Utah’s top high school athletes shine at Deseret News High School Sports Awards

The hard work of Utah’s best high school athletes was on full display Monday night.

Nearly 170 student-athletes were honored at the third annual Deseret News High School Sports Awards presented by The Larry H. Miller Company.

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The event, hosted at the new Ballpark at America First Square, celebrated Utah’s most exceptional high school athletes for their athletic accomplishments over the past school year.

“The talent has gotten better and better in this space,” Deseret News editor Sarah Jane Weaver said.

Deseret News columnist and BYUtv broadcaster Dave McCann served as the event’s master of ceremonies.

The night’s honors included most outstanding athlete awards for each of the 25 sanctioned sports as well as male and female honors for player, coach and humanitarian of the year.

The top overall athletic programs in each of the six classifications were also honored with the All-Sports Awards.

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In addition to their awards, the male and female athletes and coaches of the year each received a $1,000 check from America First Credit Union. Other sponsors of the evening included Minky Couture, SymbolArts and Eye Care4 Kids.

Male Athlete of the Year

Male Athlete of the Year and Mr. Soccer winner Lewis Knecht expressed his gratitude for the Deseret News recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of Utah’s high school athletes.

“They work hard to make sure we feel like we’ve succeeded, because we have,” Knecht said. “It’s not easy doing what we do. Whether you get an award or not, to be here, it’s really important to each of us, and it’s really nice to feel important to the community, so I’m just very grateful for them and all they do.”

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The American Fork High forward was caught off guard when he learned he’d been named male athlete of the year. Knecht was impressed as the winner’s stats and achievements were read off and was surprised when he realized they were his.

The future Utah Valley Wolverine considers the award his proudest accomplishment of his high school athletic career alongside American Fork’s back-to-back state championships.

“It was unheard of for our program and to make a name for our program and to switch the narrative for us, it was really important for me to just build those memories with my teammates,” he said.

“There’s nothing I would trade for those two state championships for my team.”

Female Athlete of the Year

The day after she demolished her own national high school record for the two-mile run, Timpview’s Jane Hedengren was named the Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year.

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Hedengren was also honored as Ms. Cross Country for a third straight year and Ms. Track and Field for the second consecutive year.

“It’s awesome to come to this event. It’s been great the past few years, and I’m just really, really glad that they wanted to have me again this year,” she said.

Hedengren finished her high school career with nine national records to her name, and she’s excited to join the BYU Cougars this fall.

“I think that it’s gonna be a great opportunity, and I’m excited to gain some new relationships there and to just give myself grace for the development process and that it might take a few years to adjust and just get back into the rhythm of things, but I’m really hopeful for the future,” she said.

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Hedengren had many college options, but she chose BYU.

“I think it’s really just going to be a great place and great fit for me, so really looking forward to my time,” she said. “No negative nerves or energy coming in. Just looking forward to that process.

“I’m sure there’s going to be many learning curves but I’m ready for that and I’m excited for that because I think that will only positively affect me as a person and as an athlete, just with building my resilience and just learning to be adaptable within many different positions.”

Female Coach of the Year

The 2025 Female Coach of the Year, McHailee Danner, and her softball team made West Jordan High history by winning the school’s first-ever girls state championship.

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“Honestly, to get the award was kind of a bit of a shock, but I am so deeply honored,” she said. “I mean, my whole life, I’ve chased being a winner. I’ve chased being a champion, and I didn’t quite get it in high school.

“It kind of manifests in a way that I never thought, and it’s just 100% better, so I’m just grateful to be honored in that way, and just to show up for my players.”

This season was Danner’s second as West Jordan’s coach and her second year ever as a head coach. She actually interviewed for the job while on a family trip to Disney World. Now, she’s able to share her “one true love” with the next generation.

Male Coach of the Year

Adam Fager, this year’s Male Coach of the Year, led Layton High’s boy’s wrestling team to its highest national ranking and third straight state title, but the year was also bittersweet for Fager and the team.

