Anchorage Scholastic Bowling League Week Five
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The winter solstice is the shortest darkest day of the year. But on December 21st, the Mac Center in Eagle River was filled with light. Enthusiastic fans came to cheer on their favorite high school hockey team, and they brought gifts as well. Each year, the Mustangs and the Wolves take this opportunity to support a local charity. These rivals come to the game to win, but both teams know that this game is about more than just bragging rights.This year 500 items were collected for Covenant House. Gloves, socks, hair products, makeup, headphones, hats, cash, and baked goods were delivered the next day.This was a special night for some young skaters as well. Six players from the two Mustang Hockey Association Mites teams were invited to warm up with the high school players. Wolves and Mustang players had a great time, as did the Mites. When it was time to announce the lineup, they skated up to the blueline with their buddies in tow. Once players shook hands, and Mites were off the ice, it was time to get down to business.The game lived up to the hype and anticipated battle among friends.
Eagle River’s basketball teams are gearing up for another season as they build a legacy of excellence in the face of stiff competition from larger schools in the Anchorage School District and impart life lessons to athletes. Coach Sconiers of Chugiak High School (CHS) says, “I think basketball is a tremendous instrument for life,” saying that it teaches teamwork and other life skills they will need later. “Teaching and coaching go hand-in-hand,” Coach Landers of Gruening Middle School says, continuing by saying that coaching is the reason he pursued teaching. He loves seeing the smiles on athletes’ faces when they accomplish something they have never done before. For him, basketball also fills a void that some students might have in their lives.
Community and fierce competition define Eagle River’s wrestling teams. While the schools in Eagle River boast programs with state champions and titles, the sense of family from participating in such a challenging sport provides the primary draw for athletes and coaches. Austin Kraft, a senior at Eagle River High School (ERHS), says the thing he likes most about wrestling is that the wrestling community feels like a family. He explains, “I feel like it’s not just my school caring for me but the entire wrestling community caring for each other.”
The much anticipated National Bowl showdown between the Railbelt Conference champs, the Chugiak Mustangs and the Cook Inlet runner-ups, the Bartlett Golden Bears lived up to expectations. With game time 7:00pm the sun setting and the brisk temperatures at the Anchorage Football Stadium, you could see the players breath and a layer of fog hung over the field almost like a blanket. The first half action felt like the fans were watching a heavyweight prize fight with each team standing toe to toe trading punches.
Chugiak Mustangs scored early and often against the Service Cougars at the quarter-final game on Friday night with a final score of 63-27 The Mustangs hosted the Service Cougars on
High School sports in the Anchorage School District support a variety of charities. This October, our volleyball players show off their charitable spirit. If you walk into any high school gym this month you may be blinded by girls “digging pink” as part of their effort to bring awareness to breast cancer.
“GO! GO! GO!” The fans cheer as Chugiak scores. They are led by the hard-working Chugiak Cheer Team, whatever the weather - wind, rain or snow. Despite their own athleticism, the Chugiak cheer team does have some downtime while they await a playmaking cheer to get them moving. Even if they’re moving, it can get downright cold here in the 49th state. Often times, that means the girls are keeping the elements at bay with a just clear poncho over their uniforms.
You can’t always see a victory on the scoreboard. This spirit and attitude was exemplified when the Eagle River Wolves played the Bartlett Golden Bears in girls flag football on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Bartlett. After the game, team captain Corey Frazier, who scored both of the Wolves touchdowns said, “Our goal for this game was to score a touchdown, and we got two! It’s really a big thing.” A victory.
