Hometown Heroes: Saum scores first goal of season for

Air Force

Shane Saum, a junior forward for the Air Force Academy, scored his first goal of the season last weekend in the Falcon's 5-2 win over Bentley College. Saum's goal was the eventual game winner of the contest. Saum also recorded a pair of assists in Air Force's 6-2 win over Bentley the following night.

Saum has a goal and three helpers this season.

The former Wasilla standout has 23 goals and 26 assists in just over two years of play with the Division I team.

Saum had a breakout sophomore season last season. He was 10th in the Central Hockey Association with 14 goals and led the Air Force squad with a +10 rating. Saum also had 92 shots on goals.

Saum entered the Air Force Academy after a stellar stint with the Danville Wings of the North American Hockey League. Saum was awarded numerous accolades while with the Junior "A" club and had his jersey retired.

Saum was a three-time letterwinner for the Wasilla Warriors and was named all-region twice.

Saum was also a standout in soccer and football for Wasilla.

Football:

Cole Magner (Colony 2000) is a starting wide receiver for the Division I Bowling Green State Falcons. The sophomore flanker has 16 catches for 236 yards, seven rushes for 64 yards and is 2-5 passing with three touchdowns. Magner rushed for 25 yards with a touchdown and caught three passes for 43 yards in Bowling Green's 21-3 win over MAC Conference foe Ball State last weekend. Bowling Green is now ranked 18th in the nation … Travis Webb (Wasilla 2002) is in his first season with St. Peters College (NJ) … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) is a sophomore running back for Western Oregon. Watts is the Wolves' second leading rushing with 134 yards … Travis Dutcher (Wasilla 2002) and Josh Williams (Colony 2001) are red-shirt running backs for Western Washington … Jake Carney (Wasilla 2002) is expected to be added to the Western Oregon roster in November … Matt Gillete (Wasilla 2001) and Jon Fillman (Colony 2001) are sophomore defensive lineman for the University of Minnesotta-Crookston … James Winter (Colony 2001) is a sophomore nose guard for the Minnesota State Moorehead. Winter has been a regular on the UMM varsity defensive line. Winter was named the team's freshman of the year on the defensive line last season … John Wessel (Palmer 2002) is a freshman offensive lineman for South Dakota Tech … Matt Willes (Colony) is a redshirt kicker for South Dakota Tech.

Basketball:

Ray Schafer (Wasilla 2003) has oral commitment to join the University of Oregon for the 2003-04 season … Zac Forsythe (Palmer 2002) is entering his first season with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Forsythe and the Nanooks participated in Midnight Madness, Oct. 11, to celebrate the first official practice day for NCAA basketball … Jessica Moore (Colony 2001) enters her second season with the University of Connecticut. Moore and the Huskies will look to defend their 2001-02 NCAA National Championship … Nicky Bean (Colony 1999) enters her first season with Alaska Anchorage after transferring from Spring Hill College (AL). Bean also spent two years with Marshalltown College (IA). Bean is a senior guard … Melissa McNulty (Susitna Valley 2002) enters her first season with Alaska Fairbanks.

Hockey:

Shane Saum (Wasilla) is competing in his third season with Air Force. Saum has 23 goals and 26 assists during his career with the Division I program. He currently has a goal and four assists and 23 penalty minutes in six games this season. Saum registered his first goal of the season, the game winner, in a 5-2 victory over Bentley. Saum recorded a pair of helpers the following night in Air Force's 6-2 win over Bentley … Kerry Weiland (Palmer) is entering her senior season with the University of Wisconsin women's ice hockey team. The 2001 All-American a goal and three assists on the season thus far, for the 4-1-1 Badgers. Weiland registered an assist in Wisconsin's 7-2 loss to Minnesotta-Deluth, the top ranked team in the nation, last week.

Cross-country running:

Kristine Larson (Colony 2000) is a sophomore with Eastern Washington … John Heimerl (Colony 1999) is in his senior year with Alaska Fairbanks. He finished 54th in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships … Diana Heimerl (Colony 2001) is in her sophomore season with the Nanooks. She finished 38th in the GNAC championships … Renae Moore (Susitna Valley 2002) is in her first season with Alaska Fairbanks … Eric Strabel (Colony 2000) is competing in his junior season with Alaska Anchorage. He finished 10th in the GNAC championships, leading the Seawolves to the conference team title … Ivan Steadman (Susitna Valley 2002) is in his first season with the Seawolves … Nicole Hanson (Susitna Valley 2000) is a sophomore with Alaska Anchorage and Sarah Hanson (Susitna Valley 2001) is a sophomore with the Seawolves … Patrick Egelus (Palmer 2000) is in his junior season with Eastern Oregon … Antonia Gatto (Colony 1999) is in her first year with the Pacific Lutheran running team.

Volleyball:

Leisa Rosen (Wasilla) is in her fourth season as an assistant coach with the Michigan Wolverines … Stafanie Farris (Wasilla 2002) is competing in her freshman year at the Citadel … Alayna Morgan (Wasilla 2002) has led her Simpson College squad into the NAIA national tournament. Morgan was recently named the CAL PAC Region Most Valuable Player. Morgan was also named the region's setter of the week.

Swimming:

Dirk Craft II (Palmer 2000) is in his second season with South Dakota. Craft was a double-winner in a dual meet against Shippensburg (PA), Oct. 22. The sophomore won the 50-meter freestyle and was on the winning 200-meter relay team.

Wrestling:

James Winter (Colony 2001) will begin his second season as a heavyweight for the Moorehead State … Dan Pickett (Colony 2001) is a sophomore for Moorehead State and Daniel Graham (Colony 2002) is entering his first season with Moorehead State … Jesse Brock (Wasilla) is now a junior with Boise State, wrestling at the 133 lb. class. Brock was a Pac 10 champion last season … Tony D'Amico (Palmer) is a junior at the 184 lb. class. D'Amico, placed third in the Pac 10 championships after transferring from Oklahoma State the year before … James Wade (Palmer) is a red-shirt sophomore for Boise State after transferring from Indiana last season … Scott Jorgenson (Palmer) is also a sophomore for Boise State … Jon Bush (Palmer 1997) is entering his senior season with Purdue … Ryan Olivera (Wasilla 2002) is entering his first season with the University of Indianapolis.

Soccer:

Tyson Hall (Palmer 1995) is a junior for Northwest College … Bryan Chud (Colony) is a senior for Northwest College.