Hometown Heroes

Williams and Bennett help lead Thunderbirds to title

By JEREMIAH BARTZ-Sports editor

A pair of Houston High School graduates have helped their junior hockey squad win a conference title. Jake Williams and Jamie Bennett, both 2003 graduates of Houston High, helped lead the Dubuque Thunderbirds to a 27-5-3 record and the Minnesota Junior Hockey League regular season title.

The Thunderbirds, known as one of the top teams in the nation at the junior B ranks, will now look to win the MJHL post season tourney. Dubuque earned a first-round bye in the tournament that begins this weekend.

Dubuque is also expected to contend in the junior B national championship. The squad's seeding in the national tourney will depend on the results of the league championship tournaments.

Williams and Bennett each played key roles this season for the Thunderbirds. Both were regulars on the team's special teams units, receiving a great amount of playing time as part of the penalty kill unit.

Williams skated on the top line for his squad and finished the regular season with eight goals and six assists.

Bennett has been one of the Thunderbirds top defensemen this season, establishing not only a physical presence with a team-high 105 penalty minutes, but a presence on the offensive end of the ice with six goals and seven assists.

Williams and Bennett were each named All-Greatland Conference after leading the Hawks to a first-place league finish in the regular season and a second-place finish in the 3A state tournament in 2003. Williams was the conference's player of the year in 2003.

Both players are expected to make the jump to the junior A level following this season.

Football:

Junior Aumavae (Palmer 2004) signed a letter of intent to join Western Washington next year. Aumavae will play defensive line for the Division II squad … Cole Magner (Colony 2001) finished his junior season with the Division I Bowling Green State (Ohio) Falcons. Magner finished the season with 99 catches for 1138 yards, both school records, and 10 touchdowns … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) finished his sophomore season with Western Oregon University. WOU finished 5-6 after a 17-13 loss to Western Washington. Watts appeared in two games this season … Justin Buzby (Wasilla 2000) finished his junior season with the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Buzby finished the season with a team-high 46 solo tackles and third on the squad with 80 total tackles. Buzby was named All-NSIC. UMC finished the year 2-9 … John Fillman (Colony 2001) finished his junior defensive lineman with UMC. Fillman recorded a team-high 13 total tackles against Bemidji State. Fillman finished the season 57 total tackles and four sacks … Jake DeBuck (Colony 2003) is a redshirt freshman tight end with UMC … James Winter (Colony 2001) finished his sophomore season with Minnesota State-Moorehead. The 5-8, 258-pounder has started all 11 games for the 3-8 Dragons. Winter is also a heavyweight on the Dragon wrestling team … Ali Larijani (Palmer 2003) finished his first season with Valley City State University (ND). Larijani, a linebacker, played in his first career game against the University of Mary (SD) Nov. 1 … Sam Widmer (Wasilla 2003) finished his first season with the University of Mary. UM lost to Carrol College in the second round of the NAIA playoffs, and finished 10-2 on the season. Widmer plays linebacker … Cory Creighton (Colony 2000) is a wide receiver and kick returner for the University of Montana-Western. He was named second team All-Frontier conference.

Volleyball:

Emily Sakis (Palmer 2003) completed her first season with Northeastern Junior College (CO). Sakis played both outside and middle hitter for the Colorado team. NJC finished with a 43-4 regular season record, first in Region IX. The squad was defeated twice by Western Wyoming Community College and placed third in the Region IX tournament last week. Sakis finished the regular season ranked third in the region with a .375 hitting percentage, and first among freshman. She has 383 kills and only 95 errors. Sakis also finished 15th in the region with 1.08 blocks per game and 11th in the region with 3.04 kills per game. Sakis was named All-Region IX and to the all-tournament team … Brianna Johnson (Palmer 2003) finished her first season as a member of the Wartburg College (IA) junior varsity team … Diana Gordon (Palmer 2000), formerly Diana West, is now a member of the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Gordon transferred from BYU-Hawaii. Gordon appeared in 24 games this season … Lisa Thomas (Palmer 2001) finished her junior season with Portland State University. Thomas collected 146 kills and 69 blocks for the 14-14 Vikings this season. The Vikings ended the season 14-14 … Leisa Rosen (Wasilla) is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan … Stefanie Farris (Wasilla 2002) ended her sophomore season with the Citadel with 239 kills, 222 digs and 22 service aces. The Citadel (6-24) lost its final match of the season 3-0 to Western Carolina. Farris collected nine kills and seven digs.

