Hometown Heroes: A look at local athletes at the next level

Former Palmer High volleyball standout Lisa Thomas was named the Portland State volleyball coaches player of the week.

Thomas, a junior middle blocker, led the Vikings with 16 total blocks during the NIKE Portland Pilot Preview Tourney last weekend.

Thomas was also named to the all-tournament team.

She set a career-high in solo blocks with four against Chicago State on Sept. 6 and currently leads the Vikings with 25 total blocks onthe season.

Thomas also had a season-high 11 kills against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 5.

Football:

Cole Magner (Colony 2001) is beginning his junior season with the Division I Bowling Green State (Ohio) Falcons. Magner caught a team-high eight passes for 127 yards and scored on an 11-yard touchdown reception as BG stunned 20th-ranked Purdue last week. BG welcomes Liberty University to Ohio this week … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) begins his sophomore season with Western Oregon University. WOU defeated Humboldt State 23-22 in overtime last week … Justin Buzby (Wasilla 2000) is in his junior season with the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Buzby, one of the top defensive reserves for UMC, recorded six unassisted tackles in a 59-0 loss to North Dakota last week. Buzby has 12 tackles this season … John Fillman (Colony 2001) is a junior defensive lineman with UMC. Fillman started against North Dakota, but did not record a tackle … Jake DeBuck (Colony 2003) is a redshirt freshman tight end with UMC … James Winter (Colony 2001) begins his sophomore season with Minnesota State-Moorehead. The 5-8, 258 pounder notched two solo tackles and three assisted tackles in MSM's 42-28 loss to Concodia last week. Winter is also the varsity heavyweight on the Dragon wrestling team … Ali Larijani (Palmer 2003) is in his first season with Valley City State University (ND). Larijani made his VCSU debut Sept. 13 at Dakota State. Larijani plays linebacker … Sam Widmer (Wasilla 2003) is in his first season with the University of Mary (S.D.). Widmer will play linebacker and made his debut last weekend against Rocky Mountain College.

Volleyball:

Emily Sakis (Palmer 2003) is in her first season with Northeastern Junior College. Sakis is a middle hitter for the Colorado team. Sakis and NEJC is 9-1 with an eight-match winning streak … Brianna Johnson (Palmer 2003) is in her first year with Wartburg College. Johnson is currently on the Iowa school's junior varsity team … Diana Gordon, formerly Diana West, is now a member of the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Gordon transferred from BYU-Hawaii. Gordon has appeared in nine games this season … Lisa Thomas (Palmer 2001) is in her junior season with Portland State University. Thomas was named to the Big Sky all-academic team last year for the Division I school. Thomas has 12 kills and nine blocks in three matches this season … Leisa Rosen (Wasilla) is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan … Stefanie Farris (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore middle hitter for the Citadel. Faris has a team-high 57 kills in six matches this season.

Cross-country running:

Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) enters his senior season with UAA. Strabel placed 13th in the West Region Championships last year. Strabel placed sixth in the Palmer Invitational last week … Aaron Dickson (Palmer 2003) and Drew Dickson (Palmer 2003) are freshmen with the Seawolves. Aaron Dickson scored his first collegiate win last week by placing first in the Palmer Invitational. Drew Dickson finished fifth … Sarah Hanson (Colony 2001) is a junior with UAA. Hanson finished eighth in the Palmer invite … Dominique Colberg (Colony 2003) is a freshman with the University of Montana. Colberg's first race with the Grizzlies will be the Montana Open on Sept. 13 … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with Alaska Fairbanks. Heimerl finished second in the UAF Invitational, two weeks ago, with a time of 19.55 … Renae Moore (Susitna Valley 2002) is a sophomore with UAF … Pat Egelus (Palmer 2000) is a senior with Eastern Oregon University. EOU is currently the top-ranked NAIA running team in the nation.

Swimming:

Dirk Craft (Palmer 2000) is in his junior season with the University of South Dakota. Craft helped lead USD to a ninth-place finish last season in the Division II swimming and diving championships. The swimming season starts Oct. 10.

Hockey:

Kerry Weiland (Palmer 1999) helped lead Team USA to a 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada in the FIRS Women's World Hockey Inline Championships earlier this summer. Weiland recently completed her senior season at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.