Alaska
AOTW Recap: Highlighting the best of the best from an incredible year for Alaska sports
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Trying to compile just how many stories Alaska’s athletes brought this year is a hard task for anyone.
Week after week, it seemed like the next moment, athlete, or accomplishment wouldn’t be topped. At least until another seven days later.
Now, with 2024 entering its final moments, its time for a final look at what made the last 52 weeks truly special for the 49th state.
Jan. 9, 2024 – Emily Robinson
A young pup in a field full of big dogs, 16-year-old Emily Robinson went from underdog to top dog by beating out past Iditarod champions to claim the 2024 Knik 200 title.
Jan. 23 – Jessica Johnson
UAA gymnast Jessica Johnson has had quite a college career. From standout highs to tough lows, the Seawolf leader showed everyone what hard work and perseverance can do on Sunday at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Jan. 30 – Zoie Campbell
Campbell is sought after to stand in the net for good reason. She has allowed just three goals in two undefeated seasons in the girls high school hockey league, while also excelling in games against boys. Campbell recorded 15 saves in a win against the defending state champions, before posting a shutout conference win against Service in the 2023-24 regular-season finale.
Feb. 6 – Aryanna and Harvey Watson
Aryanna and Harvey Watson haven’t been with Service Cougars for very long, but their combined impact on the girls basketball program is already being felt.
Feb. 14 – Henry Sholton
Two goals and an assist away from the hat trick from Henry Sholton helped the West Eagles soar past Dimond 3-2 in the 2023-24 hockey state championship.
Feb. 20 – Gus Schumacher
It’s been over 20 years since the World Cup found itself on American snow, and even longer since a skier donning the red, white and blue had won a distance event at the premier ski event, but Schumacher played a role in putting an end to those streaks in Minnesota.
Feb. 27 – Murphy Kimball
Current UAA skier Murphy Kimball made history at the World Cup before winning an Alaska state championship just two weeks later with the West Anchorage Eagles.
March 6 – Kinsey Dufour, Zophia Lucero and Kadence Rodgers
Kinsey Dufour, Zophia Lucero and Kadence Rodgers had already earned one Arctic Winter Games gold medal, and the futsal trio were able to claim another.
March 14 – Dallas Seavey and his dogs Aero and Sebastian
The veteran musher smiled for pictures with his lead dogs, Aero and Sebastian, tucked under each one of his arms. It was only appropriate for the dog duo to bask in glory after helping Seavey become the all-time winningest musher of The Last Great Race.
March 19 – Hendrik Cumps
Petersburg basketball had come up short the last three seasons, but Hendrik Cumps made sure the fourth time was the charm.
March 26 – Finn Gregg, Richard Cross and Orson Hoogendorn
Finn Gregg and Richard Cross carried the scoring for the Nome Nanooks at the Class 3A state basketball tournament, but it was Orson Hoogendorn who hit possibly “the biggest shot in the history of our school” to seal the state title.
April 2 – Patrick Tolan
Anchorage’s Patrick Tolan scored a goal in his weekend debut with the Wolverines, a few weeks before graduating from South Anchorage High School.
April 10 – Jihsana Williams and Semaj Walker
The “Fastest Alaskan Award” is a coveted title handed out to the respective winners of the boys and girls 100-meter dash at the Big C Relays, and this year, both awards went to Chugiak High School runners.
April 17 – Alissa Pili
From a Dimond Lynx to a Minnesota Lynx, Anchorage’s Alissa Pili was selected 8th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
April 24th – Service Athletics
From bowling to basketball, Service athletes in eight different sports will be playing at all levels, from junior college up to NCAA Division I.
April 30 – Caelynn Carter
Wasilla sophomore Caelynn Carter’s new personal records shocked both herself and fans as Carter shined in the 2024 Native Youth Olympics.
May 7 – Meika Lee
There aren’t many high-level gymnasts in Alaska, but Meika Lee earned her right to be called one of the best.
May 22 – Tyson Gilbert
Between his 2020 Anchorage arrival and his final college basketball game earlier this year, Tyson Gilbert became a star player for the UAA Seawolves. But it was off the court that the recent graduate made his biggest mark.
May 28 – Andrew Arthur
In the span of four weeks, Soldotna’s Andrew Arthur was drafted to junior hockey and scored a hat trick in the state soccer championship.
June 4 – Jake Rafferty
Service senior Jake Rafferty batted 2-4 with 2 RBI’s while also pitching 6.2 IP, 7 strikeouts, and 1 earned run to help lead the Cougars to the 5-1 State Championship victory over Eagle River.
