Photo by Brigham Berthold
When the sun is out and the temperature is high, theme parks overflow with families from all parts of the world looking to make memories that will last a lifetime. This, however, is not the case for UVU’s student athletes. Their respective seasons may be over, but the hard work continues as they participate in summer leagues and various tournaments.
Several UVU wrestlers participated in national tournaments in Akron, Ohio in early June. Overall, eight Wolverines placed in the University Greco-Roman and Freestyle Nationals. The highest finishers were brothers Taylor and Grant LaMont, who each earned second-place finishes in their respective weight classes.
“As soon as nationals are over we have maybe a week-long break and then we are right back to training,” said Taylor LaMont. “Most guys take a break and wait for the college season to start, but I’m getting ready for the World Championships in August.”
Meanwhile, several players from the Wolverine women’s soccer team will be very busy during the offseason because they have joined several teams from the United Women’s Soccer league. Among them, Tara Furlong, Brooklyn Nielsen, Sarah Callister, Alexis Peterson and Hannah Bruce have joined the Real Salt Lake Women for the summer.
“We are thrilled to have five of our key players joining the RSL Women’s team this summer,” said Chris Lemay, the women’s soccer head coach, in a statement to WolverineGreen.com. “Coach Davis will provide a training and playing environment that will ensure that Lex, Sara, Tara, Hannah and Brooke are all playing at their highest level come the fall. The ability to play with, and against, some of the best women soccer players in the country over the course of the summer season will allow our Wolverines to gain valuable experience.”
Clyde Field will be the home venue for the RSL Women’s soccer team this summer.
The men’s soccer team will also see 12 of its players joining the Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League.
Overseas, Joonas Tahvanainen, UVU men’s basketball power forward, did something completely different this summer. He did not join any summer leagues or play in any tournaments. Instead, he went back to his native Finland to finish mandatory military service.
“Every Finnish man has to serve,” said Tahvanainen in a statement to WolverineGreen.com. “I’m doing my service in the Finnish Defense Forces in the Guard Jaeger Regiment. My military service lasts 165 days. I served 107 days last summer, so I came back to Finland this summer to serve my final 58 days.”
Cody Fueger, men’s basketball assistant head coach, was also invited by the Utah Jazz to help with an NBA free agent mini-camp held at the Zions Bank Basketball Center in Salt Lake City.
In all, these Wolverines will continue to hone their skills with these summer programs, and their decisions will lead to progress that will continue to bring national attention to UVU.
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