For an Eagles team that has been together since they were kids for the most part, winning in many aspects of life can sometimes appear to be challenging when life itself makes a few changes, admitted APA West Valley head basketball coach Mark Vialpando.

“When I took over the program last year, we had lost five seniors, three starters, and our previous head coach of course,” said Vialpando. “Not a lot of people expected much of us except for ourselves. Rather than it being a rebuild, it was more of a transition year with high standards.”

Such was the case this February, when the APA West Valley Eagles boys basketball team won their Region 16 title with a 12-0 record.

Following a 15-8 season last year in which APA fell in the 2A state quarterfinals to Kanab in 2024-25, the Eagles came out of the gates this year with a purpose, winning eight of their first 10 games and all of their final 12 by double-digit margins.

Were it not for a narrow 74-72 loss in overtime to South Summit, one that included a highlight reel and game-tying three from senior Sharmaarkay Mberwa to send the game into an extra period and another three-point setback to Rowland Hall, APA could well have been the No. 1 seed in Class 2A—for they were that good this past season in going 19-4 overall under second-year head coach Mark Vialpando.

What you might find even more amazing is that for most of these kids, English was not their native language; they’re refugees that came from Africa, Southeast Asia and Central and South America to APA West Valley’s three schools, taking more ESL courses in a rigorous academic setting than most would ever be undergoing—often at very early ages.

Back in the 2010s, when you high-fived these kids as you passed them in the hallways—a school custom—and were yourself learning to “be a builder,” you felt a sense of pride and accomplishment getting to know these kids who often came from war-torn regions and unbelievably impoverished backgrounds that would humble most.

The beauty of being at APA, however, is that you never would’ve known that.

Kids and teachers wear nametags on the same sweaters over dress shirts and khakis and/or skirts and dress shoes that can be purchased on bulk discounts at nearby department stores. They take the same classes and, in most cases, assimilate more easily than kids at most public schools from this writer’s purview. 

 While at APA, students take courses in regular academic fields as well as etiquette and manners, and work together on grueling projects that often keep them on school grounds well into the night, while teachers watch over these kids at the two-story brick charter school situated in a gritty industrial section of West Valley City, perched between 3200 West and the Bangerter Highway on 3100 South.

Not only that, some succeed to the point that one APA West Valley student this year was even named a National Merit Finalist—the only such in all of West Valley City. After APA, students typically move on to help the greater good in things other than sports, and over two-thirds are placed at colleges and universities.

For senior Sharmakaay Mberwa, he made the vow to keep this team together, despite the player graduations, a relatively new high school coaching staff and his own academic issues, according to Vialpando.

“Sharmaarkay has been the engine that pushes us. He has bought in 100% to our culture of student-athlete and shines both on and off the court,” said APA’s coach, emphasizing the “student” portion. “This year he has buckled down in academics and worked twice as hard on the court.”  

In addition to Mr. Mberwa, there were other helpers such as fellow senior Brandon Candia.

“Brandon has been our leader, he has been the voice of reason, he has been the glue that has held it all together this year,” Vialpando said. “Brandon took it upon himself to be the example this year. He did not disappoint either. Without Brandon, this year isn’t possible.” 

That togetherness at APA West Valley is emblematic in even the box scores; in 14 of 22 games, the Eagles featured a different leading scorer. It has eight players averaging five points or better, per game. As a team, APA shot 41% from the field. By season’s end, several players ranked in the top 20 in Utah, in areas such as rebounding and 3-point shooting.

Sixteen kids played in three or more games—and of those, 10 played in 14 or more games for the Eagles, led by their sparkplug in dreadlocks, Mberwa, who scored his 1,000th point as a capstone to an incredible career.

For these Eagles, their journey ended in the 2A state tournament second round. What cannot be denied, however, was their unwavering commitment and willingness to play together as a team, memories that Vialpando and his coaching staff said they’ll carry with them, forever.

“These young men have been counted out so many times, to see them raise their own standards and work as hard as they have this year, it’s why you coach. It’s not the money, it’s the hope of helping shape young men for their future.”

For the 2025-26 season, the APA West Valley Eagles in no particular order were: Brandon Candia, Nuka Nwibiabu, Sharmaarkay Mberwa, Bejud Oman, Aamir Mohamed, Mahamat Adigueye, Mahamat Soumain, Marcus Versluis, Terry Lorennij, Santiago Hernandez, Samir Ismail, Shwe Than, Yusuf Abdi, Ivan Gaspar and Chris Monroy. They were coached by Thomas Mier, Autumn Van Ry, Sheraz Nawaz and Mark Vialpando.