MAT-SU — Geneva Ratcliff and Adam Friese both excelled at academics and athletics during their high school careers. For their excellence both on the field and in the classroom, Ratcliff, of Palmer High, and Friese, of Wasilla, have been named the Frontiersman’s Mat-Su Valley High School Student-Athletes of the Year.

In an effort to recognize student-athletes who excel in both academics and athletics, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman has created the Frontiersman Prep Student-Athlete of the Year award this week.

The winners are among nine nominees from the five major Valley high schools. Officials from each of the schools — Colony, Houston, Palmer, Wasilla and Susitna Valley — nominated both a male and female student-athlete, and an independent committee selected the winners.

To be eligible for nomination, the student-athlete must have been a senior varsity athlete during the 2007-08 school year, with a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average.

The following is the list of nominees:

Boys

Colony:

Jaron Murphy

Murphy was a three-sport athlete at Colony High School, with a 3.22 grade point average. In the fall of his senior year, Murphy was named first-team All-Railbelt Conference at both running back and defensive back; first-team all-state at defensive back; and second-team all-state at running back. Murphy also helped the Knights advance to the large-schools playoffs in football.

During the winter, Murphy enjoyed a stellar season on the hardwood, earned Northern Lights Conference Most Valuable Player honors in basketball. He helped the Knights win the region title and finish third in the 4A state tourney.

In the spring, Murphy qualified for three events in the 2008 state track and field championships, the 300-meter hurdles, 800-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay.

Houston:

James Steed

Steed competed in a pair of sports while maintaining a 3.81 grade point average.

An Eagle Scout, Steed was also Houston’s senior class president and attended a Business Professionals of America leadership conference during the school year.

In football, Steed was named second-team All-Greatland Conference at defensive end.

He was also captain of the Houston boys’ basketball squad.

Palmer:

Shannon Sawyer

Sawyer was a standout on the football field, and maintained a 3.83 grade point average.

En route to helping the Moose score a spot in the large-schools state title game in football, Sawyer was named first-team All-Railbelt and all-state at linebacker. He was also second-team All-Railbelt at fullback.

Off the field, Sawyer was a member of the National Honor Society; he was a board member for D.A.R.E. and the National Youth Initiative; and received the Spirit of the Youth Award. He also was an advocate and student representative in the state of Alaska’s fight against steroid use.

Sawyer has earned an academic scholarship to attend the University of Dayton, and will play football for the Flyers.

Susitna Valley:

Grant Hicks

Ranked fourth in Su Valley’s class of 2008, Hicks competed in three varsity sports while maintaining a 3.6 grade point average.

Hicks was the captain of the Su Valley cross country running, basketball, track and academic decathlon teams.

Hicks also was the winner of the Voice of Democracy Scholarship, was president of the Su Valley chapter of the National Honor Society, the Alaska Association of Student Government Region II Representative and a volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Following the 2007 fire that destroyed Susitna Valley High School, Hicks raised more than $90,000 for Su Valley athletics and activities.

Wasilla:

Adam Friese

The valedictorian of Wasilla’s class of 2008, Friese maintained a 4.0 grade point average while competing in hockey and soccer.

In hockey, Friese was a team captain and led his team in scoring. He was named first-team All-North Star Conference after leading his team to a conference title. The Friese-led Warriors also placed fourth at the state tourney.

In soccer, Friese was a captain and was named second-team All-NLC.

In addition to his work with the Warriors, Friese earned a spot on the Alaska Avalanche junior hockey team, and played 16 games with the Junior A squad.

Off the ice, Friese was a member of the National Honor Society and active in his church youth group.

Girls

Colony:

Hannah Curtis

Curtis maintained a 3.898 grade point average while establishing herself as one of the top volleyball players in the state. Curtis was the captain of the CHS volleyball squad, and garnered NLC Player of the Year honors in volleyball. She also helped lead the Colony spikers to runner-up finishes in both the NLC and 4A state tournaments.

Curtis, who also played in the Midnight Sun Volleyball Club, will continue her career at Division I Rutgers University.

Off the court, Curtis was active in school activities such as student government.

Houston:

Emily Hundley

Hundley was a three-sport standout at Houston High School, while maintaining a 3.56 grade point average.

Not only was Hundley a key member of the HHS girls’ basketball team, but she was also captain of the Houston boys’ hockey squad. Hundley, who was named All-Mid-Alaska Conference in basketball, also competed on the Houston cross country running squad.

Palmer:

Geneva Ratcliff

Ratcliff competed in four sports during her senior year and posted a 3.76 grade point average.

In the fall, Ratcliff earned second-team All-NLC honors in volleyball, and helped the Palmer spikers win the 2007 NLC title.

In the winter, Ratcliff was also second-team All-NLC in basketball, and helped the Moose girls’ squad earn a third-place finish in the conference tournament and clinch a berth in the state tourney.

In the spring, Ratcliff competed in a pair of sports. After PHS was forced to cancel the softball season, the standout softball player joined the boys’ baseball team. She also participated in track for the first time since her freshman year, and finished second in both the discus and shot put at the 4A state championships.

Ratcliff is now preparing for her career in the United States Navy, where she’ll study in the Navy nuclear weapons program.

Wasilla:

Shelby Fulton

Fulton maintained a 3.4 grade point average, while participating in three sports.

In the fall, Fulton competed on the Wasilla cross country running squad.

In the winter, Fulton — the captain of the girls’ basketball squad — led the Warriors to a second-place finish in the NLC championships and a third-place finish in the state tourney. She was also named first-team All-NLC and all-tournament following the state championships.

In the spring, Fulton qualified for the 4A state championship meet in the 400-meter relay.

Fulton will play basketball at Yakima Valley Community College next year.

Susitna Valley:

no nominee.

** Grade point average and information about extra-curricular activities courtesy of the nominating school.