The ninth-grade girls’ basketball team.  Front row, left to right:  Ashley Crookston (manager), Sarah Patrick(manager),  Courtney Lefevre, Ripley Tew, Maddi Staheli, Mackenzie Morris, Amanda Sly, BreAnna Elzinga (manager),  Ashly Endicott(manager),  and Assistant Coach Murdock.  Back row, left to right: Emily Daybell, Kara Stoddard, Sarah Ripley, Brooke Caswell, Amy Tingey, Cami Sumsion, Mindy Staple, and Coach Kindrick

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

Springville Junior High School got a lot of new additions to their teaching squad this year. One of the many was Mrs. Becky Murdock, who has proven to be a great new addition to the social studies department.

Mrs. Murdock teaches eighth grade U.S. History and ninth grade World History/Geography. She enjoys teaching both.  “I adore teaching. I love to see the light bulb go on inside my student’s heads,” she said.

Mrs. Murdock went to Brigham Young University, where she majored in Social Studies Teaching. “I switched my major four times and tried everything from Geography, Geology, to Archeology and Anthropology; trying to decide which social science to go into,” she stated. Finally she decided to go with social studies teaching, deciding she would get the “best of all worlds.”

Another element Mrs. Murdock brought with her to the junior high, is coaching.  Mrs. Murdock is the assistant coach to Mr. David Kindrick for the girls basketball team. She said, “I love coaching. Period.”

Mrs. Murdock doesn’t just teach and coach, besides that she loves to cook, spend time with her family, and play lacrosse.

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

A great component to the quality teaching in both schooling and sports at Springville Junior High is thanks in part to Mr. David Kindrick. Mr. Kindrick teaches science at SJHS, coaches the girls’ basketball team, and also helps out with the track team.

Mr. Kindrick has been teaching for nine years, eight of those years at SJHS. The other schools he has taught at include East Hardy Early Middle School and Timpview High School.  Mr. Kindrick is currently teaching and has mostly taught eighth-grade integrated science. He has also taught body conditioning and study skills. “I really like the ecology section [of eighth grade science] because I get to integrate a lot of art,” said Mr. Kindrick.

Mr. Kindrick doesn’t just teach in the classroom; he teaches both on the basketball court and out in the field for track. McKenzie Morris, a member of the ninth-grade girls’ basketball team, said, “He is a good coach. He is very assertive and knows a lot about the game.”

Some of his favorite things to do outside of school are sports, puzzles, and reading. He is a big fan of science fiction books. Like most people, Mr. Kindrick also enjoys spending time with his friends and family.

Team Captain Derek Boyer

Max Schreiner
SJHS Staff Writer

Twelve people made the boys basketball team this year, and two of those twelve were voted team captain. One of those captains is Derek Boyer. Derek has been playing basketball since he was born and has always loved it. This year he made the junior high basketball team by using his amazing shooting, dribbling, and passing skills.

On the day of the third practice before the team started practicing, Coach Shaun Blakey called everyone over and had them vote on team captains. He said “I want you to vote for someone who you think would be a good leader, be able to push you to your limits, and make us better as a team.” The vote was unanimous; Derek would be one of the captains.

Derek’s favorite thing about playing basketball is scoring! “I just love the feel of knowing I got my team points to help us win.” He also loves making a nice assist and having that sweet sensation just knowing that he was responsible for making that happen.

His basketball idol is Michael Jordan because he had so much heart for the game and that’s what Derek wants to be known as, the guy with all the heart.

Kaleb Barnum
SJHS Staff Writer

Mr. David Kindrick, Springville Junior High science teacher, is coaching the SJHS girls’ basketball team. They seem to be in good shape, since their record is 1-2. They are on their way to going to district! The names of the girls on the team are: Mindy Staple, Sarah Ripley, Ripley Tew, Mackenzie Morris, Courtney LeFevre, Emily Daybell, Kara Stoddard, Amanda Sly, Maddi Stahlie, Amy Tingey, Cami Sumsion, and Brooke Caswell.

