Skiing becoming tradition for Wasilla family

For the past two seasons, University of Alaska Fairbanks cross-country running and skiing head coach Bill McDonnell has been able to count on a pair of Wasilla athletes anchoring his roster.

Not only are these athletes from the same town, but from the same family -- the Heimerl family.

In all, three members of the Heimerl family have donned the blue and gold Nanook uniform. Tammy, 23, was the first to compete for UAF and siblings John, 21, and Diana, 18, followed in her tracks.

Each started their athletic careers at Colony High School before taking their talents north.

For the past two seasons, Tammy and John each skied and ran for the Nanooks. After Tammy concluded her four-year career last spring, McDonnell had to look no further than the Heimerl family to fill the roster spot.

Diana, who is now a freshman, secured the vacant position. John is beginning his junior campaign.

"Knowing Tammy and John's personality, I was glad to have Diana on the team," McDonnell said.

The oldest of the nine Heimerl children, Charlotte, could be credited with starting the family skiing tradition.

While the family did get together occasionally to hit the trails, cross-country skiing was not an activity practiced religiously in the Heimerl household.

"We used to go skiing a few times each year, but getting the whole family together was quite an ordeal," John said.

Charlotte, a 1994 graduate of Palmer High School, skied for the Moose, but did not compete at the collegiate

level.

"I began skiing after Charlotte," Tammy said. "I did well skiing in high school and considered UAF because of the scholarship opportunities."

The Heimerls reveal that personal interests more than family interests influenced their decisions to pursue skiing as a sport and UAF as their college of choice.

"One of the best aspects of my parents was that they let us choose our own paths to take," John said. "Initially I did not want to attend the same school as Tammy. I did not want to be a tag-along or impede on her experience."

She was looking at several schools Outside, but none of them had skiing as a sport and were also much more expensive.

Tammy indicated she did not care if John came to the same school, so he decided to attend a good academic school that offered an opportunity to ski.

"From a young age my parents encouraged my siblings and I to learn to swim," Diana added. "Beyond just knowing how to save ourselves, my parents did not force us to continue in swimming or other athletics. I think that having my older siblings involved in athletics probably helped me. However, I do not think it influenced my decision to join."

Each agrees there are many positive aspects to competing on the same team and attending the same school as a family member -- the siblings may be the greatest aid to each other off the ski course.

"It is good to have a sibling on the long road trips," Tammy said. "I always had someone to talk to and someone to be more comfortable with. You can let your guard down and be more excited or complain a little more."

"Tammy was a big help adjusting to UAF," John said. "She was able to give me pointers about classes to take and how to go about various things. Just talking about the experiences and college piqued Diana's interest."

Diana may not be the last person in the Heimerl run at UAF athletics. Younger sister Bridget is currently a stand-out skier at Colony High School, while the four youngest Heimerl children have yet to chose a path of their own.