Big Lake native serves USS Abraham Lincoln

During Veterans Day last week, ESPN continued its annual tradition of saluting veterans and active members of the U.S. Armed Forces with special programming and initiatives, leading up to the Peraton Armed Forces Classic.

Dubbed the Armed Forces Classic: Carrier Edition, the annual basketball game, this year between Gonzaga and Michigan State, was held aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln while it was in port at Naval Air Station North Island, California, the first time the event has been held on an active U.S. Navy ship since 2011. The ESPN Armed Forces Classic is an annual series of college basketball games held near Veterans Day on military bases as a tribute to U.S. service members.

Local flavor was added to the basketball game as Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Karli Wilkerson, who hails from Big Lake, Alaska helped provided commentary along with fellow Master Chief Logistics Specialist Keith Adams, from Houston, Texas.

ESPN and Abraham Lincoln closely coordinated to put together the event, beginning with ESPN’s first visit aboard following Lincoln’s return from deployment in August. The collaboration culminated with Sailors from engineering department assembling the basketball court, bleachers for spectators and lighting on the flight deck. The work completed allowed for 3,500 fans in attendance, in addition to space along vulture’s row and the observation decks on the island for Abraham Lincoln Sailors to watch the game.

The 2022 game between Gonzaga and Michigan State on the USS Abraham Lincoln was the first Armed Forces Classic event since 2019. For those interested, the Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Michigan State Spartans 64-63.