The girls are looking forward to playing their next game so they can get redemption. Mr. Kindrick said, “We are really athletic and willing to work hard.” Cami Sumsion, ninth grade student at SJHS, said, “The basketball team is way awesome!” The girls’ basketball team is looking forward to finishing their season and how it turns out. Keep up the hard work!

Jantzen Dalley, team captain

Max Schreiner
SJHS Staff Writer

Twelve people made the boys basketball team this year, and two of those twelve were voted as team captains. One of those captains is Jantzen Dalley. Jantzen loves basketball; he has been playing basketball since he was in third grade and has loved it from the beginning. This year he made the junior high school basketball team. Before the third practice, the team voted on team captains for the year. Mr. Shaun Blakey, basketball team head coach, told the team, “You should vote for someone who you think will be a good leader, will be able to push you to your limits and make us a better team as a whole.”

Jantzen said, for him, basketball is the best sport because, “It’s a high intensity, quick paced, fun game,” When he went to one of the games last year he said he thought the intensity level was a lot higher than his accelerated games which made him look forward to playing on the team even more than before.

His basketball idol is Michael Jordan, with LeBron James as a close second. The reason Michael is ahead of LeBron is because he was the best there ever was, and Jantzen wants to be the best there ever was.

Hannah Packard, Amberly Austin and Ashli Averett, 9th graders at SJHS, show their Red Devil pride.

Andrew Garza
SJHS Staff writer

This year, three ninth-grade students at Springville Junior High made the Springville High School girl’s basketball team: Ashli Averett, Amberly Austin, and Hannah Packard.

“I think it is really cool and great experience to be on the high school basketball team,” said Ashli Averett, one of the freshmen that made it to the girls high school basketball team. Ashli said, “I watched my sister play for many years. She had a lot of fun, and learned a lot. I hope to get the same experience.” Ashli also said, “Basketball is a lot of work, but it’s so much fun. I love it.” Ashli’s siblings, dad, and cousins have played high school basketball, and she said they are the ones who help her and teach her new skills.

Hannah Packard, another freshman that made the high school basketball team, said that she thinks high school basketball is a good opportunity and a privilege. Hannah said,“Basketball is one of my favorite sports.” Hannah has also been to many high school basketball games and wants to be like the people who play in them. She likes basketball because of the “Intensity-it’s a sport where you think and need skill.”

Amberly Austin, the other freshman that made the high school basketball team, said, “I think it is a big accomplishment to make the team as a freshman. It is something I have wanted to do since I was little.” Amberly said she went to some games last year and liked it because the intensity level is a lot higher. Amberly also said, “I like basketball because it is a fun sport and it is also a team sport.

Jacob DeRosia
SJHS Staff Writer

Basketball open gym is an after school program were anyone can come in and do some fine tuning on their skills.  If students are looking to polish up on their skills or just to play some basketball, open gym is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3:00 pm to 4:30pm.  So far, open gym is very popular with, on average, 20 people per day!

“Anyone can come and improve their skills or just come to shoot some hoops.” said Mr. Blakey, counselor at SJHS, and supervisor of open gym.  The rules are simple: don’t mess around, play basketball. Easy enough? Sure is. Coming to open gym ensures a good time and good pointers.

Hayde Blanco
SJHS Staff Writer

Ready, set, SCORE! Basketball tryouts are happening November 9th at Springville Junior High. The ninth-grade boys are going to be able to participate in this event and show off there skills to Mr. Shaun Blakey, the basketball coach and counselor here at Springville Junior High.

Basketball tryouts start on Monday, November 9th, and will go for two days. They will begin at 3:00 and go until 5:00 pm. Basketball tryouts will be held in the boys’ gym at the junior high. There will be a mandatory meeting for all the ninth grade boys who would like to tryout on October 20th after school in the auditorium. Mr. Blakey is also holding an open gym on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for anyone who would like to come and prepare for tryouts.

Mr. Blakey has been coaching basketball for two years. He said, “I always look for talent, like any other coach, but also players that are willing to work hard and never give up!” He also feels it is important for a player to be a good student and respect others on and off the court. He wants a team that will give all they have no matter what is asked of them. There will be 12 players on the team, and he would also like to have three or four managers to help.

