AKtive Alaska Sports Hall of Fame /Healthy Futures Newsletter VOL. 04 NO. 02 TELLING OUR STORIES Spring 2019 When the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Swenson joked “you go first” and they founders were considering what was to be laughed. They even shared a side-hug. inducted and how to go about it, the notion When “Elliot Sampson’s Upset Victory in of honoring “moments” was floated. So 1981” was inducted for his improbable What’s were a lot of other things, like whether or high school cross not we should have country running a category for dogs. championship, the Inside: Now as we Sampson family approach our 13th made the occasion Telling Our Stories.................1 annual induction a reunion (pictured ceremony, neither left). Elliott’s life About Us...............................2 Balto nor any had spiraled until other canine has he unfortunately Event Round-Up....................2 been enshrined. passed away. His But celebrating family members Trending On The Blog ...........2 moments, an idea talked about how that started as an they had forgotten afterthought, has grown into a wonderful how brightly his star had shined and Healthy Heroes Speak...........3 tradition. remembering brought tears of joy and pride. Healthy Futures Updates.......3 Sport is woven through the fabric of our The celebration is different each time. Each diverse history from of them is special. This the centuries-old year we will unveil the Alaskans shine at 123rd Boston Alaska Native Games, “Kodiak Boys Basketball to polar and alpine State Championship in Marathon .............................4 exploration, to winter 2001” portrait in honor of sports, to adventure a basketball story chock Langdon named G League’s sports, to mainstream full of plotlines and sports. To induct a personalities Hollywood top exec................................4 moment into the couldn’t even imagine. Alaska Sports Hall of The players and coaching 100 Miles in May...................5 Fame is to celebrate staff are spread far and the very best stories wide nowadays, but Featured Teacher...................5 from a land rich with they’ve decided – along with half of Kodiak dramatic backdrops, colorful characters and it seems – to gather at the Anchorage From the PLAAY Book...........5 indomitable human spirit. Museum Thursday night for the occasion. As a founder, seeing the tears, laughter There will no doubt be laughter and tears. Supporters............................6 and other emotions evoked from these Congratulations to the Kodiak Boys celebrated moments is rewarding to Basketball Team; we hope more people witness. will share your amazing story. And When Dick Mackey and Rick Swenson were congratulations to all Class of 2019 called to the stage for the unveiling of the honorees! “Iditarod Photo Finish in 1978” portrait they shook hands (pictured above). This was a big deal if you knew about the frosty relationship that lingered for decades between the two racing icons following Harlow Robinson that finish. And when they took the stage, Executive Director About Us HEALTHY FUTURES: EVENT ROUND-UP Alaska Sports Hall of Fame www.alaskasportshall.org Healthy Futures In April, Healthy www.healthyfuturesak.org Futures partnered with Skiku to teach PLAAY kids in the Arctic www.plaay.org village of Anaktuvuk Pass to cross country ski (Photo by Matias 11901 Industry Way Saari) Unit A9 In February, Healthy Futures partnered with Anchorage, AK 99515 other organizations at Anchorage Midtown Park to provide students from Title 1 schools with an opportunity to experience Executive Director: new winter activities. (Photo by Harlow Harlow Robinson Robinson) Development Director: In March, Healthy Shelley Romer Futures traveled to Nuiqsut to help put on the Healthy Futures Challenge Spring for a Bright Coordinator: Alyse Loran Future camp for K-12 students Kids, adults and Healthy Heroes dressed up for the (Photo by Harlow Healthy Futures Event Coordinator: Superhero Showdown in Anchorage (Photo by Robinson) Matias Saari Matias Saari) Healthy Futures Administrative Assistant: Mark Brady PLAAY Director: Wally Wilson In March, Ski 4 Kids at Kincaid included activities such as skiing, biking, Alaska Sports Blog Editor: biathlon, ski skiing and an obstacle course. (Photos by Jen Aist) Van Williams Board of Directors: Jason Metrokin, Board Chair Trending On the Blog: The Biggest Stories of the Past 6 Months Matt Carle, Vice Chair Alaska Sports Hall of Fame blogger Van Williams is a former Anchorage Daily News Sports Editor Chris Myers, Secretary & and Alaska Press Club award winner. Williams has been with the blog since the beginning and has written more than 4,000 stories on over 1,000 Alaska athletes. Treasurer Nicolle Egan Shares/ 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 Chuck Homan Likes Nina Kemppel Gina Luckey 1,648 Bentz, Cogdell-Unrein