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Fager’s father passed away in January, the month before the Lancers claimed their title. His father, a sports psychologist, had volunteered several free hours of his services to the boys on the team “to help them pursue becoming their best selves,” Fager said.

“To see us all be able to finish out that season with a lot of gratitude and persevere when we could have hung our heads and really choked, but we all kind of stepped up and decided to have a lot of gratitude for my dad and the things that he’s done for us and show that gratitude through our effort and our performance, so I mean, that more than anything, that kind of makes it most special,” he said.

While the night was full of special moments, the best moment was actually impromptu.

The event’s keynote speaker Travis Hansen, a former BYU, NBA and Euroleague player, advised the honorees to “give a piece of crust away and get a loaf back.”

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“When you do good, the unimaginable happens,” Hansen said.

Hansen showed the honorees what that looked like. Before his address, Hansen — without disclosing his reason — had asked the event organizers to find an athlete who had experienced a rough year. They chose Ben Hone, who plays volleyball at Orem High.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Hansen invited Hone out onto the field to share his story. Hone said he has Type 1 diabetes and his parents are going through their own health challenges. His father has cancer, and his mother has multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

Sports has served as an outlet for Hone to get away from life’s challenges, he said.

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Hansen then surprised Hone by telling him that he was giving him $5,000 “because you’re a fighter, because you’re disciplined, because your family is dealing with a lot of uncertainty.”

Here is the full list of honorees from this year’s Deseret News High School Sports Awards.

