Icon to announce Palmer tourney; Member of National Wrestling Hall of Fame part of 2015 Lancer Smith Memorial

PALMER — Alaska’s largest prep wrestling tournament just got bigger.

In addition to the largest field and most participants, the Lancer Smith Memorial will also boast a national figure during the 13th annual tournament, which starts Friday at Palmer High School. Renowned wrestling announcer Sandy Stevens, known nationally as the “voice of wrestling,” will be holding a microphone during the two-day meet at PHS.

Stevens, a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was the public address announcer for 34 straight NCAA Division I National Championships tournaments, in addition to her work during Olympic and world championship events.

This week, Stevens will make her first trip to Alaska to join longtime PHS public address announcer Michael Janecek at the scorers table.

“It was kind of a spur of the moment thing,” Palmer High activities director Dale Ewart said. “I think it’s really cool. We’re glad to have her.”

Ewart said he’s attended at least 15 events that Stevens has announced.

“She’s well-respected. She does her job well,” Ewart said.

Ewart said he would compare Stevens to someone like Dick Vitale, a woman nationally known for her enthusiasm in her sport, just as Vitale is nationally known for his work in college basketball.

“She just has a really big personality,” Ewart said. “She’s really well known.”

Stevens’ spur of the moment trip to Alaska came after a Trent Farris, a member of the Palmer High School Wrestling Booster Club, learned Stevens had a gap in her schedule, and took a shot and sent Stevens an invitation.

“I thought maybe we could pull something like that off,” Farris said recently. “It’s an honor getting someone (who is) in the hall of fame,” Farris said recently. “She’s the iconic voice of American wrestling.”

Like Ewart, Farris has also attended events at which Stevens was the public address announcer. Farris also has sons who have had their names announced by Stevens at a national youth tournament.

“My kids were even saying they were almost mesmerized. Hearing their names, literally standing there in shock,” Farris said.

After connecting with Stevens, Farris said funds were raised to bring Stevens to Alaska and host the hall of fame announcer. Farris said he received great reaction to his idea to bring Stevens to Alaska, and members of wrestling clubs from across the state contributed.

“We wanted to see if we could make this happen. We have limited resources. I reached out throughout the wrestling community. In a few hours I raised enough money to pay for a plane ticket,” Farris said. “It really speaks for the wrestling community.”

Stevens will be part of a 2015 Lancer Smith Memorial that should feature about 500 participants. As of Monday afternoon, Ewart said wrestlers from 65 schools are expected to participate. He said the total number could range anywhere from 475 to 525 wrestlers. Ewart said there were about 420 wrestlers at the Lancer Smith last season. Last year’s tournament also featured about 180 wrestlers more than the 4A state tournament last season.

The Lancer Smith is typically the tournament that draws the greatest number of athletes from both the 123A and 4A classes.

The tournament is hosted in honor of the memory of Lancer Smith, a former longtime local wrestling coach, college All-American and Olympian. Smith, who died in 2002, was an iconic figure in Alaska, beloved throughout the wrestling community. Smith, who coached at Palmer High for 18 years, has been inducted into the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and most recently the Alaska High School Hall of Fame.

Wrestling is scheduled to begin Friday at 9 a.m. at PHS. Championship semifinals are scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m., and championship finals are slated for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.