Brave Like Ann
Ann spent her childhood building forts, looking for arrowheads, and helping her dad gather cattle by horseback in the hills of Mt. Carmel. She was a natural athlete and leader. She especially excelled in the point guard position at basketball. She attended school at Rick’s college and SUU, playing basketball for both schools. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from SUU in physical education. After graduating from college, she settled into married life, working at Snow Canyon High School. She never lost her passion for sports and coached on the college and high school levels and any sport her own kids were involved in.
She loved bringing her kids to Mt. Carmel to learn and to work with her brothers in whatever way they would let her. She lead many hikes in the area for anyone with a willing attitude and sense of adventure (or even if they didn’t—they were coming either way).
Always an advocate for Valley High School and her beloved first coach, she brought many kids to basketball camps to teach them the fundamentals of basketball (and get these kids out of their moms’ hair for a week).
As her own kids grew, she wanted more flexibility to be available for their activities, so she became involved in sports in a different way. She became a high school and college referee for volleyball and basketball, at times even having to referee her own nieces and nephews. This made for some quiet car rides home when technical foul calls intersected with the family tree, but Ann seemed to handle things in stride.
Ann had an optimism and ease with life, but even as she was doing the things she loved, she was fighting silent battles near the end of her life. She could win any basketball game, have command over any court, and hike through almost anything, but when she couldn’t compete against her mental illness anymore, she came back to this very place where she found her first arrowhead and shot endless baskets.
We wanted to found this race in the memory of her competitive and adventurous spirit in the place where it all began.
Learn about the Ann Esplin Memorial Scholarship ⟶
If You or Someone You Love Is Struggling
Ann lived with strength, adventure, and deep compassion — even while facing quiet battles no one could see.
Mental health challenges can affect anyone, no matter how brave or capable they may seem.
24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org