Valley women compete in 2019 Highland Games alongside fellow Alaskans and visiting pros from the Lower 48

PALMER— Many women athletes threw on their kilts and showed off their strength at the 2019 Alaska Scottish Highland Games at the Alaska State Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 29.

“Just in a few years, it’s already grown so much in the women’s division. It’s awesome,” Anchorage athlete Brandi Neuterman said.

This event draws in professional athletes from across the U.S. to Palmer- in addition to the waves of amateur athletes from across the state and surrounding Mat-Su Valley to play traditional Highland games, testing their skills and might.

“We’ve got pro women that come up now and compete with us, show us what can be done,” Neuterman said with a laugh.

Breanna Love was born and raised in the Valley. She’s been participating in the Alaska Scottish Highland Games since 2012, after a friend encouraged her to join.

She said that she competes in all the women’s events, including the Weight for Distance throwing event. She plays rugby all summer with the Valley’s only women’s team, one of four in the state.

“I mean, there’s a bunch of men’s teams but us women, we’ve got to represent,” Love said.

She said that she trains year round for rugby and the Highland Games. This year, she’s saving her strength for the women’s competitions but she plans to round up a group of women for tug-o-war next year.

“Next year’s it. That’s our year,” Love said.

Laci Ellis is from Anchorage. She stood near Love, waiting for her turn to throw in the Weight for Distance event. She said that she really enjoys the atmosphere at the Highland Games. This is her second year.

“I love the comradery. It’s a lot of fun going around throwing heavy weights and you get to learn a lot of different new things. It’s a fun event,” Ellis said.

Ellis said that in these games, athletes are competing against themselves, trying to beat their personal bests. She said her fellow athletes are very supportive.

“Everyone’s cheering each other on,” Ellis said.

Morgan Ashcraft came all the way from Kenai to try her hand at the Highland Games. This was her first year competing and she made quite the introduction, setting the state record for the Weight Over Bar event. She lobbed the heavy block 13.5 feet, making history and impressing her peers.

“This is her first year but she’s doing absolutely wonderful,” Ellis said.

Ashcraft said that she’s a powerlifter. She said that Brett McDonald, a longtime Highland athlete from Kenai discovered her at last year’s games. She was just spectator and McDonald approached her.

“He asked me, ‘why aren’t you out here with us?’ and I said, ‘because you haven’t taught me yet,’” Ashcraft said.

McDonald told her to call him when she got home and he would train her.

“It was like a ‘Karate Kid’ moment and I was like, ‘did I just get picked? I think I just got picked.’ And the rest is history,” Ashcraft said.

This is Neuterman’s third year at the games. She marveled at McDonald’s inaugural record breaking. She said her performance was one of the many inspiring moments common at these games.

“You come out and you watch these women like Morgan. This is her first year and she’s already broken a field record. That’s impressive I want to do that,” Neuterman said with a laugh.

Neuterman said that during the Weight for Distance event, everyone has their own throwing technique. The Highland Games have become a tradition for Neuterman with many familiar faces and plenty of friendly new ones each year.

“It’s like a competition but everybody here is like a big family. We’re all very encouraging of one another. It’s like, no matter how good or how bad you are, we love it,” Neuterman said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com