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Utah Warriors tie franchise record with 10th win in season finale

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Utah Warriors tie franchise record with 10th win in season finale


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With nothing to gain but pride after a stunning late loss to the Chicago Hounds in last week’s home finale that eliminated the team from the playoffs, the Utah Warriors traveled to New York for season finale against the postseason-bound Ironworkers.

But pride can be a funny thing — as well as the chance to match a club record.

Cliven Loubser scored two tries, and Joel Hodgson added a try and four 2-point conversion kicks to help the Utah Warriors wrap up the season with a franchise-best 10th win of the season with a 43-33 win over the New York Ironworkers in Mount Vernon, New York.

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With the win, the Warriors (10-6) snapped a two-match losing skid and tied the 2021 team for the most wins in the franchise’s six-year history. Yet in many ways, they did it the hard way.

New York (7-8-1) held over 50% of possession, but the Warriors gained more territory, forced four turnovers, and took advantage of New York’s 10 penalties to end the season on a high note after last week’s bitter disappointment.

With no playoffs in sight, Utah doubled its win total from a year ago under first-year head coach Greg Cooper, and beat four of the six teams in Major League Rugby’s playoff field that include a 26-24 home win over the No. 1 seed from the East, New England Free Jacks.

The Warriors also tied third-place Houston with identical 10-6 records, but a regular inability to accrue bonus points, as well as key losses like the one to Chicago a week ago, sent the team with the fifth-most points in the table into the offseason with 3 fewer points than the SaberCats for the final playoff berth from the Western Conference.

Henry Bell opened the scoring early for Utah, dotting it down in the fifth minute to take a 5-0 lead.

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The Warriors exchanged tries with the Ironworkers with a pair of scores from Loubser before Jason Emery gave New York a 19-17 halftime lead with a try in the 37th minute.

With Saia Uhila saddled in the Sin Bin, Utah responded with a shorthanded try when Hodgson dotted it down from just outside posts before Calvin Whiting sprinted for an automatic-7 under the posts five minutes into the second half to go up 33-19.

Ishmail Shabazz dotted it down in the corner in the 50th minute, scoring the Ironworkers’ critical fourth try for a bonus point that clinched a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs against Old Glory DC.

“Those boys fought hard,” Shabazz told The Rugby Network of visiting Utah. “It was physical; we knew it was going to be physical.”

But Jurie Van Vuuren scored in the 65th minute to push the Warriors’ lead back to 38-26 on Hodgson’s 2-point conversion kick, and Jesse Hamilton scored the first try of his rookie season to keep the 10-point win.

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San Diego’s 40-19 win over Seattle later Sunday wrapped up MLR’s 2023 regular season, with the Legion and Seawolves advancing to the six-team playoffs alongside Houston, New England, New York and Washington D.C.

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Utah

Utah Made: Multi-generational ladder company still going strong

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Utah Made: Multi-generational ladder company still going strong


SPRINGVILLE, Utah — Art Wing still fondly remembers when his late dad Hal Wing, the founder of Little Giant Ladders, said: “If you concentrate on building the company and not the person, you will fail. If you concentrate on building the person, the company will take care of itself.”

That motto is still at Little Giant’s core today.

In the early 1970s, Hal was a salesman living in Germany, forging a friendship with an inventor who created a ladder that Hal thought was a technological marvel. He took the idea back to the United States, perfecting it and pattening it before heading out on the road.

“He bought a pinto station wagon and he loaded it with ladders, and he went on the road upwards of 250 days a year just selling them out of that thing,” Art recalled.

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Art says the roadshow worked, and people quickly took note of their sturdy ladders and all they could do.

In 2002, Little Giant Ladders climbed to new heights by hitting television screens all over the country with an infomercial that often ran late at night and on weekend afternoons. It was a catchy ad that ran for 16 years and racked up sales of over a billion dollars in ladders sold.

Today, the Little Giant brand continues where it started, calling Utah home.

Company president and CEO Ryan Moss says the Beehive State is headquarters for good reason.

“We have great people here in the state of Utah. Honestly, that is one of the best blessings about Little Giant, is the wonderful people that we get to work with every single day,” Moss said. “They’re hardworking, they’re smart, they’re creative.” 

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While Utah is the Little Giant premier factory, the company has facilities and warehouses all over the world, working to keep their standards and safety high. Globally, Little Giant employs several thousand people, together taking a small idea to a huge enterprise and stepping up the ladder of success with no end in sight





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Warning issued after harmful algal bloom found at Utah Lake marina

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Warning issued after harmful algal bloom found at Utah Lake marina


SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah — A Warning Advisory has been issued for an area along Utah Lake after a harmful algal bloom was detected Tuesday.

The City of Saratoga Springs said the bloom was found present at the Saratoga Springs, and could be producing dangerous toxins that would be harmful to humans and animals.

The Utah County Health Department issued the warning, advising people to do the following when in the vicinity of the marina:

  • Do not swim or water ski
  • Avoid areas of algae when boating
  • Clean fish well and discard guts
  • Keep animals away
  • Don’t drink the water

Algal blooms can cause skin, nerve and liver damage,





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2025 three-star defensive back Manny Fuller commits to Utah

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2025 three-star defensive back Manny Fuller commits to Utah


Utah’s football program, led by coach Kyle Whittingham, continues its impressive recruitment streak with the commitment of Shelton “Manny” Fuller, a three-star safety from El Paso, Texas. Fuller, the 11th commitment to wrap up June, and the 13th for the 2025 class, which adds significant value to the team’s defensive lineup.

Fuller, who visited Salt Lake City earlier this month, had also considered Houston, BYU, and Oregon State before deciding on Utah. He was Initially planning to commit in August, but announced his decision early via Instagram.

Fuller was ranked as the No. 44 athlete in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports. At 6-feet and 170 pounds, he’s known for his versatility and physicality on the field. Without question his combination of strong ball skills with an aggressive playing style, particularly excelling in run defense. As he continues to develop physically, his tackling power is expected to improve, enhancing his already notable defensive capabilities.

Utah hits three of the biggest lists for EA Sports College Football 25

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Fuller’s commitment marks the ninth defensive player for Utah in 2025, joining a robust group of recruits including quarterback Wyatt Becker, tight end Drew Clemens, and several defensive standouts like Nela Tupou and Max Fonoimoana. With this strong early recruitment drive, Utah is building significant momentum and positioning itself for a successful future.



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