Alta High School - Accipitor Yearbook (Sandy, UT)

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No Pain - Coach talked me into it, replied Chris Keller, last year’s outstanding athlete. There are no try-outs; it just takes a lot of dedication. Chris runs be cause, Its fun, and there is a lot of team spirit. Chris also revealed. I feel more relaxed when I run. Coach Ray Jenson, cross country coach for his fourth year is very pleased with what the team has accomplished this year. The girls have placed first in the region three years in a row; and the boys placed third in the region. Coach Jen son said, Competition is tougher for the boys because the sport has been around a lot longer and the competition is much stronger; the competi tion keeps getting better, but the boys are making steady progress, and getting better.” Coach Jenson described members of the team as, self motivated, and students who know how to organize their time. He also said, the worst thing about coaching is seeing kids with a lot of talent waste it because they don’t have the right attitude. GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Season Record: Won 6 Lost 0 Region: First Place State: Second Place Alta 28 29 Hilkrest Aha 18 45 Bingham Alta 15 50 Kearns Alta 15 50 West Jordan Alta 21 36 Brighton Alta 20 40 Taylorsville (low score wms) No Gain The most rewarding thing about coaching involves, see- ing the kids improve them selves. ’ Connie Sweet is one runner who really knows what she’s doing. After the state competi- tion cross country meet, a coach from Provo looking for the top seven runners in all the state of Utah asked her if she was interested in being on his team. When asked what it takes to be that good, she re- plied. “Seventy-five percent of it’s mental. Of course working out is tough, but like Coach Jenson says,- Mo pain, no gain. In order to be an out standing runner, one has to be addicted to pain. Imagine yourself in a meet. You’re at the starting line, the signal sounds out, and you’re gone. Some way down the road you find yourself in the lead, Lining up at the starting line, the enthu siastic cross country team anticipates the long, hard course ahead. On the average, it took the boys fourteen to fifteen minutes and the girls sixteen to twenty minutes to run the course above the school. In a match against Bingham some of Alta’s cross country runners like sen ior, Scott Ashby, sophomore. Tom Kir ton. junior Garth Luke, and senior An drew Platero, pushed to their limits. De spite their efforts the boys team was defeated, but the girls team attained a victory. For the past three years the girls cros country team has had great successes This year was to be no exception a proven by freshman. Kristen Aure sophomore Pam Hudson, seniors. Tam Garfield and Staci VanSkyhawk. 80 • Cross Country

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Gridders “Go For It” season progressed the general good feeling of the team mem- bers was, we all tried our best and worked well as a team. Mistakes were made but more often than not the game wasn't jeopardized. In the Alta-Bingham game, the team learned that they had what it took to win; they came from behind to win 19 to 6. The Alta-Brighton was a flop. Brigh- ton had a new type of defense and beat Alta badly. But other games throughout the season showed the strengths and de- termination to win of the suc- cessful sophomores. The freshman team carried on the upper squads winning traditions, by posting the best season record of all the teams. We didn't score until four minutes left in the fourth quar- ter, and it was quite a lucky catch. Hardy threw from the 10 yad line to Handley, but the ball went through his hands and into Bush’s arms in the end zone. Since we didn’t know how to kick yet. we ran it in, commented John Collins about the AltaBrighton game, the freshmen team’s first. The freshmen football team continued playing tough, cohe- sive football for the remainder of the season. When asked about the team, Coach Massey replied, There is so much tal- ent and so many good people. It’s the best group I’ve ever worked with. The freshmen team proved Coach Massey right by winning every game they played. After receiving a pass. Chuck Cutler makes a run against West Jordan in a varsity home game. The Hawks slaugh tered West Jordan. Attempting a field goal. Dene Garner kicks while Chuck Cutler holds at a home game against Bingham. In a freshmen football game. Ali Mapa punts against Brighton at home. The freshmen team had a good year. Start- ing with 72 players. 40 finished the sue cessful year. Football • 79

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Followed closely by runners from oth- er schools. Connie Sweet and Chris Kel- ler display their determination to win. At the East invitational. Alta girls placed first. Placing top for the female runners of Alta, senior Connie Sweet finished fourth in state In the cold air before a match. Scott Ashby peels off his cross country sweats which are personalized by each runner s numbers. The sweats help to keep the runners from freezing in the dreary November months. Cross Country • 81