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Show o'rts WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2009 • A9 Covering what matters most !. Eagle football team blazes trail Riley Lewis STAFF WRITER A new program is underway for Eagle Football at American Leadership Academy. This spring has been eventful for the team. Activities included the Eagle Combine, which was a series of athletic tests; movie nights, which were held monthly; and off-season weight lifting. Every player was required to read one of three books and turn in a book report. The team also had motivational speakers every other week, which included: Chad Lewis, a former BYU and NFL tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles; Bryan Kehl, former Linebacker at BYU currently with the New York Giants; Cameron Jensen, former BYU and NFL linebacker; Larry Gelwix, the Highland Rugby coach that inspired the movie "Forever Strong;" Bronco Mendenhall, BYU football coach; and Kyle Whittingham, Utah football coach. BLAZING TRAILS: ALA's Eagle football team blazed two-and-a-half miles of a five-mile trail above the Spanish Fork Reservoir June 6, 2009. On June 6, 2009, the Eagles kicked off summer workouts and Wrapped up a motivating spring with a team hike up Eagle Trail. New Head Football Coach Dave Lewis led 45 players and coaches up five miles of trail above the Spanish Fork Reservoir. The team blazed a trail two and a half miles of the five-mile hike, as they hiked with saws and pruning shears. The trail is the steepest in the area. "The trail is a lot like what our journey this season will be like. We have won two games in three years and we are going to play own jobs done on the field. our case get wins," he said. on the 3A level this fall," He really made it a good Players were excited said Lewis. "Eagle football experience that brought us about the success of the has many challenges and a together." hike and the confidence and steep mountain to climb, On the summit they had unity it built. but we know where we are a motivational team meet"Everyone who came and we know the challenge ing. Some of the captains to the hike showed their ahead of us." spoke and it was inspiring dedication. The hike wasn't The event was a work- to all, including Marcus easy for everyone. There out, a bonding experience Monsen. were some who had never and a service project for the "It was cool to be so high taken on a task as hard as team. and have such an awesome summiting a mountain. But Team leader Cole Ful- view. I really like what Cap- everyone did it. After getton said, "Coach stopped tain Tyler Zeeman said. He ting to the top of the mounus a few times and turned said thai the hike was like tain with the whole team, it [the hike] into a learn- a football game. There are builds a unity and a bond ing experience by making ups'and downs and we have with everyone ... If we put analogies to the tools and to work a ton to get to the our mind to a task, we can how we need to get our top and have the view or in accomplish it," Captain Ty- Courtesy photo ler Zeeman said. City employees were also excited to have this trail completed. Spanish Fork City Engineer Chris Thompson said, "We have a group campsite at the trailhead that is very popular with fathers and sons groups, and this gives them an opportunity to hike on a very beautiful trail. Also it is. great for scout groups that want to hike something a little more difficult but close to home. It really is beautiful up there. A lot of groups have worked on the trail. A few scouts have done their Eagle projects on it, a BYU engineering group and now the Eagle football team." This event also marks the beginning of intense summer workouts for the Eagles. Most players are excited to get in the weight room and get bigger, faster and stronger after being so inspired and motivated this spring. With a new program and so much progress being made this early by the Eagles, it should be interesting to see how they fare this fall. Tractor pull held in SF Chad Vest STAFF WRITER i : Namon Bills / Spanish Fork News AGGIE-BOUND: Spanish Fork's Jordunn Martinson recently signed to play football for Utah State. Above, Mattinson pulls in a touchdown reception against Jordan at state. When you hear the word tractor, what comes to mind? Most people think of the John Deere outfit that farmers use to plow their fields and bail their hay. But unbeknownst to many, tractors come in many shapes and sizes and an entertaining sport called "tractor pulling" is spreading throughout the USA. If you like big rigs and powerful engines with a lot of noise, this is right down your alley. On Saturday June 27, The United Tractor Pullers Association made its first-ever appearance at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. To begin, a 300cx John Deere loader smoothed out the dirt clumps in the rodeo arena before each truck or tractor was set for takeoff. A tape-measure with number signs ranging from 50-300-pIus feet helped the judges calculate the correct Chevy named "Redneck score for each contestant. Rig" and pulled the transfer Drivers were not only in sled 1323" to win that cattractors pulling weight, but egory. The Super Stock folalso built-up pickup trucks. lowed and West Valley City's The models of these vehi- Bruce Baker dug his way to a cles date as far back as the 147'finishin his 1962 yellow early 50s. With state-of-the- jeep called "Bumble Bee." art engines, plus creative Following that buzz was the designed imaging, it was a Modified 4x4 class, where Katie Nybar from Rigby, sight to behold. In the Livestock Truck Idaho won with a 179'8" event, Casey Powell was in a truck called "Shake 'n' victorious with a posting of Bake." In the Super Modified 250'2". The second event Diesel Pickup Trucks, Russ saw the Heavy Stock trucks Prescott of Ogden tallied up pull 7,000 lbs. of weight. a score of 225'. In the next First place went to Elijah event, fans learned quickly Carter's Chevy at 307'6". that earplugs would'ye come The third event of the night in handy. These are known was called Mini Mods, as the Alcohol Trucks. But it which are miniature trac- was the four-engine tractors tors. Chris Houston used his that stole the show in terms tractor called "mini magic" of sound volume. Father and and pulled his way to victo- son went at it in the final ry, posting a 188*2". In the round and rocked the house. Super Modified Mini Trac- Charlie Peterson and his rig tor category, Tiffany Wynn called "Walking Tall" posted from Ogden finished with a an impressive 233'4," only to be outdone by his high 211*5". In the Sportsman's class, school senior son, who came Jeremy Evans sported a '78 on to claimfirstprize. Martinson signs with USU Dave Boyack STAFF WRITER I Spanish Fork High School tight end Jordunn Mattinson recently experienced what only a small percentage of high school football players even dream about. On the way home from attending Junior Day at Utah State University, Jordunn got a phone call from Assistant Coach Tuiakia with a full ride scholarship offer to play football in 2010 for the Aggies. After an impressive showing at the camp, Aggie coaches felt like the 6'5" 230 lb. senior-to-be would be a key to bringing Aggie football back to, where it used to be. As a junior this past season, Mattinson helped the Dons to a successful season by hauling in six touchdowns and over 40 receptions, stats that brought interest from such schools as Washington, Utah, Colorado State and SUU. Mattinson, however, has always felt like Utah State would be a great fit with a new coaching staff and a pre-vet or wildlife biology program that fits his educational goals. Before that all happens, however, Mattinson expects to improve on last year's individual and team success by leading the Don's to a region title and state honors after that. Chad Vest / Spanish Fork News ALL SHAPES: The United Tractor Pull Association's event at the SF Fairgrounds featured tractors and trucks of all shapes and sizes. w |