A look at local athletes at the next level

Football:

Cole Magner (Colony 2001) is in his junior season with the Division I Bowling Green State (Ohio) Falcons. Magner finished the season with 99 catches for 1138 yards, both school records, and 10 touchdowns … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) finished his sophomore season with Western Oregon University. WOU finished 5-6 after a 17-13 loss to Western Washington. Watts appeared in two games this season … Justin Buzby (Wasilla 2000) finished his junior season with the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Buzby finished the season with a team-high 46 solo tackles and third on the squad with 80 total tackles. Buzby was named All-NSIC. UMC finished the year 2-9 … John Fillman (Colony 2001) is a junior defensive lineman with UMC. Fillman recorded a team-high 13 total tackles against Bemidji State. Fillman finished the season 57 total tackles and four sacks … Jake DeBuck (Colony 2003) is a redshirt freshman tight end with UMC … James Winter (Colony 2001) finished his sophomore season with Minnesota State-Moorehead. The 5-8, 258-pounder has started all 11 games for the 3-8 Dragons. Winter is also a heavyweight on the Dragon wrestling team … Ali Larijani (Palmer 2003) finished his first season with Valley City State University (ND). Larijani, a linebacker, played in his first career game against the University of Mary (SD) Nov. 1 … Sam Widmer (Wasilla 2003) finished his first season with the University of Mary. UM lost to Carrol College in the second round of the NAIA playoffs, and finished 10-2 on the season. Widmer plays linebacker … Cory Creighton (Colony 2000) is a wide receiver and kick returner for the University of Montana-Western. He was named second team All-Frontier conference.

Volleyball:

Emily Sakis (Palmer 2003) completed her first season with Northeastern Junior College (CO). Sakis played both outside and middle hitter for the Colorado team. NJC finished with a 43-4 regular season record, first in Region IX. The squad was defeated twice by Western Wyoming Community College and placed third in the Region IX tournament last week. Sakis finished the regular season ranked third in the region with a .375 hitting percentage, and first among freshman. She has 383 kills and only 95 errors. Sakis also finished 15th in the region with 1.08 blocks per game and 11th in the region with 3.04 kills per game. Sakis was named All-Region IX and to the all-tournament team … Brianna Johnson (Palmer 2003) finished her first season as a member of the Wartburg College (IA) junior varsity team … Diana Gordon (Palmer 2000), formerly Diana West, is now a member of the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Gordon transferred from BYU-Hawaii. Gordon appeared in 24 games this season … Lisa Thomas (Palmer 2001) finished her junior season with Portland State University. Thomas collected 146 kills and 69 blocks for the 14-14 Vikings this season. The Vikings ended the season 14-14 … Leisa Rosen (Wasilla) is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan … Stefanie Farris (Wasilla 2002) ended her sophomore season with the Citadel with 239 kills, 222 digs and 22 service aces. The Citadel (6-24) lost its final match of the season 3-0 to Western Carolina. Farris collected nine kills and seven digs.

Basketball:

Chandice Cronk (Wasilla 2004) signed a National Letter of Intent to join Santa Clara next season … Ray Schafer (Wasilla 2003) enters his first season with the University of Oregon. The Ducks are 5-2 after a 80-78 win over Portland … Marsha Schirack (Wasilla 2003) is a freshman forward with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Schirack is averaging 5.9 ppg and 4.6 rpg this season. She scored eight points in a 69-58 loss to Montana State Billings on Dec. 20. UAF returns to action Jan. 2 against Western New Mexico … Zac Forsythe (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore with UAF. Forsythe is averaging 7.9 ppg this season. UAF defeateed Chico State 80-75 on Dec. 21 and host Columbia Union tonight … Amber Magner (Palmer 1992) is in her third season as head coach of California State University-Monterey Bay women's basketball squad … Leah Magner (Colony 1999) is an assistant coach for the CSUMB women's basketball squad … Jessica Moore (Colony 2001) is now a junior with the University of Connecticut. Moore is averaging 10.9 ppg and a team-high 6.3 rpg. Moore registered four points in an 87-34 win over St. Joe's on Dec. 21 … Sarah Bergeron (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore at Southwestern Oregon Community College … Amy Chapman (Palmer 2003), Toni Cox (Palmer 2003) and Melissa Mayse (Wasilla 2003) are freshman at Southwestern Oregon CC … Buddy Bailey (Wasilla 2003) is a freshman guard for California Baptist. Bailey scored four points in CBU's 81-73 win over Spring Harbor (MI) … Adam Fitt-Chappell (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore swingman with UAA. Fitt-Chappell is averaging 9.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg this season. He scored six points in a 76-73 win over Hawaii Pacific Dec. 18. UAA will face Lake Supperior State tonight in the Glacier Classic at UAF … C.J. Hooker (Palmer 2000) is a junior for the University of North Carolina. Hooker has appeared in five games and scored his first collegiate points in a 115-81 win over George Mason on Dec. 7 … Jeff Huston (Houston 2000) is a senior guard for Warner Pacific (WA). Houston scored 26 points and hit 6-8 treys in a loss to Division I Weber State Dec. 1 and scored seven in a win over 70-65 Cascade College Dec. 17. Huston is averaging 5.7 ppg and has a team-high 55 assists … Dustin Dubois (Palmer 2003) is a freshman at Lynchburg College (VA). His squad is 4-1 this season … Brittany Kroon (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore for Seattle Pacific University. Kroon is averaging 9.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg in 13 starts this season. Kroon scored 12 in a 79-78 win over Cal. Poly Pomona Dec. 20.