Some students that will be trying out are Joseph Carter and Jantzen Dalley. Both Joseph and Jantzen think that they will have a good team this year. They both have had a lot of experience. Joseph has been playing since he was three years old, and Jantzen doesn’t even remember! They both like Mr. Blakey. “He’s so tight,” said Jantzen Dalley.

As you can see, both students and Mr. Blakey are very excited for this year’s basketball season. Mr. Blakey believes that we will have a very good team this year.

Jacob Simmons
SJHS Staff Writer

Springville Junior High School is committed to excellence, it is in their “Knight’s Code.” One of the many people who help make the school so great is Mr. Shaun Blakey, counselor and boys’ basketball coach.

Mr. Blakey was born and raised in Springville, Utah, and graduated from Springville High. After high school he went on to get a bachelors degree in business marketing, and a masters degree in counseling from the University of Phoenix. He then came to SJHS to be a counselor.

Aside from being a counselor, Mr. Blakey coaches the boys basketball team at SJHS. He starts his second season as coach this September, although he has been involved with basketball even during the summer. During the summer, Mr. Blakey opened the gym for students to have a place to go to practice and play.  He is still involved now. After school each day except Wednesday, he opens the gym for students to go play and learn. “I’m looking forward to a fun and successful year,” Mr. Blakey said, referring to the ninth grade team.

Outside of school and basketball, Mr. Blakey enjoys spending time with his family, and going on vacations. Some of his favorite vacation spots are Disneyland and Park City, however, he likes going anywhere to spend time with his family.

Mr. Blakey has also worked in sales and retail management, and while in high school he worked at a daycare. Besides being a counselor, his favorite job was working at the daycare, “I loved working with the kids and going on the fun field trips with them during the summer,” he said. Obviously, he knew from an early age that he would like to work with children.

Mrs. Manwaring long jumping at the district track meet.

Kayla Price
SJHS Staff Writer

Mrs. Manwaring is the ninth grade science teacher at Springville Junior high but not for long. She is leaving at the end of this school year.  Her husband will be attending medical school next year, and she just had a baby girl on Friday, May 15th.  Julia Manwaring was born at 4:58 a.m., and everything went well.

Mrs. Manwaring does not expect to get right back into teaching because she wants to stay home for a little while to spend time with her daughter.

Mrs. Manwaring is going to miss some the activities that she does with the students after school. “I will really miss coaching basketball and track, to,” she said. She is going to miss all of her students and the dances that she and her husband get to chaperone. “My favorite memories here at the school are because of the great students.”

Mrs. Caras said that Mrs. Manwaring is “an excellent teacher.” One of her students, Breekel Orton, said, “I’m going to miss Mrs. Manwaring.”  All of the students at SJHS are going to miss Mrs. Manwaring and there is no replacement for her outstanding personality.

KresLynn Knouse
SJHS Staff Writer

The Battle of the Bands took place on February 27th in the Springville Junior High School auditorium. The cost of admission was five dollars, and the money earned served as a fundraiser for the girls basketball team. Many different styles of bands performed, including two rock bands, one screamo band, and one acoustic band. Forty dollars went to the first place winner, a band called One Man Short, and $20 went to the second place winner, Intricate Antics.

Audri Petro, a ninth grade student at SJHS, said “My favorite song was ‘May I ask who’s Calling’ by One Man Short. I am so glad I went to Battle of the Bands.”

Most students and teachers at SJHS that attended Battle of the Bands said that it was a fun-filled, deafening, amazing night that they would recommend anyone should attend next year. All bands are given a 20 minute slot for their performances, making the Battle of the Bands a great way to advertise local bands.

“We would love to have all junior high bands perform next year, it’s a great opportunity for those that love music to get a feel for playing in front of others,” said Mr. David Kindrick, an eighth grade science teacher nad basketball coach at SJHS.

The Battle of the Bands was a great success this year, and any band that would like to perform, or music-lover that would just like to listen, should attend next year.

Nikki Drake
SJHS Staff Writer

Mr. David Kindrick is a SJHS science teacher, the girls’ basketball coach, and a former body conditioning teacher. He enjoys teaching science, because science changes every year so he learns new things every year too. He would like to think he inspires students for the good, and not the bad.

