Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
1 min read
Jan. 28, 2007
By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman
SOLDOTNA - After Tremain Benton won an individual Northern Lights Conference title for the Palmer Moose Saturday night at 171 pounds, several of his teammates wanted to carry him on their shoulders from the gym.
And they would have. There just wasn't enough time.
With his teammates screaming at the top of their lungs, Benton outlasted top-seeded Al Cratty, of Kodiak, by a 6-3 margin to give the Moose their only individual title of the tournament. But before anyone could properly celebrate, the team was rushed from the gym by coaches bent on getting out of Soldotna as fast as they could.
Because of a bus company rule that stipulates teams must leave the Peninsula by 8 p.m. or stay an extra night, Palmer was up against the clock as the seconds ticked down in Benton's win.
The odd finish capped an unexpected championship for Benton, who said he never dreamed of taking home the NLC title.
“I'm still taking it all in,” Benton said while waiting anxiously to pick up his medal and head for the waiting bus. “It feels really good.”
Benton credited his excited teammates for helping him contain Cratty, and said he likely would not have won had it not been for the vocal support of the tight-knit Moose.
“If it was just me out there I wouldn't have done it,” he said.
Palmer's frenzied finish was the highlight of a strong tournament for the Moose, who placed fourth overall and had 10 athletes place in the top six - including finalists Benton, Wes Mills (130 pounds) and Nick Stahler (140).
Before hitting the road, Palmer coach Dale Ewart said the tournament was definitely a high point for a program that not too long ago was among the conference's weakest teams.
“We've been working hard, the numbers have been coming up and all that is starting to pay off,” he said.
Ewart said Benton's win in Palmer's final match of the night was the perfect way for his team to finish the tournament.
“They got to see what a region champion looks like,” he said.
After a beaming Benton received his first-pace medal, he and Ewart quickly headed for the door - giving everyone in attendance a perfect example of how to leave in style.
Contact Matt Tunseth at 3matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com.
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