Basketball:

Chandice Cronk (Wasilla 2004) signed a National Letter of Intent to join Santa Clara next season … Ray Schafer (Wasilla 2003) is in his first season with the University of Oregon. The Ducks are 12-9 and 7-7 in the Pac-10 after a 86-75 loss to Arizona State on Feb. 21 … Marsha Schirack (Wasilla 2003) is a freshman forward with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Schirack is averaging 6.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg this season. Schirack is third on the squad in rebounding with 101 total boards. She scored five points and grabbed four rebounds in a 75-71 win over Western Washington on Feb. 21. UAF is 9-14 overall and 5-10 in GNAC play … Melissa McNaulty (Susitna Valley 2002) is a sophomore guard with UAF. She has appeared in 13 games this season … Zac Forsythe (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore with UAF. Forsythe is averaging 4.8 ppg this season. UAF has all but clinched a spot in the Division II West Regional. The Nanooks are 18-6 overall and 11-4 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Most importantly, the squad is ranked fifth in the latest West Region poll … Amber Magner (Palmer 1992) is in her third season as head coach of California State University-Monterey Bay women's basketball squad. CSUMB finished the regular season 10-19 overall and 6-7 in Cal. Pac Conference play. Magner's six seeded squad lost their conference tournament opener, falling to CSU-Hayword 73-60. … Leah Magner (Colony 1999) is an assistant coach for the CSUMB women's basketball squad … Jessica Moore (Colony 2001) is now a junior with the University of Connecticut. Moore is averaging 9.1 ppg and a team-high 7.1 rpg. Moore registered nine points and 10 rebounds in a 79-38 win over Providence on Feb. 25. The Huskies are now 23-2 overall and 13-1 in the Big East … Sarah Bergeron (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore at Southwestern Oregon Community College … Amy Chapman (Palmer 2003), Toni Cox (Palmer 2003) and Melissa Mayse (Wasilla 2003) are freshman at Southwestern Oregon CC … Ron (Buddy) Bailey (Wasilla 2003) is a freshman guard for California Baptist. Bailey scored eight points in CBU's 89-86 loss to Azusa Pacific on Feb. 24. CBU is 13-16 overall and 7-6 in GSAS play this season … Adam Fitt-Chappell (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore swingman with UAA. Fitt-Chappell is averaging 9.4 ppg and 3.3 rpg this season for the 18-8 Seawolves. He scored 17 points in a 74-47 win over Central Washington on Feb. 26 … C.J. Hooker (Palmer 2000) is a junior for the University of North Carolina. Hooker has appeared in eight games and scored his first collegiate points in a 115-81 win over George Mason on Dec. 7. UNC is 16-8 overall and 6-7 in the ACC … Jeff Huston (Houston 2000) is a senior guard for Warner Pacific (WA). Huston scored 11 points and dished out seven assists in a 78-72 loss to Northwest College on Feb. 21. Huston is averaging 5.5 points and a team-high 5.2 assists this season … Dustin Dubois (Palmer 2003) is a freshman at Lynchburg College (VA). His squad finished the season 9-18 … Brittany Kroon (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore for Seattle Pacific University. Kroon is averaging 8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game for the 25-0 Falcons. Kroon scored six points in a 72-62 win over St. Martins on Feb. 26.

Cross-country running:

Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) has finished his senior season with UAA. Strabel placed 45th in the Division II West Regional last week … Aaron Dickson (Palmer 2003) and Drew Dickson (Palmer 2003) are freshmen with the Seawolves. Aaron Dickson finished 31st in the West Regional and Drew placed 37th … Sarah Hanson (Colony 2001) is a junior with UAA. Hanson was recently named to the All-Academic team by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference … Domonique Colberg (Colony 2003) is a freshman with the University of Montana. Colberg and the Grizzlies recently competed in the Mountain West Championships … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with UAF … Renae Moore (Su Valley 2002) is a sophomore with UAF … Pat Egelus (Palmer 2000) is a senior with Eastern Oregon University. EOU won the NAIA Region I championships. Egelus finished 20th in the race.

Swimming:

Dirk Craft (Palmer 2000) is in his junior season with the University of South Dakota. Craft helped lead his team to a second-place finish in the NCC Swim and Dive Championships on Feb. 20-21. Craft was on the 400-meter relay team that not only qualified for nationals, but broke a school record.

