Native Youth Olympics strives for gold

PALMER — Noel Strick, formally Noel Gould before she married Iron Dog racer Robert Strick, knows a thing or two about the Native Youth Olympics.

She grew up competing and still competes in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics. Her daughter, Alice Johnston, shares a world record in the two-foot high kick with Nicole Johnston. Alice Johnston also held the one-foot high kick record until 2012. Now both volunteer their time so athletes in the Mat-Su Borough School District can compete in the traditional Native games.

Saturday morning at Colony Middle School, Strick, who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math at Teeland Middle School, was manning the microphone announcing medal winners, running from event to event asking volunteers if they needed anything and promoting the food sales in the lobby.

“We finally started selling some food,” she said.

All the profit from the snacks go to support the Mat-Su NYO team and events, and since there are not any organized booster clubs and no big corporate sponsors funding tournaments and competitions the organizers are left to start with little or no funding.

“Thankfully,” Strick said, “the Knik Tribal Council donated $500 for today’s event.”

Strick said that really helped, but without the Mat-Su School District’s assistance the meet could not have happened.

“We are so thankful and grateful for the school district,” she said. “They really stepped up. They covered everything.”

Strick said the district covers things like the coach’s stipend, the facility and staff to open the facility. She said the district really has come through and taken it on itself to support the games.

According to the school district’s public information officer Catherine Esary, Saturday’s event is one of the first district events the district has been involved. Esary said that the sport has been growing and they saw a need to support that growth.

“We have a 12 percent to 15 percent Native student population in the district,” she said. “It is very important to us that we do support it.”

Esary also points out that it is a great way for non-Native students to learn about the Native culture.

“It is a great opportunity,” she said. “The respect taught through the games pervades through out the gym.”

Esary also said that the goals they teach through NYO go along with goals set by the district. “Their goals really dove tail into all the things the district has set for goal. Things like leadership, positive self esteem and a healthy lifestyle.”

But to keep the games growing the group needs help.

“Right now all our judges are volunteer,” Strick said.

She said she wants to raise money, but for that she needs time.

“I have to go door to door and meet people and see faces,” she said.

Strick said she would like to see the Mat-Su NYO program grow as large as Anchorage’s.

“They have such a big program. I’d like to see ours that big,” she said.

But without more funding, that won’t happen. Strick said they would do what they can. She said so far this year they have had two good events. Saturday’s Mat-Su Invitational, which was open to middle and high school athletes, and Junior NYO, which was open to elementary students. Now they have added a third event, a middle school event at Teeland Middle School. That competition starts Friday at noon.

Debbie Buzdor, Teeland Middle School NYO coach, said the TMS program has grown from seven to 30 athletes, and Saturday invitational featured 10 schools and more than 100 athletes.

Organizing an event is hard, but for the NYO supporters it is like a family event.

Strick said it means a lot to her that when she posts a request on Facebook asking for help with an event she gets a lot of responses.

“It is such a nice feeling. It’s like we are an extended family,” Strick said, adding she always asks herself after an event why she does it. “I love the games. We are addicted.”

Esary echoes that sentiment. “I think there is a family feeling. It really is all for one and one for all.”

The regional NYO meet is April 12-13 at Houston Middle School. From that event an A team and B team comprised of 40 students from across the district will win a chance to compete at the state level in Anchorage.

The state NYO competition is April 25-27 at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center. Strick said any money that can be raised between now and then would help athletes travel to the big event.