Warriors celebrate anniversary of 1982 title team

March 25, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - Twenty-five years ago, a determined group of young women made history by becoming the first Wasilla girls basketball team to win a state basketball title.

With another Wasilla girls team competing in a state championship, members of that first groundbreaking squad gathered together for an emotional reunion Friday night at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

Eight of the 10 members of the 1982 Wasilla girls team - along with head coach Don Teeguarden and assistant Cordell Randall - were honored by the Alaska School Activities Association in a special ceremony held during the semifinal round of the large-schools tournament.

Among the group honored is Alaska Gov. Sarah (Heath) Palin, who has long cited that memorable run to the championship as a defining moment in her life.

Palin was a senior point guard on the team, and scored one point in the championship final - a final free-throw that finished off the Warriors' 58-53 win over Service High.

&#8220It changed my life,” Palin said following the ceremony.

Along with Palin Friday night were former Wasilla players Wanda (Strutko) Bitler, Susan (Elledge) Oakley, Amy (Fleckstein) Backus, Katy (Port) Allers, Kim (Burgess) Vrabec, Jackie Conn and Michelle (Carney) Overstreet.

Strutko and Heyde Kohring were the offensive stars of that 1982 team, which upset No. 1 East Anchorage 50-48 on the first day of the tournament, then took care of Lathrop 62-52 in the semifinals.

In the championship game (Strutko) Bitler scored 22 points to lead the Warriors, while Kohring added 20 in front of a large contingent of Valley supporters who traveled to the West High School gym for the game.

A Frontiersman newspaper account of the game described a mad scene as Wasilla fans stormed the court after the final buzzer.

&#8220The whole gym suddenly was filled with shouting, jumping, back slapping fans,” read a photo caption.

&#8220Basketball was huge,” Gov. (Heath) Palin said.

On Friday, (Strutko) Bitler - now a registered nurse in the Valley - said the lessons she learned playing high school basketball have carried over to today.

&#8220Teamwork, sportsmanship and the bonds you have with your fellow teammates carry over,” she said.

Wasilla wasn't favored to win the title in 1982 - the Warriors were young, with only three seniors - but (Heath) Palin said the team's close-knit bond ensured that they played hard on every possession.

&#8220We certainly weren't the most talented team. We were scrappers - tough and aggressive,” she said.

Being back together again brought back strong emotions for the members of the team. Many gathered together Thursday to watch a DVD of the original game tape, an event that (Strutko) Bitler said brought the old memories flooding back.

&#8220We still get goose bumps,” she said.

Many of the players said that getting together again provided a momentary window back into their youth.

&#8220We wanted to go do some lay-ups,” said Katy (Port) Allers, a private investigator living in North Dakota.

Many of the women still keep in touch with one another, and Gov. (Heath) Palin pointed out that every member of the team went on to receive a college degree.

She also said that being on a basketball court with her old friends made it seem almost like she was back in high school.

&#8220It feels like it was yesterday,” she said.

Not all the memories that came back for the players were especially pleasant ones, however. (Strutko) Bitler said Coach Teeguarden was famous for demanding the most out of his players, often pushing the Warriors to the limit - and beyond - in practice.

&#8220He pushed us so hard,” she said.

Looking back on that run to the title, Teeguarden - who now coaches in Colville, Washington - said what he's most proud of isn't necessarily winning state, but the role he helped play in the lives of the young women he coached.

&#8220They were special people 25 years ago and they're even more special now,” he said.

Not only did the gathering give the Wasilla players a chance to remember their glory days, it also gave Teeguarden the opportunity to return to his Alaska coaching roots and mingle with lots of old friends.

&#8220The whole weekend has been overwhelming,” he said.

Teeguarden said he was especially thankful for the opportunity to return for the ceremony, not only for the memories, but because it allowed him to spend all weekend hanging out at the gym doing what he loves most - watching high school basketball.

&#8220It's been really special,” he said. &#8220Heaven to me is spending time at a basketball tournament.”

Making the weekend even more special for everyone involved was the success of the Mat-Su basketball teams, which advanced three teams - the Wasilla girls, Wasilla boys and Colony boys - to the state finals.

As a member of the first Valley team to win a title (Colony and Palmer have since combined for five state titles), Gov. (Heath) Palin said she couldn't be happier to see the success of her hometown kids.

&#8220I know what a state championship means and I'm just so excited for these girls,” she said.

(Strutko) Bitler agreed, saying the experience of playing for a state title was something she knows this year's participants will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

&#8220It stays with you forever,” she said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com