A simple act of support turned into national recognition when the American Fork High School football team received the Musial Award for Sportsmanship on Dec. 28, 2025, in St. Louis. The award, one of the nation’s highest honors for character in sports, celebrated the team’s decision to attend and cheer for the school’s marching band at one of their competitions.
Nine football players joined Head Coach Aaron Behm at the ceremony, where their story was highlighted as an example of how students strengthen their school community through meaningful connections.
“We want to guide them to be good people,” Coach Behm shared, describing what this recognition means for the program. “It’s about students and community.”
The invitation to the Musial Awards followed a viral video showing the football team in uniform sitting together in the stands at a marching band competition, a tradition Behm’s teams have upheld for nine years as a way to show respect for their peers.
Coach Behm said he was surprised that such a simple act drew national attention. Online reaction grew quickly after the video circulated, and he noted that the response revealed something important.
“It shouldn’t be unusual,” Behm said. He added that even the host of the Musial Awards commented, “I’ve never seen a story like this before,” which reinforced to him that everyday support between school programs matters, and should happen more often.
For the student leaders, the experience in St. Louis was unforgettable. Quarterback and team captain Kapono Manuela described the moment of recognition as powerful. “It just shows the brotherhood that we’ve built here at American Fork,” he said. “You should always keep doing good. Sometimes you [might] get special rewards for it.” The team’s actions demonstrated that supporting others builds community, a core value of the Alpine School District.
The tradition resonates deeply within the school’s music program as well. Band Director Orien Landis, who has led the American Fork Marching Cavemen since 2019, noted the broader impact of the football team’s support. “It’s hard not to get emotional when I remember vividly from my high school days that the football team didn’t give two craps about the band at the game, let alone would they show up to one of their competitions and cheer them on,” Landis said. “It speaks to who Aaron is as a coach and a person. The more you’re involved, the more you’re supported, the better the whole school is.”
Landis also envisions this moment as a model for other schools. “If there were more people invested in this concept like Aaron, students would have a more profound respect for one another, where everybody comes from and their diverse talents,” he said. His words reflect the student-centered experiences that ASD encourages: recognizing effort across programs and celebrating success in all forms.
“Love your community, always come back to them, don’t forget them.” Said Manuela, illustrating the principle of mutual respect in action.
Coach Behm also emphasized that the team’s support is rooted in mutual respect. “When we’re working early in the morning and lifting weights, I see the band,” he said. “They’re on the field, playing, marching, working out. They devote as much time as we do. They support us and add a huge part to the Friday night football games.”
The Musial Awards ceremony was more than an accolade; it was a lesson in character, a celebration of community and support, and a reminder that unity elevates our students. For American Fork High School, this recognition reinforces a culture of excellence that values empathy, connection, and respect for every student’s contribution.
As parents and community members reflect on this achievement, the message is clear: when students step beyond traditional roles and support one another, their actions build up not just programs, but each other.