New 10-acre park coming to Riverton
By Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Located just south of Mountain View Village, the park is expected to feature a splash pad, pickleball courts, playground, walking paths and a soccer field.
Riverton’s vast array of parks will have a new addition.
Ten acres of empty land located just south of Mountain View Village between 13400 South and 13800 South will be turned into a 10-acre park as part of Edge Homes development of the area.
Riverton city officials and a representative of Edge Homes presented plans and requested feedback from elected officials in early March on the Mountain Ridge development park.
“It looks beautiful, I think it’s going to be a great amenity for our city and the neighborhood,” Councilmember Tawnee McCay said during the council meeting.
Her enthusiasm wasn’t isolated either as other councilmembers expressed excitement at the park’s potential.
The park is expected to feature lighted pickleball courts, a playground, splash pad, walking paths and a soccer field on the south end with the possibility of more amenities.
“The design of this park, the value of it is you’ve got all ages that can benefit from it,” Councilmember Andy Pierucci said.
The two concerns voiced by councilmembers were about parking and water use for the splash pad in Utah’s current environment.
Officials said parking should be sufficient, street parking will be allowed but
no homes of the surrounding development will face the street so parking won’t be in front of homes.
Splash pad was a recommendation by the city’s parks, recreation and trails committee as there wasn’t anything similar on the southwest side of the city.
Pierucci said the splash pad targets families and expected the demand to be quite high.
“There will be a lot of interest in something like that, especially for young families,” he said.
While Edge Homes is developing the overall area and design on the park, it will be a Riverton City park. Plans for development are expected to start on Greenford Lane on the south end of the area and build street frontage along the park. l
The vacant area between 13400 South, the Welby Jacobs Canal, Sentinel Ridge Boulevard and 13800 South will feature a 10-acre park. In the distance is Mountain View Village. (Travis Barton/City Journals)
South Valley Chamber honors six community members, including City Journal staff member
The South Valley Chamber held its annual State of the Chamber event and honored six community members for their contributions.
By Rebecca Olds rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
TheSouth Valley Chamber hosted its annual State of the Chamber event at Salt Lake Community College’s Gail Miller Conference Center in Sandy.
CEO of the Chamber Jay Francis recapped the year of the Chamber. In 2024, the Chamber hosted 52 ribbon cuttings and more events, launched its first magazine, added 196 new members, grew their Women in Business program, expanded education offerings, increased advocacy efforts and expanded tourism efforts.
In particular, the Chamber’s impact on economic development and tourism in the area has been “off the charts,” Francis said—10 events brought in more than 100,000 visitors/ attendees which made a return of $24.7 million.
The chamber’s main goal is to “connect, educate, advocate, grow” local businesses in seven cities within the South Valley, including new city chamber members Herriman and Bluffdale.
At the event, six individuals within these recognized communities were honored for their work and positive impact on the community.
Heather Curtis of Swire Coca-Cola was awarded the Board Member of the Year. Rick Medina of the Mountain America Expo Center received the Tourism Award. Ashley Guymon from Adaptive Arena received the community service award. Beth Colosimo from the Mill Entrepreneurship Center at Salt Lake Community College was awarded the Business Education Award. Lew Cramer of Colliers Inter-
national, Utah received the President’s Award. Mieka Sawatzki, director of sales at the City Journals was awarded the Chamber Service Award.
For her volunteer efforts in the community and for the Chamber, Cory Covington, director of Business Development for the South Valley Chamber, presented the award to Sawatzki and called her a “champion of the chamber.”
“The Chamber Service Award is meant to honor someone who has gone above and beyond to serve and promote the South Valley Chamber, Mieka Sawatzki exemplifies this as a member of our ambassadors committee,” he said. “She is supportive in so many ways, from attending ribbon cuttings to working with our new members in our chamber, 101 meetings and just being a champion of the chamber in our community, her passion is contagious. I'm honored to call her my friend and to recognize Mieka Sawatzki as the 2024 Chamber Service Award recipient.”
Sawatzki has been in the world of adver-
tising and marketing for nearly 10 years while being at the City Journals for the past six, where she currently holds the title of Director of Sales. She has been a chamber ambassador for two and currently sits on the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee which meets once a month.
“It's a pleasure for me to rub shoulders with these ladies and gentlemen,” Francis said of the ambassadors. “They have to leave their businesses to come and help others open, but they get it—they were there and we appreciate them.”
As an ambassador, Sawatzki has attended and volunteered at chamber events such as lunches, award ceremonies, ribbon cuttings and more to help local businesses grow and thrive.
“With these businesses, a lot of them have
no clue about marketing or advertising,” she said. “After doing sales and advertising for a long time, I have found that it is very rewarding to give them any and all of my knowledge on our products and other ways they can help themselves, whether it's with the chamber or free marketing.”
She said that when Francis told her she would be receiving the Chamber’s Service Award, she felt both surprised and validated.
“A lot of the ambassadors go to a lot of the events and give time to so that was a surprise,” she said. “It felt awesome when he told me, because I do feel like I work really hard with the Journals in partnership with the Chamber.”
In 2024, Sawatzki estimated she volunteered around 156 hours in the chamber and attended 15 to 20 ribbon cuttings. l
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EDITOR
Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com
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(from left to right) Beth Colosimo, Rick Medina, Jay Francis, Heather Curtis, Ashley Guymon and Mieka Sawatzki were honored at South Valley Chamber’s State of the Chamber event. (Photo courtesy of Hulse Photography)
Jay Francis (left) awards Mieka Sawatzki (right) with the 2024 South Valley Chamber Service Award. (Photo courtesy of Hulse Photography)
Riverton animals to temporarily receive shelter assistance from Herriman
The agreement is set to last six months and only shelter cats and dogs.
By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Rivertonhas no animal shelter. For now.
In the meantime, the Riverton and Herriman City Councils approved an agreement in March that will see Herriman temporarily house Riverton dogs and cats in its shelter for six months until Riverton builds its own animal services building.
“We appreciate that,” Mayor Trent Staggs said of Herriman officials’ willingness to assist during the March 4 council meeting. “We expect that facility to be completed here soon and so it’s just on a temporary basis for our neighbor here to help us out with that.”
The city’s new facility, to be built as part of the Water Shop at Old Farm Park (3250 West 13680 South), was approved by the council in December as it allocated $700,000 for the design and construction of the facility. Riverton previously contracted with Stone Ridge Veterinary Clinic, but with that coming to an end, and the new facility yet to be built, city officials found their solution with Herriman.
The completion of its own animal services building is a long time coming for Riverton, who once upon a time contracted with Salt Lake County for its animal control services. Riverton voted to split from the county in July 2017 after they increased costs. And then began its seven-year partnership with Stone Ridge.
City Manager Kevin Hicks said in November that decision saved the city $1.5 million compared to what they would have paid if they stayed with Salt Lake County.
Hicks also emphasized the positive relationship the city has with Stone Ridge and the clinic’s willingness to help. Riverton will remain with Stone Ridge until June 30 of this year before temporarily switching to Herriman.
The estimated net expenditures for the first year would be about $355,000, Hicks said. In comparison, Salt Lake County, Herriman and Draper are all at least $414,000.
Herriman themselves have experienced a similar journey as Riverton, leaving Salt Lake County in 2019 establishing its own animal services unit under the police department’s umbrella.
However, in terms of shelter, the city leased space from South Jordan until December 2023 when its partnership ended. South Jordan needs its full capacity. Herriman officials signed a five-year lease for its own temporary location at 15856 South Rockwell Park Cove, while they make plans for a future shelter.
The agreement limits the types of animals Riverton can bring to Herriman to only dogs and cats. Herriman will provide shelter and care, but Riverton will provide medical attention if needed. Responsibility for picking up animals, locating owners or arranging adoptions will fall on Riverton. Riverton will pay Herriman $50 per day per animal.
With the southwest continually growing, each city has found a need to bring animal services in house as opposed to contracting out or partnering with other entities.
