Layton • High school lacrosse finally got its wish last year when it started play as an officially sanctioned sport through the Utah High School Activities Association. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of spring sports, leaving most teams to play only a few games.
But this year, the season occurred and it culminated Saturday in the championship tournament for divisions A, B and C at Layton High School. That’s why winning the Division C title meant so much to Pleasant Grove junior Luke Smith.
“It’s just the greatest thing knowing all that hard work from last year and this year has finally paid off,” Smith said.
Pleasant Grove beat Viewmont 15-5, finishing a championship tournament run in which it was ranked No. 1 in the division. In every game of the tournament, Pleasant Grove won by double digits and didn’t allow more than six goals.
Smith scored four goals against Viewmont, while senior Lane Berg added three. It was an offensive performance indicative of the entire season, as goals could come from just about anyone on the roster.
“No defense could shut us down if we have like four guys that could score,” Smith said. “So we were just moving around, sharing the load.”
Pleasant Grove ends the season with a 9-10 overall record. At one point in the regular season, the team lost four consecutive games. But it ended the season with six-game winning streak and a state title.
Alex Vejar | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Pleasant Grove High School boys’ lacrosse team celebrates winning the first-ever sanctioned title in Division C on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Layton High School.
Pleasant Grove coach Brae Burbidge said it was difficult losing virtually the entire season in 2020.
“You lose so much momentum at building a program and building newer kids and you lose kids,” Burbidge said. “It was hard to get development up. But we got lucky. We started out rough, but we pulled it together at the end.”
Twelve seniors will leave the Pleasant Grove program through graduation. One of them is Berg, who said the team missed its high school graduation Wednesday to play in the semifinal game.
“Words don’t describe it,” Berg said. “It’s a good feeling. There’s nothing like it. It’s awesome.”
Viewmont started the tournament as the No. 11 seed but upset every opponent on its way to the championship game.
“They don’t quit,” Burbidge said. “Fabulous athletes. But more than anything, I think that team we played had more heart than most of the team we played all season.”
In girls’ lacrosse, Bingham High beat Woods Cross 20-13 on Friday for the Division C title.
Division B
Alex Vejar | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Alta High School boys’ lacrosse team celebrates winning the Division B state title on Saturday, May 28, 2021 at Layton High School.
Alta 12, Westlake 4 • The Hawks became the first-ever Division B champion in boys’ lacrosse after a dominant win over the Thunder. After the teams scored a goal apiece in the first four minutes of the game, Alta put away 11 of the next 14. In one stretch, the Hawks scored six straight goals to break the game open. Westlake couldn’t recover. Alta senior Will Waddoups scored four goals. “These guys have been waiting for this for a long time,” Alta coach Brandon Horoba said. “They’ve been waiting and just working hard — away from practice and in practice. It showed today.”
Division A
Corner Canyon 20, Park City 13 • The Chargers prevailed in the battle of the No. 1 and 2 seeds in the Division A boys’ lacrosse state championship game. Undefeated Corner Canyon came into the tournament as the top seed in the division. The Chargers finished the 2021 season with a 22-0 record. Park City ended its season 17-3.