June 11 – Clair DeGeorge
Alaskan hockey player Clair DeGeorge just celebrated her 25th birthday and winning the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Walter Cup.
June 18 – Dylan Marx
Sitka High School alum and Glacier Pilots player Dylan Marx put the show in showcase for Major League scouts.
July 2 – Joshua Caleb
Joshua Caleb, a sprinter at the University of Alaska Anchorage, is on his way to shattering the Seawolf record books and helping his family back home in Nigeria.
July 9 – Davis Norris
Fairbanks’ David Norris smashed his previous record time at Mount Marathon eight years after he first set it in 2016.
July 16 – Levi Hopkins
Palmer wrestler Levi Hopkins bet on himself, which his how he went from Alaska State Champion to U23 Pan-American Gold medalist.
July 24 – Coen Niclai
Coen Niclai’s talent couldn’t be ignored any longer. His power at the plate as a hitter — and poise behind it as a catcher — had to be witnessed by MLB scouts in person. This spring, scouts from organizations like the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins made the trip to the Last Frontier to watch the Service senior in action.
July 26 – Alev Kelter
After trips to both Rio and Tokyo, Eagle River rugby plater Alev Kelter for Paris in pursuit of an Olympic medal.
July 30 – Kendall Kramer and David Norris
Coming off top-two finishes at Mount Marathon 2024, this pair of Fairbanks runners tore up the mud-soaked course in Alyeska.
Aug. 6 – Alaska’s Olympians
The state of Alaska occupies an Olympic podium all on its own following the 2024 Paris Games.
Aug. 15 – Keira DeLand
Keira DeLand is swapping out Alaska’s mountains for the rolling hills of Tennessee. Leaving the state on a golf scholarship.
Aug. 20 – Taurian and Cassidy Phillip
Taurian and Cassidy Phillip exploded onto the scene for Service High in Week 1 of the Alaska high school football season.
Aug. 28 – Deuce and Simeon Alailefaleula
Over two decades ago, Tui Alailefaleula was the Defensive Player of the Year while playing for the Bartlett Golden Bears. Now, son, Deuce, and nephew, Simeon, are eager to add to the family legacy.
Sept. 3 – Kade Russell
The latest in a long line of athletes, Kade Russell showed he can live up to the family name vs Barrow.
Sept. 10 – Cayden Pili
Living up to his family legacy, junior quarterback Cayden Pili lead Dimond football to heights not seen in decades.
Sept. 17 – Nolan Farr
Eagle River’s Nolan Farr is Alaska’s only 3-star prospect and has the Wolves on the prowl in the second half of the season.
Sept. 24 – East Anchorage Football
East Anchorage outlasted Bartlett 50-48 in a six-overtime thriller to retain “The Boot” trophy in honor of Aano Filaoialii.
Oct. 2 – Katahdin Staples
Katahdin Staples is one of the fastest long-distance runners in the state as a sophomore, making history as East Anchorage’s first state cross-country champion since 1974.
Oct. 8 – 2024 XC state championship winners
Hundreds of the Alaska’s top prep runners competed at the 2024 Cross Country State Championship Meet with these athletes outrunning expectations Saturday on the Bartlett Trails.
Oct. 15 – Ronan Bickling and Emerson Cross
The Seward duo helped lead the Seahawks to their second state title in as many years.
Oct. 21 – Jaxon Snaric
Homer’s Jaxon Snaric was born with Poland syndrome, but that didn’t prevent him from making the biggest play in the Div. III state championship game.
Oct. 28 – Lokeni Wong
Following losses to the Lathrop Malamutes in both his freshman and sophomore years, Soldotna’s Lokeni Wong helped the Stars avenge their First National Bowl woes in the 2024 Division II state title game.
Nov. 4 – Roberto Henriquez and Jackson Stimple
Trailing 4-2 with a period left to play, a pair of Anchorage Wolverines skaters helped bring the team back into the win column.
Nov. 11 – Wes Mank
Eagle River’s Wes Mank reset the boys 100-yard backstroke swimming state record with a time of 48.65 seconds, breaking the previous record set by him at the 2023 state meet.
Nov. 18 – Nikiski Volleyball
The Nikiski volleyball program completed an improbable run through the Class 3A state tournament by dethroning the Kenai Kardinals in an “if-necessary” match.
Nov. 25 – Kadyn Osborne
Finishing her career in the same building where she once competed for state titles, UAA’s Kadyn Osborne is leaving the court with one last victory.
