THE CHALLENGE: Members of Seattle Seahawks get a taste of Alaska in annual event to promote youth activity

WASILLA — As Seattle Seahawks linemen Tylor Harris and Rees Odhiambo introduced themselves to the crowd Wednesday morning, both said they were still waiting to see a moose during their trip to Alaska.

Fairly typical response for those visiting the 49th state.

But little did they know, Harris and Odhiambo would be surrounded by about a dozen Moose. Well, at least Moose of the two-legged variety. Harris and Odhiambo and a group of Palmer High School Moose football players were among the volunteers on hand for the annual Play 60 Challenge hosted by the Mat-Su Seahawkers at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla.

It’s the 10th year the Seahawkers, a local organization that’s not only the local booster club for the NFL team, but a nonprofit group which assists a number of Valley causes, hosted the annual event based on the NFL’s Play 60 Challenge, which was created to encourage children to become more physically active by getting at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. Harris and Odhiambo were among a group from the Seattle organization to make the trip to Alaska. The list also included Seattle senior defensive assistant coach Travis Jones; Sea Gals cheerleaders Hannah and Olivia; and Seahawks vice president of community relations Mike Floyd.

The Seahawks and Sea Gals spent part of their morning Wednesday working with about 200 boys and girls, ages 6-15. There were football and soccer drills. Harris and Odhiambo also got another taste of Alaska sports and culture.

Among the stations scattered across the indoor field turf of the Menard was devoted to Native Youth Olympics. Volunteers demonstrated the one foot high kick for the players.

“That was the first time we got to see that,” Odhiambo said of the NYO events. “They kind of taught us how they were doing it, see if we could get what they were all about.”

Harris, a 6-foot-4 and 306-pound defensive end, took a stab at the one foot high kick, and managed to kick the ball hanging from the stand at least five feet from the turf. Volunteers were also able to get the Seattle teammates to face off in the Eskimo stick pull, in which opponents sit across from each other, grasp a single stick and try to pull their way to victory.

“It was fun,” Harris said. “As Seahawks, we compete every day in practice. That’s kind of our motto. It was kind of fun doing that with the kids.”

That came after Odhiambo and Harris joined the group of Palmer High Moose football players, working with participants in a football tackling drill.

“That was a lot of fun, see them getting excited, trying to show us what they’ve got,” Odhiambo said.

Both said they were excited about the turnout.

“It was pretty impressive, the number of kids outs here, the energy level, the passion. To see we have 12 fans out here in Alaska is impressive,” Harris said, referring to the Seahawks calling their fans the 12th man. “You think about other teams in the Lower 48, how they’re more localized. It’s just really cool to see people up here extremely passionate about what you do.”

Mat-Su Seahawkers club president Tom Spindler said his group is thrilled to see the event continue to thrive in its 10th year.

“This is one of our best achievements in our community,” Spindler said. “Partnering with the United Way and the Lions (Club), it’s the community really turning out. This is growing and growing every year.”

The Seahawkers also found another way to help out the community Wednesday. The visiting Seahawks handed out about 150 gift cards for food at a local grocery store.

Spindler said the Seahawkers try to add new features to the event each year, with the goal of encouraging activity in many forms.

“It doesn’t have to be football. It doesn’t have to be basketball. It’s about getting out and having fun for 60 minutes a day,” Spindler said. “The program is going strong. A lot of people want to see this program succeed. The childhood obesity rate in Alaska is one of the highest in the nation.”

Spindler said he was particularly encouraged to see the number of younger children participate Wednesday.

“That’s when you learn your healthy habits,” Spindler said. “A lot of kids nowadays play indoors. We’re trying to get them out and show them how fun it can be.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.