Colony boys soccer team earns national ranking

PALMER — After spending a few minutes surfing maxpreps.com, a popular high school sports online database, Colony High School boys soccer coach Jeremy Johnson stumbled upon a surprise: Johnson’s Knights are nationally ranked by a high school sports-focused online site.

Colony, which captured its second state title in school history with a 3-2 sudden-death overtime win over Dimond late last month, is included in the Boys Spring Soccer Fab 50, a list compiled by studentsports.com. The Knights are ranked No. 47 in the country, and No. 2 in the Northwest Region, which includes Alaska and Washington.

Johnson admitted he knew nothing about his team’s inclusion in the rankings until a Google search.

“I Googled high school spring rankings, something to that effect,” Johnson said. “This thing popped up. I thought, heck, check it out, and whoa, we are there.”

Johnson said he was excited about the recognition.

“I think it’s awesome. I don’t know how often Alaska teams get recognized,” Johnson said.

Johnson recently capped his 20th year as head coach of the Colony program. He said the only thing similar that immediately comes to mind dates back to 1995, when Palmer was ranked 25th nationally by a sports publication.

As it turns out, the Knights are one of two Alaska teams ranked by Student Sports this year. South Anchorage is ranked 45th in the final Spring Girls Soccer Fab 50.

According to the website, studentsports.com, the Fab 50 was created by the site’s soccer editor, Sheldon Shealer, in 1999.

Johnson said in the Internet age, and as more Alaska players have opportunity to play college soccer, the sport is becoming more recognized in the state.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.