The cost to create Riverton’s own service, which also requires an additional full-time employee to help run the shelter, was too much for one councilmember.
Councilmember Andy Pierucci expressed reservations at the city’s plan in November and December due to the shelter’s high costs, especially relative to the small number of animals and residents served. With the impending termination of the city’s partnership with Stone Ridge, he said this might be a short-term
solution that doesn’t justify such a large investment.
“I don’t believe government is good at adoption services, the private sector’s better than us at that,” he said during the December council meeting. He also voiced a preference to partner with other cities, but Hicks and Mayor Trent Staggs explained other cities or alternative clinics were explored but were not interested or had similar limitations to what the city has now.
There are intentions, Hicks said during that same meeting, to partner with nonprofits and other pet stores to help with adoptions.
Councilmember Troy McDougal preferred to build the shelter now and then find ways to make it profitable. “I would prefer we control our destiny rather than partner with another city.” l
Riverton to stick with current short term rental ordinance
City officials discussed the possibility of changing city code in light of Murray’s recent change, but decided to maintain the status quo.
By Travis Barton travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Inlight of Murray City’s change to its short term rental ordinance, Riverton officials decided to revisit theirs.
After discussion, the Riverton City Council chose to keep its current ordinance suggesting extra education and enforcement with those not in compliance.
Mayor Trent Staggs brought the item before the council in February after receiving several complaints from residents.
“The complaints I’ve mostly heard are just too many residents jammed in (to the property),” Staggs said.
Riverton’s current short-term rental code states rentals cannot last more than 30 days and can only be rented out 150 days of the year, while the owner must live on the property a minimum of 185 days, just over half the year.
City code does not require what is known as “hosted sharing” where the primary resident must live on site for the duration of a guest’s stay. But the home must be registered with the city and receive a conditional use permit from the planning commission which looks at the
owner’s business model, available street parking and the location’s viability, explained City Attorney Ryan Carter.
“(The commission) might exact some conditions on the property regarding lighting” or anything else that can be considered a nuisance, he said.
If properties are causing enough trouble to get the city’s attention, Carter said, they often find they are operating without a permit and work to bring them into compliance.
Carter said Murray’s model, passed in January of this year, is unique relative to other city ordinances in Salt Lake County. Murray requires the resident to live onsite throughout the stay and carries no limits on the number of days per year it can be rented out.
“Can do back-to-back rentals year-round as long as someone lives there,” he said.
Councilmember Spencer Haymond said he likes short-term rentals, having used them himself, and appreciates the ability for a homeowner to make extra income. But he understands the dilemma.
“I constantly have that battle between caring for the neighbor and making sure they don’t live in a hotel district, but at the same time, the people have the right to do with their property what they want,” he said.
The issues often heard by Councilmember Troy McDougal with short-term rentals is parking and after-hours activities. He said having
Riverton officials decided to stick with their current short-term rental code which requires homeowners to live on the property for at least half the year. (Unsplash)
the homeowner requirement of living there half the year helps mitigate that since they have a “vested interest in the community.”
“When we went through this ordinance…I think we found the perfect balance that works well,” he said. “The question now is of enforcing and communicating.”
McDougal preferred to leave the ordi-
nance as is, as did Councilmember Tish Buroker, who emphasized the important part “is whether or not it’s enforceable.”
“As long as you have that hook that you’ve got to live there a certain number of days each year, you’ve got an enforceable ordinance,” she said. l
Riverton will share animal services with Herriman until its new animal control facility is built this year. (Stock photo)
Two Riverton High students win awards for their portraits at 53rd Annual Utah All-State High School Art Show.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Because Riverton High School senior Lydia Cannon has only been studying art for three years, she was surprised when her oil on canvas piece “Sliver of Light” was not only one of just 300 accepted into the highly competitive and prestigious Utah All-State High School Art Show, but that it also won multiple awards.
“Sliver of Light” won third place in the Utah Senate Visual Art Awards, a Fourth Congressional District Honorable Mention and a Midway Art Association Materials Award.
“For me, and I think what it is like for a lot of other artists, it really is just a big confidence booster, in a way, being able to be recognized on that high of a level just means so much to me, especially because I've really only gotten into art the past three years in high school, and so to see that I've come this far and received these awards with all these amazing high school artists, it just really puts a boost on my confidence and a boost on my drive to continue my art career and do that as a living in the future,” Cannon said.
In addition to bragging rights, the awards came with cash prizes and a gift card for art supplies.
The oil on canvas piece was Cannon’s first attempt at an oil portrait. The subject of the piece is a young girl she taught in India. Twice, Cannon has visited an Indian village to teach English to the children. That experience has been so impactful that it has inspired every piece in her AP art portfolio, which highlights the village’s beauty and culture.
“It really changed my life and the people there really just had such an impact on me,” she said. “And so I did that pic-
Portraits of a winner
ture of her and then I named it ‘Sliver of Light’ because of the lighting that she has shining on her face and how that kind of represents the sliver of light that I found in that place. They all live in such poverty. They lived in little shacks and had nothing to their names, and yet they were just so sweet and just so giving and you could just really see the light in their lives. It was just so inspiring to me, and it really changed my life, and so that's why I titled it ‘Sliver of Light.’”
Cannon had a piece of art accepted into last year’s show.
Riverton High School had 10 students’ artwork accepted into this year’s show, the most the school has ever had in one year, Cannon said.
One other Riverton High School student won an award; Kaya Monson’s photograph “Abuelo” won a Jurors’ Choice Award. l
Bingham High School: Isaac Mitchell, Tess Petersen, Alyssa Barrett and Erin Grimshaw (two pieces)
Erin Grimshaw won the Outstanding Student of the Year Award. Her piece “Young Siren” won a Jurors’ Choice Award, a Fourth Congressional District Award, the Artists Nosh Award and a Lyon Arts Studio Award.
Her piece “Labeled” won a Jurors’ Award of Merit.
Copper Hills High School: Callie Reyes, Brandon Koller, Kennedy Fuell, Leo Holt, Savili Simanu, Zoe Hein, Michael Milner and Mars Lawson
Callie Reyes’s “Cutting Ties” won a Utah Senate Visual Art Honorable Mention, a Lyon Arts Studio Award, a Sentient Academy Scholarship and a USBE Purchase Award.
Brandon Koller’s “Multnomah Falls” won a Midway Art Association Materials Award.
Zoe Hein’s “Dialed In” won a USBE Purchase Award.
Herriman High School: Abaigael Langston, Amanda Morales, Elijah Baker, Isabella Freeman, Nhi Trang, Saylor Sanders, Sofia Kim,
Stella Smuin and Susanna Bruening
Isabella Freeman’s piece “I Believed in God in 2008” won the Pilar Pobil Legacy Award.
Mountain Ridge High School: Braden Wilcox, Cambryn Vance, Elizabeth Barton, Kate Butterfield and Mckenzie Goodwin
Both Cambryn Vance’s “Reminiscing a Joyful Splash” and Braden Wilcox’s “Paper Patriot” won an Honorable Mention.
Providence Hall High School: Morgan Vaas
Riverton High School: Cash Swenson, Ella Nordfelt, Kaitlin Killian, Kaya Monson, Spencer Cameron, Lillian Dickes, Lydia Cannon, Miranda Johnson, Rachel Jessen and Olive Grgich Morse
Kaya Monson’s “Abuelo” won a Jurors’ Choice Award.
Lydia Cannon’s “Sliver of Light” earned a Fourth Congressional District Honorable Mention, third place in the Utah Senate Visual Art Awards and a Midway Art Association Materials Award.
West Jordan High School: Nicolas Allen, Porter Blair and Porter Melton
Riverton High School senior Lydia Cannon’s “Sliver of Light” won four awards at the 2025 Utah AllState High School Art Show. (Oil on canvas “Sliver of Light” by Lydia Cannon)
Riverton High School student Kaya Monson’s photograph “Abuelo” won a Jurors’ Choice Award at the 53rd Utah All-State High School Art Show. (Photo by Kaya Monson)
Students celebrate Carnival
Cultural holidays are a highlight of the Portuguese DLI program.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
To celebrate Brazil’s traditional Carnival, the Portuguese Dual Language Immersion teachers at Bluffdale Elementary School shared traditional decorations, foods, crafts and music with their students.