Dec. 2 – Taisetsu Ushio
He first caught the Wolverines’ attention because of his goal-scoring prowess. Now, he’s one of the best players on an Anchorage team looking to get back to the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
Dec. 9 – Teagan Lockwood
Teagan Lockwood, 22, was chosen to represent the United States at the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy.
Dec. 16 – Bishop Tosi and Hasaan Herrington
Growing up as opponents on the East side of Anchorage, Bishop Tosi and Hasaan Herrington have teamed up to star for their hometown University.
Dec. 24 – Keasiya Luedde
A year ago, Service hadn’t celebrated a state champion wrestler since 2016. Now, the program has two in the last two seasons.
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The 2026 Alaska high school girls basketball state championships begin this week, and High School On SI has brackets for all four classifications.
The brackets will be updated with scores and matchups throughout the week.
All four classifications will play their state championship games at Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
The 1A and 2A championships run March 11-14. Classes 3A and 4A play the following week, March 18-21.
Alaska High School Girls Basketball 2026 State Championship Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – March 10
3/11 – Shaktoolik (1) vs. Arlicaq (16)
3/11 – Kake (8) vs. Tri-Valley (9)
3/11 – Fort Yukon (4) vs. Andreafski (13)
3/11 – Sand Point (5) vs. Napaaqutgmiut (12)
3/11 – Scammon Bay (2) vs. Nunamiut (15)
3/11 – Akiuk Memorial (7) vs. Newhalen (10)
3/11 – Davis-Romoth (3) vs. Cook Inlet Academy (14)
3/11 – Hoonah (6) vs. Shishmaref (11)
3/12 – Seward (1) vs. Chevak (8)
3/12 – Metlakatla (4) vs. Cordova (5)
3/12 – Craig (2) vs. Susitna Valley (7)
3/12 – Glennallen (3) vs. Degnan (6)
3/18 – Barrow (1) vs. Kotzebue (8)
3/18 – Grace Christian (4) vs. Galena (5)
3/18 – Monroe Catholic (2) vs. Delta (7)
3/18 – Mt. Edgecumbe (3) vs. Kenai Central (6)
3/18 – Mountain City Christian Academy (1) vs. North Pole (8)
3/18 – Colony (4) vs. West (5)
3/18 – Bartlett (2) vs. Juneau-Douglas (7)
3/18 – Wasilla (3) vs. Service (6)
More Coverage from High School On SI
This is the Alaska Wall Tent by the Alaska Gear Company, each one is made in the United States from Sunforger 13oz DLX, a double-filled, pre-shrunk, marine-grade canvas ideal for longterm outdoor use.
The Alaska Wall Tent comes in an array of sizes and versions, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your individual use-case. They’re all individually made in Alaska, and perhaps even more importantly, they’re all tested extensively to be able to handle local conditions.
This is the Alaska Wall Tent by the Alaska Gear Company, each one is made in the United States from Sunforger 13oz DLX, a double-filled, pre-shrunk, marine-grade canvas ideal for longterm outdoor use.
History Speedrun: The Alaska Gear Company
The Alaska Gear Company was formerly known as Airframes Alaska, it’s an aviation and outdoor equipment supplier and manufacturer headquartered in Palmer, Alaska. The company is led by majority owner Sean McLaughlin, who bought the original bush airplane parts business when it had just two employees and $100,000 in annual revenue. McLaughlin has since grown it to approximately 100 employees and $20 million in annual sales.
The company can trace its early roots to a licensed maker of Piper PA-18 Super Cub fuselages at Birchwood Airport. Through a series of acquisitions, including Reeve Air Motive (an aircraft parts retailer operating out of Anchorage’s Merrill Field since 1950, Alaska Tent & Tarp, and Northern Sled Works, the company grew well beyond aviation into outdoor recreation and cold-weather gear.
That diversification ultimately drove the rebrand from Airframes Alaska to Alaska Gear Company in late 2023, as the old name no longer conveyed the full scope of what the company produces and sells.
The Alaska Gear Company now operates out of three locations – a 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Palmer, a production facility in Fairbanks, and a retail store with an in-house sewing workshop at Merrill Field in Anchorage.
Its product lines span two major categories. On the aviation side, the company is best known for its hand-built Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires, FAA-approved titanium landing gear, Super Cub fuselage modifications, and a wide range of bush plane parts. On the outdoor side, it manufactures Arctic Oven hot tents, canvas wall tents, custom freight and pulk sleds, and a modernized version of the iconic military bunny boot designed for extreme cold weather conditions.
