WHS senior named top player

WASILLA — The Wasilla Warriors have long recognized senior Paul Sliwa as a top player in the Northern Lights Conference. On Saturday, the conference coaches helped make it official.

Sliwa was named an NLC Co-Player of the Year alongside Jordan Edwards of Grace Christian.

“Paul is just an exceptional player,” Wasilla head coach Blake Livingston said recently. “I think he’s our conference’s best player.”

The University of Great Falls-bound center midfielder was honored by the league for the third straight season. He was named first-team All-NLC last season and second-team as a sophomore. Sliwa has been a standout throughout his four-year Wasilla varsity career.

“It’s really hard to define just one or two qualities (that make him special),” Livingston said. “He’s a complete player. He’s always making positive things happen out there.”

Sliwa scored arguably two of his team’s biggest goals of the season during a 2-1 win over Soldotna in the NLC quarterfinals last week. The Warriors were a mere minute away from the end of their season, trailing 1-0 in the 79th minute of the elimination-round game. In the final minute, Wasilla drew a penalty and Sliwa converted the penalty kick to knot the score at 1. That goal forced overtime, and in the final minute of overtime, Sliwa and the Warriors faced a similar scenario. Once again, Wasilla drew a penalty and once again Sliwa converted the penalty kick. That score gave the Warriors the 2-1 victory.

Wasilla senior goalkeeper Eli Tingstad was also named first-team. Senior Cameron Perry, junior Travis Patterson and sophomore Kyler Perry were all named second-team for the Warriors.

Colony placed four players on the first team and another on the second team. Seniors James Meaney, Hunter Fisher, Matt Kelly and Logan Basner were all named to the first team. Junior John Meaney earned second-team honors. Colony’s longtime mentor, Jeremy Johnson, was named the NLC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

Palmer senior Daniel Burton represented the Moose on the first team. Junior Aube Strickland netted second-team honors.

Wasilla landed three players on the girls’ first team and another on the second team.

Senior Ashlynn Frizzelle, senior Kendra Miner and junior Nikki Vanni were named first team, and Erin Murry was listed on the second team.

Palmer and Colony both placed two players on the first and second teams.

Palmer seniors Kendal Venzke and Megan Stark were named first-team for the Moose. Elliot Perkins and Miracle Burton were named second-team.

Senior Jamie Krediet and junior Brittany Anderson were named first-team for Colony, and freshman Jaden Chew and sophomore Ashley James were included on the second team.

All-Northern Lights

Conference

Boys NLC Co-Player of the Year: Paul Sliwa, Wasilla; Jordan Edwards, Grace.

Boys NLC Coach of the Year: Jeremy Johnson, Colony.

Boys All-NLC first team:

Tyler Houston, Grace; John Weber, Grace; Daniel Fullmer, Grace; James

Meaney, Colony; Hunter Fisher, Colony; Matt Kelly, Colony; Eli Tingstad,

Wasilla; Avery Palchikoff, Kenai; Stefan Krogseng, Nikiski; Logan Basner,

Colony; Daniel Burton, Palmer; Robin Glosser, Homer.

Boys All-NLC second team

Cameron Perry, Wasilla; Kyler Perry, Wasilla; Travis Patterson, Wasilla;

Turner Rodgers, Grace; Bryce Rodgers, Grace; John Meaney, Colony; Kyle

Wisner, Homer; Konstantin Reutov, Homer; Cory Carver, Soldotna; Tate

Syverson, Soldotna; Dawson Pearson, Soldotna; Auberin Strickland, Palmer.

All-Northern Lights

Conference

Girls NLC Player of Year: Kaili Sholin, Soldotna

Girls NLC Coach of Year: Mandy Adair, Nikiski.

Girls All-NLC first team:

Katelyn Houston, Grace; Ashlynn Frizzelle, Wasilla; Nikki Vanni, Wasilla; Shelby Toombs, Kenai; Kendra Miner, Wasilla; Alicia West, Skyview; Tamlyn Silva, Skyview; Angie Parrish, Nikiski; Kendal Venzke, Palmer; Megan Stark, Palmer; Jamie Krediet, Colony; Brittney Anderson, Colony; Kaitlyn Van Meter, Soldotna.

Girls All-NLC second team

Erin Muray, Wasilla; Sage Allen Grace; Cassie Ross, Kenai; Allie McGahan, Kenai; Nicole Tromblee, Sky; Brittany Tuttle, Nikiski; Elliot Perkins, Palmer; Miracle Burton, Palmer; Ashley James, Colony; Jaden Chew, Colony; Rebecca Satathite, Soldotna; Kylee Wolfe, Soldotna; Julie Litchfield, Soldotna.