Friday Flashback
Take a trip down memory lane
Friday Flashback is an ongoing series created by Alaska Sports Blog editor Van Williams that looks back on great Alaska athletes from the past.
Conor Feckley
The ultimate pocket passer, Conor Feckley of Anchorage picked apart defenses on the gridiron with surgical precision. The quarterback threw for nearly 12,000 yards in high school and college combined – the most for a player from Alaska at both levels. His 2016 season at the University of Dubuque was one for the ages. His 634 yards in the season opener against Bethel University were the fifth-most in the history of NCAA D3 football. His eight TD passes in the game were a school record. That season also included a 353-yard, 5-TD game against Loras, a 349-yard, 5-TD game against Central and a 358-yard, 3-TD game against Buena Vista. Feckley finished third in NCAA D3 football with 37 touchdown passes in 10 games and ranked No. 15 nationally with 3,129 yards. In 2017, he threw for 1,289 yards and 11 scores as a senior. In 2018, he was selected to the NFL Draft Diamonds Small School Prospect list. Feckley finished his career with 4,700 yards and 51 TDs – the most for an Alaskan at the college level. By comparison, Sean Duffy, who also played for Dubuque, ranks second in both categories with 4,347 yards and 49 TDs. In high school, Feckley threw for a state record 7,106 yards during his career with the West Eagles between 2010 and 2012. He accounted for 87 TDs – 67 through the air and 20 on the ground. In 2011, Feckley set the state’s passing record with 2,559 yards to beat out Service’s Amu Aukusitino (2,471) in the same season.
Michaela Hutchison
Michaela Hutchison of Soldotna put women’s wrestling on the map in 2006 when she became the first girl in the country to win a high school state title against boys. But she didn’t stop there. Hutchison, of Skyview High fame, went on to wrestle for Oklahoma City University, where she was a four-time All-American and three-time national champion for the women’s team and an occasional fill-in for the men’s team. In 2009, she became the first woman in school history to win a match for the men’s team against, beating Bacone College’s Tyler Kinslow 13-4 in a major decision. Hutchison finished her college career with 71 pins and a sparkling 142-21 record, including a 1-3 mark on the men’s team. Her 142 career wins at the college level is believed to be the most for an Alaska wrestler – male or female. She was champion of the 2015 U.S. Senior Nationals and became the first Alaska woman to qualify twice for the Olympic Trials in 2012 and 2016. Hutchison gave women’s wrestling credibility after she made history in 2006 with a 1-0 win over Colony’s Aaron Boss in the 103-pound state final. The match was scoreless before Hutchison scored an escape with 16 seconds left, cementing her place in history. Other girls had made the state final, but she was the first champion. The victory capped a 45-4 sophomore season for Hutchison, who earned 33 of her wins with pins. She also finished second, fourth and fifth at the state meet.
Zach Lujan
The only college quarterback from Alaska to beat a team from a Power Five conference, Anchorage’s Zach Lujan was a game changer at South Dakota State. He played for the NCAA D1 Jackrabbits from 2014 to 2016 and compiled a 10-5 record as a starter, none bigger than his claim to fame in 2015 when he led South Dakota State to its first FBS win with a 41-38 victory over Kansas of the mighty Big 12. He completed 17-of-33 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns in one of the greatest performances by a college football player from Alaska, maybe the greatest when you consider it came on the road against a Power Five opponent. In 2014, Lujan came off the bench to connect on 21-of-28 passes for 239 yards against No. 24 Missouri. He threw for a two-point conversion and orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive in the third quarter that got his team within 21-18. Lujan’s legacy only grew that season as a few weeks later he led South Dakota State to a pair fourth-quarter scoring drives to highlight a 32-28 win over Missouri State. He finished with 310 yards and 3 TDs. Lujan, of South High fame, is Alaska’s career passing leader at the D1 level with 3,877 yards and 29 TDs. He also threw for 395 yards in a game and tossed TDs in six consecutive games – the second-longest scoring streak among Alaskans at the D1 level, trailing only Yohance Humphrey’s eight-game TD run at Montana in 2001. Lujan was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team in 2014 and was selected team captain in 2015 and 2016. He played his freshman season at Chabot College, where he was the 2013 Golden Gate Conference Offensive Player of the Year and recorded 2,050 all-purpose yards and 18 TDs.
Ambria Thomas
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 the Golden Gophers. Her scoring total is one more than Brian Swanson’s 88 goals at Colorado College from 1995 to 1999. The next highest woman is Fairbanks’ Kim Haman with 64 at Northeastern from 1991 to 1995. Thomas, of West Valley High fame, twice scored 25 goals in a season, the top single-season total among D1 women from Alaska. She had another season with 24 goals. Thomas and Palmer’s Kerry Weiland of Wisconsin share the Alaska single-season assist record of 37, set one season a part; Thomas did it in 1999-2000 and Wieland matched it in 2000-2001. Thomas bagged 89-112-201 scoring totals in 134 career games. She ranks seventh on Minnesota’s all-time points list, two decades after playing her last game. Thomas is the only Alaska woman to collect 50 points in a season and 200 points in a career at the D1 level.
