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LEHI — Skyridge High School is in its first year, but being a new school definitely didn’t stop it from excelling in athletics.
In just this week alone, the school’s baseball, softball and boys’ soccer teams will all compete in the first round of the 4A state playoffs. That is quite an impressive feat considering these teams are comprised of coaches and players all new to each other.
“In the beginning, we were just trying to hire our coaching staff and when we got done hiring our coaches, we felt really good,” said the school’s athletic director Mark Clinton. “We didn’t really know about our students yet; that was kind of the unknown. But we knew going in that if we could hire the coaching staff that we did, that we would be very confident and that we would have a pretty good year.”
Clinton mentioned that while most students entering their senior year decided to stay at Lehi High School, many great athletes moved to Skyridge and have brought leadership for their new teams.
“We are better because they did come. They have done a great job.” Clinton said. “I can only imagine it had to be difficult to leave friends behind but I think most of them came here and made new friends. It has even had a benefit for some of our underclassmen who were able to have some seniors who have played and kind of been through the hoops.”
Clinton attributes most of the school’s athletic success to the coaches. Except for only two or three, all are teachers at the school.
“(The coaches) are able to be in the hallways, to see behaviors and to make correction when necessary,” he said. “I think for the most part they teach the way they coach and they coach the way they teach, which makes it really consistent and it makes our athletes understand that they are accountable, not only on the field but in the classroom.
“It has been exciting,” Clinton added. “Every day we are learning and next year I think we will be better.”
The Skyridge baseball team will take on Olympus, the softball team will play Murray and the boys’ soccer team will play Skyline this week in the first round of state playoffs. Lindsey Peterson is a Brigham Young University student studying Broadcast Journalism. Contact her at lindspeterson4@gmail.com or on Twitter @LindsPetey.
