Head of the class

PALMER — Allie Grazulis and Collin Murphy have something in common. Something more than the green and white they wore on their jerseys during their four years at Colony High School.

Both put a premium on academics when selecting their university of choice, even if that meant turning down the chance to compete at a very high level of college athletics.

Grazulis, an all-state basketball player, had the chance to play Division I college basketball at Utah Valley. Instead, she opted for the superior academic opportunities at Colorado School of Mines and will take the court for a Division II program.

Murphy, an all-state football standout, had invitations from a number of schools to hit the college gridiron. But like his classmate, Murphy’s primary focus is in the classroom, and will attend California Institute of Technology, where he will play basketball.

And before they were admitted to these schools renowned for their academic programs, Grazulis and Murphy not only hit the 4.0 benchmark that’s typically seen as an ultimate academic achievement — they cleared it.

Grazulis posted 4.4 and 4.7 grade point averages, respectively, during her final two semesters at Colony, and finished with a 4.046 cumulative average.

Murphy used an astounding 5.0 GPA during his senior year to record a cumulative 4.5 during his time at CHS.

Both managed to do all of that while starring in multiple sports.

In recognition of their accomplishments both in academics and athletics, Grazulis and Murphy have been named a 2008-09 Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Student-Athlete of the Year.

Grazulis admitted, when going into high school, she did not realize all she could accomplish.

She did have two primary goals.

“I did want to keep a 4.0 and I wanted to win state,” Grazulis said. “I did keep those two, so that worked out.”

In addition to maintaining that 4.0 GPA, Grazulis helped lead the girls basketball team to a 4A state title in 2008. Grazulis and the Knights followed that feat with a second consecutive Northern Lights Conference hoops title and a runner-up finish in the state tourney in 2009.

Grazulis, a 5-foot-11 wing, was a four-year starter in basketball, and earned All-NLC and All-State status as a senior. Also as a senior, Grazulis was a member of a Knights girls basketball squad that boasted a team cumulative GPA of 4.19, a mark that set an Alaska Schools Activities Association state tournament record.

Grazulis was enrolled in courses such as advanced placement calculus, AP physics and AP government as a senior, and sat in the same classes as many of her basketball teammates.

That contributed to her success, she said.

“A lot of us took the same classes. AP classes, honors classes,” said Grazulis, who will study engineering at Colorado School of Mines. “It did make things a lot easier. When you go on road trips and have your classmates as your teammates, you can help each other out.”

Grazulis was also active in student government and National Honor Society while at CHS. And in addition to basketball, she competed in volleyball, softball and track and field.

As a freshman and sophomore, Grazulis spent her spring in both softball and track and field. Prior to her junior year, Grazulis opted against participating in the spring sports to focus on basketball and volleyball.

Grazulis also stood out on the volleyball court. As a senior middle hitter, she helped lead the Knights to an NLC title and was named the conference’s player of the year.

While Grazulis’ heart will always be on the court, Murphy said his favorite sport changed with the season.

“My favorite tends to switch,” Murphy said. “It was whatever I was playing at the time. When each new season comes around, I’m excited and throw myself into that sport.”

Murphy started each school year on the football field. From there he’d move inside to the basketball court. And finally, in the spring, he’d be back on the football field as a member of the Colony boys soccer squad. At every stop along the way, Murphy found his share of success.

In football, Murphy was named first-team all-state at defensive back and second-team all-state at quarterback after leading the Knights into the playoffs.

In basketball, as Colony’s tough, defensive-minded guard, Murphy helped lead the Knights to the state tournament.

And in soccer, Murphy was named first-team All-NLC after helping lead the Knights to a conference crown.

But as much as Murphy stood out on the field and the court, he always knew the importance of his education.

“I believed it was my best way to get to college, and then I wouldn’t have to pay as much once I got there,” Murphy said.

Murphy excelled academically throughout high school, but prior to his senior year he set on out his largest academic endeavor.

He wanted the 5.0.

To hit that mark, Murphy would need the highest letter grades in AP government, AP literature, AP chemistry, AP physics and AP calculus 2, a course he took at Mat-Su Community College.

“The week before finals I was really stressing,” Murphy said. “I was pretty proud once I’d done it; very happy with myself.”

Murphy said he plans to study engineering and pursue a related field at Cal Tech. He had been accepted to schools such as Stanford, but the scholarship opportunities Cal Tech presented were, “head and shoulders above the rest,” Murphy said.

He’ll also have the chance to take the court for the school’s Division III basketball team this winter, and will play either the guard or small forward position.

“I would have preferred to play football, but the schools that were interested in me for football weren’t quite up there academically,” Murphy said. “I didn’t think it was a good trade off.”

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