Butch Lincoln
Kotzebue’s Butch Lincoln broke down social and racial barriers with the same easiness that he used to break down an opponent’s press defense on the basketball court. More than just an all-star player in high school and college, he was a trailblazer for Alaska Natives and a role model for all players because of his courtliness and court sense. Lincoln starred at the University of Alaska Anchorage between 1993 and 1997, helping the Seawolves win 69 games, capture three Pac West Conference titles and secure three berths to the NCAA Tournament. The 5-foot-7 guard was a passing wiz and deft dribbler who was effective against aggressive defenses aimed at slowing him down. In 1996, he famously zigged and zagged around Kentucky’s famed press to the delight of the crowd at the Great Alaska Shootout. Lincoln was a fan favorite, a dynamic dynamo who brought excitement and energy to the game. Not since Wally Leask and Herb Didrickson in the 1940s had an Alaska Native hoops player garnered so much attention. Lincoln was the third Alaska Native to play at UAA, but the first to receive a scholarship. He proved he belonged on the big stage and still ranks among UAA’s all-time top-10 leaders in assists and free-throw percentage almost 25 years after his eligibility expired. At Kotzebue High, Lincoln was a living legend. In 1990, he led the Huskies to the Class 3A state championship game – the team’s only finals appearance before or since. In 1991, he averaged 23 points per game on a 25-win team.
Megan Irvine
Nearly a quarter of a century after her final volleyball match at Duke University, Megan Irvine of Wasilla remains one of the greatest players in school history. The outstanding outside hitter twice earned All-ACC honors for the Blue Devils from 1995 to 1998 and established herself as a dominant force at the net. Irvine, of Colony High fame, left Duke ranked in the top-10 all-time in kills (1,113), blocks (391) and points scored (1,463) in 404 career sets. Her 13 blocks against LSU in 1995 are tied for the third-most in a match in school history. She ranks fourth with 118 solo blocks, with her 37 stuffs in 1995 and 36 rejections in 1996 still among the top-10 season totals in school history. The 6-foot playmaker was equally as effective on offense, hammering home a career-best 324 kills in 1997 and 296 in 1996. Irvine also played the back row and collected 885 digs and 86 aces in her career. The sad thing is Duke was never very good when she played there, with the Blue Devils posting just 44 wins in 108 matches. Her only winning season came in 1996 when the team went 15-12. Nevertheless, Irvine played like a champion. In high school, she was twice named all-state and led the Colony Knights to the 1995 Class 4A state championship match.
Steve MacSwain
Few Alaska athletes have seen their legacy stand the test of time quite like Anchorage’s Steve MacSwain. A true hockey pioneer, his scoring records from the 1980s still serve as a modern benchmark. As a high school senior, the 1982 East grad became the first Alaska player to record 100 points in a season on 55 goals and 49 assists. His 104 points rank second today. The next season he set a U.S. Hockey League scoring record with 60 goals in 48 games with Dubuque, and his 122 points rank fourth today. In college, his 31 goals in the 1986-87 season at the University of Minnesota are still the most for an Alaskan in a single season at the NCAA DI level. He was the first Alaskan to play for Team USA at the World Championships and the first Alaskan drafted by an NHL team. MacSwain is rink royalty in these neck of the woods. His 147 career college points and 68 goals are fourth among Alaskans at the D1 level. His 79 career assists rank fifth. In 1986, MacSwain was selected by the Calgary Flames with the No. 4 overall pick in the NHL Supplemental Draft. He played six years in pro pucks, making stops in Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany, before returning home to skate for the Anchorage Aces from 1995 to 2000, notching 144 points in 186 career games. MacSwain also played three years of major league roller hockey and in 1995 with the Los Angeles Blades bagged 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points in 21 games.
Brittney Kroon
Wasilla’s Brittney Kroon overcame a liver transplant in high school to become one of the greatest shot blockers in NCAA D2 women’s basketball history. The 6-foot-4 center played at Seattle Pacific University from 2002 to 2006 and finished her career with 419 blocks, including 13 in one game. She ranks fifth all-time in D2 in career blocks and her single-game career high is sixth. With the Alaskan in the middle, Seattle Pacific posted an extraordinary 113-11 record during her career and advanced to the 2005 national championship game. Kroon, of Wasilla High fame, underwent a liver transplant in 2002 that saved her life. The year before she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease of the liver. Her health status turned away some schools, but not Seattle Pacific. She helped the Falcons win three GNAC titles and two NCAA West Region championships while racking a remarkable .911 career winning percentage. As a sophomore, she led the country with 4.5 blocked shots per game to help Seattle Pacific reach a No. 1 national ranking. As a junior, she started every game and averaged 3.9 blocks for a 30-3 team that reached the NCAA D2 title game, losing to Washburn 70-53. Kroon finished her college career with 907 points, 678 rebounds and 419 blocks. In 2005, she was named winner of the Honda Inspiration Award, presented annually to the collegiate woman athlete who has overcome great physical adversity to contribute to the success of her team.
