Athletics a rallying point for Redington students, area residents

KNIK — Though power company workers were still testing utilities in Redington Jr./Sr. High School on Monday, the new school’s sports teams are already ramping up for their inaugural seasons.

That means athletes are on the field, court and trails around the new school, building skills that coaches hope will one day come together to produce dedicated athletes who can proudly represent the Huskies.

“I love to win, but more importantly I love for kids to be able to have an opportunity to participate in something and stretch themselves and do something new, and I think we’re going to be able to provide that at Redington,” principal Tom Lytle said on Monday.

Lytle said he’s also looking forward to the “healthy cross-town rivalry” between Houston and Redington, as both schools will be in Alaska School Activities Association’s 3A division for most sports.

“It’ll be really good for both of us to be in the same division,” he said. “(Houston principal) Bill (Johnson) and I are excited.”

Lytle said he anticipates more playing time for individuals who might not otherwise have had the opportunity at a larger school.

“I think being small is going to be a boon to our kids,” he said.

Lytle said he hopes students will also use sports as a way to develop their individual identities and self esteem, as well as get “connected and established in the community.”

The same goes for parents and Knik area residents, he said.

“A huge need out here is a community center, a place where members of the community can come and share something that they all value,” said Lytle, who lives in the area. “As athletics here at Redington start to grow, I think it’ll give this community a great opportunity to rally around something.”

The principal said school facilities such as the small and large gymnasiums and recently installed turf will not be available for reservation until high school sports practice schedules are finalized. But come game time, the bleachers will be open for fans.

And Lytle is hoping for a lot of fans, especially in the form of booster clubs. Two district-wide trainings for parents interested in booster clubs, sponsored by Mat-Su Borough School District’s Business Services office, will be held at Wasilla High School today at 2 and 6 p.m.

“Sports are fun but sports can be expensive sometimes,” Lytle said. “Any time we can get parents who wanna jump in (with fundraising) is a huge blessing.”

It’s not just the money. Redington volleyball coach Andrea Thompson said her new school’s sports teams have more immediate and event-based needs.

“We’d love to have an actual activities fund so can have more stuff for our school, but … it’s a big deal to have good timers and score keepers,” Thompson said.

This school year will be Thompson’s eighth in the district, after spending six teaching at American Charter School and one at Houston Middle, where she was an assistant volleyball coach. She played club volleyball at Alaska Pacific University, and is looking forward to her first season as head coach with about 11 incoming freshman and sophomore girls at Redington, each with at least one year of experience. The team will compete at the junior varsity and potentially C-team level during its first season.

“Our goal is to build strong players now so that we have a strong varsity team next year,” Thompson said.

Redington wrestling coach Abe Salmon’s goals also are longer term.

“We’d like to be competing in the top three or four of our division (this year), but it’ll be tough ’cause we only have ninth and 10th graders,” Salmon said. “The long-term goal is to be up there competing with some of the small-school teams like Kotzebue for the team title.”

A Wasilla High graduate, football coach and seven-year wrestling coach, Salmon will officially trade in the Warriors’ red and white for the Huskies’ blue and. He said he’s sad to be leaving Wasilla after so many years, but excited to build another “really quality program” in the Valley with his assistant coaches, fellow Wasilla transplant Cory Crane and former Houston head coach Brad Drake.

“I want the wrestling team to be the pride of our school,” Salmon said. “That’s kind of my vision, for Redington to be known for wrestling.”

Wrestling also will be a primarily JV sport this season, though capable individuals may compete at the varsity level, Salmon said.

Only time will tell which activities will thrive at Redington. Larry Scott is coaching the JV football and basketball teams this year; Susan Skvorc, former Colony High School ski coach, is coaching cross-country running; Wendy Rodgers is coaching cheerleading; Danika Williams will coach hockey; and Anthony Brooke will coach soccer. Learn more about Redington Jr./Sr. High School online at matsuk12.us/rjs or on Facebook.

Contact Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.