Women’s bball coach resigns June 24, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in men's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, women's basketball
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Women’s basketball coach Darryl Smith stepped down this week, and has been replaced by Hutchison High School coach Dave Thompson as an interim, according to this release.
Here’s the News-Miner’s story.
Thompson, a UAF alumnus, led Hutchison high school to the 3A state championship this season. Two (or three?) of his former players will be on the men’s team next season. When I did my internship with the News-Miner, I wrote about a lot of Hutch basketball and Coach Thompson was always great.
An ideal conference matchup? June 18, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, Fairbanks, hockey, Nanooks, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, WCHA
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In Danny Martin’s ideal hockey world, the conferences would look much different.
Women’s BBall voted GNAC sportswomen June 17, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in women's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, NCAA, sportsmanship, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, women's basketball
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The Alaska women’s basketball team was recently voted as the GNAC’s selection for sportswomen of the year. By season’s end, only three of the original 12 players were still with the team, due to departures, and largely injuries. However, the Nanooks kept their spirits up and brought heart to every game. A few volleyball players and other UAF students with basketball experience jumped on the team and kept it going to the end. I believe they even had a few pretty close ones there too (and a couple blowouts as well).
The team will be entered into the NCAA’s Div. II pool, which awards one award for a male (or team) and one for a female (or team). Last season, Alaska skier Einar Often was awarded the Div. II men’s sportsmanship award for giving a ski pole to a teammate who had broken one in his final qualifying race.
Nanooks considering WCHA move? June 10, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, Fairbanks, hockey, Nanooks, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, WCHA
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In my lazy days of summer, I became less vigilant about checking “the grapevine,” UAF’s rumor mill-controller where people can ask questions and the person in charge of that area will answer them.
Apparently this one slipped by me. (okay so it’s not a direct link, but someone asked whether the Nanooks are moving to the WCHA and Forrest Karr answered that they were considering it and that Chancellor Rogers would be briefed May 27).
Here’s what Donald Dunlop, UAA Fanblogger has to say about it. And this is from USCHO.com.
Westerncollegehockeyblog touched on it in this linkorama post, and says that he doesn’t think some of Dunlop’s reasons makes sense, but then says why he thinks UNO doesn’t fit in the CCHA, not why UAF should not fit in the WCHA. He says that UNO isn’t Central because it’s the 7th-most western hockey program. Well, Fairbanks is at No. 2 in that category and Anchorage at No. 1, so how does Fairbanks not fit the WCHA. (He also says that UAA must be looking for a basement buddy, but with the Nanooks’ turnaround performance this past year, hopefully only better things are to come).
And what do I think of it? I’m not too opposed to it. As much as it would shake things up, that’s not always a bad thing. We’d get to play UAA more and travel less. As Karr said in the response, they’re considering: “the potential to increase revenue, reduce team travel costs, reduce team travel subsidies and the opportunity to play four league games each year against our natural in-state rival“
It obviously wouldn’t happen in this coming season, and then we’d almost surely have a “probation” year, but I think that it would cut travel costs greatly to go to Anchorage, Colorado and Minnesota rather than Nebraska, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
(Added June 12: News-Miner’s article)
Nanook program wins Mich. Emmy June 8, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, CCHA All-Access, Fairbanks, hockey, Nanooks, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Just a quick one here. CCHA All-Acces, a tv show produced by the Fox Sports Network, received two Emmy’s in Michigan. For Best series, the two-parter on the Nanooks in January won, as did the on camera talent of Michael Kosta.
Also, I’m going to try to show next year’s sports reporters the ropes of this thing and get them on here as soon as possible.
UAA fan suggests UAF join WCHA May 4, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, Fairbanks, Governor's Cup, hockey, Nanooks, UAA, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, WCHA
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No, that’s not the plan (as far as anyone knows) but with Bemidji State’s’s application to the WCHA making it an 11 team-conference (if accepted) and the WCHA extending the application date, presumably in search for a 12th team, UAA fan blogger Donald Dunlop is suggesting that UAF join the WCHA for reasons to benefit UAF, the WCHA, and the Nanook/Seawolf rivalry.