Jordan Pearce
Anchorage’s Jordan Pearce was a catalyst for Notre Dame hockey’s success in the late 2000s and a big reason why the Irish advanced to the 2008 NCAA championship game. That year as a junior he won CCHA Goaltender of the Year honors and outdueled two Hobey Baker candidates in the playoffs before knocking off No. 1 Michigan to help Notre Dame reach its first Frozen Four. He stood on his head as a senior, rattling off a 10-game winning streak and leading the NCAA in wins (30) and shutouts (8). With the Alaskan in net, the Irish spent seven weeks ranked No. 1 in the country. Pearce was somehow left off the all-conference team in 2009 and responded by earning MVP honors at the CCHA Tournament after going 4-0 with a 0.75 GAA. Pearce, of South High fame, played at Notre Dame from 2005 to 2009 and still ranks No. 1 in school history in career winning percentage (.679) and GAA (1.90) in 94 appearances. His 59 career wins are tied for No. 1 all-time among Alaska goalies to play at the NCAA D1 level. His career .918 save percentage ranks third all-time among Alaskans. After college, Pearce played five years of pro hockey in the minor leagues. He won a career-high 20 games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2010-11 season.
Cody Koch
No boxer from Alaska did more than Anchorage’s Cody Koch, whose rapid and remarkable rise to prominence in the 1990s was unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the sport. Koch broke into pro boxing in 1995 after winning a national Toughman Contest. He won his first 24 fights, with 20 of them coming by knockout. In 1998, he twice fought for a heavyweight title, first against Ed Mahone for the vacant WBO belt and then against WBC champion Wladimir Klitschko. The 6-foot-2 southpaw was a hard-hitting brawler who handed four pro fighters their first loss. His biggest win came in 1997 against 23-and-5 Booker T. Word. Koch’s first title shot came on Feb. 23, 1998 against 15-0 Mahone in Inglewood, California. Koch was winning on the judges’ scorecards prior to the 10th round, when Mahone knocked him out. It was Koch’s first loss in 25 pro fights. He came back a few weeks later to win a tune-up fight for his 25th career victory and set up the biggest break of his career, a chance to fight 19-0 WBC heavyweight champion Klitschko on May 23, 1998 in Germany. The 6-foot-6 Klitschko won by fourth-round knockout against Koch, who fought bravely against an elite opponent widely considered one of greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time with 64 wins.
Laura Ingham
Do-it-all point guard Laura Ingham of Anchorage put it all together on Jan. 4, 2003 to make history. The University of Nevada basketball star became the first Western Athletic Conference player to post a triple-double with 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds against Rice. Ingham, of East High fame, played for the Wolf Pack from 2001 to 2003 after transferring from Ohio State. The 5-foot-4 playmaker was no flash in the pan. In 2002, she led Nevada to a Great Alaska Shootout title and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. That same season she registered a school-record 17 assists against UTEP – the most for an Alaska player at the NCAA D1 level. Ingham’s 385 career assists are second to only Jeannie Hebert in Alaska history. Ingham is one of only two players in the 30-year history of the WAC to register 200 assists in a single season. She could score as well and her career high of 28 points is tied for eighth all-time among Alaskans at the D1 level. In 2003, Ingham was named Second Team All-WAC. She was a two-time Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998.
Tom Huffer Sr.
One of the true coaching icons of Alaska high school football, Tom Huffer Sr. built the Chugiak Mustangs into a perennial powerhouse during his 19 years as head coach. He was there in 1969 when the program got off the ground and he was there in 1984 and 1988 when two of his teams were crowned state champions. Huffer was a master motivator and straight shooter. His teams played a smashmouth style of football and he got the most out of his players, who would have crashed through a wall for him. He was named Alaska Coach of the Year in 1979, 1981, 1984 and 1988. He was a nominee for National Coach of the Year in 1985. In 1981, Huffer won his first Cook Inlet Conference title. In 1984, his Mustangs beat Lathrop 8-5 for the school’s first state championship. In 1988, Chugiak used the ‘Heave You Couldn’t Believe’ to deliver a 20-18 victory over Soldotna in Huffer’s final game and cap a perfect 9-0 season. Facing fourth-and-10 with only 93 seconds left in the game, quarterback Jim Simmons launched a pass that was tipped and somehow caught by fullback Kirby Rollison, who finished off the 30-yard touchdown for the winning score. In 2005, Huffer was inducted into the Alaska High School Hall of Fame. In 2010, Chugiak renamed its field Tom Huffer Sr. Stadium.
Pam Dreyer
The first Alaskan to play hockey in the Olympics, Eagle River’s Pam Dreyer won a bronze medal with Team USA as a goaltender at the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy. She also owns a silver medal from the 2004 World Championships, making her one of the most decorated Alaska athletes of all-time. Dreyer, of Chugiak High fame, became a national name at Brown University, where she racked up a 40-23-8 record from 2000 to 2003. As a sophomore, she led the NCAA with .941 save percentage and seven shutouts. As a junior, she led Brown to the ECAC Championship and a Frozen Four appearance. By 2004, she was the No. 1 goalie in the country. Dreyer was at her best at the 2004 World Championships, where she earned all-tournament recognition and handed Canada its first-ever loss in tournament history with a 26-save performance in Team USA’s 3-1 win. She finished second in the tournament with a .929 save percentage. Dreyer tore her rotator cuff at the end of the 2004 while diving to make a save during a game against Canada. She underwent two surgeries and eight months of rehab to get back to the team.
