Wasilla High recognizes college-bound student-athletes

WASILLA — A backstop on the softball diamond; the last line of defense on the volleyball court; a standout on the cross-country trails; and the three leaders of the varsity baseball program.

The accomplishments of a half-dozen Wasilla High School student-athletes were celebrated Tuesday night, during a ceremony recognizing each athlete’s opportunity to compete in their respective sport at the college level

Seniors Shelby Wallis (softball), Courtney Anthony (volleyball), Quincy Fuller (cross-country running), and Nolan Monaghan, Jeffrey Forster and Ryan Perkins (baseball) were each honored during Wasilla High’s Senior Signing Ceremony, the first of its kind hosted by Wasilla High.

Division III school catches

Warrior standout

A standout in the classroom, Wasilla senior Shelby Wallis has lofty academic goals she hopes to achieve at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. And to make it even better, Wallis will have a chance to play softball for the Division III Cougars.

“I’m very excited. For me, softball is more of a plus. If I could go to college and afford it, and get to play softball, it was the cherry on top,” Wallis said.

Clark boasts a small campus, a preference for Wallis, but more important she said, is the academic programs the university offers.

“There’s tons of opportunity for undergrad research and study abroad,” Wallis said. “It’s a very well-known undergrad research college. I’d really like to go into genetic research.”

Born into a baseball family, Wallis said the diamond sports have long been a part of her life.

“It’s a summer pastime for my whole family,” she said.

Wallis has been active in competitive softball since the eighth grade, and has stood behind the plate since helping fill a team need her freshman year.

“Ever since I’ve been a catcher,” Wallis said.

Defensive standout digs chance to play at next level

There was a time during her senior season at which Courtney Anthony wasn’t sure if she was going to pursue a chance to play volleyball at the collegiate level. But then things started coming together for Wasilla’s defensive specialist.

“Halfway through the season I didn’t want to play college ball, but I started to feel better about how I was playing and how I was improving,” Anthony said.

Anthony continued to get better and established herself as one of the top defensive players at the 4A level. Now, the Wasilla senior is ready to take her game to the next level. Anthony has committed to Edmonds Community College in Lynwood, Washington, and will play junior college volleyball for the Tritons.

“I feel comfortable and I want to play more,” Anthony said.

Anthony said he’s excited to extend her career in a defensive role on the volleyball court.

“At other positions, I’ve peaked. Libero or (defensive specialist) is where I have the most potential,” Anthony said.

Anthony said her goal is to perform well at Edmonds and earn an opportunity with a four-year program.

“My plan is to get my technique and skill better, so I can be at the (Division II) level, if possible DI,” Anthony said.

Fuller earns full ride

Quincy Fuller didn’t know a ton about Cameron University, a Division II school in Lawton, Oklahoma.

But it only took one email for Fuller to fall in love with the idea of running in Oklahoma.

Cameron offered Fuller, a Wasilla cross-country running standout, a full scholarship.

“The coach emailed me and offered me a full ride. When he said full ride, I said yes,” Fuller said.

Scoring a full scholarship in cross-country running was the farthest thing from Fuller’s mind four years ago. Fuller admits he was reluctant to even participate in the sport.

“Running wasn’t something I thought I’d get into, especially cross-country,” Fuller said.

But now, Fuller said he feels fortunate he was pushed to stay on the trail. Fuller capped his senior year with a seventh-place finish in the state tournament. He earned it with a career-best time of 16 minutes and 33 seconds in the boys’ 5,000 meters. He also finished third in the Region III Championships as a senior.

Fuller improved 32 spots in the individual standings from his junior to senior seasons.

Baseball trio moves forward

The Wasilla Warriors baseball program has three captains this season.

Tuesday night, all three — Jeffrey Forster, Nolan Monaghan and Ryan Perkins — celebrated their chance to play baseball at the next level.

“Their work ethic,” Wasilla head coach Ken Ottinger said about how his three captains stand out. “We don’t pick captains just because they’re seniors.”

Forster, a catcher, and Monaghan, Wasilla’s ace on the mound, both committed to Feather River Community College in Quincy, California.

“It’s pretty cool to see our battery going down and playing together for another two years,” Ottinger said.

Ottinger played collegiately in Feather River CC’s conference, the California Community College Athletic Association, and was a former player for Feather River CC head coach Terry Baumgartner.

“It’s a very competitive league. A lot of kids go play in that league and move onto Division I, Division II programs,” Ottinger said.

Monaghan said Feather River was the right fit for him.

“It’s a small town. All there is to do is play baseball. It’s a tight-knit team. All they do is baseball. That’s the environment I want to be in,” Monaghan said.

Forster said he’s excited about the chance to compete for the Feather River program with Monaghan.

“Growing up with him and playing baseball with him, going to college with him will be tremendous,” Forster said.

Perkins, a middle infielder, committed to Arizona Christian in Phoenix, Arizona.

Perkins, in his first year at Wasilla High, has long wanted to play college baseball.

“Ever since I learned what baseball was I wanted to play on the next level,” Perkins said.

Perkins said a couple of factors helped him pursue the opportunity to play in college. He said his dad has been a big motivator. His experience with Gamers Baseball Alaska, an Anchorage-based travel team, has also been a big help.

“I felt like I was an average player when I came into Gamers. It really helped me sharpen my skills,” Perkins said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.