Pan American Games to feature 5 Utah natives, including BYU, Dixie State and UVU alums

Although there are only a handful of athletes with Utah connections playing in the 2019 Pan American Games, one has a link to St. George.

Matthew Ratliff played for Dixie State's baseball team for two years, before moving on to Utah Valley University and eventually the Team USA fastpitch team.

Ratliff is one of five athletes with Utah connections on the Team USA Pan American Games roster announced by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, which will participate in the Games form July 26 to August 11.

“The Pan American Games are a unique opportunity for athletes to represent our country and inspire young and old," USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a release. "I look forward to cheering them on and wish them great success, on and off the field of play.”

Here are the athletes with Utah connections that are playing in the Pan American Games.

Utah athletes competing in the Pan American Games

Sophia Foresta, South Jordan - Cycling, BMX racing

The 19, soon-to-be 20-year-old, Foresta is South Jordan native, is a former USA BMX Girls Division National Champion, winning in 2012 and 2015. She placed fourth 2017 UCI BMX Junior World Championships.

Part of Utah Valley University's Class of 2022, Foresta is studying Business Management and is working to become fluent in American Sign Language after she taught a group of deaf riders in a BMX clinic, according to her Team USA bio page.

Matt Ratliff, Lehi - Softball, Team

Ratliff is a lefty outfielder that's been with Team USA's fastpitch team during international competition for the last three years and knows St. George well. He graduated from Utah Valley University in 2009 but also spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as a pitcher at Dixie State.

His first season with the national team was 2017 when he competed in the 2017 WBSC Men's World Championship. During World Cup play, Ratliff hit .300, with a home run, four RBI and seven runs scored. He also played in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, hitting a double and scoring a run.

Jordan Matyas, Calgary - Rugby, Sevens

Matyas is one of the most interesting athletes on the Team USA roster, mainly because she found her way on to the USA Rugby scene by way of Canada.

She burst on the scene at BYU, where she took the Cougars to the NCAA Rugby National Championship during the same year the school officially adopted rugby into BYU's sports program. Matyas also played on the U20 National team in 2012 and 2013 and played in the Women’s Sevens Rugby World Cup in 2018.

Herb Harbison, Salt Lake City - Roller Sports, Speed

Harbison is currently a Salt Lake City native but grew up across the country in Alpharetta, Georgia. He's a two-time national champion - in 2014 and 2015 - and also won a Silver Medal in the 2016 Junior Men's Road Relay.

The 22-year-old roller skater has been with Team USA since 2014.

Alex Granato, Salt Lake City - Equestrian, Jumping

Ranked in the top 15 of all equestrian jumpers, Granato is building an accomplished 2019 season that includes two first-place finishes during the Welcome Stake and Grand Prix at the Palm Beach Masters World Cup Qualifier.

He is one of 12 equestrian athletes competing at the Pan American Games, and one of only four athletes competing in jumping. Granato currently ranks 12th nationally among equestrian jumping athletes.

Follow Chris Kwiecinski on Twitter @OchoK_. You can contact him at CKwiecinsk@thespectrum.com, or (435) 414-3261.