Cole Magner
Arguably the greatest wide receiver from Alaska, Cole Magner of Palmer parlayed his time at Bowling Green State University into a professional career in the Arena Football League. He also signed with the Atlanta Falcons but never played in the NFL. Nevertheless, his impact was undeniable. Nicknamed ‘Sunshine’ because of his blonde, long locks, Magner was also known for burning defensive backs. He played for Bowling Green from 2001 to 2004 and scored 27 touchdowns – 20 receiving, five passing, two rushing. He made 215 receptions and amassed 2,828 total yards for his college career. In 2001, he scored the game-winning two-point conversion on a reserve in a 43-42 victory over Northwestern. In 2003, he finished No. 2 in the NCAA with 99 receptions. That same season he posted 13-168-1 totals against Ohio State. The 6-foot-2 Magner, of Colony High fame, also played basketball for Bowling Green. In the Arena Football League he hauled in 15 touchdowns in two seasons. In 2007, he caught a touchdown pass in the Arena Bowl with the Columbus Destroyers. In 2008, he tied a franchise record with 13 receptions with the Grand Rapid Rampage.
Nina Kemppel
Anchorage’s Nina Kemppel was a true trailblazer in every sense of the word, changing the landscape for American cross-country skiing in the 1990s and 2000s. Back in the day the United States racers rarely cracked the top 30 of World Cup races. But Kemppel changed that when she became the first woman in years to reach the top 20, and then improved on that by breaking into the top 15. At the 2002 Olympics, in her twilight, she skied to 15th place in the 30K classical race, which was the best Olympic finish in 20 years by an American woman. Her international ski career spanned 13 years and was highlighted by appearances at four Olympics and six World Championships between 1991 and 2002. Kemppel, of West High fame, made 119 World Cup starts and won a record 18 U.S. national championships. At the 1991 World Championships, she led the Team USA 4x5K relay to an eighth-place finish. At the 1994 Olympics, she was part of a relay team that finished 10th. In 2001, she turned in two individual top-25 finishes at the World Championships for the first and only time. An accomplished climber, Kemppel scaled Mount McKinley in 1995 with her father. She also won Mount Marathon in Seward nine times, including a record eight straight from 1996 to 2003.
Brett Denton
Anchorage’s Brett Denton had the game of his life on Nov. 18, 2006 when the Boise State University football team called on him to step up and step in for injured All-American running back Ian Johnson. Denton carried the ball 17 times, rushed for a career-high 125 yards and scored the game’s first two touchdowns in a 49-10 win over Utah State that moved Boise State to 11-0 on the season. The 5-foot-9, 191-pound Alaskan started the game and scored on runs of 3 and 27 yards, giving him four touchdowns on the season. Boise State went on to finish 13-0, capped by a stunning 43-42 OT upset win over No. 7 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Denton, of Dimond High fame, finished second on Boise State with 348 rushing yards. He also made seven receptions for 76 yards. He played 27 games over his four-year career, producing 492 total yards and five TDs. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Denton was part of a Boise State program that won 46 games and four straight WAC titles from 2003 to 2006.
Lara Campbell
Even though Anchorage’s Lara Campbell left the University of Denver women’s soccer program almost a decade ago, she still ranks among the greatest goalkeepers in school history. She holds the all-time record for wins (64) and appearances (84) while ranking third in shutouts (30) and goals against average (0.80). Campbell, of South High fame, was a four-year starter for NCAA D1 Pioneers from 2009 to 2012. The 5-foot-8 Alaskan ended her career with a 62-14-6 record and helped Denver earn a trip to the Sweet 16 of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. In that tournament, she keyed a 3-2 win over No. 9 Maryland in the round of 32. Nearly half of Campbell’s wins came by shutout. Her best season came as a sophomore in 2010 when she posted career highs in wins (19), shutouts (9) and goals against average (0.69).
Scott Gomez
Nothing seemed to faze Anchorage’s Scott Gomez on the ice. Not even the Stanley Cup playoffs. As a rookie, he scored a goal in his first NHL playoff game and earned the primary assist in his second Finals game. By the end, Gomez appeared in the playoffs in 11 of his 16 seasons and grabbed two Stanley Cups, made three Finals appearances and compiled 29 goals and 72 assists for 101 points in 149 playoff games. He played for seven NHL teams but enjoyed his greatest postseason success with the New Jersey Devils, winning the Stanley Cup in 2000 and 2003 and making another Finals appearance in 2001. In the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, he produced 2-3-5 scoring totals as the Devils beat the Anaheim Ducks in seven games. Gomez, of East High fame, bagged four game-winning goals in the playoffs, including an OT beauty to win Game 4 of a first-round series in 2007. Gomez was the first Alaska-born player to reach the NHL in 1999 and he retired in 2016 as the state’s all-time leader in games (1,079), goals (181), assists (575) and points (756).
