Former Mat-Su athletes honored

March 29, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ/Frontiersman sports editor

A group of former prep basketball players from the Valley was recently named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-academic squad.

Kelly Quinn, Brittney Kroon and Marsha Schirack were named to the girls' squad, while Adam Fitt-Chappell earned a spot on the boys' roster.

In order to qualify for the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must carry a 3.20 grade-point average, be a letter winner for the current playing season, and be in at least their second year of competition at their institution.

Quinn, a Central Washington University sophomore with a 3.83 cumulative grade point average, earned a spot in her first year of eligibility. The former Colony High School standout was named first-team all-state as a senior and first-team all-region after her final two seasons at CHS. Quinn averaged 15 minutes in 26 games played this season and ranked among team leaders with 46 assists.

Schirack, a former Wasilla standout, was also named to the team in her first season of eligibility. A communications major, Schirack helped the UAF women's team propel its cumulative team grade point average to 3.16.

"Academics is the first requirement in our program," UAF head coach Lynne Andrew said in a press release issued by the Nanook sports information department. "Everyone is here to get an education and also to play basketball."

Schirack started 19 of 26 games for the Nanooks, averaging seven points and nearly five rebounds per contest.

Kroon is on the all-academic squad for the second consecutive season. The former Region III MVP holds a 3.70 G.P.A. as a history major. Kroon helped her Seattle Pacific squad advance to the Division II national championship game. Kroon scored a team-high 14 points in a 70-53 loss to Washburn in the title game.

Fitt-Chappell was named to the all-academic squad for the second straight season. Off the court, the business management major holds a 3.61 grade point average. On the court, Fitt-Chappell led the Seawolves in three-point shooting (40 percent), ranked second in assists (2.5 per game) and minutes (29.1 per game), third in rebounding (4.0 per game) and fourth in scoring (10.8 per game).