2024-25 Deseret News High School Sports Awards Honorees

Athlete of the Year

• Male: Lewis Knecht, American Fork, soccer

• Female: Jane Hedengren, Timpview, track and field/cross country

Coach of the Year

• Male: Adam Fager, Layton, wrestling

• Female: McHailee Danner, West Jordan, softball

Boys cross-country

• Mr. Cross-Country: Kaden Evans, American Fork

Most outstanding athletes

• Kaden Evans, American Fork

• Hayden Hooper, Bountiful

• Kyle Steadman, Mountain View

• Jackson Spencer, Herriman

Girls cross-country

• Ms. Cross-Country: Jane Hedengren, Timpview

Most outstanding athletes

• Jane Hedengren, Timpview

• Lily Alder, Timpview

• Skye Jensen, American Fork

• Jaylie Rae Jenkins, Union

Football

• Mr. Football: Robert Young, Roy

Most outstanding athletes

• Top QB: Emerson Geilman, Bountiful

• Top RB: Kaden Vest, Spanish Fork

• Top WR: Jaron Pula, Timpview

• Top WR: Graham Livingston, Ridgeline

• Top OL: Zion Finau, Corner Canyon

• Top OL: Aaron Michael Dunn, Spanish Fork

• Top DL : De’Shawn Ioka Nofoa Toilolo, Skyridge

• Top DL: Viliami Moala, Bingham

• Top LB: McKay Wright, Crimson Cliffs

• Top LB: Nusi Taumoepeau, Westlake

• Top DB: Cyrus Polu, Desert Hills

• Top DB: Robert Young, Roy

Boys volleyball

• Mr. Volleyball: Trey Thornton, Maple Mountain

The Ultimate 6

• Trey Thornton, Maple Mountain

• Kilika Tafa, Westlake

• Corbin Batista, Alta

• Nesta James Vaitai, Mountain Ridge

• Ben Hone, Orem

• Ashton Shewell, Lehi

Girls Volleyball

• Ms. Volleyball: Taylor Harvey, Bountiful

The Ultimate 6

• Taylor Harvey, Bountiful

• Grace Fredrick, Skyline

• Ava Burgess, Lone Peak

• Halle Bills, Corner Canyon

• Kylie Buttars, Skyridge

• Sadie White, Mountain Ridge

Boys Basketball

• Mr. Basketball: Gavin Lowe, Olympus

Dream 5 starters

• Coleman Atwater, Davis

• Cale Barclay, Herriman

• Dean Rueckert, Timpview

• Gavin Lowe, Olympus

• Jude Haigh, Green Canyon

Girls Basketball

Ms. Basketball: Emilee Skinner, Ridgeline

Dream 5 starters

• Emilee Skinner, Ridgeline

• Taylor Harvey, Bountiful

• Skylie Barker, Copper Hills

• Olivia Hamlin, Snow Canyon

• La’u Pele Kylee Falatea, West

Drill team

• Ms. Drill: Caymbree Hodges, Bingham

Most outstanding athletes

• Caymbree Hodges, Bingham

• Harlee Ruoti, Copper Hills

• Taylor Crum, Duchesne

• Ellison Parkinson, Davis

• Reagan Tracy, Farmington

Competitive cheers

• Ms. Cheer: Avery Iorg, Bingham

Most outstanding athletes

• Avery Iorg, Bingham

• Ellie Baugh, Farmington

• Anistyn Barber, Timpview

• Preston Abilla, Bingham

• Ava Johnson, Corner Canyon

Boys golf

Mr. Golf: Kihei Akina, Lone Peak

Most outstanding athletes

• Kihei Akina, Lone Peak

• Bowen Mauss, Corner Canyon

• Jackson Shelley, Skyline

• Rawson Hardy, Park City

Girls golf

• Ms. Golf: Saydie Wagner, Lone Peak

Most outstanding athletes

• Kaylee Westfall, Orem

• Aadyn Long, Lone Peak

• Saydie Wagner, Lone Peak

• Whitni Johnson, Bonneville

Boys tennis

• Mr. Tennis: Braeden Johnson, American Fork

Most outstanding athletes

• Braeden Michael Johnson, American Fork

• Oliver Mesicek, Highland

• Calvin Armstrong, Skyridge

• Adam Miner, Crimson Cliffs

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Girls tennis

• Ms. Tennis: Bella Lewis, Skyridge

Most outstanding athletes

• Bella Lewis, Skyridge

• Fabiana Gonzalez, Hillcrest

• Emmy Richards, Woods Cross

• Bailey Huebner, Green Canyon

Boys soccer

• Mr. Soccer: Lewis Knecht, American Fork

Best 11

• F: Lewis Knecht, American Fork

• F: Jorge Beltran, East

• F: Jayden Cosper, Wasatch

• MF: Luis Velasco, Ogden

• MF: Demitri James Wallace Larsen, American Fork

• MF: Taylor Daniel Kogan, Dixie

• MF: Cole Simpson, Wasatch

• D: Elijah Robert Jaggi, Lone Peak

• D: Ben Hess, American Fork

• D: Ty Dutcher, Alta

• GK: Chase Radford, Alta

Girls soccer

• Ms. soccer: Hope Munson, Olympus

