Wasilla's All-American

WASILLA — On a crisp autumn day at Bartlett High School, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, Jessica Pahkala stood among a pack of her teammates at the starting line of the 4A girls’ race of the ASAA/First National Bank State Cross-Country Running Championships. Pahkala, who helped the Wasilla Warriors win the second of their three straight 4A girls’ cross-country running team titles that day, was part of Wasilla running dynasty.

Between 2010 and 2013, the Warriors captured three straight girls’ cross-country state team titles and three consecutive girls’ track and field state team titles. And Pahkala was a big part of that success, helping the Wasilla running squads earn both a cross-country and track and field team title in each of her junior and senior years.

Now fast-forward five years.

Following a stellar running career at UAA, the four-year All-American with the Seawolves has a new role with her alma mater. On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, Pahkala will be back at Bartlett High School. But this time, Pahkala will be helping to lead the Warrior runners from a different vantage point as an assistant coach for the Warriors cross-country running program.

Wasilla’s All-American

Pahkala, a 2012 graduate of Wasilla High School, enjoyed quite the athletic career at UAA, competing in the NCAA Division II National Championships in three different sports.

In cross-country, Pahkala ran with her Seawolves teammates at the NCAA Division II National Championships in each of the final three years of her career. She was part of a team that finished fourth in the team standings once and eighth twice during those three years.

In indoor track and field, Pahkala was a four-time All-American as a member of UAA’s distance medley relay team. As a senior, she helped her distance medley relay team break a school record.

In outdoor track and field, Pahkala competed in the NCAA Division II National Championships in the 1,500 meters as a junior she competed in the 800 meters.

Pahkala also excelled in the classroom, graduating cum laude with a degree in criminal justice. She was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic in multiple sports for three straight years, and logged a 4.0 grade point average as a senior.

Life after college, and a return to WHS

Following her college graduation earlier this year, Pahkala wasn’t quite sure where life would take her. Her current journey included an offer from one of her high school coaches, Wasilla running mentor Leslie Varys.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next,” Pahkala said recently.

Heading into the 2016 high school season, Varys had a hole in her staff. Former Wasilla head coach Gary Howell and Varys coached Pahkala during her high school career, and Varys reached out to her former runner.

“She asked about my plans for the fall. I didn’t really have any. I thought it would be an awesome thing to do,” Pahkala said.

It didn’t take long for Pahkala’s return to be a hit with the Warriors, Varys said. From perspective, to experience to personality, Varys said Pahkala’s homecoming proved to be an instant success.

“She’s always got this positive outlook,” Varys said.

And the experience.

“Fresh out of college, she brings a fresh perspective to training,” Varys said.

During Pahkala’s four years with the UAA running programs, Varys would use Pahkala as an example, a success story, a Wasilla athlete running to great success at the college level. Now, Pahkala is around to tell her own story.

“It gives her some credibility right away,” Varys said. “We’ve been talking about Jess all the time. An awesome finish in a race, a crazy workout, they’d hear us talk about that. Now it’s in person. Living and breathing.”

While coaching may not have immediately been on her radar, Pahkala said she’s enjoying the moment.

“It’s more fun than I had imagined. It’s been really cool to be back,” Pahkala said.

Oct. 1, Pahkala will be back roaming the sidelines of a course she helped earn a state title for Wasilla. It’ll be part of a season that’s been loaded with nostalgia for Pahkala.

“Lots of flashbacks to lots of good memories,” Pahkala said.

Pahkala said she’s also tried to use her own past experiences help the current cast of Wasilla runners.

“It’s cool to be able to talk to the kids to strategize for the different races,” Pahkala said.

From one power to another

Pahkala’s career took her from one power, and led her to another.

“At first it was hard to really appreciate how dominant UAA was. We won a lot in high school. I was kind of used to it,” Pahkala said. “It’s kind of like I almost expected it.”

After listening to what longtime UAA running coach Michael Friess had to say, the weight of the situation began to sink in.

“Coach Friess always reminded us that this isn’t usual. This doesn’t happen to all teams. We need to sit down and appreciate all of the hard work, and the opportunity to be part of such a dominant team,” Pahkala said.

That sentiment stuck with Pahkala.

“I feel very fortunate,” Pahkala said. “Part of the reason UAA is really successful is the coach. He knows how to recruit good athletes. Being a person he recruited, I feel very fortunate. I feel very fortunate to have played some role in that success, had an opportunity to train with those top-level athletes.

“I’m very fortunate to have had that experience.”

When she inked her National Letter of Intent during a ceremony in front of friends and family during her senior year at Wasilla High, Pahkala said she never could have predicted what would be ahead of her.

“I never would have dreamed,” said Pahkala, who made her first trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships as a freshman and member of UAA’s women’s distance medley relay team.

That trip would make the first of four straight years in which Pahkala would be named an All-American in that event.

“Not only once, but four times. That doesn’t happen to most teams,” Pahkala said.

Her future

Pahkala graduated cum laude with a degree in legal studies and a minor in history.

While she’s not exactly sure the exact field she’ll pursue, she said, but has options.

Law school is a possibility.

As far as coaching, Pahkala said she’s not sure where this path would lead her.

But she did hint at an option.

“If Leslie asked to coach track, I’d probably say yes,” Pahkala said.

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