Jan. 21, 2007

Student body games a success

About 15 years ago, back in the days when Wasilla High School hosted its annual Christmas basketball tournament, the school would schedule a day game, and fill the stands with the Wasilla student body.

On consecutive days, it would be standing-room only in the Wasilla gymnasium, the bleachers stacked with students.

On one afternoon, the Warrior boys would take the court. The girls would play in front of their peers the following day.

But along with the Christmas tourney, that tradition sort of died.

Until now.

On Friday, WHS hosted its &#8220student body games.” And once again, when the Warriors took the court, it was standing-room only, and the gym was packed with Wasilla students.

A school full of students watched the Wasilla girls dismantle Skyview 57-24 and the Warrior boys demolish the Panthers 63-18.

&#8220I really like it,” Wasilla senior Jesse Bean said after helping lead the Warrior boys to a win over Northern Lights Conference foe Skyview. &#8220I think it's a great idea.”

As Bean and his teammates came out firing in the second leg of the double header, the atmosphere was like that of a postseason game. Bean and fellow senior Jeremiah Collins lifted the students to their feet as they sank early three-pointers.

&#8220The crowd was definitely nice,” Bean said.

In the past few years, Wasilla has hosted a single game during school hours. But this is the first attempt at a double-header, WHS principal Dwight Probasco said. And it's something the school's administration hopes to keep for the future.

&#8220It'll be something that we'll start working on enhancing,” Probasco said.

At 10:45 a.m. sharp, as the WHS girls tipped off against the Panthers, the gym was packed. And students continued to steadily filter in, until there was not a seat to be had. Soon, students, teachers, parents and administrators began to circle the gym's upper track that overlooks the hardwood floor.

&#8220It's good that everyone can come out and support us,” Wasilla senior Hillarie Putnam, a member of the girls' squad, said. &#8220I love it.”

The basketball squad may be the center of attention on the court, but they were not the only Warrior students on display Friday.

&#8220It's showcasing a lot of our students,” Probasco said. &#8220Athletes, band, cheerleaders.”

School officials showcased its flexibility organizing such an event. Probasco said the question was, whether to sacrifice a half day of school to feature the teams during the day. And he thought, &#8220why not?”

&#8220It builds that student pride,” Jason Marvel, the head coach of the Wasilla boys' squad said. &#8220It gets the kids who are maybe too busy doing different things a chance to see the basketball teams play. It entices a little excitement.”

Putnam also thought it was a good representation of the support of the teachers.

Wasilla's opponent, Skyview, also showed it's ability to be flexible. Wasilla assistant principal Dan Michael said Skyview showed no concerns with schedule the games as a Friday matinee.

Wasilla has also opened the gym to its student body for wrestling events. Every other year, the school hosts the North-South Tournament, and the Wasilla student body has the chance to see a portion of the action during school hours.

With the &#8220student body games,” Wasilla has taken the lead, and it is a path that each of the Valley schools should follow.

Probasco said it would be nice to be able to do the same for other sports. Obviously it would be much hard for a sport such as hockey, in which games are played off campus. But the ability to host games in the other sports played at the school is there.

It would be especially significant for sports such as volleyball or wrestling, that don't normally draw the large Friday night crowds. It's an opportunity to reach the fan that normally would skip the game.

Plus, like Probasco said, the school is promoting the work of a variety of students, not just the athletes.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.