Valley athletes excel at Arctic Winter Games

WHITEHORSE, YT — David Thomas has struck gold in another Arctic Winter Games.

Thomas, of Palmer, earned a gold medal in the one hand reach event this week during the 2012 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.

The local Native Youth Olympics and Arctic Winter Games veteran also scored a silver medal in the Alaskan high kick.

Thomas is one of three Valley athletes to earn individual medals.

Wasilla’s Paulina Nicole Valencia earned silver medals in the stick pull and hand games. Wasilla’s Alice Strick won a bronze medal in the two foot high kick.

Wasilla’s Karen Fuller earned silver in the junior female team gymnastics competition.

On the court, a pair of local volleyball players helped Team Alaska jump into the gold medal game. Palmer senior Morgan Morfe and Colony junior Allison Leigh are on a Team Alaska volleyball squad that is currently 10-0. Team Alaska also has not lost a set in a match during the games.

Seven local hockey players also are on teams in the AWG. The boys’ midget team is coached by Palmer High assistant coach and MTA Events Center manager Steve MacSwain, and includes six local players.

Palmer’s Marissa Ketterman is on the girls’ team, and has three goals and six assists in four games.

The AWG concludes Saturday.

Arctic Winter Games

Valley athletes

Dene games:

Robert Strick, Wasilla; Paulina Valencia, Wasilla.

Arctic sports:

David Thomas, Palmer; Alice Strick, Wasilla;

Hockey (midget):

Steve MacSwain (coach), Palmer; Jacob Inukai, Palmer; Dalton Buness, Palmer; William Harren, Wasilla; Trevor Naylor, Palmer; Forrest Savel, Palmer; Payton Staskywicz, Palmer.

Hockey (women’s):

Marissa Ketterman, Palmer.

Volleyball:

Allison Leigh, Palmer; Morgan Morfe, Palmer.