A Sporting Family
Jul 17, 2008 | 766 views | 0 
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Julia Holt doesn’t really know where her seven children got their desire to play sports. Although she is currently preparing to run the St. George Marathon, her sports background has not been extensive. And her husband, Dr. Charles Holt, who owns a family practice in Tooele, was limited in the sports he played due to a hip injury at age 13.
“They all love sports,” Julia said. “In terms of where they came up with their passion for sports, I don’t know. If their academics were in good shape, they could do all the sports they wanted.”
However, Julie, who is the vice president of the Tooele County School District Board of Education, believes it may have started with her oldest son, Ryan, 27, who played on the Tooele High School golf team when they won the state championship in 1998, which was his senior year. Ryan also played on the basketball team and is now the golf professional at the Stansbury Park Golf Course.
Of the seven Holt children, four have been members of Tooele High School championship sports teams and another competed for a state championship but fell short.
Most recently was the youngest, 14-year-old Whitney, who was the pinch runner in the 4A State Championship softball game against Murray in May. After Brittany Gonzales belted a single, Whitney came on to run and raced the base paths on a hit by Marissa Mendenhall to score the winning run.
Whitney, who will be a sophomore at THS this fall, also plays volleyball and is on a competition softball team based out of Taylorsville.
Rebecca, 26, and Stephanie, 25, will both be running with Julia in the St. George Marathon in October. With their training schedule, they run 25 to 30 miles a week, but once August hits they will increase their mileage.
“For the most part I really enjoy it,” Julia said. “They push me because I’m the weak link. They keep me in shape. It does take its toll on my body.”
Rebecca was a cheerleader and played on the softball and basketball teams as a student athlete at THS. She recently completed her residency in pharmacy and is a clinical pharmacist at Intermountain Health Care.
“She’s run in three marathons at St. George,” Julia said. “She loves running and weight lifting.”
Stephanie also seems to be following in Rebecca’s footsteps. She played volleyball and softball in high school and played in the state championship game against Bear River, but lost. Stephanie was also captain of a team in the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back in June. Like her sister Rebecca, she is currently in pharmacy school.
Matthew, 23, was a member of the THS football team that garnered the 3A state championship in 2002. He also played on the Buff’s basketball team. He’s now at Utah State University majoring in economics with a pre-law emphasis. He keeps in shape with his sports background by playing on football teams that play at Deseret Peak and in a basketball league, Julia said.
Mike, 20, led the Buffaloes with 15 points in the 3A state championship basketball game in 2005 helping the Buffs to a state championship title. Mike redshirted his freshman year at Dixie State College in St. George and played this past year as a sophomore. He now has his associate’s degree and Julia isn’t sure whether or not he will stay at Dixie to play another year, or transfer to a four-year institution.
Jacob, 16, will be a junior at THS this fall and has a passion for golf that Julia believes he got from Ryan.
“Ryan pretty much helped Jake with golfing,” Julia said. “That’s his passion.”
Jacob even qualified to play at the Utah State Amateur Championship at Solider Hollow Golf Course. He also plays basketball.
The seven Holt kids, like other large local families have built a legacy at THS.
“The fact that everyone of the kids has been a part of a successful sports program has got to be special to the family,” said THS athletic director Rich Valdez. “Even the one’s who weren’t on championship teams were part of a good program.”
Valdez likes to see large families come through the athletic department at THS.
“When I was in high school the Torres family all wrestled,” he said. “It’s like the Brady family, I’m wondering if there will be more coming up. As a coach I’m always glad to see more kids come up to play.”
With all of her kids being involved in one sport or another, Julia is constantly at a game or practice.
“All we do is go from sporting event to sporting event,” Julia said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
She said that it’s a tie between basketball and softball as to which is her favorite sport, even though she doesn’t play either one.
“They’re the ones I understand the best,” she said.
Julia knows her husband, Charles, played some football and ran track, but the hip injury really prevented him from participating in many athletics.
“He loves sports,” she said. “He’s an avid swimmer and that’s OK on his hip.”
Sports has been Julia’s social life since they moved to Tooele in 1988. She goes running as early as 6 a.m. with her daughters and continues throughout the day driving kids to softball and basketball practices and watching them at games.
