Wasilla seniors celebrate their journey to college level

WASILLA — Morgan Dampier and Jessica Pahkala have spent four years running down the same path. And even though they’re now set for different destinations, it was the journey they celebrated Thursday afternoon.

Amid a crowd filled with friends, family, coaches and teammates, Dampier and Pahkala each signed a National Letter of Intent to compete at the college level. Dampier will attend Sacramento State in Sacramento, Calif., and run for the Division I Hornets track and field team. Pahkala will attend Alaska Anchorage and be a member of the Division II Seawolves’ nationally-ranked cross-country and track and field squad.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Dampier said of the chance to sign her intent alongside Pahkala. “When I say I train every day, that doesn’t mean the team trains every day. That’s Jess and I putting in the time. She really deserves everything I think I deserve, because she’s been with me doing the same thing. It’s pretty special for her to be there.”

Dampier and Pahkala played integral roles in Wasilla’s rise to a state power in girls’ cross-country running and track. Both have been a part of three state championship teams, cross-country titles in 2010 and 2011, and the 2011 state track and field title. Dampier is a three-time individual state champion. She set the state record in the 800 meters as a sophomore and broke that record en route to another win as a junior. Dampier also won a state title in the 400 as a junior.

“These two girls, they come in and they work harder than anybody on the team,” Wasilla head coach Gary Howell said. “They push each other day in and day out, and I honestly don’t think they’d be as successful if they didn’t have each other.”

While it’s a big day for Dampier and Pahkala, Howell said it’s also a big day for the Warriors running programs.

“It’s a huge day,” Howell said. “To say it sets the bar very, very high is kind of an understatement. You’ve got a DI program and kind of a powerhouse DII program.”

Dampier has established her as one of the most promising runners Alaska has produced in recent memory. In addition to her three individual titles and three state team titles, she was also named the Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year for girls’ track and field following her junior year. She was courted by numerous top Division I programs throughout the country. Major schools such as Penn State, Ohio State, Florida, Kansas State and Illinois were among those very interested in Dampier. She was able to visit some of the schools on the list. And after the chance to reflect and consult those close to her, Dampier’s instincts led her to her choice — Sacramento State. Dampier said people were surprised she opted against the bigger universities.

“The biggest thing I’ve been hearing people tell me is, why not?” Dampier said. “But you can’t really explain to people what you saw when you went down there. I can let the idea of the big school dictate where I’m going. I’ve got to go with the gut feeling.”

Dampier said the program’s coaching staff factored heavily into her decision.

“They absolutely see my potential and have the upmost confidence in what I’ll be able to do,” Dampier said.

Howell said Dampier is the athlete the Sacramento State coaching staff coveted.

“They wanted her specifically,” Howell said.

Like Dampier, Pahkala said coaching proved to be a big part of her decision. She also considered programs in Oregon and Colorado, but the UAA coaches set the Seawolves apart.

“I really didn’t feel the connection like I did when I met with the coach from UAA,” Pahkala said.

Howell said UAA has long been interested in Pahkala, but initially no scholarship money was offered. That changed after a time trial in Anchorage.

“I put it on YouTube, and the next thing you know, they did have some cash,” Howell said.

Early in her prep career, Pahkala had no intention of running after high school. But that changed after her junior year.

“Coach Howell had actually said after the state track meet (last year), he told me I did so well, and you don’t want to run in college?” Pahkala said. “I thought about it throughout the whole summer and thought, actually I do want to run in college.”

Pahkala finished fifth in the 800 in the state championships as a junior and helped Wasilla’s 3,200-meter relay team finish second at the state meet. Dampier was also on the relay team.

In cross-country, both Pahkala and Dampier finished with a time of 19 minutes and 59 seconds in the state meet, helping Wasilla win the team title. Pahkala was 16th in the Region III Championships.

UAA has become nationally recognized in cross-country and track and field. Howell said Pahkla has a tremendous opportunity to have success with the Seawolves.

“She doesn’t just have potential to make the team, but score some points,” Howell said. “That’s a great program. To be part of a developing, positive program, that’s a huge thing.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.