“It is a celebration of joy and bringing people together—that’s the main goal for the Carnival is bringing people together,” DLI teacher Larissa Carla Rodrigues Collaço said.
It’s a day students look forward to each year. They learned about Carnival traditions, made Carnival masks and bracelets and learned to dance the samba.
“What I liked the most was dancing to the Carnival songs wearing our masks,” first grader Gabriela Collaço said.
“Carnival in class was amazing! I loved creating masks and singing in Portuguese; it felt like we were really in Brazil,” second grader Elsie Cain said.
“I had so much fun dancing samba and making Brazil flag bracelets during our Carnival celebration. It was awesome learning more about Brazil and sharing it with my friends,” second-grader Nixon Haaga said.
Getting a taste of traditional Brazilian treats were a highlight of the celebration. Fifth graders enjoyed sampling fresh fruit juice.
“I thoroughly enjoyed tasting the freshly made juice, just like in Brazil,” fifth-grader Logan Hardy said.
Fourth graders tasted Brazilian snacks and third grade students sampled Brazilian hot dogs.
“So the American hot dog, you have just the bun and the hot dog and ketchup and mustard,” Collaço said. “A Brazilian
celebration of Festa Junina will be held May 16, 5 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. at Riverton High School. All community members are invited to watch DLI students from all grade levels showcase what they’ve learned. There will be traditional dances and games as well as food trucks selling Brazilian food.
At the end of May, DLI students will share Brazilian games and food with all Bluffdale Elementary students with the cel-
ebration of Brasilândia. Sixth grade DLI students will teach students the games and explain the foods as a way to practice their language and leadership skills.
“When the DLI classes are there, then they can only speak Portuguese, and then when the regular English classes are there, then they explain to those students in English the Brazilian traditional games,” Collaço said.l
hot dog, you put a lot of things inside. So depending on the region, they put different things. So, for example, where I live, we do corn, peas, tomato, olives, then we cover it with mashed potatoes and those potato sticks, then plus the mustard and ketchup that is normal.”
There are 10 countries that speak Portuguese but the Bluffdale Elementary teachers, who are all from Brazil, focus on Brazilian language, culture and holidays. Students learn about the other countries in their secondary school classes. In addition to becoming fluent in speaking Portuguese, the DLI program helps students develop interest in and better awareness and respect of cultural diversity, Collaço said.
“Teaching culture is crucial in dual immersion classrooms because it fosters empathy, enhances cognitive and social skills and promotes understanding of diverse perspectives, preparing students for a globalized world,” Collaço said.
Portuguese DLI celebrates traditional holidays throughout the year. A district-wide
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Mountain West Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Community Growth
The Mountain West Chamber of Commerce is excited to introduce our new Business-of-theMonth program! Each month, we will recognize a local business for its outstanding service and community involvement. Our first honoree is Salsa Leedos Mexican Restaurant—stop by their location at 13298 Market Center St., Riverton to enjoy a delicious meal and show your support.
Do you know a business that deserves the spotlight?
Let us know—we’d love to celebrate them!
Teacher Appreciation is Almost Here!
We’re gearing up to honor 35 incredible educators, and we need your help! If you’d like to support local teachers, we’re looking for:
✔ Lunch attendees
✔ Swag bag gifts
✔ Event sponsors
This year’s theme is “Teachers Are the Real Superheroes!”
Let’s show our appreciation in a big way. Contact the Mountain West Chamber to get involved!
First graders show off their Carnival masks. (Photo courtesy Larissa Carla Rodrigues Collaço)
Carnival masks made by students for Bluffdale Elementary School’s Carnival celebration. (Photo courtesy Larissa Carla Rodrigues Collaço)
Fifth graders taste fresh fruit juice at Bluffdale Elementary’s Carnival celebration. (Photo courtesy Larissa Carla Rodrigues Collaço)
New team on the political scene
Model UN simulation provides real world experience for new high school club members.
By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Highschool junior Cassidy Gates is interested in learning about world issues.
“I think it’s kind of important to be aware of what’s going on in the world, especially because we’re teenagers, and so it’s going to be the world that we inherit,” she said. “I think it’s really important to learn about different issues that are going on and how we can make our world a better place.”
Gates’s interest helped start a Model United Nations club at Mountain Ridge High School last year. This year, the team, the only one in Jordan School District, competed at their first event, a Model UN assembly simulation held at Utah Valley University.
The seven team members represented the nations of South Africa and Slovenia, working in committees with other high school students representing other nations to address preservation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and genocide and mass atrocities.
Students said they learned a lot about collaboration as delegates explored solutions that all countries could agree on.
“You can’t pass a resolution with just one
or two countries, you need, like, at least four for sponsors and a couple other signatories, so you can’t do anything alone is basically the whole premise of it. You have to work together,” sophomore Sylvia Packer said.
Students did extensive research to be prepared to represent their country’s interests.
“You had to really know the topics in your committee and your country’s stance on them,” sophomore Kinley Doman said. “You’re collaborating with other delegates to make and sign a resolution to keep helping solve the problem.”
Senior Madison Moller said it was eye opening to see the issues from different countries’ perspectives.
“I just really tried aligning what I was saying with the country’s views instead of my own views, which is, I feel like, a really good way of creating a more broad perspective on things,” she said.
The discussions lasted for hours but Doman said it was worth the hard work.
“Whenever a resolution would pass, everyone would just start clapping,” she said. “And it’s just this surreal moment of you work together for hours making this resolution work, so it’s everyone just being excited that it got passed and voted for.”
The competition was student-led and followed the procedures of the real UN to give students a realistic experience. This required them
to learn new skills.
“We learned a couple new skills to write the resolution paper,” Packer said. “We had to learn, like, an entirely new form of language of parliamentary terms. It was very complicated, but also very rewarding.”
Model UN Club Adviser Kelsie Berrett hopes to grow the team next year and be able to participate in more competitions.
“It really is just meant to simulate and give
students a spirit and experience as to how the United Nations actually runs,” Berrett said. “And they were able to hear an address from an affiliate at the United Nations as well who shared some of his personal experiences. I think it opens up some doors to potential careers for those that are interested in international relations or politics, or just kind of gives them a vision for opportunities that they may have in the future.” l
When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site. Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
Mountain Ridge High School’s Model UN team: Cassidy Gates, Madison Moller, Sylvia Packer, Kinley Doman, Camila Lillo Lillo, Elizabeth Kesler, Emma Strand. (Photo courtesy Kelsie Berrett)
New staff has Mountain Ridge boys lacrosse feeling optimistic
Head coach Justin Rigby is now in charge of the Mountain Ridge lacrosse team. The Sentinels have renewed excitement and a strong competitive spirit.
By Josh McFadden
There’sa new coach leading the Mountain Ridge boys lacrosse team, and he has his players feeling positive about the 2025 season.
Justin Rigby was hired to take over the program. He inherited a team that went 5-12 last season and finished fifth in Region 2 with a 3-7 record. The year before, the sentinels were 6-11 overall and 3-3 in league play. Despite the recent struggles, Mountain Ridge has high hopes this season. Players and coaches are eager to see what the team is made of.
“The team is energized and eager for the season to begin,” Rigby said. “With a strong core of returning players and a fresh perspective from the new coaching staff, there’s a renewed sense of enthusiasm and focus. The offseason was highly productive, with players committing to strength training, conditioning and sharpening their fundamentals. The transition to the new coaching system has been smooth, and the team has embraced the changes with a determined mindset. There’s a strong sense of unity and a shared goal of competing at a high level. We’re
looking forward to testing ourselves against the competition in the state.”
Rigby was complimentary of the previous coaching staff and those players who have helped build the program since boys lacrosse was sanctioned as a high school sport in 2021.
