Worth the wait

Some may be wondering why the Frontiersman is choosing to wait until the start of the 2009-2010 school year to profile the accomplishments of student-athletes from the class of 2008-09.

Funny story actually.

Typically, the Frontiersman would unveil the winners of its annual Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Student-Athlete of the Year Award in June. But this year, the boys winner — Colony High School graduate Collin Murphy — spent his summer on a fishing boat and had already hit the water once the selection was made.

So I opted to wait until Murphy returned to dry land before publishing this feature, because — frankly — profiling Murphy’s accomplishments is worth the wait.

Murphy and fellow-winner Allie Grazulis led a group of eight local nominees who all can boast tremendous success, both in athletics and academics, throughout their high school careers.

Last year, the Frontiersman chose to begin recognizing local senior student-athletes for their work in the classroom as well as on the field, court, rink or mat.

Officials from each of the major high schools in the area were asked to nominate their top male and female student-athlete who possessed at least a 3.5 grade point average, while participating in at least one varsity sport. The result was a cast of eight candidates who each serves as an undeniable example of a successful student-athlete.

There is a state champion, multiple region champions and four of the eight students nominated earned a 4.0 grade point average or higher.

Grazulis and Murphy shattered the 4.0 mark.

Grazulis hit 4.4 during the first semester of her senior year, and earned a 4.7 during her final semester.

Murphy finished with a perfect 5.0 GPA as a senior, earning an A letter grade in each of the classes on a schedule made up solely of advanced placement courses.

While the accomplishments of the other six nominees — Houston’s Kelsey Thamm, and Anthony Origer; Palmer’s Mikaela Bolling and Nick Stahler; and Wasilla’s Jenna Johnson and David Kennedy — are tremendous, Grazulis and Murphy have been named the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Student-Athlete of the Year for the class of 2008-09.

Congratulations to Grazulis and Murphy, as well as the other six nominees.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.