Hometown Heroes: Weiland named to US select hockey team

Former Palmer High School hockey standout Kerry Weiland has been named to the U.S. women's select ice hockey team.

Weiland, who just recently completed a stellar four-year career with the University of Wisconsin, is named to a U.S. team for the second time in less than a year.

Last fall Weiland was named to the 2003 U.S. women's national team that was scheduled to play in the International Ice Hockey Women's World Championship in China. The tournament was cancelled due to the threat of the SARS virus.

Weiland left Wisconsin as one of the top defensemen in the history of the Badger women's ice hockey program. She was the first UW player to earn All-America status in women's ice hockey and is among the career leaders in several statistical categories.

The U.S. select team will participate in the Four Nations Cup, Nov. 5-9, in Skovde, Sweden.

Team USA will take on Finland on Nov. 5, Canada on Nov. 6 and Sweden on Nov. 8.

The gold medal and bronze medal games will be Nov. 9.

Football:

Cole Magner (Colony 2001) is in his junior season with the Division I Bowling Green State (Ohio) Falcons. Magner caught a pair of touchdown passes in the Falcons' 63-3 win over Liberty last week. Magner leads the squad with 16 catches this season and has 257 yards receiving and four touchdowns … James Watts (Wasilla 2001) begins his sophomore season with Western Oregon University. WOU is 2-0 this season after defeating Western Washington 23-20 in overtime last week. It is the second straight game that the Wolves have won in overtime … 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 three total tackles in UMC's 46-33 win over Minnesota Morris last week. Buzby has 15 tackles this season … John Fillman (Colony 2001) is a junior defensive lineman with UMC. Fillman recorded eight total tackles against UMM. Fillman has started each of Crookston's three games this season … 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). VCSU defeated Dakota State 36-28 in its season opener. Larijani plays linebacker … Sam Widmer (Wasilla 2003) is in his first season with the University of Mary (S.D.). UM is 2-0 after wins over Rocky Mountain College (34-9) and Sri Lanki (41-0). Widmer plays linebacker.

Volleyball:

Emily Sakis (Palmer 2003) is in her first season with Northeastern Junior College. Sakis is a middle hitter for the Colorado team. NJC is 19-2 and the top team in Region IX of the NJCAA. Sakis' .357 hitting percentage ranks her fourth in the region. She has 96 kills and only 22 errors. Sakis is 15th in the region with 1.08 blocks per game … 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 10 games this season, averaging 1.40 digs per game … Lisa Thomas (Palmer 2001) is in her junior season with Portland State University. Thomas was named the PSU co-coaches player of the week last season. She was also named to the NIKE Portland Pilot Preview All-Tourney team, after collecting 16 solo blocks in the tournament. Thomas has 25 total blocks 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 University of 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. Egelus finished seventh in the University of Portland Invite last week with a time of 20:32.

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:

Shane Saum (Palmer) is a senior with the Air Force Academy. The Falcons open their season Oct. 10 when they participate in the Quinipac Cup … Nathan Schwartzbauer (Colony 2000) is a freshman for Bemidji State. The Beavers open play in October against Concordia-Montreal … Jake Luthi (Colony 2002) is a freshman for Rensselear Polytechnic Institute. The Engineers begin their season Oct. 11 at Boston University.