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Show Pleasant Grove Review New. I'h - Thurav. Au-jit 22. 22- Pace S SDpantor: fit WV,"""'!,-hj.'.;-l Sports Pleasant Grove set to open tomorrow with Timpviev By Todd Veenker Coach Bill Mikelson returns for hi.s 16th season at the helm of the Pleasant drove football program, and luckily for him and the entire learn, so do most of his assistant coaches. Those assistant coaches picked up the workload this summer when Mikelson was rushed into emergency heart surgery in early July. After feeling tightness in his chest and suspecting complications due to his diabetes, Mikelson decided he'd better have things checked out. What the doctors found completely surprised the coach. Five blockages in his heart, including one complete com-plete blockage, forced immediate surgery the next day. Six weeks later, Mikelson is slowly getting back up to speed, with his mobility now restored in the form of his driving privileges. Mikelson credits his assistant coaches with keeping the program alive during his absence. Clark Blaisdell has been with Mikelson all of the previous 15 years at Pleasant Grove and Dale Sampson followed Mikelson from Grantsville after Mikelson had been here for one season. To compliment the experience expe-rience of those two coaches, two former players now coaching at Pleasant Grove, Steve Ruf and Kyle Sanderson, Sander-son, have rounded out the staff. With the season ready to move to high gear, Mikelson is hoping for normalcy to return as Timpview travels to Pleasant Grove this Friday Fri-day night for the annual endowment game that kicks off the season for Pleasant Grove. Spectators are reminded that this is a state game, so ticket prices of $6 for adults ... iX ' - . v -4 f i X JZ J NJ A Pleasant Grove quarterback gets set to unload during practice last week. and S4 for students will apply, with no region passes, pass-es, activity cards or family passes honored for this one game only. When ask to define this year's team, Mikelson used words like ""experienced, small in size and very fast." The defense will be highlighted high-lighted by a fast group of linebackers with a mixture of experience and athletic talent. Pleasant Grove will return 10 starters from last season, with a total of 12 players who contributed to last year's team. Quarterback Mike Saunders Saun-ders started several games for the Vikings last year and brings a strong arm and quick feet to the offense. Protecting Saunders Saun-ders will be a small line, with JD Larsen as a team captain. Caleb Harris and Jason Gray will be important impor-tant weapons on the offensive offen-sive side of the ball. As far as team leadership, leader-ship, the coach sees this group of seniors as some of the best people that he has worked with, particularly off the field. Harris, Gray, Robby Weber, Matt Mortensen, Jess Knudsen and Larsen are considered the team leaders. Mikelson likes the example they set on and off the field. He is happy that this year he doesn't have to worry about what some on the team are doing when they aren't at practice. The team will also benefit bene-fit from the services of several sev-eral underclassmen. Topping Top-ping the list of juniors expected to contribute are Weston Sampson, Chris Clegg, Caleb Rutter and Jordan Haynie, who will be called upon to shore up several sev-eral spots in the starting lineup. The team unfortunately lost the services of one returning starter, Clay Hoo- r V v t 1 . V - 1 & i'r W'C .w .. i X Both receiver and defender tice last week. ley, who had his spleen removed this summer after a freak accident and will not be able to play this fall. Searching for players who might sneak up on people, peo-ple, Mikelson pointed at two. Trevor Workman will surprise everyone due to his size, since he only weighs 190 lbs., but he will be a solid player on the offensive line. Mortensen started on defense last year but didn't get offensive playing time because of superstar back Photos by Todd te look back for an incoming pass during Viking team proc. they could be the surpni team of the league," heal As with all years, MiU -if! son's expectation for m team is that they are gi. in October. However, he al" wants the team to be pi.;M enough in September to ;'s in a position that they csnj finish in the top three of tha' region. I 'ft' They will not have j':ev play-in game this season tJ Jr get them into the state tour nament, so only the Iff, three teams will represent ,, the region. Nic Woodhouse. Mikelson said any other season, without with-out Woodhouse on the team, Mortensen would have been a key player in the offense. When asked what he felt would be the turning point of the season, Mikelson responded that their schedule sched-ule is very tough, and the opponents they have are all likely to be bigger. It will be important for the team not to let size intimidate them. "If they realize that they can ' play against bigger teams and be successful, Kartchner takes over helm as spilcers get set to open By Denise Honey Sports Correspondent The Pleasant Grove Vikings are the defending state volleyball champions this year, and they will be led by new head coach Marlyn Kartchner. This will not be anything new for Kartchner, however; howev-er; she has had many years of experience coaching and playing volleyball, including includ-ing the previous four years at Pleasant Grove High as the JV and sophomore coach. She has also coached and been the club director at High Country Volleyball Club in Salt Lake City, and has been involved in the Intermountain High Performance Perfor-mance program for the last four years. As the director of the volleyball vol-leyball program for the Pleasant Grove Recreation department, she was instrumental instru-mental in recognizing and developing young talent. Some of these players include Chelsea Sondrup, last year's state 4A rVP, plus Maren Honey and Lindsay Durrant, who have both played on elite club teams and earned many honors in voile vball. Kartchner's older daugh ter is now playing for the University of Utah, and her youngest daughter, Jamie, will return to Pleasant Grove as the setter. Both of r - s i JlWlSH'JITOIJiVMra ;' . n i. i " ' : - k ' V ' ' ' X.. .. ' i r v- - these girls have been highly decorated in the sport. Pleasant Grove will only be returning three starters this year, Kartchner, Honey and Durrant. "I am expecting them to step up and be good leaders and pull the team together," Coach Kartchner said. "They are three strong players play-ers who can really get the job done and motivate the others to follow." There are several young players who will really add to the team. "I only expect this team to get stronger and stronger. "With practice and a lot of hard work, we will do a good job this year. We will be very competitive against the other teams in our region," she added. Kartchner will be assisted assist-ed by Bonnie Hollie, who will be coaching tne jimm, :ai varsity team, and Came -h Young, who will be coaching (i the sophomore team. Younf is a former Viking. p. Kartchner has a!:o. :,f enlisted the help of M: Daniels, last year's heal coach, to come and heiM when needed. . ' i In her free time, Kartt;:-.r ner enjoys doing arts crafts, and especially siting sit-ing time with her family Kartchner lettered u-- , years in high school on j ;.v team that won tt.r -.-j straight champiorff'h She also went on to play. Manson Community lege in Arizona. A The Vikings opery-season opery-season with a tournament at Hig High School. .., They will host n nil All?-' gos at b:3u p.w- for the region opener Photo by Denise Honey The new Pleasant Grove volleyball head coach is Marlyn Kartchner (far right). Slowed Andes Great for Shelving, Racks or Bracing 1-12 x l-l2"x8' SAVE 20 o rO 0 o 0 r "ZINC" plated. Rust Resistant. Cascade Collision Customer Service backed by Integrity, Knowledge & Skill 175 North 1200 East Lehi 768-8010 SUPER Open lanes every night for clean, smoke free Family Fun!! 785-3001 181 S. 1200E. 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