Cross-country running:

Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) has finished his senior season with UAA. Strabel placed 45th in the Division II West Regional last week … Aaron Dickson (Palmer 2003) and Drew Dickson (Palmer 2003) are freshmen with the Seawolves. Aaron Dickson finished 31st in the West Regional and Drew placed 37th … Sarah Hanson (Colony 2001) is a junior with UAA. Hanson was recently named to the All-Academic team by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference … Domonique Colberg (Colony 2003) is a freshman with the University of Montana. Colberg and the Grizzlies recently competed in the Mountain West Championships … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with UAF … Renae Moore (Su Valley 2002) is a sophomore with UAF … Pat Egelus (Palmer 2000) is a senior with Eastern Oregon University. EOU won the NAIA Region I championships. Egelus finished 20th in the race.

Swimming:

Dirk Craft (Palmer 2000) is in his junior season with the University of South Dakota. Craft won the 100-freestyle and was third in the 50-freestyle during a dual with South Dakota State on Dec. 12.

Hockey:

Kerry Weiland (Palmer 1999) helped Team USA grab the gold in the Four Nations Cup in November … Shane Saum (Palmer) is a senior with the Air Force Academy. Saum, a captain for the Falcons, has six goals and four assists in 16 games this season. Saum scored in a 5-2 win over Findley Dec. 6 … Nathan Schwartzbauer (Colony 2000) is a freshman for Bemidji State (MN). He has skated in seven games this season. His squad is 8-6-2 … Jake Luthi (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (NY), Luthi has appeared in four games … Jake Williams (Houston 2003) is in his first season with the Dubuque Thunderbird junior hockey squad. The Thunderbirds are at the top of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League at 16-4-3. Williams, a forward, has six goals and five assists as a part of the first line. … Jamie Bennett (Houston 2003) is also in his first year with Dubuque. Bennett, who plays on the blueline, has two goals, four assists and a team-high 64 penalty minutes … Seth Reda (Colony 2002) is a forward for the Wichita Falls Rustlers of the North American Hockey League. Wichita Falls (KS) plays in the same Junior A league as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Reda has seven goals and eight assists in 28 games this season. The Rustlers are 11-12-3 … Konstantinos Lambernakis (Colony) is a first-year defenseman for Wichita Falls. Lambernakis has one assist in four games this season.

Golf:

Travis Parker (Colony 2003) has made the South Mountain Community College men's golf squad. Parker will begin swinging the clubs for the Phoenix, Ariz.-based school in early 2004.

Soccer:

Tami Callison (Palmer 2001) finished her junior season with the University of Evansville (IN). Callison was named All-Missouri Valley Conference and finished tied for second on her team in scoring … Sianna Garrod (Colony 2003) finished her freshman season with Gonzaga University (WA). Garrod appeared in 10 games for the 11-8 Bulldogs … Jon Kaster (Palmer 2002) is in his first season as a midfielder for Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. … Lynda Bowers (Palmer 1994) finished her first year as the head coach of the University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville with a 10-7 record … Kristin Covalt (Palmer 2000) finished her senior season with USIE with a 3-5 record and 1.34 goals against average … Eric Lund (Colony) has finished his senior season with George Washington University (DC). GW fell to the Temple Owls 2-0 in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament … Thomas Kelly (Matanuska Christian School 2002) is a starting forward for Peninsula College (WA). Kelly scored in his team's 2-1 loss to Tacoma Community College.

Baseball:

Andy Walker (Wasilla 2001) will begin his sophomore season with the University of Minnesota-Morris in the spring. Walker is a catcher … Brian Weller (Palmer 2002) is a redshirt freshman catcher with Bemidji State University.

Softball:

Tiffany Scott (Colony 2003) is a freshman with Central Arizona College.

Wrestling:

Jesse Brock (Wasilla 1999) is a senior at Boise State (Idaho). Brock was the Pac 10 champion in the 133-pound class last season and will wrestle at 141 this year. Brock finished second in the college division of the Reno Tournament of Champions Dec. 22 i n the 141-pound class … Scott Jorgenson (Palmer) is a sophomore for Boise State. Jorgenson defeated Omar Gaiten (California Davis) 6-3 and David Silva (Wisconsin La Cross) 10-3 at the Reno tourney … Tony D'Amico (Palmer 1999) is a senior at Boise State … James Winter (Colony 2001) is a sophomore heavyweight for Minnesota State Moorehead … Dan Pickett (Colony 2001) is a sophomore for Minn. State Moorehead. Pickett is in the 149-pound class … Dan Graham (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Minn State Moorehead. Graham is at 135.

Skiing:

Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) is a senior on the UAA men's nordic team. He is looking to qualify for the NCAA championships for the third consecutive year. Strabel won the Besh Cup races at the Chugiak Ski Trails Dec. 21. He won both the 10-kilometer race and the freestyle sprint … Sarah Hanson (Colony 2001) is a junior on the UAA women's nordic team. UAA will compete in the Utah Invite Jan. 11-12 … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with the UAF women's nordic team. The Nanooks begin with the NorAm Invite, Jan. 11 in Fairbanks.

If you have a piece of notable news about a former Valley athlete competing in collegiate or professional athletics, let us know. Give us a ring, 352-2273, send us a fax, 352-2276, or drop us an e-mail, sports@frontiersman.com.