Copyright Anchorage Daily News
Welcome back to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports. This past week featured several notable individual and team performances across the Alaska sports landscape at the high school and professional levels as well as some developments on the college front. The 2025 season three-fourth of the high school tackle football came to an end. On the college scene, the University of Alaska Anchorage volleyball team spilt a pair home matches against conference foes. Outside the state, several Alaskans had impressive performances and career achievements worth recognizing and celebrating in their respective arenas. Headlines and highlights Three high school football state title games took place over the weekend, and the only one that didn’t see the reigning champions pull off a successful title defense was the 9-man division. In the program’s first year of existence, the Interior Grappling Academy dethroned powerhouse Seward with a 40-18 win on the Redington Jr./Sr. High School field Saturday night. “It feels awesome and is a culmination of a lot of hard work from behind the scenes,” head coach Heath Martin said. “It’s fulfilling to see it all come true and see it showcase itself on the field in the state championship game. It was a special moment for the school and the team.” The Archangels were propelled to victory over the Seward Seahawks by a dominant rushing attack that racked up 390 yards on the ground and a three-touchdown performance by sophomore quarterback Mana Lauaki-Hart. He threw for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns from 17 and 38 yards out and rushed for 89 yards, all but 7 of which came on an 82-yard touchdown on a fourth down deep in his team’s own territory. Pounding the rock for the other 301 yards was senior Louie Poland and junior Jessie Conley. [South football uses 2nd-half shutout against West to advance to state championship] Switching from the gridiron to the hardwood, the South Anchorage volleyball team continued to roll last week with a pair of victories that included a three-set sweep of reigning Division I state champion Wasilla. Leading the Wolverines in kills and reaching double figures in digs in both matches was senior outside hitter Indy Kmet. She recorded 20 kills and 11 digs in a four-set win over Eagle River last Tuesday and followed it up with 14 kills and 11 digs against the Warriors last Thursday. On the college volleyball scene, UAA split its two home matches against Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents. The Seawolves dropped the first in four sets to reigning conference champions Central Washington on Thursday and bounced back with a four-set win over Northwest Nazarene. “We weren’t sharp in the first, but were more aggressive with our attack and got improved passing and defense the rest of the way,” UAA head coach Stacie Meisner said in a statement. UAA sophomore Murphy Kimball was named to the 2025-26 Stifel U.S. Cross Country Development Ski Team last week. The West Anchorage alum’s list of accolades from this year includes finishing 26th in the classic sprints at the World Junior Championships in Schilpario, Italy, and competing in five sprint races on the World Cup circuit with his highest finish being a career-best 28th. He also finished third in the classic sprint at the U.S. National Championships, which took place in Kincaid Park in January. “We are very excited to see Murphy get this recognition and the chance to attend some high-quality camps with the best xc skiers in the nation including former Seawolf JC Schoonmaker,” UAA associate head coach Trond Flagstad said in a statement. “A part of our goal is to develop skiers to a level where they have opportunities to keep skiing after college.” Schoonmaker is returning to the roster as a member of the A Team, now with 70 World Cup races under his belt since making his debut in 2020. The Anchorage Wolverines last weekend took on their in-state rival, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, in a two-game series. The Wolverines extended their losing streak to six in a row after suffering back-to-back losses. They were outscored a combined 14-6 across both games. Their leading goal scorer was forward Caleb Mahar, who recorded a pair for the second week in a row. “This is going to be a process,” head coach Mike Aikens said. “We’re a brand-new team. We’ve got five returners from last year, and some of those guys didn’t play a lot. I’m not accepting of losing by any means, but it’s going to be a process.” [Anchorage Wolverines’ comeback bid falls short in loss to Fairbanks Ice Dogs] Alaska stars shining Outside Joining Kimball and Schoonmaker in being named to 2025-26 Stifel U.S. team were seven more athletes who either hail from Alaska or have strong ties to the 49th state. Also named were