Colony junior named first-team all-state; CHS mentor is girls' coach of the year

PALMER — Throughout the 2007-08 season, Colony head coach Don Witzel

said, if Alex Coon has a good game, the Knights are going to have a

good game.

And that trend continued right up until the final contest of the season

when the junior post scored a team-high 17 points and was a perfect

6-of-6 from the free-throw line in the overtime period of Colony’s

49-45 win over Chugiak in the 4A state title game.

A week after leading the Knights to the 4A state title, Coon has

another chance to celebrate. The Colony junior has been named to the

first team of the Anchorage Daily News/Alaska Media 4A All-State Team.

“Alex really had a great run toward the end of the season, and

certainly a terrific state tournament,” said Witzel, who was named the

2008 4A girls coach of the year by the Alaska media. “She was solid all

season long.”

Coon was joined by Wasilla junior Jenna Johnson on the five-player

first-team, and one of four Knights listed on the all-state squads.

Two of Coon’s teammates — senior Hayley Hotchkiss and junior Allie

Grazulis — were named second-team all-state.

“I’m really happy for Hayley to get the

recognition,” Witzel said, noting the injury problems that plagued

Colony’s lone senior throughout her final season with the Knights.

“Allie, she does a lot of stuff for us. She’s been a utility player,

and because of that, didn’t get a chance to settle down and show what

she can do at any one position.”

Junior Kara Larson earned an honorable mention.

Johnson, the reigning Northern Lights Conference Player of the Year,

was one of four 4A athletes to receive state player of the year votes.

“Without her we would be no where close to where we are,” Wasilla head

coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said after Johnson helped lead the Warriors

to a third-place finish at the 4A state tourney.

Chugiak senior Sarah Watzke was named the state player of the year.

Johnson was joined on the list by Wasilla freshman Kelsey Cottle, who

was named as an honorable mention.

A pair of Palmer players were also namaed to the lists. Senior Ashley

Swetzof was named to the second team, while senior Mattie Cox is an

honorable mention.

Witzel was given the state’s coach of the year award for the second

time in his career.

“It’s a great honor, I appreciate it,” Witzel said upon hearing of the

honor.

Since being hired in 1994, Witzel has led the Knights to four state

titles and six appearances in the state championship game. He’s also

led the Knights to the state tourney in 14 of his 15 years as head

coach.

On the boys’ side, Colony senior Jaron Murphy was the lone Valley

athlete to receive first- or second-team honors, by being selected

second-team all-state.

Teammates John Palmer and Grant Niver, who along with Murphy led the

Knights to a third-place finish in the state tourney, were listed as

honorable mention.

Palmer senior T.J. Fullmer was also named as an honorable mention.