“Our primary goal is to elevate the program and build on Mountain Ridge’s strong tradition established by previous coaching staff and alumni,” he said. “Competing for a region title is always a priority, but our success will be defined by consistent growth and development throughout the season. We’ve set clear team goals that emphasize improving fundamentals, increasing lacrosse IQ and building team chemistry. By focusing on these areas, we aim to play our best lacrosse when it matters most—at the end of the season.”
Rigby’s excited to see his team continue to evolve and be ready to compete against the top teams in the region and Class 6A. So far, he has been impressed with the defense.
“To start the season, our defense looks strong, bringing intensity every day while improving their footwork and physicality,” Rigby said. Rigby is focusing on improving the offense and its production. He said there are talented players in the offensive lineup but the players “need to gel together.”
“We’re focusing on improving our ball movement, shot selection and overall communication on the field,” Rigby said. “Additionally, we want to refine our transition game and capi-
talize on fast-break opportunities.”
As a new coach at Mountain Ridge, Rigby is grateful for the opportunity he has to lead the team. He praises his predecessors and appreciates the strong group of seniors on his squad. Rigby is intent on making this the best season possible and helping the players have a positive experience.
“First, we want to acknowledge and appreciate the former coaching staff, led by head coach Trent Bangert,” Rigby said. “They laid a strong foundation when the school first opened, creating a great tradition and a passionate lacrosse community. Now, with our new coach-
What to know about visiting the E.R.
By Dr. Alex Drake
At CommonSpirit Health, our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity. This extends to all the care we provide our patients, whether it be in our doctor’s offices, our clinics, or our hospitals.
We want your visit to our care sites to be as comfortable as possible, and we know that visiting the Emergency Department (ER) is difficult for any patient and their loved ones. I would like to share some information about what to expect in the ER, so that you can be as prepared as possible.
Our emergency caregivers are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to serve our community. We accept all patients – regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. A typical visit to the ER can take two-to-three hours, but please know that in the ER we must evaluate and treat our patients based on severity of their condition. This might mean longer wait times in the lobby or even after being placed in an exam room. However, this also means that if you’re having a life-threatening emergency, you will have the undivided attention of our doctors and nurses.
If you have mild-to-moderate symptoms – such as fever below 103 degrees without a rash, flu-like symptoms without shortness of breath, or sprains and strains – you may wish to consider calling your primary care provider or visiting an urgent care center, as these options may be faster and are often less expensive. Symptoms or health issues that require immediate medical attention may include the following:
• Chest pain
• Sudden weakness or trouble talking
• Difficulty breathing
• Spinal injuries
• Severe head injury
• Major broken bones
• Major burns
• Sudden change in vision
• Heavy bleeding
• Large open wounds
You should never drive yourself to an ER if you are having severe chest pain, severe bleeding, if you feel like you might faint, or if your vision is impaired. When in doubt, please call 911 — what matters most is that you get to the emergency room quickly and safely. If you arrive by
ambulance, you will be triaged and we will determine the level of care required.
All emergency physicians at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals are board certified in Emergency Medicine and have trained for many years to help you in your emergency. The doctors also have specially trained midlevel providers who can also help. Your provider may order tests like X-rays, CT Scans, Ultrasounds, bloodwork, urinalysis, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or others, depending on your health problem.
After receiving test results, the doctor will discuss the findings and diagnosis with you. If needed, they will advise admission to the hospital. If your condition does not need admission, they will give you written instructions about treatment to be followed at home. This may include prescriptions, tips for home care, and any referrals needed for following up with either a primary care or specialized doctor. While we hope for the health and safety of those in our community, know that we are here if you need us. Our excellent doctors and nurses at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals are ready to provide high-quality, compassionate, and timely care.
ing staff, I’m excited about the direction we’re heading. We bring diverse experiences in lacrosse, strength and conditioning and sports science, which have helped drive this team’s development. More importantly, we are united in our mission to elevate the players’ experience and set higher expectations for success. This year we have a large group of seniors and we want to make their final season unforgettable. Our focus is on developing them as athletes and leaders while ensuring they leave with lifelong memories, a strong work ethic and a deep love for the game.” l
As CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
By Dr. Alex Drake
Emergency Physician
CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital
Jordan Valley West
Mountain Ridge boys lacrosse players get ready to take the field in the season opener against Roy on March 5. (Photo courtesy Dave Allen)
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EDUCATION SECTION
SheTech Day sparks creativity and curiosity into next-gen tech leaders
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Ninth-grader Julia Ashby, of Riverview Junior High in Murray, wanted to explore AI and ChatGPT while Hadley Miller, a Draper Park Middle School student, was looking into college chemical engineering programs. Callyn Mortensen, a ninth grader at Sunset Ridge Middle School in West Jordan, was discovering more about coding and freshman Chelsea Baker, from Brighton High in Cottonwood Heights, was investigating various technology-related careers at the event.
These students were among the 3,000 girls from ninth to 12th grade who attended SheTech Explorer Day, an event designed to introduce girls to the world of technology in a fun, engaging atmosphere. During the event, they had the opportunity to meet STEM role models and discover a wide array of opportunities in the field.
Throughout the morning, girls from high schools across the state participated in more than 40 workshops focused on topics such as programming, engineering, aerospace, robotics, product invention, entrepreneurship, biomedicine, digital marketing, web design and gaming.
In addition, they had the chance to experience the interactive TechZone, where local STEM companies and educational institutions provided opportunities to learn about internships, programs and industry experiences.
The day wrapped up with a collaborative small group exercise in which the girls worked together to brainstorm, innovate and pitch solutions in a TechChallenge, all while being guided by industry mentors.
Students learned about the event through fliers posted at schools, emails from counselors or by hearing from teachers in various classes ranging from interior design to computer science to manufacturing technology.
Hailey Derr, a ninth grader at Cottonwood High in Murray, wanted to explore
biomedical engineering careers, so she visited her career center and discovered the event was a good opportunity. She’s already planning to take medical terminology and medical math next year.
Reagan Fairchild, a ninth grader from Sunset Ridge, was learning “how they keep patients safe during surgery and other cool things in the medical field” as she explored the TechZone.
Sydney Birk from Draper Park Middle School had just finished astronaut training.
“I was clicking a button to spawn an object and grab it or flick it to a target; if I hit the target, it gave a score,” she said. “It was fun. I want to be an astronaut and this is better than online simulations.”
Rylee Blackwell from Hidden Valley Middle School in Bluffdale was trying out Alexa glasses.
“I like how you can hear music and nobody else can,” she said. “I was in my own little world while there’s so many people here. It was relaxing.”
Retired electrical engineer Shari Mann demonstrated how to use the Alexa glasses with built-in microphones, offering a hands-free experience.
“I'm really passionate about inspiring girls to go into engineering,” she said. “I like how excited the girls are to try on the Alexa glasses and not just learn how they work, but understand it.”
Mann’s father encouraged her to pursue engineering back when there were “just a handful of females studying engineering” at the University of Texas in the late 1980s. She has since programmed microchips and holds patents in the field.
“I always say, engineers invent the world, and we need all different kinds of people represented in inventing this world; it’s a great career and it’s been fun,” Mann said.
Sydney Birk from Draper Park Middle School took part of virtual reality astronaut training during SheTech Explorer Day. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
During SheTech Explorer Day, ninth-graders Julia Ashby, Lexie Nelson and Aubrey Clayton of Riverview Junior High in Murray experimented with InstaSnow. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
From seed to sale: Entrada’s botany program offers hands-on learning
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Every year, just around Mother’s Day, Entrada High School hosts a plant sale, offering a wide variety of plants “dirt cheap.”
Patrons can find packs of Roma, cheery, and large tomatoes, as well as sweet and hot peppers, often selling for just a few dollars. There are also herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, and others, along with geraniums and coleus.
These plants, and others sold at the event, provide valuable hands-on training for adult students working toward their high school diploma or GED, while also earning science and elective credits. The proceeds from the sale are reinvested into the program, buying supplies for the next year.