Kris Thorsness
Anchorage’s Kris Thorsness had never rowed a boat before she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1979. And when she expressed interest to compete for the college’s women’s team, the so-called experts scoffed. She was considered too short, too thin, too small. It didn’t matter. Thorsness never paid attention to the doubters and went on to become an Alaska trailblazer, winning a national championship with Wisconsin in 1979 and then winning the state’s first Olympic gold medal in 1984. Thorsness, of West High fame, also competed at the 1988 Olympics and won three silver medals at the world championships with Team USA in 1982, 1983 and 1987. In some ways, the 5-foot-9, 150-pounder put Alaska on the map in the world of sports as she proved Alaskans belonged on the world stage. Her success inspired the creation of the Anchorage Rowing Association. In 2007, Thorsness was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class. In 2008, she was the co-recipient of USRowing’s Ernestine Bayer Woman of the Year. In 2018, she was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame.
Cliff Anderson
Kodiak’s Cliff Anderson carried a big bat in 1997 with the Single-A San Bernardino Stampede, clubbing 21 home runs and a state record 40 doubles in 132 games. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound left-handed hitter batted .273 and added 79 RBIs, 77 runs and five triples. His 125 hits are tied for the most for an Alaskan in a professional season. Anderson, of Kodiak High fame, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 39th round of the 1992 MLB Amateur Draft from Chapman University in California. He played seven seasons of pro ball, twice advancing as far as Triple-A in 1996 and 1998. He’s one of only eight Alaskans to play Triple-A or better. Anderson is one of Alaska’s greatest hitters of all-time, trailing only Jamar Hill in several offensive categories, including games (635), hits (546), runs (287), home runs (54) and RBIs (293). In 1996, he played for Single-A San Bernardino, Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Albuquerque. He hit a respectable .253 in 112 career games at the Triple-A level. Defensively, Anderson played multiple positions at the pro level, ranging from third base to second base to shortstop to the outfield.
Janay DeLoach
The greatest track and field athlete in Alaska history, Janay DeLoach of Fairbanks is one of the most successful long jumpers on the planet with four U.S. championships, a Worlds silver medal and an Olympic bronze medal from the 2012 Games in London, England. A broken left ankle in 2013 forced her to abandon her traditional takeoff and switch to using her right leg. She still qualified for the World Championships and became the first woman to jump 6.95 meters off either leg. In 2016, she made another trip to the Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. DeLoach was also a world-class hurdler and often times competed in both the 60-meter hurdles and long jump at the same event. It was called the ‘DeLoach Double.’ At the prestigious Millrose Games, the world’s longest-running indoor track and field meet, she won the long jump in 2013 and the hurdles in 2014 and 2016. In 2014, DeLoach qualified for Worlds in the hurdles after a second-place finish at the US Championships. That year she also won hurdles races at the Millrose Games and Boston Grand Prix. At Colorado State University, she racked up five school records and was a 4-time NCAA All-American. DeLoach, of Eielson High fame, was a 7-time state champion in high school and still holds the Alaska state record in the long jump at 19-5.
Don Clary
Alaska’s first Olympic runner, Don Clary of Anchorage represented Team USA many times during his career before stepping onto track and field’s biggest stage in 1984. As a high school senior in 1975, he was part of the U.S. junior team that won the title at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Rabat, Morocco. Clary placed fifth individually. In 1980 and 1982, he competed at the International Cross Country Championships. In 1983, he finished fifth in the 5K at the Pan American Games. In 1985, Clary won a silver medal at the indoor world championships in the 3,000 meters in Paris, France. And then was 1984, when he became Alaska’s first Olympic runner by racing at the Summer Games in Los Angeles, California. Clary posted the fourth-fastest qualifying time among the 54 runners in the first round of the 5,000 meters to advance to the Olympic semifinals. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1976, 1980, 1984 and 1988 and his third-place 5,000 finish in 1984 made him an Olympian. In college, Clary was a four-time NCAA All-American at the University of Oregon and member of school’s 1977 cross country team that captured the national championship. He was also a Pac-10 champion. At East High, he won two state cross country titles and in 1975 set a state prep record in the two-mile run that has stood for 45 years.