Hockey:

Kerry Weiland (Palmer 1999) is now playing profesionally for the Edmonton Chimos in the National Women's Hockey League. Weiland will also represent the United States in the International Hockey Federation 2004 Women's World Championships, March 30- April 6 in Halifax, Nova Scotia … Shane Saum (Palmer) is a senior with the Air Force Academy. Saum, a captain for the Falcons, is second on his squad is scoring with 10 goals and nine assists. Saum scored a goal in The Falcons' 5-2 win over Holy Cross on Feb. 14. Air Force is 12-18-2 overall and 4-11-1 in the CHA … Nathan Schwartzbauer (Colony 2000) is a freshman for Bemidji State (MN). He has two assists in 18 games this season. His squad is 10-7-2 overall and 7-2-0 in the CHA. He recorded his first career assist in a 3-1 win over Air Force on Jan. 2 … Jake Luthi (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (NY), Luthi has appeared in five games … Jake Williams (Houston 2003) is in his first season with the Dubuque Thunderbird junior hockey squad. The Thunderbirds won the Minnesota Junior Hockey League with a 27-5-3 record and will play in the league championship tournament this weekend. Williams finished the regular season with eight goals and 6 assists … Jamie Bennett (Houston 2003) is also in his first year with Dubuque. Bennett, who plays on the blueline, has six goals, seven assists and a team-high 105 penalty minutes … Seth Reda (Colony 2002) is a forward for the Wichita Falls Rustlers of the North American Hockey League. Wichita Falls (KS) plays in the same Junior A league as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Reda has eight goals and 21 assists in 48 games this season. The Rustlers are 23-19-6 … Konstantinos Lambernakis (Colony) is a first-year defenseman for Wichita Falls. Lambernakis has two assist in 10 games this season … Dan Hacker (Wasilla) is a junior for the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Hacker has nine goals and seven assists for the 6-21-5 Mavericks. UNO plays UAF this weekend.

Golf:

Travis Parker (Colony 2003) is a freshman on the South Mountain Community College men's golf squad. The team will play in the Prima Invtitational on March 1-2.

Soccer:

Tami Callison (Palmer 2001) finished her junior season with the University of Evansville (IN). Callison was named All-Missouri Valley Conference and finished tied for second on her team in scoring … Sianna Garrod (Colony 2003) finished her freshman season with Gonzaga University (WA). Garrod appeared in 10 games for the 11-8 Bulldogs … Jon Kaster (Palmer 2002) is in his first season as a midfielder for Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. … Lynda Bowers (Palmer 1994) finished her first year as the head coach of the University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville with a 10-7 record … Kristin Covalt (Palmer 2000) finished her senior season with USIE with a 3-5 record and 1.34 goals against average … Eric Lund (Colony) has finished his senior season with George Washington University (DC). GW fell to the Temple Owls 2-0 in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament … Thomas Kelly (Matanuska Christian School 2002) is a starting forward for Peninsula College (WA).

Baseball:

Andy Walker (Wasilla 2001) is a junior catcher for the University of Minnesota- Morris. The squad will begin its season at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. on March 7 … Brian Weller (Palmer 2002) is a redshirt freshman catcher with Bemidji State University. The Beavers start their season March 5 at Central Oklahoma.

Softball:

Tiffany Scott (Colony 2003) is a freshman with Central Arizona College.

Wrestling:

Jesse Brock (Wasilla 1999) is a senior at Boise State (Idaho). Brock is defending his conference title this weekend at the Pac 10 Championships. Brock is 24-6 this season.. Scott Jorgenson (Palmer) is a sophomore for Boise State. Jorgenson is 20-9 this season … James Winter (Colony 2001) is a sophomore heavyweight for Minnesota State Moorehead … Dan Pickett (Colony 2001) is a sophomore for Minn. State Moorehead. Pickett is in the 149-pound class … Dan Graham (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Minn State Moorehead. Graham is at 135 … Jed Wade (Wasilla 2004) has committed to join Columbia next season.

Skiing:

Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) is a senior on the UAA men's nordic team. He is looking to qualify for the NCAA championships for the third consecutive year. Strabel and the Seawolves are competing in the West Regionals this weekend … Sarah Hanson (Colony 2001) is a junior on the UAA women's nordic team. … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with the UAF women's nordic team.

If you have a piece of notable news about a former Valley athlete competing in collegiate or professional athletics, let us know. Give us a ring, 352-2273, send us a fax, 352-2276, or drop us an e-mail, sports@frontiersman.com.