The botany-greenhouse program has been running this way since teacher Anita Leimbach and community education facilitator Cheri Prince took it over in 2014 after the previous instructor retired. While Prince now helps coordinate the sale, David Dau joined as the new instructor four years ago.
“These students learn how to be responsible,” Leimbach said. “One student could screw up hundreds of plants in 20 minutes if they don’t listen to directions. The sale from last year gives us the money to buy the soil and the pots for this year. So, they're all trading on last year's good students.”
In early March, the class was transplanting coleus into larger pots. Three teenage boys worked side by side.
Senior Sajjad Alsarifee, who hopes to grow a lawn in his yard, explained transplanting is important. His friend, junior Mohamed Hameed, said it helps the roots spread out.
Junior Khalid Khudair explained: “The roots are too smashed in together; when they germinate, you have to make sure they have space to live in. Being compact isn’t good.”
The boys came to Entrada for different reasons, none of which involved becoming botanists.
“I came because I wanted to get my credits finished faster and I can test out of classes,” Hameed said. “I’m getting science credit and it’s hands-on, which makes it more fun than some other classes. I like that we give back to the community when they buy the plants. It provides students more opportunities.”
Khudair, who had missed 1.5 months of class while on a vacation, was catching up on credits, while Alsarifee admitted he had skipped class his sophomore year.
“I always had something better
to do, like walk around,” he said. “I’ve made up a lot of credits here.”
Leimbach said her students come from a variety of backgrounds, including those who speak English as a second language, as well as students who are homeless or autistic.
“This is a rewarding class for many of our students. We’ve had students who excel in this who don't academically because it's hands-on; that's the difference. Everybody can do it, and some of these are smart kids. It just does my heart good to see these kids who have struggled to do so well. It’s the beauty of this program. They see progress and get to see projects completed. They come and see the plants remembering they may have transplanted them or made cuttings and now they’re in bloom,” she said, adding, “Some of them never even knew where a tomato came from.”
Typically, about 15 students attend the class twice a week for two hours. The course lasts about a month and counts toward the 24 credits Entrada students need for graduation. Currently, most of the 800 Entrada students are between the ages of 17 and 20.
“We have at least one botany class every session. Dave often will do it in the summer. Then come January, we offer two classes till May, which is more than we’ve had in the past. They always fill up,” she said.
Junior Jade Shafer-Pedersen has taken the class five times.
“I love this class,” she said. “It just gives me an outlet for creativity and it’s a personal connection between me and the plants. It just gives me a sense of peace in my school day, it's a nice safe space. I’m proud of these little guys for growing. I've learned so much from this class. I've only really grown house plants before and now, I’ll probably play with plants for the rest of my life. Anita and Dave are good teachers. They let us do our thing and then help us when we need it.”
When Shafer-Pedersen came to Entrada, she had “zero credits.”
“I never went to high school before. When the whole COVID virus happened, everyone went home from school, and I never went back. I never stepped foot in high school,” she said. “I never thought I would come back until I tried Entrada. I love it here. It’s so different.”
After finishing transplanting, Shafer-Pedersen and the others asked if they should remove the growth from the geraniums, deposit old soil and move the bags of new soil into the greenhouse.
“That's another thing I like,” Leimbach said. “They say, ‘Should I do this? They know what needs to be done and take that initiative. They care about the plants and the program.”
The program has blossomed over the years. It’s no longer just rows of plants in the greenhouse. In a portable classroom under lights, 4,000 plants are growing. By the time the sale comes around, there will be 2,400 tomatoes,
3,400 squash and cucumbers, and 2,000 peppers, in addition to geraniums, coleus, and house plants.
“When Dave was hired, he brought it to another level. He built the grow stations, and they germinate better there than the greenhouse because we could keep them a steady temperature. Then we bring them all over to the greenhouse. He’s also done hydroponics in the winter in the classroom, so the students are learning about that. Every year we learn to make it easier, so students can have a lot of success, and we get better results. He’s taken it to a more scientific level where I come from a gardener perspective,” she said.
Dau not only helps with the 10,000plus plants at Entrada, he has set up a 3,000-plant sale at nearby Jordan Valley, a school for students that have severe multiple disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, communication impairments, genetic disorders and syndromes, deaf–blindness and, for students who are extremely medically fragile.
He also runs a business from home, selling about 1,500 plants.
“Once we set the expectations for the class, everyone realizes the relevancy. They learn how to set up the greenhouse, how to plant with healthy soil, how to water correctly, how to work as a team. Anita helps them understand the importance of the plants and the process; I’m the mad scientist,” said Dau,
Junior Jade Shafer-Pedersen said working in Entrada’s greenhouse gives her an outlet for creativity and connection with the plants. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Entrada students Mohamed Hameed, Khalid Khudair and Sajjad Alsarifee water the plants after transplanting them. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
who has taken Utah State University’s master gardening class three times as “there’s always something new to learn.”
The former school principal said students get dirty in the self-sustaining program.
“They’re learning how to propagate plants, transplant them into pots, grow lettuce and kale in hydroponics using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, they’re learning that a controlled atmosphere and soil temperature has helped growth, so they’re learning the science behind it,” he said. “They’re understanding plants and what they need.”
He explained students gain confidence by realizing they can grow plants without killing them, that asking logical questions will get them answers, and that giving plants attention is key to their success.
“Growing plants is part art and part science. For many, this is outside their comfort zone so they’re learning to work in teams as they learn new skills and vocabulary, to take direction and work with others, to be resilient and to appreciate a job well done,” he said.
Working with some of his immigrant students has led Entrada to grow plants native to their homelands.
“Some of them are really excited they can grow plants in their apartments that are important to the foods of their culture,” Dau said.
This has also expanded the variety of produce grown. The program typically grows 36 varieties of tomatoes, six varieties of hot and sweet peppers, six annual herbs, six perennial herbs, and four types of basil.
Through the plant sale, Dau said the community doesn’t just come for “cheap plants.”
“It’s building a community for students. We aren’t a traditional high school where you rally around a sports game or a performing arts performance. We’re providing goodwill for the community and they’re providing support for our students.”
Continued from front page
Jenny Curtis, Jordan School District’s work-based learning assistant, said the opportunity is incredible for girls.
“It’s cool, just to see all of these industries here, providing support and information and bringing all of these wonderful, mostly ladies, in tech,” she said. “It’s an amazing opportunity for girls to see what's happening in the field.”
Eileen Kasteler, Brighton High’s workbased learning facilitator, has brought students to the event for years and appreciates the event’s accessibility.
“It’s astonishing that a professional event of this caliber is free to girls year after
Making Lucas smile
By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Antelope Canyon Elementary third-grader Lucas Ellis has been dealing with leukemia since 2023, with treatments, hospitalizations and medications, but one of the hardest things about the experience for the happy and social kid has been missing school.
“He has always been a very social kid— he thrives in having those interactions with his friends,” his mom, Marcela Ellis said. “When he first was diagnosed, we did a lot of online classes, which were helpful, but we could see that his emotional well-being wasn't being taken care of as well as we wanted it to be.”
When Lucas’ illness relapsed in January, his teacher Megan Dotson stepped into action to create ways for Lucas to remain connected to her, his classmates and the classroom.
She made T-shirts with Lucas’ signature smile and blue glasses which all her students and those in Lucas’ two siblings’ classes, as well as staff members and parents wear each Friday (which Dotson calls Lucas Friday.)
Through a foundation called Monkey in My Chair, Dotson arranged for a lovable stuffed monkey to sit in Lucas’ seat when he is not able to come to class. Students tote the monkey with them to the library, lunch and PE class, and send Lucas pictures of his adventures to help him feel included.
“We love getting the pictures of George the Monkey playing in the parachutes, or going to recess or at lunch—he loves it,” Ellis said. “What he considers the fun, the ‘not school stuff,’ he doesn't get to be part of that, so getting the pictures of the monkey and the letters describing all those things— he loves it.”
Dotson said the monkey sitting in his chair has helped students not forget about Lucas.
