Frontiersman, Sea Hawkers set to recognize local players, coaches during annual student-athlete of the year banquet Sunday; Paralympian Andrew Kurka is the guest speaker

Local players and coaches from across the borough will be recognized during the annual Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/Mat-Su Sea Hawkers Student-Athlete of the Year banquet Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Evangelo’s in Wasilla.

Tickets for the event are currently on sale, and can be purchased at frontiersman.com/events. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Wasilla girls basketball head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax, who retired following the 2025-26 season, has been named the Frontiersman/Sea Hawkers Girls Coach of the Year. Wasilla hockey head coach Jake Dargis is the boys coach of the year.

Local medal-winning Paralympian Andrew Kurka is the guest speaker during the event. Earlier this year, Kurka — a longtime international standout in mono-skiing — capped his illustrious career with a bronze medal at the 2026 Paralympic Games in Milan, Italy.

The finalists for the 2026 Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman/Mat-Su Sea Hawkers Student-Athlete of the Year Award are: Colony seniors Addison Stewart and Gabe Black, Houston seniors Madelyn Seime and Elias Johnson, Mat-Su Career Tech seniors Lilly Diltz and Chase Ringler, Mat-Su Central senior Lizzie McQuillin, Palmer seniors Alder Deal and Nolan Garner, Redington seniors Sonia Gericke and Jake Murdock, Susitna Valley seniors Lily Esmailka and Austin Barnard, and Wasilla seniors Claire Bredberg and Zorn Allen.

All of the finalists will be honored during an awards banquet..

The student-athletes of the year, one senior boy and one senior girl, will be announced during the banquet. Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of the Mat-Su Sea Hawkers.

The award was created to recognize students who excel in athletics and academics. Local high schools nominate students based on criteria set by the Frontiersman, including a minimum grade point average and the participation in extracurricular activities.

The Frontiersman is also recognizing Mike Devine of Mike Devine State Farm for his longtime commitment to supporting high school athletics in the Mat-Su.

A pair of student-athletes will also be given the MatSu Sports Award, sponsored by Bruce Eggleston of matsusports. The 2026 recipients are Susitna Valley's Earl Davidson and Mat-Su Career Tech student and Wasilla High athlete Ki Schachle.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.