Wasilla girls aim to make history in state meet

WASILLA — It could be a story of David and Goliath during the race for the girls title of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Track and Field Championships in Fairbanks this weekend.

And David, otherwise known as the Wasilla Warriors, could make history.

Wasilla, the two-time Northern Lights Conference champions, is expected to be in the running for its first state girls track and field title in school history. But to win the crown, the Warriors will probably have to best three-time defending state champion Dimond. The storyline could set up an exciting Saturday for spectators.

“But stressful for the coach,” Wasilla head coach Gary Howell joked on Wednesday. “The pressure is definitely on. This window of opportunity may never present itself again.”

To dethrone the Lynx, the Warriors will have to use their small, but talented, corps, to rival the platoon of athletes Dimond has to offer. Howell said with the advantage Dimond has in number of athletes, it makes it easier for the Lynx to be strategic.

“They don’t have to run their ‘A’ athletes in relays,” Howell said. “All we have are ‘A’ athletes.”

Howell will have a dozen to throw against the Lynx, and he’s certainly happy about the collection he has.

“We have fewer entrants than last year, but they’re ranked higher,” Howell said. “I think we’ll be more competitive.”

A pair of defending state champions will certainly help Wasilla’s cause. Junior Morgan Dampier is back ready to challenge the record she set in the 800 meters during the state meet last year. Sophomore Dajanae Harris also returns to defend her state title in the 100.

Dampier could make a little bit of state history herself. According to Howell, no athlete — boy or girl — has ever won both the 400 and 800 at the state meet. That’s because both of these races are run within a half-hour on the state meet schedule.

“It’s too close together,” Howell said. “It requires s much aerobic ability.”

But if anyone can do it, Howell said, it’s Dampier.

The junior has already accomplished it in the conference meet. Actually, Dampier won the 400, 800 and helped Wasilla finish first in a half-hour window during the NLC meet last week.

The Warriors also have senior Brianne Bohn, who swept the hurdle events at the NLC championships.

Mariah Burroughs, Jenna Ford and Cori Schleich also have the potential to score points for the Warriors. Each qualified in at least three events.

Junior Devon Teeling, the NLC champion in both the shot put and discus, will lead the Warrior boys into state. Teeling was the favorite to win the NLC shot put. And that’s exactly what he did. But he also exploded for a throw of 148 feet, 7 inches to win the discus.

“Devon’s only going to get better and better,” Howell said.

Colony also sports a defending state champion, senior Shellina Irwin.

Irwin returns to defend her shot put title, and will try to add a discus title as well. Irwin has won the shot put and discus in every meet she entered this year.

Senior Jim McCall leads the Palmer Moose into the state meet. McCall won NLC titles in the 100, 200 and long jump last week.

Mat-Su Valley state qualifiers

Colony (13 qualifiers)

Anthony Bricker: triple jump, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles; Trey Farber: discus; Cale Foster: long jump, 100, 200; Tracie Hann: 400, 3200 relay; Shellina Irwin: discus, shot put; Abby Jahn: 3200, 800, 3200 relay; Bailey Meier: 3200 relay; Audrey Michaelson: 3200, 1600, 800, 3200 relay; Brandon Schafer: 800; Rio Stewart: shot put; Taylor Stewart: triple jump, long jump; Mackenzie Thompson: 3200 relay; Renn Wright: shot put.

Houston (5)

Charlie Buzby: 100, 200; Colton Buzby: 400; Claire Gillespie: 100; Taylor Holen: 100, 200; Savanna James: discus, shot put.

Palmer (30)

Vincent Aumavae: 400 relay; Taylor Blake: shot put, 400 relay; Hana Bohman: 3200 relay; Deanna Cummings: 400 relay; Joe Day: 300 hurdles, 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Clarence Ess: 3200 relay; Chris Gardner: 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 1600 relay; AJ Gentz: 400 relay, 1600 relay; Sarah Houchen: 100, 400 relay, 1600 relay; Rachael Huffman: shot put; Jocob Inukai: 3200 relay; Mary Johns: 1600 relay; Ben King: 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Erin LaMere: shot put; Jim McCall: long jump, 100, 200, 400 relay; Mason Minturn: 800, 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Sarah Minturn: 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Chris Osiensky: 3200, 3200 relay; Joseph Provo: 400 relay; Kyle Scheibe: shot put, 400 relay; Ben Self: shot put; Kalene Smith: 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Thomas Smylie: 110 hurdles; David Sorensen: discus; Megan Southwick: 3200 relay; Jamie VanHoomissen: 400 relay; Kristen VanHoomissen: 400 relay; Amanda West: shot put; Tress Whitfield: 3200 relay; 400 relay; 1600 relay; Gretchen Winter: 400, 3200 relay, 1600 relay.

Wasilla (22)

Tyler Anderson: triple jump; Hilary Apangolook: 800 relay; Brianne Bohn: 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 800 relay; Mariah Burroughs: 3200, 1600, 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Andrew Cooley: 3200 relay; Morgan Dampier: 100, 400, 800, 3200 relay, 1600 relay, 800 relay; Jenna Ford: 3200, 1600, 3200 relay; Dajanae Harris: triple jump, 100, 200, 400 relay; Alyssa Hutchins: 800, 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Alexis Imoe: discus; Michael Johnston: 400; Connor Mattson: 3200 relay; Jessica Pahkala: 800, 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Josh Pahkala: 3200 relay; Mitchell Rilatos: triple jump; Mandi Ringgenberg: 3200 relay, 1600 relay; Noah Ripley: 3200 relay; Cori Schleich: 300 hurdles, 200, 800 relay; Alice Strick: triple jump, long jump; Devon Teeling: shot put, discus; Keith Thompson: 3200 relay; Haley Young: 800 relay, 1600 relay.