A look back at a few headlines that graced the pages of the Frontiersman sports section in the last year

It is time to recollect.

Before most steam right into the new year, some take time to look back on the year that just passed.

We at the Frontiersman are no different.

The last 12 months, have offered highlights a plenty.

Here is a brief look back at a few of the finer moments of 2002 in Valley sports.

Football

In an amazing feat, all four of the local prep football squads not only advanced to the playoffs but earned at least a share of the conference title. Houston took home the Greatland Conference crown and locked up a spot in the playoffs for only the second time in school history.

Colony, Palmer and Wasilla each shared a piece of the Northern Railbelt title, finishing 6-1 in conference play.

The Moose advanced the farthest in the state playoffs, with a win over Wasilla, but were defeated by the eventual state champion Bartlett Golden Bears in the state semifinals.

The Knights fell to the Lathrop Malemutes in the opening round.

Colony mentor Tom Lincoln was named the Northern Railbelt's coach of the year following the season.

Peter Clemons and Taylor Richey led a group of Houston Hawks on the All-Greatland squad. Clemons was named the conference's first team quarterback, while Richey garnered first team honors and three different positions.

Ali Larijani, Junior Aumavae, Abe Salmon, Sam Widmer, Jeremy Walker, Auggie Manelick and Rhett Magner each represented the Valley on the 4A All-State teams.

Colony's Jamie Mayo was named the state's assistant coach of the year.

Volleyball

The Palmer Moose suffered only one loss during the regular season en route to the Region III Northern Division crown. Palmer finished second in the Region III tournament and third in the state championships.

Moose middle hitter Emily Sakis was named the Northern Division's player of the year.

Former Wasilla standout Alayna Morgan earned numerous honors during her freshman season with Simpson College. Morgan was named an All-American and led her team to a third place finish in the NCCAA national tournament.

Basketball

Former Colony standout Jessica Moore helped lead her Connecticut team to the 2002 NCAA Division I women's national championship.

The Wasilla girls won the Region III title and finished second in the state tournament.

Senior Brittney Kroon led a trio of Warriors on the All-State squads. Kroon was named to the first team while Tonya James was named to the second team and Chandice Cronk was named third team All-State.

The Colony girls placed second in the Region III tourney.

The Wasilla boys also won a Region III title and finished fifth the state tournament.

Adam Fitt-Chappell and Ray Schafer each were named first team All-State.

Kelly Quinn represented the Colony girls on the All-State squad, while Zac Forsythe was named All-State for Palmer.

Schafer signed on the dotted line to join the Oregon Ducks mens basketball program for the 2003-04 season.

Forsythe helped his current squad, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, make history. Forsythe and the Nanooks won the 2002 BP Top of the World Classic, marking the first time that a Division II school has won an eight-team Division I basketball tournament.

Jason Marvel took the helm of the Wasilla boys' basketball program, replacing legendary head coach Chuck Martin.

Hockey

The Houston Hawks won the 3A state championship for the second time in as many seasons. Houston also won their second straight Greatland Conference title.

Houston junior Jake Williams was named the 3A state player of the year.

Colony won the Region III pucks title.

Former Palmer standout Kerry Weiland was named an All-American after a stellar junior season with the Wisconsin Badgers. Weiland was also named to the USA select squad that participated in the 4 Nations Tournament in November.

Cross-country sking

Tazlina Mannix won the Region III girls' individual title. The Colony boys finished eighth in the state championships.

Cross-country running

Palmer's Aaron Dickson won every race he participated in during the 2002 season. Dickson capped off his senior season with his first region and state title.

Dickson's brother, Drew, finished second to Aaron in every race up until the state final, where he finished fifth.

Houston's Linnea Pudwill won the small school girls' state title. Su Valley's Tazlina Mannix finished second.

Colony's Dominique Colberg won the girls' region title and finished second in the state championships. Colberg, a senior, also signed a National Letter of Intent to run for the University of Montana next season.

Mushing

Martin Buser won the annual Iditarod and became the first musher to break nine days in the history of the race.

Mitch Seavey won the Klondike 300.

Wrestling

The Warriors placed four wrestlers in the state finals en route to a third place finish in the state championship team standings.

Jed Wade won the state title in the 189-pound class for Wasilla.

Andy Anderson won Palmer's lone individual championship, taking home the gold medal in the 112-pound class.

Wasilla also won the region crown.

Wade was named a National High School All-American after placing third in the Reno Tournament of Champions in December.

Former Wasilla standout Jesse Brock won the 133-pound class at the Pac 10 Championships. Brock now wrestles for Boise State.

Fellow Bronco and former Palmer state champion Tony D'Amico placed third in the Pac 10 Championships.

Track

The Palmer boys and the Colony girls placed second in the region championships.

Colony's Ryan Collins won three state titles, finishing first in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter.

The Palmer boys' won the 4x800 state title.

Soccer

Former Colony standout Eric Lund led his George Washington squad to the Atlantic 10 title and a spot in the NCAA National Championship tournament. The goalkeeper was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team.

Baseball

The Mat-Su Miners finished 20-29 on the 2002 season.

Former Miner Blake Gill was named the MVP of the NBC tournament after joining the Alaska Goldpanners and helping them win the 2002 NBC title.

The Miners named Pete Christopher as the team's first general manager in two years.