Hometown Heroes: Colony grad joins JUCO power

Former Colony High School softball standout Tiffany Scott has joined the Central Arizona College softball squad.

CAC is the defending junior college national

champion.

Scott was invited by CAC head coach Craig Nicholson to walk on and try out for the squad.

"Everyone is a good player at this level," Scott said. "I probably have more to learn than most of the players."

Scott noted that most of the players in the Lower 48 have played 400-500 games by the time they reach college, but Alaska players have about 100 games.

CAC has already played about 20 games on its fall schedule. Scott is being used in right field and as a designated hitter and pinch runner.

"I intend to work as hard as it takes to become a quality player in this championship program," Scott said. "When I left Colony I wanted to join the best program possible, even if it meant no scholarship or red-shirting a year, and CAC is definitely showing me what it takes to be a champion at the college level."

Scott helped lead the Knights to their first-ever state softball tournament victory last spring.

Scott posted a .656 batting average for Colony last season and hit .727 in the state tournament.

In just a short time at CAC, Scott has already had the opportunity to live out her softball dreams. CAC played the defending NCAA national champion Arizona

Wildcats.

Though the 'Cats won 4-1, Scott lived out her dream.

While a Knight, Scott attended a softball camp in Arizona put on by the NCAA champs and dreamed about playing one day in the famed Rita Hillebrand Stadium at the University of Arizona. The University of Arizona team has dominated the NCAA women's softball standings winning several national titles.

Scott's dream came true on October 26 during the annual University of Arizona Desert Classic tournament when she was CAC's designated hitter.

"I had to pinch myself but after the first at-bat I felt real comfortable being there," Scott said. "It was a real thrill it happened so soon."

CAC's fall schedule ends next month and the 70-game regular season begins in January.

Football:

Cole Magner (Colony 2001) is in his junior season with the Division I Bowling Green State (Ohio) Falcons. Magner has 74 catches for 916 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He leads his team in each category, and is third in the MAC with 7.4 catches per game and fifth in the conference with 91.6 receiving yards per game. Magner had nine catches for 88 yards and one rush for 41 yards in a 42-33 win over Kent State last Saturday. The 8-2 Falcons play Ball State this weekend … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) is in his sophomore season with Western Oregon University. WOU is 5-6 this season after a 17-13 loss to Western Washington … Justin Buzby (Wasilla 2000) is in his junior season with the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Buzby finished the season with a team-high 46 solo tackles and finished third on the squad with 80 total tackles. He missed the final two games of the season, including a 47-35 loss to Bemidji State last week. UMC finished the year 2-9 … John Fillman (Colony 2001) is a 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) is in his sophomore season with Minnesota State-Moorehead. The 5-8, 258 pounder has started all 11 games for the 3-8 Dragons. Winter had one tackle as the Dragons closed the season with a 45-21 win over Wayne State. Winter is also a heavyweight on the Dragon wrestling team … Ali Larijani (Palmer 2003) is in his first season with Valley City State University (ND). Larijani, a linebacker, recorded six total tackles in a 43-21 win over Minn-Morris last weekend. Larijani played in his first career game against the University of Mary Nov. 1 … Sam Widmer (Wasilla 2003) is in his first season with the University of Mary (S.D.). UM is 9-1 and on a six game winning streak. Mary hosts Azuza Pacifc in the first round of the NAIA playoffs, Nov. 22. Widmer plays linebacker … Cory Creighton (Colony 2000) is a wide receiver and kick returner for the University of Montana-Western. UMW is 6-4 this season and 5-2 in conference play.

Volleyball:

