Nebo School District recognizes noteworthy athletic achievements.
1990 Girls Track Team - Springville High School
1990 State Track & Field winners. "Like the Wind" - Runing their way to state! Most people would laugh at the idea of runniong themselves into total exhaustion, not for the members of this girls track team. This was a routine practice. The track stars began running in January and with hard determination, an the will to win, the girls proved to ba hard team to beat. the team had great success andy oif the girls set personal and school records. Their parents were and are their greatest fans! Their support for these athletes is awsome.
Wilford Clyde - Springville High School
Wilford was born and raised in Springville. He began playing basketball at Springville Jr. High and during his high school years he played under Coach Elliott Jordan. He also palyed football under Coach Mike Jacobson. He was the first quarterback on the new SHS football field. After his graduation, college, mission and marriage, Wilford has continued his support of all things athletic in Springville. He has donated labor, equipment, supplies, time and talents to many projects within SHS Athletics programs. He loves watching and supporting all of SHS athletes.
Sandi Marvin Wall - Payson High School
Team work is a great strength of Sandy’s and will continue to shine throughout her life. Sandy is the first to admit she could never have accomplished all she was able to do without her friends, teammates, coaches, and family members. Through all of her goals and achievements Sandy has always retained the same motto that has continued to motivate her drive, “ the key to winning… is the way the team plays together… it was the factor of believing in ourselves and believing in each other. “ Sandy continues to believe and engage this motto.
Kim Bird - Springville High School
Kim graduated from Springville High. She also coached at SHS for two seasons. After college graduation she was hired to teach in Provo and Alpine School Districts. During her years of teaching and administrative roles, Kim has won many school and district awards. Her peers and colleagues speak highly of her dedication and devotion to the field of Education. “She builds students, teachers and peers to their highest potential, with praise and opportunity for growth. Kimberly continues to serve others and improve in all facets of her life. “
1990 SHS Baseball Team - Springville High School
The 1990 Springville High School Baseball team was one of the most outstanding teams ever to represent Springville High School in any sport. This team not only had many outstanding athletes, they also had a chemistry with one another that set them apart from other teams. Many of these men served missions, attended college, are raising families, and are now enjoying very successful careers. In the last four games against Dixie, Spanish Fork, West, and Bountiful, Springville pitchers threw shutouts and the Championship game was a 17 to 0 rout over Bountiful. The coach of Alta High School who was the State 4A Champions told the Springville Coaches that they were glad they didn’t have to play the Red Devils! The newspaper wrote “never has a team dominated a state tournament in this fashion.”
Joyce Henderson - Spanish Fork High School
Joyce loved coaching all the women's sports. Her teams were competitive in the region and went to numerous state tournaments. Coach Henderson is loved and respected by all of the young women she coachedand has left a lasting impression on hundreds of students at Spanish Fork High school. After 18 years of coaching and teaching, Joyce retired. Her love for athletics has never stopped.
Lynn Jones - Spanish Fork High School
Lynn graduated from Spanish Fork High in 1952. He played quarterback on the football team and pitcher and shortstop on the baseball team. He received a four year scholarship from BYU to play baseball. During his summers he played Semi-Pro baseball for Helper Merchants, Spanish Fork, and Provo Timps. He graduated from BYU in 1956 and started his teaching career at Park Elementary. In 1994 after 38 years in Education Lynn decided to retire from Nebo School District.
Alan Curtis - Springville High School
Alan began his coaching carrer with Springville high football in 1967 as part of an internship with Coach Mike Jacobsen. This has turned into a coaching career with Springville High for the last 44 years! During his years as the Springville Recreation Director, Alan organized many youth and adult sports programs. He was extremely involved in planning and creating new fields, tennis courts, skateboard park, maintenance of all the parks and swimming pool. Alan took great pride in keeping the baseball, football and soccer fields nice and green so that everyone could enjoy the parks. After 28 years with Nebo School District and Springville City, Alan retired in 2006.
SHS 1958 Basketball Team - Springville High School
This group of young men started playing together when they were in grade school. Every Saturday they would play in the old girls gym. The community was very supportive of the team. Head Coach, Alma Garrett was a strict, no nonsense type of coach who drove them to excellence. they played his way or it was the highway! At the state finals they played and beat Bountiful, Logan, and Ogden. the championship game was against Davis High School. Springville won 43 to 41! This was a night to remember and never to be forgotten!