Best 11

• F: Hadli Barrera, Mountain Crest

• F: Kyleigh Hastings, Green Canyon

• F: Bella Devey, Lone Peak

• MF: Hope Munson, Olympus

• MF: Kate Denney, Lone Peak

• MF: Kate Fuller, Lone Peak

• MF: Brooklyn Phongsavath, Davis

• D: Ruby Lee, Lone Peak

• D: Cadence Packer, Davis

• D: Summer Cay Sofonia, Mountain Crest

• GK: Eliza Collings, Lone Peak

Boys wrestling

• Mr. Wrestling: Geronimo Rivera Jr., Layton

Most outstanding athletes

• Geronimo Rivera Jr., Layton

• Tucker Roybal, Union

• Austin Paris, Grand

• Jason Worthley, West Field

• Noah Bull, Layton

• Brad Farrer, Pleasant Grove

Girls wrestling

• Ms. Wrestling: Kristina Kent, Davis

Most outstanding athletes

• Keilikki Nau Rarick, Westlake

• Kristina Lynn Kent, Davis

• Aleena Navarrete, West Field

• Tevia Nau Rarick, Westlake

• Tilisa Matakaiongo, Canyon View

• Nia Hagler, Snow Canyon

Boys lacrosse

• Mr. Lacross: Austin Taylor, Brighton

Best 11

• Attack: Rome Swanwick, Judge Memorial

• Attack: Austin Taylor, Brighton

• Attack: Gabe Carrera, Brighton

• Middie: Braxton Horoba, Alta

• Middie: JT Rigby, Mountain Ridge

• Middie: Ashton Wood, Davis

• SSDM: Reece Jerrad Smith, Park City

• Defender: Mason Brady, Corner Canyon

• Defender: Carter Sant, Davis

• Middie: Kaydin Berry, Fremont

• Goalie: Rhett King, Corner Canyon

Girls lacrosse

• Ms. Lacrosse: Sarah Anné, Olympus

Best 12

• Attack: Catherine “Cat” Elsa Faucette, Corner Canyon

• Attack: Taya Chalk, Mountain Ridge

• Attack: Alexandra MacAulay, Farmington

• Middie: Sarah Anné, Olympus

• Middie: Lizzie Anné, Olympus

• Middie: Coco Crawford, Park City

• Middie: Cecelia Walton, Viewmont

• Middie: Hailey Larsen, Farmington

• Defender: Lily Yatkeman, Park City

• Defender: Brielle Fabert, Mountain Ridge

• Defender: Megan Magee, Park City

• Goalie: Elle Erickson, Farmington

Boys swimming

• Mr. Swimming: Abe Astle, Olympus

Most outstanding athletes

• Abe Astle, Olympus

• Luan Barnard, Brighton

• Kurt Morgan, Canyon View

• Sebastian Wrona, Olympus

• Gabriel Thomas Jones, St. Joseph

• Nash Stanford Hale, Skyline

Girls swimming

• Ms. Swimming: Roni Black, Highland

Most outstanding athletes

• Roni Black, Highland

• Jade Garstang, Skyline

• Taylor Bennett, Lone Peak

• Avery Bulkley, Payson

• Rainie Moran, Olympus

• Ana Diedrichs, Wasatch

Baseball

Mr. Baseball: CJ Mascaro, American Fork

Elite starting 9

• Cy Chrisman, Maple Mountain

• Mays Madsen, Lehi

• CJ Mascaro, American Fork

• Kameron Beck, Bingham

• Chase Johnston, Maple Mountain

• Andrew Wilson, Desert Hills

• Drew Smith, Pleasant Grove

• Easton Fry, Brighton

• Cache Poulson, American Fork

Softball

• Ms. Softball: Anne Wallace, Ridgeline

Elite starting 9

• Anne Wallace, Ridgeline

• Lulu West, Desert Hills

• Maile Larsen, Pleasant Grove

• Bella Douglas, Bear River

• Rita Leialoha Tavita, West Jordan

• Brecka Larson, Bingham

• Peyton Holly Sanchez, Riverton

• Maggie Amelia Hamblin, Riverton

• Katelyn Wilson, Bear River

Boys track

• Mr. Track: Davis DeGroot, Bonneville

Most outstanding athletes

• Ty Warnick, Riverton

• Davis DeGroot, Bonneville

• Matthew Christopher Bryant, Lone Peak

• David Konan, Corner Canyon

• Tayshaun Ogomo, Herriman

• Eli Connelly, Crimson Cliffs

• Josh Hamblin, Weber

Girls track

• Ms. Track: Jane Hedengren, Timpview

Most outstanding athletes

• Amelia Nadauld, Snow Canyon

• Jane Hedengren, Timpview

• Tia Brown, Snow Canyon

• Kinzlee J Riddle, Mountain Ridge

• Burklie Burton, Layton

• Lily Alder, Timpview

• Cadee Alder, Manti

Humanitarian of the Year

• Male: Sawyer Orgain, Rowland Hall

• Female: Lydia Wall, Salem Hills

All-sports winners

• 1A: Clint Barney, Panguitch

• 2A: Amy Robinson, South Sevier

• 3A: Kade Morrell, Morgan

• 4A: Mike Hansen, Ridgeline

• 5A: Wendy Anae, Timpview

• 6A: Nancy Warner, Lone Peak