Park City High School honors 11 seniors ahead of Friday’s graduation 

Family, friends and coaches attended a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon at Park City High School honoring 11 seniors with gold varsity letters for their athletic and extracurricular achievements at the school. 

Those seniors were Rylan Betker, Harper Brent, Charlie Cusimano, Jackson Hockersmith, Wyatt Knapp, Shiva Minter, Sonja Preston, Conner Richardson, Sabine Smith, Eli Warner and Owen Wright.

Each earned at least eight varsity letters, either in sports or extracurricular activities like drama, debate or student council. 

Park City Athletic Director Jamie Sheetz handed out the letters, which featured a gold version of the Park City “PC” emblem, along with special cords for graduation. He also showcased portraits of each athlete, which will soon hang on the school’s gym walls. Sheetz said he’s seen younger students stop to look at the photos of previous recipients, and he believes they inspire them to participate in school activities.

After each athlete received their gold letters and special graduation cords, they posed for more photos with family and friends. 

The school’s graduation is set for Friday night at Deer Valley Resort, with their usual site for the ceremony, Dozier Field, under construction. 

“It means a lot getting recognition for the amount of hard work I put in being a student-athlete and spending so much time running and also doing theater,” Betker said. “It takes up a lot of my time to be able to keep up on schoolwork, so to be recognized for it is pretty cool.”

Betker thanked his parents for being supportive, especially of his theater dreams, and Preston, with whom he ran cross country and track and field at the school. 

Knapp thanked his mom for helping him succeed in football, basketball and lacrosse.

“I have the fortunate opportunity to go play college football in New York City (at Fordham University),” Knapp said, “and she helped me get that gig. All the stuff she does behind the scenes is so important, and she gets little recognition, but she literally does everything for me.”

Continuing her volleyball, and hopefully singing career, at the collegiate level is Smith. She said she believes the staff and resources provided at the school allowed for athletes like herself to succeed in multiple disciplines. 

“I’ve been so fortunate to have been taught by so many amazing teachers,” Smith said. “I think Park City really believes in its younger generation. Everywhere I go, I can feel the belief and the support of my neighbors. Mr. Sheetz and all of my teachers have always pushed me to never settle and believe in myself.”

Smith said her favorite moments at the school were running into younger volleyball teammates in the halls and getting to be someone they looked up to and that made them feel at home. She also enjoyed singing at a gala with the jazz band and making it to the state championship game in 2024 in volleyball. 

“Very, very proud,” Smith’s mom, Tina, said about the gold letter recognition. “I’m excited for her.”