Emily Sakis (Palmer 2003) completed her first season with Northeastern Junior College. 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 failed to place 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 … 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 Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. Gordon transferred from BYU-Hawaii. Gordon appeared in 24 games this season … Lisa Thomas (Palmer 2001) is in her junior season with Portland State University. Thomas has 140 kills and a team-high 69 blocks for the 14-13 Vikings this season. Thomas registered seven kills and three blocks in a 3-2 loss to Montana State, Nov. 15 … 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) enters his first season with the University of Oregon. Schafer scored four points and collected three rebounds in Oregon's first varsity intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 27. The Ducks defeated the EA All-Stars 76-74 in their final exhibition game of the year and opened regular season play Friday against Fresno State … Marsha Schirack (Wasilla 2003) is a freshman forward with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Schirack scored three points and pulled down five rebounds in a Nov. 14 win over Christian Heritage. Schirack scored two points in a 78-48 win over CHC the following night … Zac Forsythe (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore with UAF. Forsythe scored a game-high 22 points in a 83-54 exhibition loss to Nebraska in Lincoln on Nov. 10. Forsythe scored a game-high 24 in a 96-51 Nanook win over Southwestern College in Fairbanks on Nov. 8. Forsythe scored six points and collected three rebounds and three assists in UAF's 66-48 win over Texas-San Antonio in the opening round of the BP Top of the World Classic Division I basketball tournament in Fairbanks on Thursday … Amber Magner (Palmer 1992) is in her third season as head coach of California State University-Monterey Bay women's basketball squad … 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 registered a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-56 exhibition win over Team Concept Nov. 11. Moore and the Huskies begin defense of their national championship tonight against Western Michigan … Sarah Bergeron (Palmer 2002) is a sophomore for Southwestern Oregon Community College. Bergeron and her squad open the season at Lower Columbia CC on Nov. 25 … Amy Chapman (Palmer 2003), Toni Cox (Palmer 2003) and Melissa Mayse (Wasilla 2003) are freshman for Southwestern Oregon CC … Buddy Bailey (Wasilla 2003) is a freshman guard for California Baptist. Bailey scored 10 points and dished out five assists in a 103-46 win over La Sierra Nov. 18. CBU is 3-2 this season … Adam Fitt-Chappell (Wasilla 2002) is a sophomore swingman with UAA. Fitt-Chappell scored 10 points in UAA's 65-62 exhibition loss to Division I Pacific on Nov. 14. The Seawolves host the AT&T Alascom Jamberee this weekend … C.J. Hooker (Palmer 2000) is a junior for the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels opened the season against Old Dominion yesterday.

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 competed in the Mountain West Championships this weekend … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is a junior with Alaska Fairbanks. … Renae Moore (Susitna 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 his team to a dual meet victory over South Dakota State on Oct. 24. He was part of a team that broke a school record in the 200-freestyle.

Hockey:

Kerry Weiland (Palmer 1999) helped Team USA grab the gold in the Four Nations Cup earlier this month … Shane Saum (Palmer) is a senior with the Air Force Academy. Saum, a captain for the Falcons, has five goals and three assists in 10 games this season … Nathan Schwartzbauer (Colony 2000) is a freshman for Bemidji State. He has skated in three games this season … Jake Luthi (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Rensselear Polytechnic Institute. Luthi has appeared in two games … Jake Williams (Houston 2003) is in his first season with the Dubuque Thunderbird junior hockey squad. The Thunderbirds are at the top of the Minnesota Junior Hockey League at 9-3-3. Williams, a forward, has three goals and four assists as a part of the first line. Williams scored his first goal in a 4-2 win over the Northern Lights on Oct. 19 … Jamie Bennett (Houston 2003) is also in his first year with Dubuque. Bennett, who plays on the blueline, has 33 penalty minutes in 12 games this season. Dubuque has a two-game series against the Minnesota Owls this weekend … Seth Reda (Colony 2002) is a forward for the Wichita Falls Rustlers of the North American Hockey League. Wichita Falls plays in the same Junior A league as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Reda collected a pair of assists in the Rustlers' 7-1 win over Central Texas on Nov. 2 … Konstantinos Lambernakis (Colony) is a first-year defenseman for Wichita Falls. Lambernakis had an assist in the win over Central Texas.

Golf:

Travis Parker (Colony 2003) has made the South Mountain Community College men's golf squad. Parker will begin swinging the clubs for the Phoenix, Ariz.-based school in early 2004.

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. 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 a 3-5 record and 1.34 goals against average … Eric Lund (Colony) has finished his senior season with George Washington University. GW fell to the Temple Owls 2-0 in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 tournament … Thomas Kelly (Matanuska Christian 2002) is a starting forward for Peninsula College (WA). Kelly scored in his team's 2-1 loss to Tacoma Community College.

Baseball:

Andy Walker (Wasilla 2001) will begin his sophomore season with the University of Minnesota-Morris in the spring. Walker is a catcher … Brian Weller (Palmer 2002) is a redshirt freshman catcher with Bemidji State University.

Softball:

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

Wrestling:

Jesse Brock (Wasilla 1999) is a senior at Boise State. Brock was the Pac 10 champion in the 133-pound class last season and will wrestle at 141 this year. Brock finished second in the Boise State Cowboy Open on Nov. 15, losing 3-0 to Adams State's Shane Barnes … Scott Jorgenson (Palmer) is a sophomore for Boise State. Jorgenson finished second in the Cowboy Open at 133. Jorgenson lost to Kortney Lake of Adams State in the finals after pinning his first two opponents in the tourney … Tony D'Amico (Palmer 1999) is a senior at Boise State.