By Tom Zulewski, Iron County Today IVINS – At times, Austin Smotherman may have felt like he was in a car chase that wouldn’t end. Even Dominic Torretto would have been impressed by Smotherman’s skill at hitting good shots, staying patient, and making the birdie putts where he could. The end result found Smotherman ahead…

By Tom Zulewski, Iron County Today IVINS – As the top of the leaderboard got crowded toward the end of the first round at the Bank of Utah Championship, Austin Smotherman had no problem taking a look at who was in front. By the time his second round was done Friday, Smotherman made the leap…

By Tom Zulewski, Iron County Today IVINS – On the strength of a 29 score on the front nine, Canadian Sudarshan Yellamaraju led a group of four players who shared the lead midway through the opening round of the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort. He began the round with a…

By Tom Zulewski, For Iron County Today Here are some things worth knowing before the PGA Tour’s 2026 Bank of Utah Championship begins. Plan accordingly, however you choose to watch. What: Bank of Utah Championship Where: Black Desert Resort (7,421 yards, par 71), Ivins. When: Thursday through Sunday. Defending champion: Michael Brennan. Brennan won for…

From Regan Hunsaker, SUU Athletics CEDAR CITY, Utah — Southern Utah University Athletics has announced a new partnership with Leavitt Group and Auto-Owners Insurance, placing the longtime sponsor’s logo on Thunderbirds uniforms as the department enters a new era of corporate sponsorship opportunities in college athletics. Leavitt Group, in partnership with Auto-Owners Insurance, has committed to…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University Fall camp is built on competition. Every practice is an opportunity to get better. Every rep matters. Every meeting is focused on preparing the Southern Utah football team for the challenges that await when the season begins. But on Wednesday afternoon, the Thunderbirds stepped away from the football field…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University Southern Utah Athletics is expanding its commitment to the local community through a new partnership with Cedar City Sports and Recreation and State Bank of Southern Utah that will provide local youth with greater access to Thunderbirds Athletics than ever before. Beginning this fall, every child who registers for…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University Southern Utah Athletics has announced kickoff times for all 12 games on the Thunderbirds’ 2026 football schedule as the program returns to the Big Sky Conference. Head Coach DeLane Fitzgerald said, “When the kickoff times come out, it makes the season feel real. Our players have put in a…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University On any given game day at Southern Utah University, long before kickoff, tipoff, or the first routine begins, you’ll find familiar faces making their way through the gates. They’ve watched championship teams celebrate on the biggest stages. They’ve endured heartbreaking losses. They’ve welcomed generations of student-athletes, coaches, and administrators…

By Brooke Heath, Southern Utah University Marking a major milestone in university history, the Southern Utah University (SUU) Men’s Rodeo Team captured the 2026 Rocky Mountain Regional Championship for the first time since the program’s inception. The T-birds capitalized on that momentum at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming last week, finishing…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University For Southern Utah sophomore gymnast Vinciane Le Pen, a trip home to France this spring became much more than a visit. It was the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to a sport that has taught her valuable lessons and brought her all the way to Cedar…

By Regan Hunsaker, Southern Utah University Southern Utah University student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom during the 2025-26 academic year, earning a combined 108 selections on the Western Athletic Conference’s Spring Academic All-WAC teams, including Freshmen/Transfer Academic All-WAC honorees. The WAC recognized student-athletes for their academic achievements in spring championship sports and honored outstanding…