Posts By: Van Williams

Friday Flashback: Thomas scored most goals for Alaskan at D1

August 6, 2021

Ambria Thomas of Fairbanks has the distinction of scoring more goals at the NCAA D1 level than any other college hockey player from Alaska. The fab forward racked up 89 career goals at the University of Minnesota from 1997 to 2001. She was the first and so far only Alaska woman to play hockey for… Read more »

Baker given the ball for Chattanooga in rare Double-AA start

August 5, 2021

The last time Dylan Baker of Juneau played at the Double-A level he was used as a reliever. Three years later he’s back at Double-A, but this time as a starter. Part of the reason why Baker has carved out a nine-year minor-league career is because of his ability to pitch in any situation. Starter,… Read more »

Randall returns to lead ski group that ignited Olympic dreams

August 4, 2021

Kikkan Randall’s ski career has come full circle. The flame that ignited her Olympic dreams started in the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage as a girl and five Olympics and a gold medal later she is coming back to the NSAA. The 38-year-old cross-country skiing legend will return to the organization that sparked her passion… Read more »

An 11-year-old bull rider from Soldotna wins, dances in Oregon

August 2, 2021

Ryder Hackett is an 11-year-old bull rider from Soldotna. He’s also quite the little dancer. Hackett stole the show at the 75th annual Chief Joseph Days Ranch Rodeo in Oregon, where he posted a qualified ride on a junior mini bull to win his age group and then celebrated by busting a dance move. Moments… Read more »

Jacoby wins silver, third Alaskan w/ 2 Summer Olympic medals

July 31, 2021

Seward swimmer Lydia Jacoby picked up her second Olympic medal of these Tokyo Games, winning a silver medal in a relay to go with the individual gold she claimed earlier this week. Team USA turned to Jacoby for the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay, picking the 17-year-old Alaskan over a world-record holder for the finals in… Read more »

Thor selected 37th overall as latest NBA Draft pick from Alaska

July 29, 2021

Rage City is on it’s way back to the NBA. Anchorage’s JT Thor became the seventh Alaskan to be selected in the NBA Draft after he was picked 37th overall in the second round by the Charlotte Bobcats. The 18-year-old rising star didn’t get his DVR-ready draft moment, however, as ESPN did not show the… Read more »

Jacoby shocks world champion at Olympics, wins gold medal

July 26, 2021

Lydia Jacoby lit up Seward all the way from Tokyo. The 17-year-old swimmer created massive electricity in her hometown after coming-from-behind to win the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the Summer Olympics in Japan. Dozens of Seward residents gathered for a viewing party that looked like the Beatles came to town, with… Read more »

Jacoby wins semifinal heat, will go for Olympic gold Monday

July 25, 2021

Seward swimmer Lydia Jacoby won her semifinal heat to advance to the finals of the 100-meter breaststroke at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The 17-year-old comes into the finals with the second-best qualifying time of 1:05.52, just better than world-record holder Lilly King in 1:05.55. Yes, Jacoby is a legit medal contender on the biggest… Read more »

Alaskans on collision course in $1 million winner-take-all event

July 24, 2021

Anchorage’s Jalil Abdul-Bassit and Derrick Wilson are on a collision course to face off in the quarterfinals of The Basketball Tournament, which has a winner-take-all $1 million grand prize. Both players saw their teams win first-round games in the Illinois Regional. Now they need to win Monday and again in Wednesday’s sweet 16 to advance… Read more »

Vargas makes MLS debut at 15, third-youngest in league history

July 23, 2021

He’s not old enough to get his driver’s license, but Anchorage’s Obed Vargas did chauffeur in a new era for Alaska soccer. The 15-year-old made his Major League Soccer debut and became the third-youngest player to appear in the country’s premier league. The marvelous midfielder started for the Seattle Sounders and played 77 minutes in… Read more »