It was the culmination of a 15-year vision to launch Paradigm Academy in 2022, according to information found on its website. 

To that end, the charter school in South Jordan also launched an athletics program starting in September. 

“Sports are a great way to keep our scholars active and help their academic growth,” said the school’s athletics director in a release. “There are many benefits to having a sports program, such as team opportunities, confidence boosts and the ability to learn critical life skills.”

For Paradigm Academy students, there is a co-ed cross-country team along with separate teams for boys and girls volleyball in the fall. 

Their volleyball teams finished the regular season with a 1-8 record on the girls side, while the boys had a 2-6 mark. Both advanced to the state tournament for most of Utah’s charter schools, known as the Utah Schools Sports Association. 

The girls Patriots team won their first-round match against Spectrum Academy by the score of three sets to one. They advanced to play in the quarterfinals of that tournament according to the USSA Website. 

On the boys side, the Pats swept Uintah River of Duchesne three sets to zero in the first round of the USSA State Tournament and also advanced to the state quarterfinals.  

In the winter, basketball was offered for boys and girls. The other sanctioned sport that the school offers during the school year is soccer, which will begin in April and continue through May. 

All of the Paradigm Academy teams offer a two-day camp tryout to students who are interested in making their teams. 

“Our try-out process will be similar to a two-day camp style where scholars will be able to showcase their skills. After the camp is over, coaches and staff will come together and make their decisions,” stated information from the release found on the school’s website at paradigmschools.org. 

Though teams may have to limit the number of participants on any one team, the school stated in its release that it is committed to finding a place for all to play, regardless of ability. 

“We do believe that all scholars that want to be involved should be allowed to participate. Along with our sports team, we will continue to offer intramural sports. This allows our scholars to practice and continue to develop their skills.”