NFL’s Seahawks, local groups combine to host second Play 60 Challenge

PALMER — With the presence of the Mat-Su Sea Hawkers, members of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks know the “12th man” stands strong in Southcentral Alaska. Friday, the two groups teamed to help make sure local youth will be standing strong in the future.

With the help of the Seahawks organization, the Mat-Su Sea Hawkers, Community Sports Inc. and United Way of Mat-Su combined to host the second annual Play 60 Challenge at the AT&T Sports Center.

About 200 children ages 8-18 participated in the Play 60 event, a nationally recognized program introduced by the NFL in 2007 to promote health and physical fitness, and combat rising obesity rates in the United States. In addition to a group of local volunteers, a handful of representatives from the Seahawks were at the Sports Center, working through a variety of drills and exercises with the kids. Four current Seahawks players — quarterback Josh Portis, linebackers Mike McCoy and Heath Farwell, and wide receiver Kris Durham — participated in the program, alongside Seahawks defensive line coach Todd Wash, and cheerleaders Geraldine Lirio and Brittany Talbott.

“This is the largest group we’ve ever had,” Mat-Su Sea Hawkers president Tom Spindler said. “Plus, the senior management, that’s awesome.”

Seahawks team president Peter McLoughlin also made the trip. Vice president of community relations and special projects Mike Flood attended the local Play 60 Challenge for the second consecutive year.

Spindler said he was excited to see members of the Seahawks front office attend the event with the players and cheerleaders.

“It speaks to our credibility in their eyes,” Spindler said.

McLoughlin and Flood both praised the efforts of the local nonprofit groups.

“The Mat-Su Sea Hawkers and also Community Sports are a huge factor making this whole thing happen,” Flood said. “For us to have that kid of tie in a community is a big deal. When you’re coming from as far away as we are, there’s no way we could organize this up here the way a local community can do it.”

Flood said the Mat-Su chapter of the team’s booster club is as strong as he’s seen.

“We have great booster clubs all over the world actually, but the Mat-Su club is probably the most organized community force of any booster club we have,” Flood said.

The Seahawks have built a tradition of recognition for the “12 man,” which recognizes the importance of the fans’ support of the 11 players on the field. McLoughlin, making his first trip to the 49th state, said it’s easy to see the support of the Seahawks in Alaska.

“It’s great to see such support up here for the Seahawks. (Alaska’s) definitely part of our NFL territory,” McLoughlin said. “It’s great to see the enthusiasm for the NFL and the Seahawks all the way up here in Alaska.”

McLoughlin said he’s also been impressed with the efforts of the Sea Hawkers, which works throughout the year to support a number of local causes.

Each of the players and cheerleaders were making their first trips to Alaska. In addition to being mesmerized by the state’s scenery and surprised by the amount of daylight, each was eager to work with the kids participating in the program.

“I’ve participated in functions similar to this in the past. It’s always a good cause, give back to the community, be with the children,” said Durham, a second-year wide receiver from the University of Georgia. “It’s always exciting for me.”

McCoy, a veteran linebacker from San Diego State, said it’s good to see kids get active.

“That’s the first step in sports in general. Get active, play, figure out what you want to do,” McCoy said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, find him at twitter.com/matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.