“Putting him in our room, it honestly feels whole again,” she said.
Students also stay in communication with Lucas by sending notes to him through a class mailbox. Dotson said she always emphasizes kindness and inclusion in her class-
year,” she said. “I like how the student ambassadors greet new girls, making it personal and welcoming.”
Gretel Diederich, a junior at Alta High in Sandy, completed her first year on the SheTech student board.
“I like the program and wanted to keep it going, so I thought the best way was to be an ambassador and support it,” she said. “I like exploring the booths and love talking to all the people to learn about all the programs I don’t know about. I also really love the girls. I made friends two years ago, and I still talk to them when I see them here. It says a lot about the SheTech community and the people.”
room but the last few months have given her students opportunities to put those values into practice.
“I've watched the empathy in each of these little kids grow by a million and a half,” Dotson said. “They just talk about it all the time, how excited they are for Lucas Friday, or how they're going to grab an extra this or whatever at home to put in his mailbox, or things like that. And just watching them care for someone else has been really, really cool, and then come up with ideas of how we're going to, or what we're going to say, or what they'd like to do to show him love. I encourage that a lot in this room, but I have watched it grow tremendously in the last little bit.”
Dotson comes to Lucas’ home to work with him regularly. She also visits him when he is in the hospital. Lucas said all the support from his teacher and classmates feels “awesome.”
Ellis said the support has been incredible.
“It makes him feel like people are there,
She was joined by her sister, freshman Leslie, who appreciated the event's schedule of workshops, and Alta High junior Audrey Semler, who was enjoying engaging with industry experts and participants.
“I love the energy here; everyone is having fun and it’s easy to talk to everyone,” she said. “I learned about different organizations for internships and college programs and scholarships.”
Kaitlin White, a freshman from Brighton, was eager to explore the booths at the TechZone, where girls could try several interactive activities as well as sample a new Coca-Cola flavor to checking out a Cybertruck. They could even test angular
even if he can't see them and if he can't hang out with them, people are there for him,” she said. “It's made a huge impact on his well-being emotionally. We noticed that when he is in a good mood or in a good emotional state, he recovers from the chemo or the procedures a lot quicker than when he's sad or feeling a little bit depressed.”
She said it was such a relief when Dotson took the initiative to arrange the zoom calls and the plan for keeping Lucas up with his classwork.
“That was a huge burden that she lifted,” she said. “As a family, we were worrying about all these other things that we had to do—his medication, finding a donor—all of it—and to not have to worry about that was just incredible.”
At the end of February, Lucas received a school-wide superhero’s farewell as he left school to prepare for a bone marrow transplant, which will keep him out of school for at least a year.
momentum.
“I find STEM stuff interesting, and I want to learn what I can do in the future in a tech career,” she said. “I also want to be a sci fi author so this definitely helps with that.”
Near the area where robotic cars were being driven, Riverview Junior High ninthgrade students Lexie Nelson and Aubrey Clayton were experimenting with InstaSnow.
“There's so many more careers than I thought there would be here; it’s awesome,” Clayton said. Nelson added: “It’s all fun; I love the women empowerment.”
Megan Dotson leads her student Lucas Ellis through a hero’s farewell given by his classmates as he leaves school to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. (Kraig Williams/JSD)
New charter school helps students who have fallen behind with a helping hand
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
After finding success in Arizona, California and Nevada, ThrivePoint Academy is bringing its community-based charter school model to Utah. The school will open its doors for the 2025-26 school year, with enrollment starting in July.
William Evans is the acting director at ThrivePoint Academy of Utah, located at 1589 W. 9000 South in West Jordan. Evans said the school’s program is life-changing for students in grades 7-12 who might struggle with mainstream school.
“Our mission is to provide educational opportunities to underserved kids,” he said. “We’re targeting students who are at risk of dropping out. They’re feeling like they’re stuck and so we use this as a way to get them into programs where they can then see how it fits in with their future.”
Students take two six-week classes at a time and instructors create a learning plan that matches the student’s goals. The twoclass model has been used with success at the school’s other locations by allowing students to better focus on classwork, especially those who struggle with a heavy class load.
Sometimes, students will come to ThrivePoint to take specific courses that will get them caught up if they’ve fallen behind at their regular school. The academy’s instructors also build community interaction opportunities so students can learn from professionals in different industries.
“When our students enroll, we’ll do a survey with them of what their interests are, what their chosen profession is, what they want to do when they grow up, or whatever their goals are,” Evans said. “Then we try to con-
nect them with as many people in that same field. That means we work with getting them apprenticeships or internships or job-related training. We’re engaging them in the community and we’re also engaging as much of the community with the school as possible.”
ThrivePoint Academy hosts events during the year to bring business leaders and students together. Whether it’s a course by the Better Business Bureau about how to avoid being scammed online or career-focused field trips, Evans said the students regularly interact with community leaders.
Although the tuition-free school has a brick-and-mortar location in West Jordan, it also has a hybrid option where students access their classes online. If kids go more than a day without logging into the program, instructors reach out to parents to suggest they bring their student in to make sure they’re not falling behind or struggling.
“The student can also reach out to the teacher themselves if they don’t understand something,” Evans said. “We love to have them come in and we’ll work with them. Our center is open from seven in the morning until seven at night.”
ThrivePoint Academy started operating in Arizona and California more than 20 years ago and has received high ratings for its programs and success. It wants to provide a quality education for students from any background, with any abilities or experiences, so they can become productive members of society.
“Our students are succeeding and they’re getting to graduation,” Evans said. “Students who are at risk of dropping out do well in our program because of the flexibility. And then, students at the other end, students who are high-excelling do well because our flexibility allows them to go at their own pace and to focus on that one class.”
To learn more, or for enrollment information, visit ThrivePointUtah.com. l
ThrivePoint Academy of Utah will open for enrollment in July. The tuition-free charter school brings an innovative approach to help students make it to graduation. (Photo courtesy of ThrivePoint)
Dozens participated in Riverton High School’s Hope Walk March 8 where students, faculty and members of the community join to walk from the high school, east along 12600 South and ending at the Riverton Spirit Corner (on the corner of Redwood Road). The Hope Walk is the culmination of Hope Week at Riverton, spearheaded by the school’s Hope Squad, a team of students and faculty who have been trained in recognizing signs of suicide in individuals and how to respond. (Photo by Travis Barton)
Riverton High partnered with the city for the walk, which featured fire trucks and police vehicles accompanying the participants along the road. The walk aims to bring awareness to suicide prevention and mental health. Doves were released on the steps of the high school before the walk began. Seen here, various walkers held aloft signs of encouragement. (Photo by Travis Barton)
Riverton boys soccer ready to challenge for region crown
The 2025 boys soccer season has kicked off, and Riverton plans to be a factor in the region and state races.
By Josh McFadden
Region 2 is as tough a region in boys soccer as you’ll find, but the Riverton Silverwolves won’t plan on backing down from anyone.
The Silverwolves were third in league play last season with a 7-5 record, a game behind both Bingham and Salt Lake Academy. Overall, Riverton was 8-7 a season ago. The team has some holes to fill from last year’s lineup, but head coach Paul Moizer also has some returning starts and promising newcomers at his disposal.
Moizer and his players are excited for the season and began with a positive attitude that they hope will carry throughout the year.
“I think all new seasons start with optimism,” Moizer said. “You are never sure how good the other teams are, but there is a feeling about the team that they are playing well and capable of being a good team and being successful.”
Early on, Riverton had a lot to be happy with.
The Silverwolves opened the 2025 campaign with a pair of victories, defeating
Granger 4-2 on March 4 and getting past Lehi 2-0 on March 7. The 2-goal wins showcased the team’s strengths. Moizer also knows it’s a long season, and there will be plenty to work on and refine.
“We have good leaders and pass the ball well,” he said. “We have good balance in both offense and defense and are working on transitioning well. We’re looking to improve team defense and knowing when to press and making sure we are all reading the same cues.”
