Sports

Exciting competition in horseshoe tourney

Horseshoe tournament brings exciting competition during Fourth of July Celebration Jerome Stash and Tyler Stash defeated Amos Holliday and Jamal Holliday to take the doubles championship in the 2025 Horseshoes competition during the Blanding Fourth of July Celebrations on Friday, July 4. Leroy...

Team Corn Dawgs (Kevin and Josh Kennedy) were the last ones standing in the annual Fourth of July Cornhole Tournament in Blanding this past weekend. The Kennedys were visiting from Porter, TX for the Arthur family reunion. Courtesy photo

Pickleball, cornhole tourneys bring fun and competition to Blanding

Independence Day celebrations in Blanding were packed with exciting action as the community hosted two thrilling tournaments on Saturday, July 5. The city’s first-ever pickleball tournament and a competitive cornhole showdown both served as fundraisers for the San Juan High School track and field...

Team Ferda outlasted the competition and defeated Lyle Northern Electric twice to win the 2025 Midnight Madness softball championship during Blanding Independence Day celebrations. Members of the team include: (top row, left to right) Whitney Shumway, Charley Landis, Mesa Jones, Anissa Geiser, Brook Hirshie. Bottom: Jace Johnson, Kash Shumway, Kyle “Bubba” Marian, Zeb Hirshie, Relan Jones, Tanner “Fire” Johnson. Courtesy photo

Team Ferda takes Midnight Madness title

The annual Shane Warenski Memorial Midnight Madness Softball Tournament has been a staple of the Blanding Fourth of July Celebration for many years and it serves as an excellent fundraiser for the San Juan High School baseball team. Twenty teams vied for the 2025 championship this past Thursday and...

Richard Backstrom and Maddy Francis won the men’s and women’s divisions of the 2025 Blanding Fourth of July Firecracker 5K race at Centennial Park on Friday, July 4. Backstrom traveled all the way from Sweden to compete. Francis hails from Moab. Courtesy photo

Visitor travels long distance to win July 4th 5K

Richard Backstrom, visiting all the way from Molnlycke, Sweden, paced the field to win the 2025 Blanding Fourth of July Firecracker 5K on Friday, July 4. Backstrom completed the course in 16:39, which was nearly two minutes faster than the winning time in last year’s race. He won the men’s 40-49...

Honorable Mention All State Softball player - Morgann McPherson

Morgann Mcpherson San Juan Junior ~ center field 2A honorable mention .393 Avg / .514 OBP / 16 SB 6 2B / 5 3B / 6 HR / 45 RBI / 35 RS Head Coach Mike Bowers: “Morgann is a three-year starter in our program. She has caught, played second base, shortstop, and outfield. Morgann is one of the most...

Second team all state softball player Averie Gilson

Averie Gilson San Juan Junior ~ shortstop 2A second team .447 Avg / .563 OBP / 28 SB 9 2B / 3 3B / 8 HR / 36 RBI / 45 RS Head Coach Mike Bowers: “Averie is a three-year starter at shortstop and pitches for us too. Each year her game gets better because she works hard at it. Averie has a very high...

Second team all state softball player Khatira Keith

Khatira Keith San Juan Junior ~ pitcher/3b 2A second team .398 Avg / .460 OBP / 15 2B / 4 3B 3 HR / 35 RBI / 86 IP / 3.35 ERA / 115 K Head Coach Mike Bowers: “Khatira is the hardest-working athlete in our program. During the offseason she spends countless hours refining her pitching craft. Khatira...

First team all state softball player Madden Perkins

Madden Perkins san juan junior ~ catcher 2A first team .448 Avg / .553 OBP / 24 SB / 9 2B / 2 3B 1 HR / 22 RBI / 39 RS / .96 FLD / 213 PO Head Coach Mike Bowers: “Madden leads through her hustle, effort, and never-give-up attitude. She is a three-year starter who played in the outfield the...

Seven San Juan High School football players who graduated this spring played in the 2025 Senior Bowl, helping the South All-Stars to a 20-16 victory. The annual event features some of the best just-graduated players from the 1A-3A classifications. (top row, left to right) Coach Tyson Billsie, Owen Adams, JD Palmer, Coach Tad Barton, Javin Montella, Coach Jesse Grover, Head Coach Barkley Christensen. Bottom: Coach Bobby Bowring, Brad Skow, Jaiten Knight, Jake Ivins, and Branten Bethea. Candice Palmer photo

San Juan football players earn one last victory to cap amazing careers

by Rhett Sifford Sports Editor Seven San Juan High School football players who were part of the Broncos’ run of four straight state championships got one last opportunity to showcase their skills this past Saturday, June 28 in the 2025 Senior Bowl All-Star Game at Snow College. Jaiten Knight, Jake...

Lyric Phillips displays his skill as he ropes the legs of a calf during the Utah State University Fall Stampede Rodeo at the Cache County Fairgrounds on Friday, June 6. Phillips was one of three Aggies representing USU at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, WY June 15-21. He is the heeler in the team roping event. Phillips finished tied for 30th place in the event. He recorded a 7.5-second run in Go 2 but was unable to notch times in Go 1 or Go 3. Courtesy photo

Whitehorse High School standout Lyric Phillips makes lots of noise for Utah State rodeo team

by David Boyle News Director Former Aneth resident Lyric Phillips competed in the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming last week. Phillips represents the Utah State University Aggies as the heeler in the team roping event and was one of three athletes representing the USU Aggies....