Mat-Su sports briefs

Wasilla to feature youth wrestling program

The Wasilla High School wrestling program is hosting the Little Grapplers learn to wrestle program Sept. 28-Oct. 1 and Oct. 5-8 at WHS.

Boys and girls kindergarten through eighth grade of any skill level are invited to participate in the program that runs from 6:15-7:20 p.m. on each scheduled day. There is a cost of $40, and wrestlers are required to bring gym clothes, wrestling or tennis shoes and a water bottle.

The program is dedicated to teaching the basics of wrestling, the building of skills and sportsmanship.

The program is a fundraiser for the Wasilla prep wrestling squd.

For more information, contact Marnice Marshall at 355-1433 or Shawn Hayes at 352-8269.

WHS volleyball hosting spaghetti feed

The Wasilla High School volleyball booster club is hosting its annual spaghetti feed and silent auction fundraiser Sept. 18 from 4-7 p.m. at WHS.

The dinner — which includes spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and homemade desserts — is $7 per person or $25 for families of four or more. Donated items will also be available for auction.

All money raised go directly to the program to fund such things as new uniorms and warm-ups, travel expenses and nutritional snacks during tournaments.

This year, additional funds are being raised to help the WHS volleyball program hosting the Northern Lights Conference Championships tournament.

See any member of the volleyball team to be tickets. For more information, contact Carolyn Rains at 841-5690, Rick Morgan at 373-4043, Jeannette Newcomb at 373-6379 or Beth Gehring at 373-2514.

Eagles hosting gear swap

The Mat-Su Eagles are hosting a gear swap Sept. 12 at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena.

Those interested can drop off their gear between noon and 2 p.m., and the sale begins at 3 p.m.

Players can also participate in a free skate session from 4:45-5:45 p.m., but those on the ice must be registered with USA Hockey.

Junior Avalanche finalizes tryouts

The Junior Avalanche Hockey Association is hosting its house hockey evaluations Sept. 12-13 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Complex.

On Sept. 12, the bantams meet from 8:30-9:30 a.m., the squirts and peewees meet from 9:45-10:45 a.m. and the mites meet from 11 a.m. to noon.

On Sept. 13, the mites meet from 12:30-1:30 p.m., the squirts and peewees meet form 1:45-2:45 p.m. and the bantams mee from 3-4 p.m.

Each player must have completed their USA Hockey registration to participate.

The Jr. Avalanche also offers an IP program for players agest 4-7. Registration for this program is available on Sept. 12-13 during the house team evaluation times. IP practices begin Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Menard Memorial Sports Complex.

For more information about the IP program or house team evaluations, see www.jravalanchehockey.com or contact Jamie Smith at 354-3972.

MAHA schedules tryouts

The Matanuska Amateur Hockey Association will host its Tier III and Tier IV tryouts on Sept. 18-19.

Players in the peewee age group will meet Sept. 18 from 5-6 p.m. and Sept. 19 from 8-9 a.m. The mites meet Sept. 18 from 6:15-7:15 p.m. and Sept. 19 from 1:30-3 p.m. The squirts take the ice Sept. 18 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. and Sept. 19 from 9:15-10:15 a.m. The bantam midgets meet Sept. 18 from 5:15-6:156 p.m. and Sept. 19 from 7:45-8:45 p.m.

All sessions will be hosted by the Brett Memorial Ice Arena, except the bantam midget evaluation on Sept. 18. That will be held at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Complex.

Players must be registered with USA Hockey to participate.

For more information, see www.matsuhockey.com.

PHS in search of softball coach

Palmer High School is currently in search of a head softball coach for the 2010 season.

If interested, contact Palmer activities director Jeff Thiede at jeff.thiede@matsuk12.us or 746-8424, or Palmer assistant principal Jim Simmons at jim.simmons@matsuk12.us or 746-8411.

To submit information for the Mat-Su sports briefs, e-mail sports@frontiersman.com.