Elliott Jordan - Springville High School
Elliott graduated from Springville High School in 1958. He played basketball for Springville High earning All-State honors in 1958 and led the Red Devils to the Boys State Championship in the same year. He attended BYU but graduated from Southern Utah University. After graduating from college, Elliott coached Basketball and taught math at Parowan High School. He returned to Springville High in 1969. For the next 26 years, he coached basketball, football and track. In 1986 Coach Jordan took over the Girls Basketball program. In 1990 the Springville Lady Red Devils team won the state championship
Jack Swenson - Spanish Fork High School
Jack was one of the men that organized the youth sports in our community. In 1952 he helped coach the first little league baseball team in Spanish Fork. He has coached that same team "The Yankees" for 59 consecutive years. During his years as the Spanish Fork Recreation Director Jack has organized many youth and adult sports. He orchestrated the planning and creating of new fields, tennis courts, skateboard park, water park, and care of all parks.
Thane Stone - Spanish Fork High School
Thane loved his years at Spanish Fork High School and cherished the friendships and associations he made with his fellow teachers, administrators, staff and students. Athletically he was an All-State player his junior and senior years. At BYU he was named as an All-Conference End in 1947 and 1948. He also received calls to play in the NFL but due to injury was not able to participate. He was honored by his former students by being selected for the Outstanding Alumni award at Spanish Fork School in 1993 and as Outstanding Teacher by the class of 1970. He loved the school and the community and was actively involved in civic, church and educational pursuits throughout his life. He maintained many of his friendships from the BYU teams he played on, participating in alumni activities and being a season ticket holder until his death in December 2005.
Chris Loveless - Payson High School
Chris started coaching at Payson High School in 2002. His hard work and dedication to Payson Wrestling has led the Payson Lions to 4 Region Championships. In the last eight years Payson Wrestling has placed in the top eight at the Utah State Tournament every year, including two 3rd place wins.
In 2009 and 2010 Coach Chris Loveless led his team in back to back 4A State Championship Titles and both years received the honor of being named 4A Coach of the Year. Chris has influenced and coached many fine athletes, including 15 high school state champions and 10 runner ups. Throughout his coaching career he has coached over 55 state placers. He has had the privilege to work alongside other outstanding coaches such as Sam Ford, Ben Mangelson, and his brother Johnny Loveless.
Guss Porter Black - Spanish Fork High School
Upon graduation Guss began coaching at Central High to Castle Dale, Utah, where his team won the State championship. In 1942 he moved to Spanish Fork where he coached football, basketball, and track. During the next 14 years his basketball teams took region eight times. His track and Field teams did almost as well while picking up a first place at the state track and field meet. Guss was very strict on training rules and he attributed much of his success to the fact that his boys lived right.
After Guss resigned as head coach in 1956 he continued to teach physical education and started the drivers training program at Spanish Fork High.
Owen Rowe - Spanish Fork High School
Owen first became fascinated with track in seventh grade as he watched a local resident, Ike Taylor, running the hurdles. Owen began self-imposed training, since there was no track program available. Upon entering high school, he was encouraged by close friends, Max Thomas and Waldo Hagan, to pursue track. His perseverance and determination paid off. As a senior at Spanish Fork High School, he entered and won the BYU All-Round Pentathlon. He went on to represent Nebo School District and the state of Utah at the National Track and Field Meet in Chicago. He was dubbed “the human rocket” by some newspapers at the time. His most unique race came a year later at the Fourth of July celebration in Spanish Fork. He competed with a race horse in a how hurdle competition. Owen won by a nose!
J. Wayne Nelson - Spanish Fork High School
J. Wayne Nelson was an All-State athlete in Football and Baseball. He also played football for BYU. He spent numerous years coaching his sons on city league teams and influencing many young lives. He spent 34 years in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent for Nebo School District. During that time, he also served 41 years in the Utah National Guard, eventually holding the position of Utah State Command Sergeant Major at state headquarters. He married his high school sweetheart Gloria and raised four children. Three of which are teachers, coaches or administrators in Nebo School District.
