31 Sanpete County athletes named to 2A, 3A DesNews All-State teams

Manti’s Chase Keisel, seen here rounding bases, made second team Deseret News 3A Baseball All-State. Photo by Robert Stevens.

Sanpete County athletes collected 31 spots on the Deseret News All-State teams announced this month, earning first-team honors in baseball, softball, boys volleyball and boys soccer and crowding the second-team and honorable-mention rolls across the 2A and 3A classifications.

Baseball

North Sanpete sophomore Hudson Smith became the Hawks’ first-ever first-team baseball pick after striking out 81 batters and posting a 2.49 ERA. “In every venue I’ve been involved with Hudson, there is one constant: when he is there, he will give his best effort,” coach Austin Hadley said.

Gunnison Valley junior Braxton Pickett joined Smith on a first team, leading 2A with 103 strikeouts while batting .478 with four homers and 32 RBIs. “Braxton was a difference maker for us all season long,” coach Chad Avery said.

North Sanpete catcher Aaron Costello made the 3A second team, while Manti pitcher-shortstop Chase Kiesel did the same in 3A. Manti’s Lane Cox, Mason Cherry and Tazj Hill, plus Gunnison’s Landry Edwards, received honorable mentions.

Softball

Gunnison senior Maile Ha’o capped a four-year run of first-team selections by hitting .552 with five homers and 42 RBIs and striking out 76 from the circle. “I am proud of how hard she works, her dedication to the sport, and her drive to compete,” coach—and father—Josh Ha’o said.

North Sanpete senior Shea Rawlinson returned to pitching and earned a 3A first-team berth after fanning 99 hitters and slugging seven homers and 23 RBIs. “She worked so hard these last four years and is very deserving of this honor,” coach Landon Bailey said.
Gunnison sophomore Mazie Hunt landed on the 2A second team; teammates Rylee Bartholomew, Atley Coates and Molli Barney were honorable mentions. Manti senior Hannah Daniels made the 3A second team, and Manti’s Danielle Alder and North Sanpete catcher Rylee Stewart earned honorable mentions.

Gunnison’s Maile Ha’o, seen here pitching, made 2A Deseret News Softball All-State first team.

Boys volleyball

North Sanpete setter Sean Allred repeated as a 3A first-teamer after distributing 815 assists and serving 79 aces. “Sean has been an incredible asset to our program,” coach Austin Ison said.

Senior libero Bradley Strange and junior outside hitter Carson Bench claimed second-team slots, with Bench piling up 303 kills. Junior opposite Dalton Poulsen received an honorable mention after logging 213 digs.

Boys soccer

Four county players earned first-team recognition: Manti forward James Dettinger (18 goals, 15 assists), midfielder Luis Ornelas (17 goals), defender Trace Justesen and North Sanpete goalkeeper Mason Murphy, who posted 170 saves. “Mason is an outstanding young man and a very dedicated player,” coach Jorge Riveros said.

Manti seniors Tommy Bridges, Corbin Henry and Branson Cherry formed a balanced second-team trio. North Sanpete defender Alan Lazoya earned an honorable mention, and Gunnison’s Chase Maples and Edrick Salas landed on the 2A second team. “They are all very deserving, and it was obviously recognized by the state,” Manti coach Jake Dettinger said of his six selections.

With first-teamers in all four sports and depth behind them, Sanpete County athletes again showed their reach across Utah’s high-school landscape—whether on the bases, the mound, the pitch or the volleyball court.