Jessica Moore
Palmer’s Jessica Moore was a winner at every level of her basketball career and in 2009 almost became the first Alaskan to win championships at the high school, college and professional level. The Indiana Fever advanced to the WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury, losing 93-86 in a decisive Game 5 that was tied 80-80 late in the fourth quarter. That’s how close Moore was to winning a WNBA title. Moore, of Colony High fame, was a two-time state champion with the Knights in high school and then went on to win three NCAA championships with the University of Connecticut. The 6-foot-3 forward/center played nine years in the WNBA – the most among the five Alaskans to lace ‘em up in the premier women’s basketball league. Moore was a defensive stalwart; strong enough to guard bigger centers in the post and quick enough to defend smaller forwards on the wing. Defense was her calling card and the reason she stretched her pro career to almost a decade. She came off the bench for the Indiana in 2009 and averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 48 percent from the field. Moore ranks second among Alaskans in the WNBA with 644 points and 450 rebounds in 222 games. Her 22 playoff appearances is No. 1 in state history by a mile. She reached the Western Conference Finals in 2006 and 2008 with the Los Angeles Sparks, and the 2009 WNBA Finals with Indiana. She also reached the playoffs in 2010 and 2011 with the Connecticut Sun.
Jamar Hill
A combination of power and speed, Anchorage’s Jamar Hill was a dynamic dual threat on the baseball field who rose through the pro ranks to become one of just 12 Alaskans to reach the Double-A level. A two-time MLB draft pick of the New York Mets organization, Hill had a 10-year professional career during which he asserted him as the greatest hitter from Alaska, a state better known for producing pitchers. He is the state’s lone member of the 20-20 club, when in 2004 with the Single-A Capital City Bombers he hit .272 with 26 homers, 89 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 121 games. Hill, of Bartlett High fame, is the only Alaskan to reach the century mark in home runs, doubles and 100 stolen bases in his career that stretched from 2002 to 2011. A late-bloomer who was never all-conference in high school, Hill developed into a great player. He put in long hours of sweat and sacrifice. The late Dennis Mattingly of the Anchorage Bucs used to rave about Hill’s work ethic. In 2007, Hill batted .300 in 58 games with Double-A Binghamton. By 2008, he was playing independent ball, and in 2009 with the Victoria Seals he hit .292 with 19 bombs and 64 RBIs in 75 games. Hill finished his career with 891 hits, the most for an Alaskan; Kodiak’s Cliff Anderson ranks No. 2 with 546 hits from 1992 to 1998.
Kaarin Knudson
Anchorage’s Kaarin Knudson was a remarkable runner for the University of Oregon from 1994 to 1999 as she earned eight letters and competed eight times at the NCAA Championships. A two-time All-American in track and field, she was a seven-time NCAA qualifier for the Ducks and was a member of Oregon’s 1995 Pac-10 championship cross country team. In 1995, the Ducks won the West Region title and finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. In 1997, she was an All-American in the 800 meters. In 1999, she was part of a school record in the distance medley relay and earned All-American honors in the indoor mile. Knudson, of Dimond High fame, won the 1999 Jackson Award as Oregon’s most outstanding senior woman. She was also a candidate for the NCAA Woman of the Year. The two-time academic All-American and six-time Pac-10 all-academic honoree graduated from Oregon with a degree in journalism and fine arts in 1999, and then earned her master’s degree in architecture from the UO in 2007.
Anton Maxwell
Anchorage’s Anton Maxwell was simply sensational in 2005 as a sophomore with the Oregon State University baseball team. The left-handed pitcher posted an 11-1 record in 17 appearances as the No. 3 starter for the Pac-12 power that advanced to the College World Series. Maxwell, of East High fame, struck out 69 batters in 95.1 innings and finished with a 4.33 ERA. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound southpaw threw a 1-hit complete-game effort in an 8-1 win over Washington State. At the time, he was just the second Alaskan to throw a 9-inning complete game at the NCAA D1 level. He also carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Cal-Davis in another win. Maxwell’s 11 wins are the most for an Alaskan at the D1 level. He played for Oregon State from 2005 to 2007 and compiled a 17-5 record and 4.26 ERA in 46 career appearances. He racked up 114 strikeouts over 156.1 innings. In 2007, Maxwell went 3-1 in 19 appearances (mostly in relief) and had a sparkling 2.36 ERA in 26.2 innings of work. He was drafted by the MLB that year in the 31st round by the Texas Rangers and played two seasons in Single-A with Spokane and Clinton.
