Alaska delegation tags Valley athletes

PALMER — A pair of Palmer High wrestlers and a former Moose grappler are among more than a dozen Valley students who have recently earned nominations to attend military service academies in the upcoming year.

Palmer seniors Luke Heun and Coleman Smith, and Palmer graduate and former wrestler Derick Hanna received their nominations to attend the elite U.S. military academies.

Heun and Hanna are trying to get into the U.S. Army Academy at West Point. Smith is working toward acceptance into the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. All three are highly motivated athletes, leaders and students.

Hanna is currently studying at West Point Preparatory School in hopes that he will re-submit his application and be accepted into West Point. Hanna graduated from Palmer High in 2012. Hanna earned three varsity letters in soccer, one in football, served as the vice president of Palmer’s Letterman Club and also wrestled at Palmer High.

“I just tried to participate in as many things as I could,” Hanna said recently. “West Point looks at well-rounded individuals who are taking advanced courses and who have demonstrated the potential to become army officers.”

Hanna has dreamed of going to West Point since the age of 9. Many of Hanna’s family members were U.S. Marines, and he worked all through high school to prepare himself. After receiving the nomination from Sen. Mark Begich last year, Hanna is adding to his résumé in hopes of being accepted.

“It is my duty to carry on my family’s tradition. I was pretty young when 9/11 happened, but those images are burned into my mind. I want to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again,” Hanna said.

Smith is a senior and one of two nominees currently on the Palmer Moose wrestling squad. Smith has always had an affinity for planes and flight. He is working toward his private pilot’s license. Like his peers, a rich history of military tradition within his family was instrumental in his decision to serve in the military.

For the last six years, Smith has been a leader on the Civil Air Patrol in the Minutemen squadron. Civil Air Patrol is a program similar to ROTC that teaches military standards and practices to youth.

“There is a lot of honor and respect in serving one’s country,” Smith said.

Smith is a student at Career and Technical High School, and has been studying engineering. Along with his normal classes, Smith went above and beyond his curriculum for an extra class every semester — math. Smith has taken it upon himself to learn mathematics, and now hopes to be accepted into the Air Force Academy. Smith’s ultimate goal is to become a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. But currently he can be seen on the mats for Palmer High.

“I do wrestling and the biggest reason is because it’s a sport where you can’t blame anyone else for doing bad,” said Smith.

Smith hopes his leadership skills and work ethic will take him to Colorado Springs.

Heun follows a family tradition of West Pointers. Heun’s brother Zach Mierva started at West Point in 2005. Heun says even before that he knew not only that he wanted it, but he could accomplish his dream of a future starting at West Point.

“I knew in elementary school that’s what I wanted. I want a chance to use my leadership skills and work hard to lead men for my country,” said Heun.

Heun is an athletic standout at Palmer High. He was named first team all-state at defensive back for the Railbelt Conference champion Moose. Heun is one of the top ranked wrestlers in the state at 160 pounds, and in the spring can be caught collecting dirty jerseys, cuts, bumps and bruises flying around the diamond for the Palmer Moose baseball team.

“He’s just one of those irreplaceable kids that grows on you from day one with his work ethic, his smile, his attitude and his leadership. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow up and come through the system. He works hard every single day, he takes everything to heart, listens to every word. He’s one of the first guys there and the last guys to leave,” Palmer head coach Dale Ewart said. “Expect a lot of great things to come, you’re going to hear his name for a long time.”

A total of 15 Valley students received nominations from either Sen. Lisa Murkowski or Rep. Don Young. Four hope to head to the U.S. Air Force Academy, five would like to attend West Point and six have hopes of attending the U.S. Naval Academy. Each nominee is not guaranteed entry into an academy.

Congressional service

academy nominees

from Valley:

U.S. Air Force Academy — Ben Evans, Palmer; Andrew Liebing, Palmer; Kara Butler, Wasilla; Coleman Smith, Palmer.

U.S. Military Academy at West Point: Derick Hanna, Wasilla; Emily Hart, Palmer; Samantha Everett, Palmer; Luke Heun, Palmer; Barry Reid, Palmer.

U.S. Naval Academy — Teresa Kennedy, Wasilla; Ryan Tracy, Palmer; Jessica Croon, Wasilla; Christopher Campbell, Wasilla; Brandon Kavalok, Palmer; Willa Nagel, Palmer.