PHS Sports Sidelines

by Mack Oetting

Bobcat wrestlers are State Champions for the 4th year in a row tamont 163, Milford, 162, Piute 95.5, Monticello 88.5, Bryce Valley 32, Rich 30 and Wayne 27.

Individual results:

106 - 1st, Tanner Marshall, Panguitch; 3rd, Max Albrecht, Panguitch

The Panguitch Wrestlers have made it four wins in a row at the State Championship at Sevier Valley Center with a score of 215. Altamont came in second with 163, and Milford was one point behind with 162.

Loa Elementary teacher Stacie Ekker was recognized as "Math Teacher of the Month" by the Utah State Board of Education Elementary Math Department.

LOA - Stacie Ekker of Loa Elementary School was recognized as "Math Teacher of the Month" by the Utah State Board of Education Elementary

Math Department. She was recognized on a state level and celebrated in her classroom.

Mrs. Ekker uses taskbased instruction and ques- tioning techniques to elicit deep mathematical understandings and rich student discourse.

Loa Elementary School, Wayne School Dis- trict and Utah's mathematics community are fortunate to have her. —Loa Elementary School

Garfield County School District Teacher Highlight

by Samie Ott

Mrs. Olivia Halverson - Technology/ PE Teacher and Paraeducator at Bryce Valley Elementary School

113 - 4th, Tavin Leibbrandt, Panguitch

120 - 3rd, Randy Marshall, Panguitch

126 - 1st, Shad Partridge, Panguitch; 4th, Owen Crofts, Panguitch

132 - 3rd, Bryson Henrie, Panguitch

TROPIC - Olivia

Halverson has been an amazing addition to the staff at Bryce Valley Elementary. She has lived in the Bryce Valley area for the past three years. She and her husband, Kimball, built a home in Henrieville and are very active in their community. They stay very busy with their two children. Halverson has been the Computer Science teacher at Bryce Valley Elementary for the past two years. In addition to teaching Computer Science, she teaches PE classes to grades kindergarten, first, second, and third, as well as being a paraeducator. This past summer, she spent a week in St. George receiving training on new technology tools to teach to each of the grades. She has spent hours making sure the Chromebooks are up and running, creating engaging lesson plans, and making computer science fun.

The students at Bryce Valley Elementary specifically love the coding programs. They have become master coders this year.

When asked about the new

Activities and Event Schedule 2023

MARCH

• The coalition will be trained to facilitate a QPR class for the community.

• Guiding Good Choices parenting class - date and time is TBD

APRIL

• Resiliency Town Hall Jennie Taylor, guest speakerApril 6th, 1:50 pm for students, 5:30 for parents

• Easter Egg Hunt dates and Family kits - time is TBD

MAY

• Community QPR training, suicide prevention training - TBD

JUNE

• Splash Pad open day - June 2nd at the City Park

• Southwest Youth Summit (Beaver) (youth training)

• Utah Youth Summit in Bryce Canyon (youth training)

JULY

• Scavenger Hunt - date and time is TBD

Cadca mid-year youth training institute in Dallas TX (coalition member and youth training)

AUGUST

• Soap box derby, Family movie night - August 19th

SEPTEMBER

• Community QPR training, suicide prevention training TBD

OCTOBER

• Take Back Drug Day and Community Town Hall take back day - TBD

NOVEMBER

• Community QPR training, suicide prevention training - TBD

DECEMBER

• Ginger Bread family kits (Elementary Christmas play)

*Check Escalante Prevention Coalition's Facebook page for dates times and details on events and activities

Computer Science program, she said, “We have so many new programs and each of them teach and focus on different skills that the students can incorporate into all areas of learning. Each year the students will learn a new tech toy and develop the skills that are needed to program them and run them.” The kindergarten is learning how to use Go Robot Mice, first grade is learning how to use Bee Bots, second grade is learning to use an Oxo Bot, third grade is working with Makeblock mbot, fourth grade is learning to run a Makey Makey, fifth grade is learning how to use Bolt Sphero, and sixth grade is learning Micro:bit. When talking about what she likes best about teaching, Halverson says, “We make mistakes but we are problem solvers and we try to figure out what went wrong.” She teaches them that they need to look at the world and see what problems they want to solve.

The staff at Bryce Valley Elementary want to let Halverson know how much they appreciate her and the knowledge that she shares with the students. She is such an amazing teacher and knows how to care for the students and, most importantly, how to make learning fun.

The Cats had six wrestlers in the finals; four of them had pins, one had a decision, and the other second place. The meet was almost over with the Cats' score on the first day. The Cat’s 165 champion, Cael Houston, defeated Piute’s Monty Morrison in double overtime. In Region finals, Monty beat Cael by one point, and Cael got back at state. They are friends from meeting up with each other for four years. Coach Marshall pointed out to the refs that Monty had made an illegal move; they awarded Cael a point, and it stayed at one all until overtime. Cael received his second MVP award at this meet; what a way to win your last match as a high school senior!

One of the upsets came in the 132 pound match when Braxton Atkin was able to pin Milford’s Hagen Mayer in the final minute. Mayer had been leading throughout. Mayer is a high-level wrestler, but Braxton found a way to win it.

Shad Partridge had to overcome an injury early in the season, making it hard to get on the mat. Partridge was able to beat Wayne’s Rayce Jeffery by a fall.

Tanner Marshall (the coach's son) felt good about winning the 106 pound divisio. He has wrestled at 106 for three years.

Cole Harland took the 285 pound title against Rich’s Jordan Johnson. He said he has been battling with this for the past four years, with a 2nd once and a third. “It was a great way to end my high school wrestling career,” said Johnson.

Coach Colin Marshall said that they put together a great group of boys and that they are fortunate to be in a town where the kids want to be involved and the parents get behind them.

Team scores:

Panguitch 215, Al-

138 - 4th, Cameron Atkin, Panguitch

144 - 4th, Ronan Mooney, Panguitch

150 - 3rd, Jacob Marshall, Panguitch

165 - 1st, Cale Houston, Panguitch

175 - 2nd, Theron Evans, Panguitch

190 - 3rd, Koda Bridges, Panguitch

215 - 4th, Gage Julander, Panguitch

285 – 1st, Cole Harland, Panguitch

As the season came to a close for the basketball teams, they had one last game for the league season. The boys finished off with the Bryce Valley team and won, 73 to 24. High scorer was Cache Eyre with 18, and he is becoming a dead eye with his 3-point shots; he had four more. Tucker Chappell played only part of the game but finished with 14. This week, the Cats have a play-in game and start Region on Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Cats played third ranked Valley last week. The Cats trailed the whole game. They were down by eight points with four minutes to go, and I went in to help clean up the food area. When I heard a lot of noise from the court, I went out to check, and the Cats had tied the game up at 52 all. During overtime, the Cats kept it close but finally lost, 63 to 60.

With Valley ranked 3rd, the ladies should know that they can compete with the best. Mallory Henrie had eighteen, Tabatha Henrie finished with fourteen, and Brayli Frandsen came off the bench to put in eight. The girls also have a play-in game this week and will start Region on Friday. The games will be here in Panguitch.

Your season tickets don’t count for these games, so bring money.