“For all of the kids that we’ve had, sports have pretty much been our social life,” Julia said.
missy@tooeletranscript.com
“They all love sports,” Julia said. “In terms of where they came up with their passion for sports, I don’t know. If their academics were in good shape, they could do all the sports they wanted.”
However, Julie, who is the vice president of the Tooele County School District Board of Education, believes it may have started with her oldest son, Ryan, 27, who played on the Tooele High School golf team when they won the state championship in 1998, which was his senior year. Ryan also played on the basketball team and is now the golf professional at the Stansbury Park Golf Course.
Of the seven Holt children, four have been members of Tooele High School championship sports teams and another competed for a state championship but fell short.
Most recently was the youngest, 14-year-old Whitney, who was the pinch runner in the 4A State Championship softball game against Murray in May. After Brittany Gonzales belted a single, Whitney came on to run and raced the base paths on a hit by Marissa Mendenhall to score the winning run.
Whitney, who will be a sophomore at THS this fall, also plays volleyball and is on a competition softball team based out of Taylorsville.
Rebecca, 26, and Stephanie, 25, will both be running with Julia in the St. George Marathon in October. With their training schedule, they run 25 to 30 miles a week, but once August hits they will increase their mileage.
“For the most part I really enjoy it,” Julia said. “They push me because I’m the weak link. They keep me in shape. It does take its toll on my body.”
Rebecca was a cheerleader and played on the softball and basketball teams as a student athlete at THS. She recently completed her residency in pharmacy and is a clinical pharmacist at Intermountain Health Care.
“She’s run in three marathons at St. George,” Julia said. “She loves running and weight lifting.”
Stephanie also seems to be following in Rebecca’s footsteps. She played volleyball and softball in high school and played in the state championship game against Bear River, but lost. Stephanie was also captain of a team in the MyoMed Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back in June. Like her sister Rebecca, she is currently in pharmacy school.
Matthew, 23, was a member of the THS football team that garnered the 3A state championship in 2002. He also played on the Buff’s basketball team. He’s now at Utah State University majoring in economics with a pre-law emphasis. He keeps in shape with his sports background by playing on football teams that play at Deseret Peak and in a basketball league, Julia said.
Mike, 20, led the Buffaloes with 15 points in the 3A state championship basketball game in 2005 helping the Buffs to a state championship title. Mike redshirted his freshman year at Dixie State College in St. George and played this past year as a sophomore. He now has his associate’s degree and Julia isn’t sure whether or not he will stay at Dixie to play another year, or transfer to a four-year institution.
Jacob, 16, will be a junior at THS this fall and has a passion for golf that Julia believes he got from Ryan.
“Ryan pretty much helped Jake with golfing,” Julia said. “That’s his passion.”
Jacob even qualified to play at the Utah State Amateur Championship at Solider Hollow Golf Course. He also plays basketball.
The seven Holt kids, like other large local families have built a legacy at THS.
“The fact that everyone of the kids has been a part of a successful sports program has got to be special to the family,” said THS athletic director Rich Valdez. “Even the one’s who weren’t on championship teams were part of a good program.”
Valdez likes to see large families come through the athletic department at THS.
“When I was in high school the Torres family all wrestled,” he said. “It’s like the Brady family, I’m wondering if there will be more coming up. As a coach I’m always glad to see more kids come up to play.”
With all of her kids being involved in one sport or another, Julia is constantly at a game or practice.
“All we do is go from sporting event to sporting event,” Julia said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
She said that it’s a tie between basketball and softball as to which is her favorite sport, even though she doesn’t play either one.
“They’re the ones I understand the best,” she said.
Julia knows her husband, Charles, played some football and ran track, but the hip injury really prevented him from participating in many athletics.
“He loves sports,” she said. “He’s an avid swimmer and that’s OK on his hip.”
Sports has been Julia’s social life since they moved to Tooele in 1988. She goes running as early as 6 a.m. with her daughters and continues throughout the day driving kids to softball and basketball practices and watching them at games.
“For all of the kids that we’ve had, sports have pretty much been our social life,” Julia said.
missy@tooeletranscript.com
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