He is the girls’ basketball coach, and his team has played 21 games, and won around half of their games. Great job girls! Most of the girls think he is an aggressive leader that knows how to have fun.

If Mr. Kindrick could have any other job, he said he would be a pro athlete, a movie star, a dentist, or maybe even an artist. Mr. Kindrick is interested in sports and he is all about being active. He mentioned that he misses teaching body conditioning. He misses watching students get healthier. “It was cool to see the little dudes and dudettes improve,” Mr. Kindrick said.

Megan Mortenson and Taya Spencer, two eighth grade girls at SJHS were asked about what it was like being in Mr. Kindrick’s class. Taya said that “Mr. Kindrick always makes us laugh and stuff. He is a cool teacher.” Megan agreed with Taya, “He always tries to be funny, and he is nice.”

Jantzen Dalley
SJHS Staff Writer

A lot of people were wondering how the Springville Junior High Freshman basketball team would do this year, especially because they had a rough season last year. The team went seven and three in the district, and won seven out of their last nine games.

Springville also played in the Alpine tournament towards the end of their season. They played well, but were beaten by Timpview High School in the end and were no longer able to move on in the tournament.

One reason for the Knights’ newfound success this year is Coach Shaun Blakey. Coach Blakey has been working as a counselor at SJHS, and is now the head coach of the basketball team.

“The team has gotten a lot better throughout the season,” Coach Blakey said, “ They have gotten much better working as a team and have gained more confidence.”

“Spanish Fork is probably the hardest team we played.” Coach Blakey recalled. And he was right. Unfortunately, Spanish Fork defeated Springville 65 to 53 in a great game.

The combination of the new coaching staff, and the aggressive play of the team is definitely what has made this season so successful.

The 9th grade girls basketball team will host a fundraiser movie night this Saturday, December 13th. Kung Fu Panda will start at 6:00 p.m., followed by Elf at 7:45 p.m. The cost is $3 per person, and the movies will be shown in the auditorium of the junior high school. Concessions will be sold. Families are welcome to come!

The movies are both rated PG, and since it is a school sponsored event, students must have parent permission to watch the movies. So send your student with a signed permission slip. Permission slips will be given out in each second period class, and will also be available at the door. The girls basketball team is looking forward to a fun night!

Zachary Nemelka
SJHS Staff Writer

Coach Blakey has started to look for players for the SJHS 9th grade boy’s basketball team on Nov. 10 the day of tryouts. He was looking for players that will help his team reach the championship games of the Nebo and the Alpine Tournaments. He had two days to come up with a roster of 12 boys. These boys will have to be able to work as a team for the next four months through fourteen or more games, to be able to reach the goal of a championship.

As these young men tried to show their worth by going through challenging drills and scrimmaging with each other, they were trying to catch Coach Blakey’s eye. They must know one thing. Nothing can stop a basketball player other than himself when he is on the court. “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them,” Michael Jordan said.

Coach Blakey is getting ready to start his first year as the Springville Junior High School Basketball Coach. It is different this year because it’s not a teacher being the coach of the team; Coach Blakey is a counselor being the coach. One thing that made Coach Blakey’s job hard is that he will have to cut the kids he is supposed to help. But that is a challenge he must go through to have a team that is willing to work hard “The offense and the defense will be hard to set up,” Coach Blakey explained. This is because he has 12 days to set up an offense and defense. He will still have an enjoyable time because he loves to help people improve in areas of life.

As the team will be picked hopefully by the 13th of November, the players waited with sweaty palms hoping to be on the final list. The players that made the team are Jordan McCann, Mitch Maye, Alex Cloward, Steven Bate, Zachary Nemelka, Ryan Schultz, Jalon Miyasaki, Trevor Allen, Andrew Clyde, Sean Sly, Zera Staheli, and Jordan Davis. These players will need to practice hard before there first game against Pleasant Grove these first games might be the toughest they face before the Alpine Tournament because these school are mostly 5A, while SJHS is a 4A school. Good luck.