Stewart -- The two sport Moose

It is fairly common to see a high school athlete compete in two sports.

But, rarely do you find an athlete that competes in two sports -- at the same time.

There is an exception to every rule and Palmer High School has that exception in Jonah Stewart.

The senior not only skates for the Moose hockey team, but also anchors the school's wrestling squad.

To make his already loaded schedule just a little more crazy, Stewart also competes for a third team, a Big Lake competitive hockey team.

Stewart has been playing hockey for the last 12 seasons and wrestling for the past seven years.

"I have always done both," Stewart said.

According to Stewart, each of his coaches have worked with him to meet the demands of his demanding schedule.

"They all understand, it is something I have always done," Stewart said. "I try to make most of hockey and as much wrestling as I can."

Stewart also has a wrestling mat in his garage to work on technique.

While some may not see the correlation between the two sports, Stewart and his coaches all see the advantages in participating in both events.

"With hockey I get a lot of wind, it is a lot like running," Stewart said. " Wrestling, it just makes you tough."

"Jonah just has a tremendous work ethic," Palmer head hockey coach Brian Fish said. "You can always count on him and it rubs off on his teammates. They see him giving everything he has here and then he goes off to wrestling practice. It makes his teammates work even harder."

Stewart has been enjoying success during his senior season in each sport. He has been named the captain of the hockey team and centers the second line. He scored a goal and two assists in Palmer's pivotal 5-2 win over Colony last Wednesday.

Stewart is coming off a third-place finish in last year's state wrestling championships and is expected to vie for a state title this year.

He has already won the 140-pound championship at the North South Tournament and placed second at the Bob Baily Chugiak Invitational.

"I am in the best shape of my life," Stewart said.