Pair of individual state champs lead deep Wasilla girls squad

WASILLA — The 2010 season was one to remember for the Wasilla High girls’ track and field squad.

The Warriors won the Northern Lights Conference Championships in overwhelming fashion, finishing with double the points of second-place Kenai Central and placed a respectable fourth in the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships.

But 2011 could turn out to be even more memorable.

“We look better than we did last year,” Wasilla head coach Gary Howell said recently. “We had a lot of strong athletes return.”

The Warriors bring back a bucketload of talent led by a pair of state champions. Junior Morgan Dampier returns a season after breaking a state record during her championship run in the 800 meters.

“Morgan looks really good,” Howell said of Dampier, who also won a conference championship in the 800 and finished runner-up in the NLC 400.

Howell said Dampier, one of the top overall runners in the state and an athlete who is currently being recruited by Division I programs, could be competing in a variety of events this year.

“We want to diversify her portfolio,” Howell said. “A couple of schools want to see her do other stuff.”

Sophomore Dajanae Harris, another defending state champion, also returns. Harris won the state 100 as a freshman and was a conference champion in the 100 and long jump last year.

Dampier and Harris teamed with Gladys Nickerson and Cori Schleich to win the region title in the 800 relay. Schleich, a senior, also returns.

Harris and Schleich (third in the NLC in the 100) will lead the Wasilla sprinters, a group that will be helped by new sprint coach Randy Magner, Howell said.

Senior Alice Strick, who finished second in the triple jump and third in the long jump at the NLC Championships last year, returns to help lead the Warrior jumpers. Howell also noted sophomore Jessie Marman, who will compete in the high jump and triple jump.

More than a dozen Wasilla girls qualified for the state meet last year, and the bulk of those athletes return. Wasilla graduated Nickerson and distance runner Keri Clump, and also lost jumper Kiera Rust, who transferred to Dimond after her family moved to Anchorage.

The NLC champion Warriors became stronger with the addition of junior Alyssa Hutchins, who sat out the 2010 track and field season after transferring from Colony last year. Hutchins was a state qualifier as a freshman after helping the Knights win the 3,200-meter relay.

“She’s just athletic,” Howell said of Hutchins. “She may be the most well-rounded athlete we have on our team. She’s not the best in any one (event), but she’s the second best in every event.”

Hutchins adds depth to a mid-distance and distance squad that’s already very strong. That group also includes Dampier, junior Jessica Pahkala, senior Haley Young, sophomore Mandi Ringgenberg and freshman Mariah Burroughs.

Sophomore Jenna Ford and Burroughs are among the leaders in the distance class.

Howell said junior Sariah Tuisaula and sophomore Alexis Imoe should lead the Wasilla throwers.

Throwers, distance runners lead Wasilla boys team

John Knowles, Wasilla’s state champion in the discus and shot put, graduated, but Howell believes Wasilla has a few other throwers who could do some damage.

Junior Devon Teeling, runner-up in the NLC shot put as a sophomore, returns. Wasilla also has Deon Richardson and freshman Marshal Comer.

Leading the mid-distance and distance classes are experienced juniors Keith Thompson, Josh Pahkala and Noah Ripley.

Connor Mattson, a leader on the WHS cross-country ski team, should also add depth.

Senior Ryan Tracy should lead Wasilla in the sprints, Howell said, and junior Tyler Anderson will jump and throw for the Warriors.

Mitchell Rilatos is another young athlete Howell expects to contribute.

This is the first piece of a four-part series previewing the Mat-Su Valley 4A track and field programs. Continue to see the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman for more.

WASILLA WARRIORS

Head coach: Gary Howell

2010 girls finish: Won Northern Lights Conference title, fourth in 4A.

2010 boys finish: Fourth in Northern Lights Conference championships.

Girls key returners: Junior Morgan Dampier; sophomore Dajanae Harris; senior Cori Schleich; senior Alice Strick.

Girls key losses: Keri Clump; Gladys Nickerson; Kiera Rust.

Girls key additions: Junior Alyssa Hutchins.

Boys key returners: Junior Noah Ripley; junior Josh Pahkala; junior Devon Teeling; senior Ryan Tracy.

Boys key losses: John Knowles; Taylor Owens; Manny Curtis.