Often garners GNAC sportsman award July 25, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in skiing.Tags: Alaska, Einar Often, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, skiing, sportsmanship, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Einar Often, the Nanook skier who sacrificed his own chances at an NCAA berth so that his teammate, Ray Sabo could qualify, was awarded the GNAC’s Sportsmanship award. He and Central Washington University’s Mallory Holtman, are now in the running for the NCAA sportsmanship award.
Often made the news in early March, when, during the final qualifying race of the season, teammate Ray Sabo broke a ski pole. Often, knowing that Sabo was “on the bubble” (as he was himself), and that if Sabo didn’t keep up at that point in the race, he wouldn’t recover his position, gave Sabo his own ski pole. Sabo went on to finish eighth and qualify for the NCAA championships.
Holtman, a softball player, and her teammates, carried a Western Oregon University player around the bases when she tore her ACL rounding first base on a home run. WOU won the game and went on to win the GNAC title.
Swimmers land recruit July 24, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in swimming.Tags: Alaska, Fairbanks, Nanooks, Naomi Franquelin, PCSC, swimming, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Naomi Franquelin, of Kodiak, has been signed by the Nanooks’ swimming program. Coach Scott Lemley expects Franquelin to do well in the 200 and 400 relays.
Strle plans to reallocate TOWC funds July 22, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in men's basketball.Tags: Alaska, basketball, Fairbanks, Nanooks, Terry Strle, Top of the World Classic, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Since the Top of the World Classic’s cancellation earlier this month, Fairbanks city Mayor Terry Strle has notified the City Council that she plans on reallocating the city funds dedicated to the tournament towards the Community Service Patrol.
It was my understanding that the funding that UAF got from the city was all bed tax revenue from hotels (since the tournament brought in so many people who stayed in hotels). I don’t see how the tournament being canceled justifies using bed tax money for the CSP. Although I may be wrong, all of the funds may not come from the tax.
Smith is in town July 21, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in women's basketball.Tags: Alaska, coach, Darryl Smith, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, women's basketball
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Newly-hired women's basketball coach Darryl Smith tells a joke at his welcoming press conference/reception.
Newly-hired women’s basketball coach Darryl Smith is in Fairbanks. The Athletic Department held a welcoming reception/press conference for Smith this morning. I got to attend and will be putting together some of the highlights (text and audio) a little later, as I have an assignment for class to work on. Smith definitely has a sense of humor and was very open and friendly.
More later.
Updated 11:42 a.m. Tues, July 22.-
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner article about Smith’s arrival. The first paragraph is what AD Forrest Karr hoped wouldn’t make it into the paper.
More on DelCastillo record request July 20, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, Fairbanks, hockey, Nanooks, UAF, Doc DelCastillo, University of Alaska Fairbanks, records request, coach resignation
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I believe this is an editorial related to the records request around former hockey coach Doc DelCastillo’s “resignation,” since it has no author. It also doesn’t offer much more information, as it is an editorial (opinion) and there has been no more progress on the records request since yesterday’s article. It’s an interesting commentary, as are the community comments, as usual.
DelCastillo’s resignation questioned by News-Miner July 18, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, Fairbanks, hockey, Nanooks, UAF, Doc DelCastillo, University of Alaska Fairbanks, resignation, UAF hockey coach
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This article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner outlines its Freedom of Information Act request to the athletic department for some documents related to former head hockey coach Doc DelCastillo’s resignation. The article cites a letter from vice-chancellor Jake Poole, that lists some of the items that may be released in the request’s appeal. Some of those items include:
an e-mail from an administrator regarding a student communication; “chancellor notes of a conversation with observer;” an e-mail from a student; “handwritten notes from student;” e-mail interchanges between Poole and Karr regarding a meeting with DelCastillo and a summary of evaluation comments by players.
The Sun Star also filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Athletic Department. I believe that we did receive a response, though it is my understanding that DelCastillo’s contract was all that was received. I have contacted the former editor to see if she knows where the file ended up, as I have not run across it yet in the office.
Volleyball schedule set July 16, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in volleyball.Tags: Alaska, Fairbanks, GNAC, Nanooks, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks, volleyball, volleyball schedule
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The Nanook volleyball squad will be seeing 15 home games this season, and a lot more action from outside the Western part of the nation.
The Nanooks open their preseason with a pair of exhibitions August 22 and 23 against the Fairbanks Flyers and the alumni, and the following weekend (Aug 29-30) with a pair against Central Missouri State.
See the full schedule here
Sokaitis to coach Alaska ABA expansion team July 15, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in men's basketball.Tags: ABA, Al Sokaitis, Alaska, Alaska Dream, Anchorage, basketball, Fairbanks, Nanooks, UAF
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Though former Nanook men’s basketball coach Al Sokaitis didn’t get the head women’s coach position with the Nanooks, it didn’t take him long to make headlines in another coaching position. The Anchorage Daily News has an article about Sokaitis taking the reigns of the newly-formed Alaska Dream, an ABA expansion team scheduled to take to the court in December.
Fairbanks-Anchorage rivalry featured on ESPN July 11, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in Uncategorized.Tags: Alaska, college rivalry, Fairbanks, Governor's Cup, Nanooks, rivalry, Seawolves, sports rivalry, UAA, UAF, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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This ESPN article highlights the rivalry between the Nanooks and the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. I hope the prestige of the rivalry keeps up, considering that the Governor’s Cup as we know it is gone. (I really don’t think that playing back-to-back games in each place will draw the fans like it used to).
Hockey adds goalie, defender July 9, 2008
Posted by sunstarsports in hockey.Tags: Alaska, CCHA, Fairbanks, hockey, Justin Daigle, Nanooks, Scott Greenham, UAF, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Today the Hockey team announced the signing of goalie Scott Greenham and offensive defenseman Justin Daigle. Here’s a News-Miner article on the signings.
Greenham tied for second in save percent average (.923) in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, and helped the Oakville Blades to their first RBC Cup Championship appearance (Canadian National Junior A Championship), the OPJHL Junior A crown and the Dudley Hewitt Cup title.
Here’s an article from Oakville Today, in which Greenham talks about the decision to come across North America to Alaska for four years. Greenham also had an issue, which I highlighted earlier, in which his 21st birthday came in the middle of the Dudley Hewitt Cup Central Canada junior A hockey championship tournament, and to continue playing for the team would require him to forgo a year of NCAA eligibility. He made the choice to keep his four years of eligibility at Alaska.
Daigle is reported to be the smallest Nanook defender since Felipe Larranaga, who last season played for the Alaska Aces out of Anchorage. He was the top-scoring defenseman for his team, the Okotoks Oilers, and the entire Alberta Junior Hockey League last season with 15 goals and 39 assists in 57 games. Hopefully he will be able to fill in some of the scoring power left vacant by the CCHA’s top offensive defenseman Tyler Eckford.
