Diocese's three Catholic high schools win region titles, individual records in winter sports
SALT LAKE CITY — The three Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Salt Lake City won region titles in various sports and improved on their personal best records in swimming. The teams endured challenges; Judge Memorial advanced to the UHSAA 4A classification in all sports but football, which is played in the fall, while other teams were young and rebuilding this year.
Judge Memorial Catholic High School
The Judge Memorial girls basketball team won the Region 6 championship in its first year back in the UHSAA 4A classification. Senior Kailie Quinn ended her high school basketball career as the ninth all-time scorer on the state record. She also set various season state and career state all-time records: second career and season all-time 3-point shooter, third all-time rebounder and sixth in steals.
The Bulldogs set a state record by making 15 three-point shots in one game, including six by sophomore Rachel Shubella. The previous record was 12, set in 2000.
The Bulldogs concluded their season with a record of 19-3, following a 13-1 regular season record. The squad lost in overtime to former 3A and Region 10 rival Wasatch High School in round one of the UHSAA 4A playoffs.
Judge Memorial’s boys basketball team concluded the 2013-2014 season tied for second place in the UHSAA Region 6 regular season with Kearns High School. In the opening round of the UHSAA 4A state playoffs, after being down by as much as 11 points, the Bulldogs lost 61-59 to Springville High School. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 16-7 overall record, and 10-4 in region play. Senior Tanner Riley finished the season in the 4A leader board at seventh for steals and 11th for assists.
The Judge Memorial hockey team concluded its 2013-2014 season with an overall record of 9-8-1 and a third straight appearance in the post-season playoffs, but was knocked out of this year’s playoffs after an overtime loss to Murray. Six Bulldogs were named to the 2014 Utah High School Hockey All-Star team: Andrew Aubry, Colin Bonk, Duncan Hickman, James Jensen, Ben Keller and Matt Villar.
The Judge Memorial swim team concluded its 53rd season at the UHSAA 4A State Championship tournament, with the boys team finishing 18th out of 24 teams. The Lady Bulldogs entered the state championships as the Region 6 Champions, and finished the season sixth out of 24 teams.
Top finishers at this year’s state meet were Allison Witte, fifth in the girls 200 yard IM and sixth in the girls 100 yard fly. The girls 200 yard medley relay team of Witte, Caroline Yannelli, Marcela Vasquez and Liz Reynolds took fourth. The girls 200 yard free relay team of Emileeann Moran, Victoria Berceau, Sierra Hibl and Reynolds also took fourth; while the girls’ 400 yard medley relay team of Reynolds, Moran, Vasquez and Witte took sixth.
Saint Joseph Catholic High School
The SJCHS girls basketball team won Region 18 and entered the 1A UHSAA 4A State Championship tournament as the two-time state defending champions and the No. 1 seed, but finished in fourth place.
"While we played hard and defended well, we just couldn’t make enough baskets to come away with a third straight state championship," said Joe Cravens, SJCHS girls basketball coach.
The Jayhawks lost the first game of the regular season, breaking a 28-game winning streak, but then went on to win 21 straight games for a 21-3 record, said Cravens.
Liz Tomon was a 2014 All Region All State selection and she will play basketball for the Colorado School of Mines.
The SJCHS boys basketball team finished in first place in regular season play in Region 18, but lost to Wendover High School in the Region Championship game.
In the state championship tournament, the Jayhawks lost 53-47 in the first round to Monument Valley High School. It was a double elimination tournament; they also played Bryce Valley High School and lost 56-43. Their overall record was 15-5.
The Jayhawks were an inexperienced team with two seniors and three sophomores, said Rick Stoeckl, SJCHS basketball coach. "The experience we received will benefit us next year," he said. "Our challenges will include building a mentality for competing and playing together as teammates. Our main focus isn’t really about wins and losses, it’s about developing young talent and giving them life skills."
Juan Diego Catholic High School
At the UHSAA State Championship tournament, Juan Diego senior Casey Rose was named to the 3A First Team Academic All-State Swim Team. Rose, the only senior on the team, also set a new Soaring Eagle record in the 100 meter breaststroke. Madalene Caldwell was also named Academic All-Region in swimming.
In addition, at the state meet, Luke Opitz placed eighth in the 200 yard freestyle, dropping two seconds off his personal best. Jamie Espinoza placed 10th in the 500 yard freestyle, while Hope Feliciano placed 13th, dropping eight seconds. Connor Stolfa dropped two seconds in the 500 yard freestyle and finished sixth overall.
Woody Greer placed fourth in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events, while Jess Esponiza placed eighth in the 50 yard freestyle. Jackie Testone placed fifth in the 100 yard butterfly and second in the 100 yard back stroke.
In the 200-yard relay, the girls finished fourth, while the boys finished in third place.
Juan Diego Catholic High School girls basketball team’s record was 17-5. "Our season ended with one of those games where nothing would go into the basket, and that was unfortunate because we were a good free-throw shooting team; we lost to Carbon by two points," said coach Natalie Williams. "Senior Alexa Mortenson was one of the top three-point shooters in the state; she also carries a 3.98 gpa, and is a hard worker."
In boys basketball, the Soaring Eagle team had a 19-6 record, its best since 2005, said coach Drew Trost.
The JDCHS boys basketball team did not make the playoffs in 2013 but had an excellent season, said Trost. "We were led this season by six seniors and Gabe Colosimo, who averaged over 20 points and five assists each game. Unfortunately Gabe broke his foot in the final regular season game."
The Soaring Eagle team was second in Region 10 with a 6-2 record; both losses were to Morgan, the back-to-back state champions. The second-place finish gave Juan Diego a first-round home game in the playoffs.
"In that game, we had a great 33-31 victory over Juab despite playing without Gabe," said Trost. "We then battled Cedar City [High School] in the state quarterfinals, but lost by four points."
The Juan Diego wrestling team participated in the Super State Wrestling Tournament Feb. 22, and senior Jacob Nelson was Juan Diego’s first student to place. To qualify for this tournament, wrestlers have to finish in the top six in their weight class and respective divisions. Wrestlers from 1A through 5A competed to determine the winner.
Under the direction of Liz Hales, the JDCHS Drill Team "did incredibly well this year, placing higher at competition than they have since the program began about 10 years ago," said Hales.
Drill co-captain Alexandra Dobesh, a senior, made the 2014 3A All State team.
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