Pretty interesting…
People in, people out, as goes athletics May 1, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in cross country, hockey, men's basketball, swimming, women's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, CCHA, Fairbanks, GNAC, hockey, men's basketball, Nanooks, NCAA, PCSC, skiing, swimming, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, women's basketball
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Alright, there’s a bunch of links here, I’ll let them speak for themselves:
Women’s basketball signs two Eielson girls- I think the community will really like this influx of local talent, plus one player that formerly played for Coach Smith. Also, Colten Growden, a local recent signee for the men’s basketball team, broke his leg.
The swim team signed North Pole grad Sarah Meierotto
The hockey team added two wings and a goalie, Steve Thompson, who’s from Anchorage. With the departure of nearly full-time starter Chad Johnson, I’d imagine that Thompson will at least start out fighting for a starting role, though I think Greenham has, in his limited play time (four shutouts) proved worthy.
The ski/running team has added one Estonian and lost another, gaining woman Marit Rjavob and losing Robert Pakk. Oyvind Watterdal, who was the only man to qualify for the NCAA championships in skiing, will also be returning to Norway, as he was on a one-year exchange. Assistant coach to the two teams, Ingrid Olson, is also leaving, as she will be going on to nursing school.
The men’s basketball team is losing big-man Mike Anderson, who hopes to load up on classes next year to graduate in May and go on to law school. Anderson didn’t have a huge role on the team, but in one game this year came out blazing, and improved from there on out, being voted the team’s most improved player. His departure leaves leading rebounder Nashorn Maynard as the Nanook with the most time put in at Fairbanks. Maynard joined the Nanooks in the Spring semester of 2008. Anderson, who towers at 6-8, is the fourth of the Nanooks’ tallest players to head out this season. Colin Matteson is graduating, his brother Evan and Kyle Rische are also leaving.
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I wonder if this surge of Alaska recruiting is also a tactic to save the department money by giving scholarships for in-state tuition. With the most recent signings for hockey, men’s and women’s basketball, skiing and swimming, I count eight Alaskans. I don’t think there were even eight Alaskans in the whole department this year (until you count in the last-minute additions to the women’s basketball team)… alright, there probably were eight Alaskans in the whole department, but certainly not from one recruit class, so early, I’m betting.
… alright I did the math and there were 42 Alaskans in the program this year (not including the last-minute additions to the WBB team). Some of them overlap from skiing and running, and many I don’t think competed (or competed much), but I guess I was wrong. It just seems like a lot all at once right now.
Ski team seeks assistant coach April 23, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in cross country, skiing.Tags: Alaska, CCSA, cross country, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, skiing, sports, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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The UAF assistant skiing and running coach, Ingrid Olson, is heading to nursing school, and the Nanooks are now looking for an assistant coach.
Also, the All-Sport banquet will be May 1 at the Princess Lodge. See the release for information on how to get tickets. Former Nanook hockey goaltender Keith Bartusch will emcee the event.
More Recruits- running/skiing/bball April 23, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in cross country, men's basketball, skiing.Tags: Alaska, basketball, CCSA, cross country, Fairbanks, GNAC, men's basketball, Nanooks, skiing, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Two more Fairbanks-area athletes have been added to Nanook rosters. Heather Edic, a runner/skier from Lathrop High School, led the Wolfpack to a first-place finish at the Region VI meet, and took sixth at state. In skiing she tied for first place in the Region VI meet with Marisa Rorabaugh of West Valley. She’s expecting to major in mechanical engineering.
For the men’s basketball team, Eielson player Colten Growden signed a NLI to play for the Nanooks next season. Growden racked up a career 1,000 (plus) points in his career at Eielson.
Recruits April 18, 2009
Posted by sunstarsports in skiing, volleyball.Tags: Alaska, CCSA, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, skiing, sports, UAA, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, volleyball
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The volleyball team recently announced the addition of libero Allison Oddy, of British Columbia, to next year’s roster.
Speaking of the volleyball team, I think this weekend they have an unofficial “spring league” matchup against UAA. The contest is taking place supposedly “Halfway” between Anchorage and here at Houston High School. Being from Houston myself (go Hawks!) I, and everyone else should know, that Houston is nowhere close to “halfway” between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s about an hour North of Anchorage and five hours south of Fairbanks (300 miles to 60 miles).
The skiing team signed Anchorage’s Tyler Kornfield, this year’s high school Classic champion. Kornfield’s sister Tamra also skied for the Nanooks and graduated in 2008.