Joseph A. Nelson - Spanish Fork High School
J-Art as he was known, participated in Football, Basketball, Track and Tennis. He was the first to use the over-hand free throw technique, even though his coach discouraged it. He won track championships in high jump and a relay race. He began a career in basketball at BYU and was recognized as an All-American athlete. He held many records at BYU until the era of Danny Ainge and Kresimir Kosic. He toured with many All-Star teams throughout the nation. He is an inductee into the BYU Sport Hall of Fame and the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in Utah. Joe would eventually play professional basketball for the St. Paul Lights and also for the Waterloo Hawks.
Eli Herring - Springville High School
Eli participated in football, basketball, wrestling, and track while attending Springville High School. He was also a member of the 1985 football team that took the State Chamionship title. Eli was All-Region and All-State in Football and Wrestling. He earned four state championship titles and two state records in track. He earned his Math Education degree while playing football at BYU. His senior year at BYU he was ranked 3rd in the nation as on offensive lineman. Eli is currently a math teacher and football coach for Mountain View High School. He continues to be a powerful influence in his work, community, and church.
1989-1990 Volleyball Team - Springville High School
This volleyball team was the first to win a State Championship for Springville High School. As Freshman and Sophomores their record was 0-30. As Juniors and Seniors the record was 30-0. The Lady Red Devils were ranked number one in the state most of the season. The Lady Red Devils managed to stay on top to become the State Champions!. In 1990 the volleyball team was fired up to win! They achieved their second State Championship title! The team motto: "JUST DO IT!" and they did!
Jimmy DeGraffenried - Payson High School
Jimmy received many awards during his basketball playing days. He earned Most Outstanding Sophomore, MVP at the Pineview Tourney, All-Star for Payson High School, Pepsi Shootout at Weber High, AAA All-Star High School and 1st Team All-State are some of the awards he received during high school. During his college days he was Big Sky All-Conference, Big Sky All-Academic, Big Sky MVP, Crystal Crest award for Weber State, and in 1993-1994 Big Sky Conference Champions. He has placed in the top ten in several statistical records for Weber Sate University. Jimmy has been an assistant coach at Payson High for the last six years. His influence is widely felt throughout the Payson High Athletics.
Dave Hiatt - Payson High School
Dave Hiatt was an outstanding athlete for Payson high School lettering in football, basketball, track and tennis . He was Payson High's starting quarter back. He holds the the record for passing in a single season. Dave belives in the improtance of practicing hard and playing hard. He has followedthis concept throughout his life. Dave started his coaching career at PHS in 1985. As a Head Coach for girls basketb all at PHS, the team brought home the state title 2004-2005. Dave believes that a student comes first and is always the most important. Congratulations Coach!
James Monroe Durrant - Payson High School
Jim grew up in Payson. During his high school years he participated in football, wrestling, and track. Jim played football for the U of U from 1950 -1953 and was All-Conference Guard in 1951, 1952, & 1953. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1953 but choose to become a high school coach for the next 27 years. As football coach, his team won the Football State Championships in 1969 & 1971. As track coach, the team won the State Championship in 1979. Jim suffered a fatal heart attack August 1984 while on the sidelines coaching the sophomores at Payson High.
Scott Mitchell - Springville High School
Scott Mitchell has been nominated into the Hall of Fame for his positive role as an outstanding athlete. Scott participated in football, basketball, and baseball at SHS. He received All-Region 1st team in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. He was the state MVP in football and baseball his senior year at SHS. Scott grew up in Springville, played football for the U of U, was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and played four seasons. He went on to play for the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cincinnate Bengals, spending a total of 12 seasons playing in the NFL.
1985 Football Team - Springville High School
The SHS 1985 Football Team was the first to win a State Championship at Springville High School. They had an undefeated season and won region that year (fall of 1985). With one win after another, knocking off the top ranked teams in the state, the #1 ranked Springville Red Devils came off the field in the final game with an unspotted, undefeated, 12-0 season to take the first 3A State Championship in the 85 year history of Springville High School.
DelRoy Anderson - Spanish Fork High School
DelRoy Anderson began his coaching career at Spanish Fork High School. Over the next 25 years he coached wrestling, football, track and baseball. He faced many challenges during his career of coaching. He stayed the course and developed a top notch program at Spanish Fork High School. He coached 6 of the coaches that are now coaching at Spanish Fork High school. His influence is widely felt throughout the High School Athletic program.