American Fork High School

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 and cross country team. The boys cross country team has consistently dominated in Utah and throughout the nation since their first state championship in 2009.[3] American Fork High school is one of the oldest high schools in Utah. In 2017 they became one of the first schools to participate in the 6A division.

American Fork High School
Address
510 N 600 E

American Fork, Utah 84003

United States
Coordinates40°23′15″N 111°46′50″W
Information
TypeFree public
Established1902
School districtAlpine School District
PrincipalPeter Glahn[1]
Staff89.64 (FTE)[2]
Grades10-12
Enrollment2,303 (2018-19)[2]
Student to teacher ratio25.69[2]
Campus typeOpen
Color(s)Red and white     with black as a fill color, not a standardized color  
MascotCaveman
Websiteafhs.alpineschools.org

History

American Fork High School was established in 1902 as one of the earliest schools in the state of Utah.[4] The first classes were held in the back rooms of a downtown bank.[5] The school was eventually moved to the Harrington School building, located where the American Fork Recreation Center and Pool Facilities now stand, until the current facility was constructed. Following construction, American Fork High School was moved again in 1959, to its current location on 600 East in American Fork, also known as Caveman Blvd. Since opening, several new additions and renovations have been built including the construction of a new wing of 27 new classrooms and complete administrative facilities. A new main gym area was completed in the summer of 2014 and houses new training, locker, and weight rooms, in addition to dance, cheer, drill, and wrestling facilities.[4]

Academics

American Fork High School was ranked in the top-scoring 25 high schools in Utah, based on students' scores in Utah's Criterion Referenced Tests (CRT).[6] 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%.[7]

Athletics

The Cavemen currently play in Class 6A 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. In 2018, the football team again played in the state championship game losing to Lone Peak High School. In 2019, the football played in the back to back state championship game losing to Corner Canyon High School.

Cross-country

The Cavemen boys team won their first state championship in 2009.[8] They went undefeated in Utah, and broke the state record by 90 seconds. 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, breaking in breaking their own state record by more than 30 seconds. They were again ranked #1 nationally for a time by ESPN-RISE. In 2011 the Cavemen again went undefeated in the state of Utah. They then won a third consecutive NXN-SW crown[9] and placed 6th at Nike Cross Nationals.[10] In 2012 the Cavemen won their fourth straight State trophy.[11] They then won NXN-SW. The Cavemen also had individual state champions in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.[12] The team time state record is held by the 2016 team in 76:31.9.[13] As of 2021, they have placed second three times at Nike Cross Nationals,[14] and they won the RunningLane XC National Championships in 2020 (Nike Cross Nationals was cancelled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) by setting a national record for fastest average 5K at 15:00.99.[15]

The girls' cross-country team won state championships in 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.[16] In 2014 they also won Nike Cross Regionals.[17]

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
American Fork Marching Band in the 2018 Freedom Festival Parade in Provo, July 2018

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 one of only 2 bands from Utah to ever participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[18] 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 were BOA Regional Champions again in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019.

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.[19]

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.[20] 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.[21] In 2013, the band took 17th place in the Bands of America Grand National Championships.[22] The band went to grand nationals once again in 2018 after a 5-year break from the competition. They placed 16th and less than 1.05 points away from finals while competing in a very competitive semi-finals competition.

The band performed in the 2012 New Year's Day Rose Parade for the second time on January 2, 2012.[23] The first performance was in 1972 under the direction of C. Russell Fadely.[24] They are one of three bands in Utah's history to march in this parade.

Recent performance titles include: 2020 - Starry, Starry Night, 2019 - The White Queen, 2018 - Another Viewpoint, 2017 - Dimensionality, 2016 - Beyond Limits, 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,[25] 2006 - The Hypar Effect, and 2005 - Through The Eyes of a Child.[26]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Administration". American Fork High School. Alpine School District. Archived from the original on 2014-03-17.
  2. "American Fork High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  3. "American Fork High School Cross Country Statistics". Athletic.net. Retrieved 2019-01-09.
  4. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_OM-nZ4_gV7LTd2d25PWTVYdUE/view
  5. News, Deseret (2002-08-05). "Calling all Cavemen: American Fork High turns 100". Deseret News. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  6. Joey Ferguson (June 2012). "The 50 best scoring high schools in Utah". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Co. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
  7. "American Fork High School Test Scores". US News and World Report. US News and World Report. May 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
  8. Rasmussen, Dan (2009-10-22). "High school cross country: American Fork sweeps 5A team titles". Deseret News. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  9. "NXR Southwest Regional - Results - 2019 Results". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  10. "NikeCrossNationals.com - Nike Cross Nationals Official Site - NXN - Results - 2011 NXN Results". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  11. https://www.uhsaa.org/RecordsBook/Records_BookXC.pdf
  12. https://www.uhsaa.org/RecordsBook/Records_BookXC.pdf
  13. https://www.uhsaa.org/RecordsBook/Records_BookXC.pdf
  14. "NikeCrossNationals.com - Nike Cross Nationals Official Site - NXN - Results - 2011 NXN Results". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  15. Mull, Cory. "American Fork Puts Down Fastest 5K Team Average In History". MileSplit United States. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  16. https://www.uhsaa.org/RecordsBook/Records_BookXC.pdf
  17. "NXR Southwest Regional - Results - 2019 Results". www.runnerspace.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  18. Laura Hancock (November 2007). "American Fork band 'flying high' in N.Y." Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Co. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  19. "Teacher killed in American Fork Band bus crash". Daily Herald. Daily Herald Newspaper. October 2009. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  20. "2008 Grand National Championships at Indianapolis, Indiana" (PDF). Music for All. Music for All. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  21. "Sousa Foundation Sudler Shield". Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  22. "2013 Grand National Championship at Indianapolis, IN" (PDF). Music for All. Bands of America. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  23. David Burger (May 2011). "American Fork High School Marching Band to be honored by president of Rose Bowl Parade". The Salt Lake tribune. The Salt Lake Tribune Publishing co. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  24. "83rd Annual Tournament of Roses Program" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7rRA0SAzf0&safe=active
  26. http://jksmusic.com/music/mb-comp/index.php?musicID=23
  27. "President - Bateman". Brigham Young Past Presidents Website. Brigham Young University. May 2010. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  28. "Bishop Bateman Called to First Quorum of Seventy and as BYU President". Ensign. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. January 1996. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  29. "Julie B. Beck Biographical Sketch". LDS Website - Relief Society. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  30. "Bronco Mendenhall - Head Football Coach". Virginia Athletics Website. University of Virginia. December 2015. Retrieved 2017-07-29.
  31. "Derek Smith". Database Sports. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  32. "4. Wayne Sermon is from American Fork". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
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