Anchorage’s Gus Schumacher and Rosie Brennan on the A-Team, Novie McCabe and Zanden McMullen on the B-Team, and Kendall Kramer of Fairbanks also on the D-Team. Palmer’s Andrew Kurka is the only Alaska representative on either Para teams as a member of the Alpine skiing squad. Anchorage’s Carter Brubaker was named to the Nordic Combined C-Team after he became Alaska’s first-ever national champion in his discipline last week. Fairbanks’ Ruthy Hebard had a trio of double-digit scoring performances playing Euroleague basketball for Gdynia last week. The former West Valley star scored 28 points in an 82-65 win over Torun, 20 points in a 72-57 loss to Bourges and 16 points in a 78-70 loss to Wroclaw. Anchorage’s Alissa Pili made her debut in the WNBL this past Saturday as a member of the Geelong Venom’s starting lineup. The former Dimond multisport star recorded three points and a pair of assists in five minutes of action before exiting the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter. Utqiagvik’s Kamaka Hepa and Fairbanks’ Jeremiah Bailey faced off overseas in a basketball game in the FIBA Europe Cup league. Hepa nearly had a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds to help lead Cibona to a 93-79 win over Bashkimi and Bailey, who logged five points and seven rebounds. Fairbanks’ Earl Parker helped lead the Hutchison Community College football team to a 71-12 blowout of Independence Community College on Saturday. The former Lathrop standout tied his season high in total tackles with five, including splitting one for a loss, and recorded his first interception of the season. Anchorage brothers Cayden and Braden Pili led a dominant effort for the Eastside Catholic high school football team in a 41-9 win over Seattle Prep this past Friday. According to the Seattle Medium, Cayden recorded 92 rushing yards and 29 receiving yards and scored a pair of touchdowns on offense while Braden led the Crusaders with four total tackles. Fast Forward Prep Football ASAA Division I State Championship, Friday at 7 p.m. The postseason for the 2025 high school football season will come to a close in the Mat-Su this weekend with the Division I final matchup. The game will feature a regular-season rematch between No. 2 Bartlett and No. 4 South Anchorage. Both Cook Inlet Conference teams are seeking their program’s first state title in several years, with the Wolverines’ last coming in 2019 and the Golden Bears’ previous championship in 2017. Wrestling Dimond at South, Wednesday at 6 p.m. The first round of dual matches for the 2025 season will take place in town this week with the reigning CIC champions hosting the Lynx. At the same time elsewhere, Bartlett will host Service, Chugiak will host West Anchorage and Bettye Davis East Anchorage will host Eagle River. NAHL Anchorage Wolverines vs. Chippewa Steel at Sullivan Arena, Friday at 7:30 p.m. Coming off another disappointing weekend, the Wolverines will be looking to snap their losing skid when they take on another Midwest Division opponent for a two-game home series. The puck drop for Saturday’s game will be at 7:30 p.m. as well. Last week’s results High school Football Friday Soldotna 51, Lathrop 28 Saturday Bartlett 9, Service 2 Homer 20, Barrow 0 South 24, West 10 Volleyball Tuesday Susitna Valley 3, Lumen Christi 0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-10) Tri-Valley 3, Nenana 0 (25-20, 25-7, 25-14) Nikiski 3, Seward 1 (25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 25-21) Homer 3, Soldotna 2 (25-21,25-15, 26-28, 14-25, 15-11) Service 3, West 0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-23) South 3, Eagle River 1 (27-29, 32-30, 25-2, 25-7) Chugiak 3, East 0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-13) Dimond 3, Bartlett 1 (25-17, 25-14, 21-25, 25-13) Wednesday Service 3, East 1 (25-15, 16-25, 25-22, 25-16) Thursday Wrangell 2, Petersburg 1 (25-22, 19-25, 25-6) Meade River 3, Harold Kaveolook 0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-18) Petersburg 2, Hoonah 0 (25-22, 25-19) Susitna Valley 3, Cook Inlet Academy 0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-20) Nome-Beltz 3, Bethel 0 (25-12, 25-5, 25-5) Meade River 2, Alak 1 (25-18, 23-25, 15-7) Chugiak 3, Eagle River 1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-12, 25-17) South 3, Wasilla 0 Soldotna 3, Colony 1 Kenai Central 3, Homer 1 West Valley 3, Galena 0 Friday Nuiqsut Trapper 2, Kali 1 (29-27, 19-25, 15-12) Petersburg 2, Klawock 0 (25-8, 25-11) Nome-Beltz 2, Kotzebue 0 (25-16, 25-19) White Mountain 3, Brevig Mission 0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-14) Petersburg 2, Skagway 1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-17) Ninilchik 3, Birchwood Christian 1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 25-15) Meade River 2, Harold Kaveolook 0 (25-14, 