American Fork High School

American Fork High School
Location
American Fork, Utah United States
Coordinates	40°23′15″N 111°46′50″W / 40.38750°N 111.78056°W / 40.38750; -111.78056Coordinates: 40°23′15″N 111°46′50″W / 40.38750°N 111.78056°W / 40.38750; -111.78056
Information
Type	Free public
Established	1902
School district	Alpine School District
Principal	Dan Weishar[1]
Grades	10-12
Enrollment	~2000
Campus type	Open
Color(s)	Red, black, and white
Mascot	Caveman
Website	http://afhs.alpineschools.org

American Fork High School is a public high school in American Fork, Utah, United States. Its mascot is the Caveman, chosen as a tribute to Timpanogos Cave. The school is perhaps best known for its award-winning marching band, which has regularly reached regional finals and national finals once, performed in high-profile parades, and been the state champion for over 20 years. American Fork High school is one of the oldest high schools in Utah, starting in 2016 they will be one of the first schools to participate in the 6A division.

Academics

American Fork High School was ranked in the top-scoring 50 high schools in Utah, based on students' scores in Utah's Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT).^[2] The percentage of students who met proficiency standards were as follows: Language Arts 92%, Mathematics 45.6%, and Science 74.9%, all above average for the state. In addition, in 2011, 33% of seniors took one or more Advanced Placement test, with a pass rate of 78%.^[3]

Athletics

The Cavemen currently play in Class 5A and Region IV. The school's girls' basketball team won the 2008-2009 Utah 5A state championship against Riverton High School, winning 51-40. In 2012 the baseball team won its first state championship in 27 years. In 2014, the football team made it to the state championship game for the first time since 1962, where they lost to Bingham High School.

Cross-country

After many years of successful state campaigns (2nd place in '99, '04,'07 and '08), the Cavemen won their first state championship in '09. They went undefeated in Utah, and shattered the state record by 90 seconds behind individual state record holder Austin West. They went on to win NXN-SW and placed 8th at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon. In 2010, they again went undefeated in the state of Utah, decimating every course record, culminating in breaking their own state record by more than 30 seconds. They were again ranked #1 nationally for a time by ESPN-RISE. State champion Clayton Young led the charge, coming in first for a Caveman team that placed 5th in the top 8. They again went on to win NXN-SW in record fashion and 8th at Nike Cross Nationals. In 2011, despite graduating nearly all their varsity runners, the Cavemen again went undefeated in the state of Utah. They barely edged out Davis for their third straight state championship, behind individual champion MacKenzie Morrison. They then won a third consecutive NXN-SW crown and placed 6th at Nike Cross Nationals. In 2012 the Cavemen won their fourth straight State trophy behind Brayden McLelland, who finished second, just behind Kramer Morton. They then won NXN-SW and finished second at Nike Cross Nationals. The Cavemen continued with their 5th and 6th state championships and Nike Regional Championships in 2013 and 2014. They placed 7th and 5th, respectively, at Nike Cross Nationals during those years. The Cavemen also had individual state champions with Connor McMillan in 2013, Zac Jacklin in 2014, and Casey Clinger in 2015. The 2014 team set a new state team time record of 78:25 (by 36 seconds).

The girls' cross-country team, coached by Bruno Hunziker, won state championships in 2009 and 2014. In 2014, they also won Nike Cross Regionals and placed 22nd at Nike Cross Nationals.

Cheerleading

American Fork High's cheer squad took second place at the Cheerleading Nationals in Anaheim, California in 2008-09. In 2009-10 they took first place at four regional competitions, including taking first place in the state of Utah. That same year they took second place at Nationals. Currently, in the 2010-2011 season, the cheerleaders took first place at every regional competition, including taking first place in state. They competed at the United Spirit Association cheerleading nationals on March 26, 2011, and took second place. They placed first at the 2012 Championships.

Marching band

The American Fork High School Marching Band has been invited to parades across the nation, and has performed at Bands of America (BOA) competitions on multiple occasions. They qualified in 1995 for Finals at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. They marched in the 1998 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. In January 2005, they participated in President George W. Bush's second inauguration parade. In 2007 and 2014, they traveled to New York City as the only band from Utah ever to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.^[4] In 2008, the band placed first at the BOA Regional in Las Vegas, becoming the reigning Western Regional Champions, the only band from Utah ever to win the title. The band then won the Western Regional competition in 2009. In 2010 and 2011 the band placed second overall.

The band has consisted of 200+ members for the past several years. The band has a tradition of honoring deceased current students and teachers by using a missing man formation, which has happened at least four times in the last two decades. In 2009, a band instructor died in a bus accident while attempting to prevent a crash.^[5]

In 2008, the American Fork High School Marching Band traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Bands of America Grand National Championships. They made it to the semifinals and placed 14th out of nearly 90 bands. At the 2009 Grand National Competition, the American Fork Marching Band was presented with the Esprit de Corps award. They also placed 15th in the nation when they competed in one of the most competitive years Grand Nationals has ever seen. In 2010, American Fork was one of the three recipients of the Sudler Shield.^[6]

The band performed in the 2012 New Year's Day Rose Parade for the second time on January 2, 2012.^[7] They are one of three bands in Utah's history to march in this parade.

This band strives to maintain tradition, integrity, and excellence in all that they do.

Recent performance titles include: 2015 - Red Sky, 2014 - Bad Hair Day, 2013 - Fury, 2012 - Agency, 2011 - Shades of Conflict, 2010 - Pandemonium, 2009 - Greatest Generation, 2008 - The Island, 2007 - Pulse,^[8] 2006 - The Hypar Effect, and 2005 - Through The Eyes of a Child.^[9]

Notable alumni

• Merrill J. Bateman, general authority in the LDS Church; former president of Brigham Young University^[10][11]
• Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society General President of the LDS Church^[12]
• Bronco Mendenhall, head coach of Brigham Young University's football team^[13]
• Derek Smith, former NFL linebacker^[14]

References