Kelly Cobb
Eagle River’s Kelly Cobb took the Duke University women’s soccer team by storm in 2011. The 5-foot-10 forward tied a school record with six game-winning goals and set three Duke freshman records in shots (91), goals (11) and points (31). In the national semifinals, Cobb assisted on the game-winning goal in the 51st minute to lead Duke to a 4-1 victory over Wake Forest. Duke lost 1-0 to top-ranked Stanford in the College Cup final. Cobb, of Chugiak High fame, was named Soccer America All-Freshman First Team and Second Team All-Southeast Region. She was also All-ACC Second Team and ACC All-Freshman Team. In 2013, as a junior, she was Duke’s second-leading scorer with 17 points and recorded a career-high six points with two goals and two assists in a 6-3 win against Pittsburgh. Cobb finished her career with 25 goals in 78 games and often played through pain. She had left ankle surgery following her freshman season and knee surgery after her sophomore season. Cobb played at Duke from 2011 to 2014 and ranks No. 11 in school history in goals (25), 10th in multi-goal games (3), 12th in game-winning goals (8) and sixth in shots (219)
Reggie Tongue
Reggie Tongue of Fairbanks led the NCAA and tied a Pac-10 Conference record with three interception return touchdowns in 1994 with Oregon State University. The 6-foot, 204-pound junior defensive back moved to free safety that season and hauled in a career-high five interceptions and was selected Second Team All-Pac-10. Oregon State finished 4-7 with Tongue playing a huge role in two wins. In a 44-31 victory over Wyoming he returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns, including a 36-yard pick-six in the final two minutes. In a 21-3 upset win over No. 24 Washington State he had a 47-yard interception return for a score. Tongue, of Lathrop High fame, finished his Oregon State career with nine interceptions and three interceptions returned for touchdowns. He was named First-Team All-Pac-10 in 1995 and still ranks No. 2 in school history with 362 career tackles. Tongue’s knack for finding the end zone continued during his 10 seasons in the NFL as he scored five touchdowns on four interception returns and one fumble return. One of those TDs came on a pick-six against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2004 playoffs when he was with the New York Jets. From 1996 to 2005, Tongue grabbed 17 career interceptions in the NFL (15 regular season, 2 postseason). He ranks No. 1 in interceptions among Alaskans to play in the league and his 145 career games is No. 3 among Alaskans.
Bev Krupa
Bev Krupa of Fairbanks hasn’t played volleyball for Purdue University since 1998, yet she still holds the school record for most kills in a match with 38. Her legacy has stood the test of time. Krupa was an explosive 5-foot-11 outside hitter who left an indelible mark on the Big Ten program from 1995 to 1998. As a senior she earned All-Big Ten honors and delivered some of the greatest performances in Purdue history. A week after her record 38 kills against Indiana she came back against Michigan with 33 kills, the third most in school history. She also had a memorable 27-kill, 20-dig performance against Minnesota. Her epic 1998 season also saw her get invited to U.S. National Team tryouts. Krupa, of West Valley High fame, left Purdue with the fifth-highest kills per set average of 3.36. Her 1,265 career kills still rank in the top 15. In high school she excelled in soccer, basketball, track and field, softball and volleyball. In 1995, she was named Gatorade Alaska Girls Basketball Player of the Year and selected Alaska Female Prep Athlete of the Year.
Matt Way
Arguably the greatest college pitcher to come out of Alaska, Sitka’s Matt Way carved up Pac-10 hitters when he toed the rubber for Washington State University from 2006 to 2009. A two-time All-Pac-10 performer, the sublime southpaw is the only Alaskan to throw three complete games at the NCAA D1 level and rack up more than 100 strikeouts in a D1 season. In 2009, he set the Washington State record for single-season strikeouts (124) that still stands today. He went 8-4 with a 2.43 ERA in 107.1 innings and earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors. Way, of Sitka High fame, is one of six Alaskans to throw a complete-game effort at the D1 level, but the only one to do it three times. In 2008, he threw a 6-hitter against San Jose State in an 8-3 win and a 9-hitter against USC in an 8-5 win. In 2009, he tossed a 5-hitter against UCLA in a 7-2 win. His 13 strikeouts against Washington in 2009 still rank No. 2 in school history. His 239 career Ks is No. 5 all-time. Way was picked in the fifth round of the MLB draft in 2009 by the Philadelphia Phillies. Being taken 167th overall makes him the fourth-highest draft pick from Alaska. He played professionally from 2009 to 2014 and made it as far as Single-A. He ranks No. 3 all-time among Alaskans with 30 pro wins and is tied for No. 1 with three shutouts.
Emma Lewis
Anchorage tennis player Emma Lewis made her name in doubles at Bowdoin College, but her claim to fame came in singles. In 2012, she rallied for a thrilling three-set victory in the decisive match to lift Bowdoin to a 5-4 win over Middlebury in the NCAA D3 national tournament. Lewis, of South High fame, came back to beat Brittney Faber 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 at No. 4 singles. She lost to Faber at No. 1 doubles earlier in the day, but came through when it mattered most to help Bowdoin reach the elite eight for just the second time in school history. Lewis also came up clutch in 2014 when her win at No. 1 doubles helped propel Bowdoin to a 5-2 win over Middlebury to get the Polar Bears back to the elite eight. A hard-hitting ball machine with power and precision, Lewis became the first college player from Alaska to reach 100 career wins in singles and doubles. Her 2014 senior season was something special as she posted a 24-7 singles record; her 24 wins rank No. 2 on the school’s all-time list. Lewis finished her career with a 60-30 record in singles and 65-35 mark in doubles. Her 60 wins in singles rank No. 7 at Bowdoin.
Yohance Humphrey
Eagle River’s Yohance Humphrey put the University of Montana football team on his back in 2001 and carried the Grizzlies to paydirt. The rugged running back rushed for 142 yards on 30 carries and scored the game’s only touchdown as Montana beat Furman 13-6 in the national championship game of the NCAA DI-AA tournament. Humphrey, of Chugiak High fame, capped Montana’s 99-yard scoring drive in the second quarter when he plowed into the end zone on a 2-yard run up the middle. He was the centerpiece on a 15-1 national championship team – a Hall of Fame player on a Hall of Fame squad. The 5-foot-10 Humphrey was a three-time All-American during his career from 1998 to 2001 and walked away as the greatest running back in Montana history. He is the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4892) and rushing touchdowns (54). Humphery set the single-game rushing record with 265 yards against Weber State in 2001 and tied the school record with four rushing touchdowns. He averaged 138 yards during the 2001 season to set another school record. Montana racked up a 45-10 record with Humphery and won four Big Sky championships.