Because many of Riverton’s players come to the team from different clubs, they are accustomed to different coaching philosophies, playing formations and tactics. Blending those styles is imperative if Riverton is to be successful, Moizer said.
“Our biggest challenge is taking all the different styles of play they come to high school with from their clubs and molding it into a common vision,” he said.
Moizer’s goals are simple: be among the top teams in Region 2 and Class 6A. To achieve these lofty objectives, he said the boys need to come together as a team, play as a cohesive unit and communicate well on the field.
“We always want to play attractive soccer and compete for the region championship and make a good run in the state tournament,” he said. “The team needs to gel together and
trust each other and work for each other. We have good players, but we need to work together to be successful.”
Through the first couple of games, Moizer liked the play and leadership of his upperclassmen. In particular, he highlighted senior midfielder Lincoln Payne, senior center back Seth Glover, senior goalkeeper Porter McInnes, senior fullback Parker Nielson, senior forward Heber MacPherson and junior midfielder Cody Thompson.
Payne was the leading goal scorer in the first two games with 2 goals, both of which game at Granger. Four other players—
McPherson, Lincoln Wunderli, Austin Maleby and Spencer Blanchard—registered goals during this span. McInnes got the shutout against Lehi, with a lot of help from Nielson, Payne and others.
The Silverwolves’ final non-region game was March 13 at home against Hurricane, which followed a contest at Westlake on March 11. Region play began March 14 at home against Copper Hills. Riverton faces each of its six Region 2 foes twice. The final regular-season game is May 2 at home against Mountain Ridge. The Class 6A state tournament will begin May 9. l
Young Riverton boys tennis team hoping to play like veterans
With no seniors on the roster, the Riverton boys tennis team faces some challenges but is optimistic about the season.
By Josh McFadden
In any high school sport, coaches love having senior leaders to guide the other players by example with their experience and talents. But not every team has a lot of seniors. In the case of the Riverton boys tennis team, there are none on the squad.
The Silverwolves began the 2025 season with 11 freshmen.
Head coach Ronald Ence is crossing his fingers that his shockingly young Riverton team has the talent and displays the effort and commitment to offset the varsity experience it lacks.
“We hope our 11 freshmen will work hard and learn enough skills to be competitive on the high school level,” he said.
Still, despite the youthfulness of his team, Ence isn’t lowering his expectations for the season. He still wants to see every one of his varsity players reach the postseason and help the Silverwolves at state. Ence also wants to see junior varsity competitors get better and be ready to compete at a high level.
“Once again, our goals for our seven varsity players will be to see if we can get them to qualify at the 6A state tournament second round at Liberty Park in Salt Lake,” he said. “The expectation is to have JV and alternate players improve their tennis skills daily and develop
some mental fortitude.”
The season began in early March, as the players battled some cold weather and precipitation. So far, Ence has been pleased with the players’ mindsets and their desire to perform at their best. Riverton has a humble group of players who are eager to learn and develop.
“The team strengths we have noticed in the first two weeks are terrific attitude and effort,” he said. “We feel like the kids are very coachable and want to practice and improve. There is always something in tennis that a player can do better, a skill that needs to be sharpened.”
Aside from lacking seniors and fielding such a young team, Riverton will contend with other challenges. Region 2 features some strong teams with skilled players. Ence knows that the Silverwolves will need to be prepared every match to play well.
“The kids will be challenged in all matches this year whether they play varsity or not,” he said. “Our region has some very fine tennis players.”
Riverton does have a pair of juniors who bring the most experience to the squad. Those players—Mason Maxwell and James Burton—are team captains. Both will play singles this season and have put in the work that Ence needs and that the other players need to see and emulate.
“[Maxwell and Burton] worked hard in the offseason and are the types of kids who lead by example and effort. They are fearless and compete with class and are enjoying the high school tennis experience.”
Riverton will compete against region opponents Bingham, Corner Canyon, Copper Hills, Mountain Ridge and Herriman. Regular-season matches and the region
tournament will determine which players qualify for the state tournament. The Class 6A state tournament begins May 10 at Brighton High School for first-round action. The second round and subsequent rounds up through the championship are May 15, 17 at Liberty Park. l
Riverton’s Cameron Blanchard (in white) battles for the ball against an opponent from Granger in the season opener. Riverton won the game 4-2. (Photo courtesy of Ava Escobedo)
Mason Maxwell and the Riverton tennis team is optimistic about the season. (Photo by Dave Sanderson)
New-look Riverton girls golf team hitting the links for the spring
The Riverton girls golf team lost a lot of production from last season’s team. Still, the Silverwolves are looking forward to the season and have set some big goals.
By Josh McFadden
The Riverton girls golf team will look a lot different this season than it did in 2024. But this year’s team members are enthusiastic about the season and are working hard to improve each day.
Riverton had seven seniors on the 2024 squad. Those players graduated, leaving some holes to fill in the varsity lineup. Add to that, two other players from last season decided not to return in 2025, so head coach Peter Fong had a big task to rebuild the team. However, it didn’t take long for Fong to see this group’s potential. He knows challenges lie ahead, but he is eager to see how the new players perform and develop.
“At first, [the players] were a little unsure of how the team will be,” Fong said. “After tryouts and preseason practices, seeing some of the new players coming in has definitely minimized the doubt. We definitely are rebuilding but are very optimistic with the talent we have this year.”
Fong wants to win as much as any coach does, and his players feel the same way. But
Fong said he has other goals for the team— goals that go beyond where the team finishes in the standings. Fong wants to create an environment where the girls truly enjoy golfing and competing together.
“Obviously we would like to win and compete and be one of the top teams, but my number one goal as a coach is for the players to have fun,” he said. “I don’t want players to play if they don’t enjoy it. I try my best to make everything we do fun and relaxed but also create an atmosphere where they are able to learn and get better every day.”
The Silverwolves will have their work cut out for them in Region 2.
Riverton competes against Corner Canyon and Bingham, which finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in Class 6A a year ago. Fellow Region 2 opponent Herriman was seventh, while Mountain Ridge was 11th. Copper Hills rounds out the league. Riverton placed eighth in the 6A tournament a year ago.
To achieve its goals, Riverton needs to have fun playing and continue to learn and understand the game, Fong said. He is also urging the girls to improve in a few areas of golf, and the team is working hard in these aspects.
“I’d say the biggest area of improvement would be with our short game,” Fong said. “Last year, we lost a lot of strokes with our chipping and putting. Our girls can hit the ball well, but at any level of golf if your short game isn’t where it needs to be, then your
scores will struggle.”
On the plus side, Fong said the Silverwolves have excellent team chemistry. He loves how well the players get along. He added that the girls are eager to learn.
“Our returning players are the best,” he said. “They are so friendly and inclusive and will be great leaders and examples for our new and younger players. Everyone on the team are also quick learners and are very coachable, which makes mine and my assistant coaches’ jobs a lot easier.”
Facing the likes of Corner Canyon and Bingham, among other teams, will be daunting enough, but Riverton has other challenges. The Silverwolves are a young team, with just three seniors and one junior on the squad. Fong has nine freshmen and sophomores on the team, which is positive for the future. His big task is to develop the younger players and get them acclimated to the high-school level.
Thankfully, he has some experienced, talented golfers leading the way.
Back this season is senior Ellie Anderson. She’s the top player on the squad after finishing third among Riverton players in 2024. She tied for 44th in the 6A tournament last season
and is back this season intent on moving up the standings. Fong had nothing but positive things to say about his team leader. Notably, Anderson hasn’t even been golfing long.
“She joined the team for the first time as a junior and barely started golfing for the first time a few months prior to her junior season,” Fong said. “She is all-around super athletic (plays soccer and basketball), and it’s amazing to me how good she has gotten at golf having only played for just over a year.”
Another standout golfer on the team is sophomore Savannah Linford. As a freshman, she played in all of Riverton’s varsity tournaments. She was the team’s only freshman to compete at state a season ago.
“[Linford] will start off playing as our No. 2 behind Ellie and is also one of the nicest girls you’ll meet,” Fong said.