25-20) Meade River 2, Alak 1 (25-17, 22-25, 15-10) Palmer 3, Kodiak 1 (25-23,16-25, 25-18, 25-16) Meade River 3, Alak 0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-16) Chugiak 3, Bartlett 0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-23) Dimond 3, West 0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-19) Petersburg 2, Haines 0 (25-18, 25-21) Martin L Olson 3, White Mountain 1 (27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-18) Shaktoolik 3, Unalakleet 0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20) Eagle River 3, East 0 Saturday Bristol Bay 2, Dillingham 0 (25-10, 25-13) Homer 3, Seward 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-14) Craig 2, Petersburg 1 (25-14, 18-25, 25-18) Martin L Olson 3, White Mountain 2 (25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 25-15, 15-8) Soldotna 3, Colony 2 Swimming Friday Bartlett v. Chugiak v. Eagle River v. East Girls Team Scores 1. Eagle River, 99; 2. Chugiak, 41; 3. Bartlett, 11; 4. East, 10 Boys Team Scores 1. Eagle River, 87; 2. Chugiak, 67; 3. East, 19; 4. Bartlett, 3 Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay 1. Eagle River (Anna Heaphy, Bryn Baldwin, Reese Woodward, Caitlyn Rumph), 1:57.35; 2.Chugiak, 2:08.66; 3. Eagle River ‘B’, 2:09.89 Boys 200 Yard Medley Relay 1. Eagle River (Zander Walker, CJ Rollins, Nate Shockley, Matthew Baker), 1:44.62; 2.Chugiak, 1:46.03; 3. Eagle River ‘B’, 1:54.48 Girls 200 Yard Freestyle 1. Caitlyn Rumph, Eagle River, 2:06.63; 2. Molly Wirschem, East, 2:07.55; 3. Londyn Koncaba, Chugiak, 2:28.24 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle 1. Blake Fazio, Chugiak, 1:47.07; 2. Colin Russian, Eagle River, 1:54.10; 3. Maika’i Davis, Chugiak, 1:56.69 Girls 200 Yard IM 1. Reese Woodward, Eagle River, 2:12.26; 2. Anna Heaphy, Eagle River, 2:23.09; 3. Magen Straka, Chugiak, 2:38.78 Boys 200 Yard IM 1. Nate Shockley, Eagle River, 2:02.01; 2. Noah Unks, Eagle River, 2:11.95; 3. Matthew Ray, East, 2:24.08 Girls 50 Yard Freestyle 1. Lizzie Russian, Eagle River, 28.45; 2. Bryn Baldwin, Eagle River, 28.64; 3. Jade Denny, Chugiak, 29.22 Boys 50 Yard Freestyle 1. Matthew Baker, Eagle River, 22.97; 2. Packer Lowell, Chugiak HS, 24.00; 3. Gavin Heath, Chugiak, 24.23 Boys 1 M Diving 1. Carter Pyne, East, 134.3 Girls 100 Yard Butterfly 1. Reese Woodward, Eagle River, 57.52; 2. Anna Heaphy, Eagle River, 1:04.93; 3. Sasha Rosko, Eagle River, 1:09.25 Boys 100 Yard Butterfly 1. Blake Fazio, Chugiak, 53.61; 2. Maika’i Davis, Chugiak HS, 1:02.81; 3. Nathan Bloom, Chugiak, 1:05.13 Girls 100 Yard Freestyle 1. Molly Wirschem, East, 57.36; 2. Magen Straka, Chugiak, 1:00.10; 3. Audrey Townley, Eagle River, 1:01.74 Boys 100 Yard Freestyle 1. Matthew Baker, Eagle River, 50.43; 2. Zander Walker, Eagle River, 51.65; 3. Reed Wirschem, East, 54.65 Girls 500 Yard Freestyle 1. Caitlyn Rumph, Eagle River, 5:45.67; 2. Sasha Rosko, Eagle River, 5:46.00; 3. Eiley Reid, Bartlett, 7:01.25 Boys 500 Yard Freestyle 1. Nate Shockley, Eagle River, 4:56.65; 2. Theodore Olson, Eagle River, 5:06.83; 3. Colin Russian, Eagle River, 5:06.84 Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay 1. Eagle River (Reese Woodward, Caitlyn Rumph, Anna Heaphy, Bryn Baldwin), 1:46.31; 2. Eagle River ‘B’, 1:54.35; 3. Chugiak, 2:06.11 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay 1. Chugiak (Maika’i Davis, Nathan Bloom, Gavin Heath, Packer Lowell), 1:38.35; 2. Eagle River, 1:41.56; 3. Chugiak ‘B’, 1:46.13 Girls 100 Yard Backstroke 1. Lizzie Russian, Eagle River, 1:08.70; 2. Audrey Townley, Eagle River, 1:10.09; 3. Lacey Westerlin, Chugiak, 1:14.95 Boys 100 Yard Backstroke 1. Zander Walker, Eagle River, 59.22; 2. Noah Unks, Eagle River, 1:00.04; 3. Corbin Wolz, Chugiak, 1:06.82 Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke 1. Bryn Baldwin, Eagle River, 1:17.83; 2. Megyn Linstid, Eagle River, 1:20.13; 3. Traci Rogers, Eagle River, 1:28.89 Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke 1. CJ Rollins, Eagle River, 1:08.02; 2. Andrew Deisseroth, Eagle River, 1:14.05; 3. Kenny Young, Bartlett, 1:24.91 Girls 400 Yard Freestyle Relay 1. Chugiak (Magen Straka, Elianah Philbrick, Delaney Henderson, Trinity Philbrick), 4:21.99 Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay 1. Chugiak (Blake Fazio, Keegan Vik, Luke Whitford, Packer Lowell), 3:30.74; 2. Eagle River, 3:33.01; 3. Chugiak ‘B’, 3:43.52 College Volleyball Thursday Central Washington 3, UAA 1 (25-17, 25-19, 23-25, 25-21) UAF 3, Northwest Nazarene 0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-23) Saturday UAF 3, Central Washington 1 (17-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23) UAA 3, Northwest Nazarene 1 (20-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-15) NAHL Friday Fairbanks Ice Dogs 5, Anchorage Wolverines 3 Saturday Fairbanks Ice Dogs 9, Anchorage Wolverines 3