headline Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 Eric Ohlson Rick Mystrom Bill Pearson 1,338 Pili closes in on Hebard, Jacobson for AK 4A girls scoring record 1,332 Charlie cans career-high 23 points, five 3s for Skagit Valley Twitter: Instagram @AKsportshall healthyfuturesak @AKactivekids alaska_sports_hall Facebook 1,231 Savo saves the day for Whatcom College with game-winning shot healthyfuturesak Alaska Sports Hall of Fame 1,060 Novelli plays big in fourth quarter, carries Spokane to NWAC win Check the full articles out at: http://alaskasportsall.org/alaska-sports-blog/ 2 HEALTHY HEROES SPEAK: SUCCESS By MATIAS SAARI David Registe, Long Jumper: Pan from the struggle I had to overcome. incredibly special to feel their support. American Games 2011 was my greatest moment; I took second in Amber Stull, Triathlete: Winning my Aliy Zirkle, Musher: Being able to the long jump and earned a silver first Gold Nugget Triathlon was really reach the Safety Checkpoint during the medal for the Caribbean country amazing! I crashed on my time trial bike 2014 Iditarod. The whiteout blizzard Dominica. The feeling of holding and among other injuries broke my arm. conditions and gale-force winds should up a flag, knowing that I won for a Five weeks later my doctor gave me the have made it physically impossible for country, and not just myself, was green light to race Gold Nugget with me to continue, but my team and I never truly unforgettable. my cast on, so I was hoping for top 10. gave up. The strength that we came (Winning) took my breath away, stunned up with to endure and succeed was Aelin Allegood (Peterson), Nordic my husband and proved that no matter amazing. Skier: When I was ten years old (in what the situation, one should always Unalakleet), I decided that I wanted think positive! Bobby Hill, Special Olympics to go to the Olympics. Do you know Powerlifter: Winning two gold medals that it took seventeen years to make David Norris, Nordic Skier: Winning in the International Special Olympics that dream come true? the American Birkie because of the 2003. I was representing the United support my teammates gave me at States and Alaska. Liam Ortega, Speedskater: I the finish line. It was so humbling to started speed skating at 17, then see my exhausted teammates go crazy Sean Rash, Professional Bowler: four years later I made the US with excitement when they heard I Winning with my family in the crowd. national team. That was awesome. won the race — even though many of There’s no better feeling than turning Though it was in my comeback after them were disappointed with their own around and seeing them smile and a traumatic brain injury in ‘08 and performances that day. I received some celebrate with you on your triumph. winning the 2011 America’s Cup of the biggest hugs of my entire life Series that I appreciated the success from my APU teammates that day; it was HEALTHY FUTURES ELEMENTARY CHALLENGE UPDATE By ALYSE LORAN Fort Yukon School third grader Shandace (pictured with Coordinator Linda Gies, right) and Juneau Raven Homeschool student Oliver (with Coordinator Holly Shier, left) were the lucky winners of the school grand prizes at their schools for the Fall Healthy Futures Challenge. One student who completed all three logs from each school received a sports bag. The new incentive system has proven popular, and students are motivated to stick with the Challenge through all three logs. The Healthy Futures Challenge continues to expand it’s reach across the state. Communities in all Public Health Regions are represented, and we pursue targeted outreach to rural communities. 3 4 ALASKANS SHINE AT 123RD BOSTON MARATHON BY MATIAS SAARI Marko Cheseto outdid himself at officially be recognized and prize money “Proud to have a new PR, especially the 123rd Boston Marathon on April will be awarded. The race has featured after an injury-filled winter, but also 15 and was rewarded a wheelchair division since 1975 truly heartbroken to have missed the with a world record. Keri but no divisions for other physical OTQ (Olympic Trials Qualifier) by just 28 McEntee made a similar impairments. seconds,” McEntee wrote on Facebook. improvement but came away heartbroken. Boston was just Cheseto’s second McEntee has until the end of 2019 to marathon and a significant accomplish this goal and plans to try Cheseto, previously a improvement from his 2:52 again later this year. national champion runner debut at the 2018 New York City at the University of Alaska Alaskans Anna Dalton and Aaron Marathon. He lost both legs below Fletcher have already qualified for the Anchorage who now the knee due to frostbite in 2011. lives in Orlando, Fla., set 2020 Trials. Fletcher, an Anchorage a world record for double Meanwhile, McEntee placed native now living in Salt Lake City, Utah, amputees in 2 hours, 42 among the top 50 women at had a taxing day on Monday, taking minutes and 24 seconds.