Warriors set goal on fourth straight state title

WASILLA — Call it an unwritten rule or just sports superstition, but you never talk about a no-hitter while a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter. It’s a rare feat in sports nobody wants to jinx.

The Wasilla Warriors girls cross-country running team is gunning for its own piece of history, eager to become only the second program to win a fourth straight 4A girls team title since the sport was separated into multiple classifications in 1985. But to the Warriors, the four-peat is not the elephant in the room, or the monkey on their back.

It’s what fuels Wasilla’s fire.

“It’s not taboo for us to talk about it. It motivates us,” first-year head coach Leslie Varys said after her team won the Bartlett State Preview race in Anchorage last week. “When something like that is possible, you have a dream to fulfill, you definitely want to talk about it.”

The Warriors aim to become only the second 4A girls squad to win four straight state titles since Alaska was split into two classes in 1985. West Valley won four straight from 1985-1988. Chugiak, East and West Valley each put together three straight state titles.

Service strung together five straight single classification state titles, competing against a limited field, 1973-1977.

Varys said the Warriors focus on each week, but always keep the big picture in mind. It’s exactly what the Warriors did as they raced to state titles from 2010-12.

Wasilla graduated three seniors who helped the Warriors win three state titles — Jenna Ford, Alysha Devine and Mandi Ringgenberg — and longtime head coach Gary Howell stepped down from his position following the 2012 season.

But the Warriors have welcomed a new class of talent ready to make an impact, and Howell decided during the offseason to return to the team as an assistant.

Part of Wasilla’s success during the last several seasons had was due with its knack for finding young talent with the ability to make an immediate impact. That trend continues with freshman Alex Mathis, who won the girls’ race of the Bartlett State Preview in her WHS debut.

“We’ve been fortunate. When we lose some top people we have another group of talented runners coming up,” Varys said. “A little bit of it is luck.”

Mathis recorded a time of 19 minutes, 31 seconds to win the race, billed as a preview of the 2013 state championships, which is also held at Bartlett High. Mathis finished nearly 20 seconds ahead of the runner-up in a field that featured four runners who placed in the top 7 at the state meet last year.

Mathis was also one of three Warriors to finish in the top 4. Junior Peggy Mathis, Alex’s older sister, was third and Mariah Burroughs finished fourth.

Varys said Burroughs has stepped up to become the senior leader of the squad.

“She’s done a phenomenal job with that, getting (teammates) motivated at practice, sharing strategy,” Varys said.

The Mathis sisters and the Burroughs sisters are expected to lead the Warriors on the trails. Peggy Mathis finished seventh in state as a sophomore. Mariah Burroughs was 11^th last season, and her younger sister, Riley, finished 25^th at state as a sophomore.

Varys said she was also impressed with another Warrior freshman, Riley McLellan, who clocked a time of 23:56 at Bartlett.

Varys is also excited about the work of the Wasilla boys, a team led by senior Brendon Lee, who finished 14^th last week at Bartlett.

“He put in a lot of miles this summer running, trying to take it to the next level,” Varys said.

Sophomore Karl Greathouse and senior Ryker Steiner are also among the runners working for top varsity positions on the boys’ team.

“We’re really trying to get them to focus on being a team, running as a pack,” Varys said.

Colony Knights

The Colony Knights boys team made its 2013 debut with a runner-up finish in the Bartlett State Preview last week. That finish, combined with a group of more than 40 runners on the overall roster, has first-year head coach Rhonda Knopp excited about the potential of her team.

“I’m very pleased. We have a great bunch of kids, really strong runners,” Knopp said. “We’re happy with Bartlett, but we have a lot to come.”

Senior Boaz Sessom led the Knights with a third-place finish at Bartlett last week, clocking a time of 16:56. Senior Lyon Kopsack (17:01) was fifth and senior Brandon Schafer (17:04) was sixth for the Knights.

“They’ve got the motivation. They’ve done their work. They’re ready for the season,” Knopp said.

The trio helped Colony run to a runner-up finish in the boys’ standings of the Region III meet last fall. Schafer was third at regions.

The girls team also finished as the region runner-up last year, but graduated its top two runners, including standout Audrey Michaelson, the 2012 state runner up.

Senior Bailey Meier is among the top Knights returning to the squad. Meier finished 14^th in the region last season. The Knights also return senior Tatjana Spaic, who led the Knights with a 23^rd-place finish at Bartlett last week. Junior Jocelyn Kopsack also returns.

Knopp is also excited about the potential of a pair of freshmen, Kathleen Powers and Elisabeth Bowker.

Bowker was Colony’s second runner across the line last Saturday, finishing just behind Spaic at 24^th. Powers will make her debut Saturday at the Skyview Invite.

“I’m excited to see what she can do in her first race,” Knopp said of Powers.

Palmer Moose

Palmer head coach John Bishop is excited about the number of runners on his team this season.

“I’m happy to field a full girls team this year,” Bishop said. “The entire group is real solid guys and girls.”

Senior Hana Bohman and junior Samantha Contreras should be the leaders on the girls’ side, Bishop said. Juniors Hayden Foster and Josh Klina could be among the top runners on the boys squad.

Foster is a transfer from Kodiak.

“We’re strong in juniors in both guys and girls,” Bishop said.

Schedule

After starting the season with the Bartlett State Preview last week, Valley teams will hit the Tsalteshi Trails for the annual Skyview Invitational in Soldotna Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to Skyview,” Knopp said. “It’s always fun to see how you stack up there.”

The season continues with the Colony Invitational Aug. 31 and the Palmer Invitational Sept. 7.

The Region III Championships are slated for Sept. 28 in Seward.