Nicci Ward
Eagle River’s Nicci Ward had it all working for the Villanova University softball team on April 20, 2008. The senior right-handed pitcher threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Providence College in the Big East Conference. Ward, of Chugiak High fame, is believed to be the only Alaska softball player to toss a 7-inning no-hitter at the NCAA D1 level. She struck out eight of 25 batters, issued three walks and benefited from a two-out walkoff double to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the fifth inning, Ward was forced to record four outs after the first batter struck out and reached base on a passed ball. She escaped a two-on, two-out jam that inning with a strikeout. Ward finished her final season with a 10-9 record, seven complete games and 2.12 ERA in 28 appearances. She struck out 153 batters in 141.2 innings. She spent her first two years of college at Florida CC Jacksonville, where she was twice named first team all-conference. Ward was a three-time Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year in high school.
Nick Mystrom
The state of Alaska has never seen a football player quite like Anchorage’s Nick Mystrom. A Swiss-Army-Knife-type player at Colorado College, he turned his attention to kicking in 1995 when he signed with the Memphis Mad Dogs of the Canadian Football League. The Mad Dogs turned to an unknown rookie a few games into the season to replace injured or ineffective kickers. It was a daring move by Memphis, but Mystrom kicked to the curb any concerns about his ability to kick at the pro level. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder was named to the CFL All-Rookie Team after converting 37-of-47 field goals and all 18 PATs in 13 games. Memphis finished the season with a 9-9 record, including a 7-6 mark with Mystrom in uniform. Mystrom, of West High fame, was the first of the four Alaskans who have played in the CFL. He’s the state’s all-time leading scorer in the league with 137 points. He played at Colorado College from 1989 to 1993, earning snaps at multiple positions from kicker to wide receiver and quarterback. Mystrom remains the school’s all-time scoring leader for season (101) and career (263).
Lillian Bullock
Anchorage’s Lillian Bullock came out swinging with the North Carolina A&T State University softball team. She crushed 17 home runs and knocked in 56 RBIs in 60 games as a freshman in 2007 to earn first team all-league honors in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Bullock finished that season ranked No. 2 nationally in homers and top-10 in RBIs among freshmen at the NCAA D1 level. With a .330 career batting average and home-run pop, the 5-foot-8 second baseman is arguably the greatest D1 softball hitter to come out of Alaska. She held the state career home run record of 34 from 2010 to 2017 when Anchorage’s Pauline Tufi of Louisiana Tech broke it by one. Bullock, of Service High fame, also played one season of basketball for North Carolina A&T and is believed to be the only Alaskan to play both D1 softball and D1 basketball. She was Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year for basketball in high school, but in college her specialty was softball. Bullock finished her career at North Carolina A&T State University with 138 RBIs, 79 extra-base hits and a .612 slugging percentage in 198 career games.
Rocky Klever
Anchorage’s Rocky Klever seemed to make Alaska history every time he took the field in the NFL. He was the state’s first draft pick, the first to gain a yard and the first to score a touchdown. He was also the first to appear in a playoff game. Drafted in the ninth round in 1982 as a running back, Klever was switched to tight end and spent all five seasons with the New York Jets. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder started 25 of 65 games and caught 46 passes for 514 yards and three touchdowns. In 1984, he scored his first touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Ken O’Brien in the first quarter of a 30-20 loss to the New England Patriots. In 1985, he scored two TDs and had a career-best 183 receiving yards. In 1986, he started 11 of 16 games. Both seasons he made playoff appearances, playing a total of three games. In college, Klever played at the University of Montana and left as the all-time leading rusher with 2,228 yards, a record that stood for nearly 30 years until another Alaska standout Yohance Humphery broke the mark in 2000. At West High, he led the Eagles to a state title in 1975. He was named all-state at quarterback as a junior and senior.
Leisa Wissler
Wasilla’s Leisa Wissler was a big deal in the Big Ten from 1988 to 1991. The Ohio State University volleyball star was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 1991 and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1988. She was voted all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior. Her 1991 season was especially epic as Ohio State made the Final Four and Wissler was named AVCA All-American and the school’s Female Athlete of the Year. The Buckeyes finished 30-4 her final year and won 27 straight matches, marching all the way to the NCAA Tournament semifinals before losing to UCLA. Ohio State posted a 20-0 record in the Big Ten, winning 17 matches by three-game sweep. Wissler, of Wasilla High fame, still ranks top-10 in school history in six all-time categories despite playing 30 years ago. She went on to play professionally for the San Diego Spikers of the National Volleyball Association. In 2001, she was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.