Fong said he loves his job and is grateful to have the chance to work with such an impressive group of girls.
“The reason I love coaching this team is because of the players,” he said. “They are all so fun and easily coachable. I also grew up playing golf and it’s awesome that I get to teach what I love to these players.” l
Ellie Anderson is a returning senior for the Riverton golf team. (Photo courtesy Peter Fong)
Defending region champion Riverton girls lacrosse team eager to build off success
The Riverton girls lacrosse team won Region 2 in 2024. This season, the girls have big goals once again.
By Josh McFadden
The2024 season was a successful one for the Riverton girls lacrosse team. The Silverwolves are hoping for the same—if not more—in 2025.
Riverton won the Region 2 championship last season by winning nine of its 10 league matches. Overall, Riverton was an impressive 16-3, winning more games than all but one team—the other Silverwolves, Fremont—in Class 6A. Riverton fell short of a chance to play for the 6A title when it lost to region rival Mountain Ridge in the semifinals, 13-12.
Every season brings some change, but the 2025 campaign has a big one for Riverton. The Silverwolves have a new coach.
Hannah Kelleher takes the reins of the Riverton program, and she has a lot to work with.
A strong group of seniors lead the team. Kelleher is thrilled to have the leadership and talents of attacker Berkley Elsasser, attacker Emma Pennington, midfielder Grace Jenson, attacker Izzy Blunck, midfielder Katelee McArthur and defender Sela Tufisi. These six seniors have experience at a high level and bring the production to the lineup that Kelleher is looking for. Pennington led the Silverwolves in goals last season with 57 to go along with 13 assists. Blunck was the second-leading goal-scorer and second in points last season with 50 and 74, respectively (she had 24 assists). Jenson contributed 42 goals and 27 assists a season ago.
Optimism is high at Riverton, and Kelleher said the girls are matching those positive feelings with effort and dedication.
“The players know they are capable of a really good season, so their mindset as the season begins is to work hard so we can reach our goals,” Kelleher said. “Everyone is feeling really good about the season. We have been practicing since the fall and putting in a lot of extra work, so the players are excited to finally get out on the field to play other teams.”
While it’s not uncommon to hear a coach or player say their team’s goal is to win state, Kelleher believes this objective is realistic. The Silverwolves lost only four players from last season’s state semifinalists. She said the girls are hungry to be even better this season and play for the top prize in 6A.
“Our goal is to win state,” Kelleher said. “Everyone’s goal is obviously that, but it is very tangible for us. We want to go all the way this year.”
Of course, having talent and experience isn’t enough. Kelleher knows that even having the desire to win state, combined with these other traits, won’t guarantee anything for her team. She said her players need to do the little things every day at practice and in every game to be the top team in 6A.
“Everyone has to stay focused and focus on the controllables,” Kelleher said. “If we show up to practice and get a little better each day, that’s a win. We are focused on the little success that will lead to big success. This season we have really focused on doing the little things right and improving the fundamentals. If we have solid fundamentals, the sky is our limit.”
The Silvewolves boast a formidable starting lineup, with dangerous attackers, good goalkeeping, solid defense and a midfield that can control the game. But Kelleher said perhaps the team’s biggest strength is its depth. There are plenty of other capable players Kelleher can turn to when a starter needs a rest or suffers an injury or when she simply needs to shake up the lineup. Kelleher also loves the way the girls play together and how much camaraderie and good communication the team enjoys. She also said team speed will be a strength.
“We have such a deep bench,” she said. “We are starting a solid 12 players and then have an additional nine on the bench that would be starting at other programs. Everyone trusts each other on the field, which makes it easy to play as a team. We also have above-average speed on our team that I don’t think other teams will be able to keep up with.”
Not even the best teams in the state are perfect, and Kelleher knows Riverton has some things to work on.
“We want to continue to improve the fundamentals like ground balls and stick skills,” she said. “We are working to increase the players’ lacrosse IQ and field awareness so they can see when the opportunities are there or when they might be forcing a play.”
Kelleher is also emphasizing mental toughness. Though she believes there isn’t a team Riverton can’t beat, she knows her girls could stumble. After a setback, she wants to make sure the girls can shake it off and get back on track.
“I think the biggest challenge is going to be bouncing back after a potential loss,” she said. “The players have such high hopes for the season that I could see a loss bringing their spirits down a little bit.”
For a first-year coach, Kelleher said she couldn’t be more pleased with the group of girls and assistant coaches she has to work with.
“I have a really talented crew, and they all get along,” she said. “There is mutual respect between the players and coaches, so it makes coaching really fun. We have a lot of fun and joke around, but we also make the most out of every minute to continue getting better. It’s a special group of girls, and it’s a privilege to be able to coach them. The Riverton community in general has been so great to be a part of.”
Riverton opened the season with an 18-2 win at Layton on March 4. Riverton’s first Region 2 game is April 17 at Corner Canyon. l
Emma Pennington, seen here as a freshman, is now in her senior season having played varsity all four years. (File photo City Journals)
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
Russia
is our ally. Canadians are the enemy. Tariffs will make us richer but we’re cutting staff at national parks. Measles is back. Gaza is the new Riviera. The economy is crashing and it’s tax season when I pay thousands of dollars to the government so it can purchase Tesla Cybertrucks to send to Jupiter.
The newspeak and doublethink we endure each day can be a bit overwhelming, but I’ve found a way to get through the endless cycle of breaking news: denial.
Denial is a beautiful, hazy way to spend your day. Instead of crying through a CNBC report, denial allows you to drift on a cloud of puff pastry surrounded by cherry trifle and savory scones.
This specific form of denial is “The Great British Bake Off” and it saved me during March when I was knee-deep in tissues, cough syrup and tariff wars. There’s only so much idiocy one can endure while healing from pneumonia.
Unlike American reality shows that foster cruelty and conflict, GBBO features a dozen creative bakers who just want to make
Let them eat cake
the best Victoria sponge cake or sticky toffee pudding. The contestants are kind, positive and willing to offer a helping hand.
I love British television because everyone looks real. There are no plastic surgery junkies or steroid-addicted chefs, just regular people doing something they love. When the judges, Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith, make a criticism, it’s done with a British accent so it doesn’t sound so awful.
When Prue tuts and says, “This bake is a disaster,” she could easily be tucking a blanket around your shoulders and handing you a steaming cup of Earl Grey.
Instead of watching Elon Musk wield a chainsaw, I tune into GBBO which is filmed on the grounds of an English manor. Bunnies and squirrels scamper through grassy meadows like a Disney movie. There’s even a fanbase dedicated to identifying the different bird songs heard during the show.
The pastel-colored set, with its matching counters, ovens and fridges, distracts me from personnel cuts at federal agencies including
the CDC and FAA. GBBO hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding wander through the competition, amusing bakers with their British humor and offering pep talks to stressed cooks.
Each episode has a specific theme. There’s bread week or pastry week or biscuit week, and each chef creates a signature bake, completes a technical challenge and makes a jaw-dropping showstopper. It’s a heartwarming alternative to the 24/7 chaos of the Trump administration.
Who knew there were so many British bakery items? But I have to admit, there are things they make I would never eat, including black pudding and chorizo buns topped with mustard custard. Nope.
Instead of worrying about the breakdown of our country’s system of checks and balances, I worry about whether my favorite
baker can create a pie crust that doesn’t have a soggy bottom. The judges hate soggy bottoms. I’ve also learned to worry about fallen focaccia, overcooked tarts and croissant dough that’s not properly laminated. Even the mistakes feel cozy.
I’m impressed at how quickly chefs can whip up a batch of pistachio macarons, ginger tarts or spanakopita (a spinach and feta pie my husband would NEVER eat) with minimal tears or tantrums. It’s a reminder things can get done without fits of temper, vengeance or manipulation.
Denial is not a permanent solution but it’s a tool when messages from Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth get to be a bit much. Just turn on the TV and float away in a delicate orange buttercream or raspberry whipped cream. It’s some sweet positivity in a decidedly bitter time.
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