Look no further than Valleys back yard for role modelsThe Frontiersman / October 29, 1999

Eric Strabel won the state cross-country championship. Chuck Lincoln is named the Gatorade Player of the Year. Jessica Moore signs a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Connecticut, a top womens power.

In the span of a month, Valley athletes have shown they are among the top in the state, and they are starting to become role models.

While Strabel, Moore and Lincoln made their headlines here at home, Kerry Weiland was busy scoring her first goal for the University of Wisconsin womens hockey team. Colony grad Nathan Borega was named an assistant captain for the Notre Dame hockey squad.

Another Colony grad, Maren Witzel, was shining for the Michigan State University volleyball team. Leah Magner is getting ready for the basketball season at the University of Iowa.

The secret to these athletes success is hard work and determination, along with some good coaching. While they are enjoying their own success, they are also laying the groundwork for tomorrows athletes.

Lincoln prepared for his season by lifting weights six times a week and being completely focused on his task.

That is something Strabel knows a lot about. His training is completely different from Lincolns, but he is religious about his training routines. Both are among the most dominant athletes in Alaska, in their own arenas, and the names of both have become synonymous with success.

Moores schedule hardly even allows time for training, but her ability carries her.

All she has done in the last month is make two out-of-state recruiting visits, entertain college coaches coming to Alaska for home visits, go to school and, oh yeah, play volleyball.

Moore can pencil in about two and a half minutes each day for dinner, sleep and free time. But shell be ready for hoops season nonetheless.

The examples these three athletes have set for younger athletes are remarkable. All are fine role models for younger people.

Prior to the state cross-country meet, Strabel talked about the sheer determination he has for becoming the state champion. He pushed himself all season, and in the final cross-country race of his high-school career, he finally attained his goal. Through intense training and having a vision, Strabel accomlished everything he set out to do.

Lincolns goal of carrying the Warriors to a state championship almost happened as well. He rushed for nearly 2,000 yards, scored 24 touchdowns and was named the top player in the state.

He showed tomorrows football players that by having a goal and sticking to it, anything can happen. In the middle of July, he was lifting weights and getting ready for the season. He put 40 weeks of effort into a 12-week season, and the results showed.

Moores goal was partially realized last year, and fully realized last week. After last season, she was named the girls basketball player of the year. But last week, she orally committed to the University of Connecticut to realize her lifelong dream of playing college basketball.

When people say there are no role models for children to look up to, maybe they are looking in the wrong direction.

Perhaps the NBA isnt the best place to find someone for a child to emulate. Maybe a major league baseball player is not the best person to idolize.

But dont believe that role models do not exist in todays society. They exist, all right.

Take a look in the Valley, and youll find several worthy athletes who are already doing things the right way and setting a great example for their younger peers.

Casey Ressler (ressler@alaska.net) is the Frontiersman sports editor.