri, Ashby Michaelis, Trey Pace, Scott Purdie, Jake Rip, Easton Roberts, Davis Roche, Ashton Smith, Dexter Snell, Colton Thomas and Jaxton Yeates.

Taylor is being assisted on the coaching staff by Phil Beck, James Taylor, Kory Schlicte and Keaton Schroyer and managers Colby Shipley and Hyrum Johnson.