More recently in 2024, the Alaska Gear Company was named “Made in Alaska Manufacturer of the Year” by the Alaska Department of Commerce.
The Alaska Wall Tent By The Alaska Gear Company
The Alaska Canvas Wall Tent is a handmade-in-Alaska canvas tent made from 13oz Sunforger DLX double-filled, preshrunk, marine-grade cotton canvas that’s treated to resist fire, water, and mildew while still remaining breathable.
It comes in four sizes, including 8×10, 10×12, 12×14, and 14×16 feet, all with 5-foot wall heights, and it’s available either unframed (starting at $1,295) or with a frame (starting at $2,300). The unframed version can be constructed in the field using lengths of wood sourced from the area, reducing the initial pack weight – this is crucial for trips into the wilderness by bush plane where every pound of weight is critical.
It comes in four sizes, including 8×10, 10×12, 12×14, and 14×16 feet, all with 5-foot wall heights, and it’s available either unframed (starting at $1,295) or with a frame (starting at $2,300). The unframed version can be constructed in the field using lengths of wood sourced from the area, reducing the initial pack weight – this is crucial for trips into the wilderness by bush plane where every pound of weight is critical.
All tents include a 4.5 inch oval stove jack for use with wood or propane stoves, as well as a 56 inch triangular rear window with insect screening, an 18oz vinyl sod cloth around the base to block drafts and moisture, ridgepole openings at both ends, rope-reinforced eaves, brass grommets, overlapping door flaps with ties, a heavy-duty zippered door, and 100 feet of sisal rope for tie-downs.
The tents are now available to buy direct from the Alaska Gear Company here, and at the time of writing they have stock ready to ship out immediately.
Images courtesy of the Alaska Gear Company
Articles that Ben Branch has written have been covered on CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more.
Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
The St. Elias Mountains in southeast Alaska are dotted with over 100 lakes where glaciers crumble into milky, turquoise water. Those lakes are expanding at an ever-quickening pace.
The lakes will quadruple in size over the next century or two, scientists report March 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This growth will transform landscapes, create new salmon habitat and may even change the course of a major river.
“We are seeing the great age of ice retreat” in Alaska, says Daniel McGrath, a glaciologist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. “These glaciers are just peeling back from the landscape,” revealing deep grooves they carved in the Earth, where lakes are now forming.
Glacial hydrologist Eran Hood of the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, who was not part of the study, adds that “understanding where these lakes are going to emerge is important” because it “changes the whole nature of the downstream ecosystem.”
Hugging the coastline along the Alaska-Canada border, the tiny mountainous region that includes the St. Elias Mountains is losing 60 cubic kilometers of ice per year. Because lakes absorb solar heat, the glaciers that shed ice into lakes are shrinking faster than those that terminate on dry land. Across southeast Alaska, these lakes attached to glaciers have expanded by 60 percent since 1986, reaching a combined area of 1,300 square kilometers.
McGrath and his colleagues wondered how far this runaway expansion might go. So, they combined satellite images with estimates of ice thickness — mapping deeply eroded grooves that are still hidden under glaciers.
The results were “eye-opening,” McGrath says. The team identified 4,200 square kilometers of glacier-covered grooves adjacent to existing lakes.
He and his colleagues predict that the lakes will continue to expand — causing rapid ice retreat — until they fill those grooves, reaching a combined size of around 5,500 square kilometers, an area the size of Delaware.
“By the end of this century, all of these lakes will probably be more or less fully developed,” says study coauthor Louis Sass III, a glaciologist with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Alaska Science Center in Anchorage. But those growing lakes are already reshaping entire landscapes in a way that is often overlooked in public discourse around glacier retreat.
Many of Alaska’s glaciers terminate on dry land, and their meltwater often creates barren, rocky floodplains downstream, where the streams alternate between trickles and floods — constantly branching and shifting course as they lay down sediment released by the glacier.
“Those habitats are fairly inhospitable for a lot of fish,” including some salmon, says Jonathan Moore, an aquatic ecologist with Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada. The water is too cold, and fish eggs “get swept out or buried by the floods every year.”
But as glaciers retreat into lakes and those lakes expand, their meltwater has time to drop its sediment and warm a few degrees in the lake before spilling into a river. Rivers that carry less sediment are less prone to shifting channels.
A 2025 study by Moore and remote sensing scientist Diane Whited of the University of Montana found that as glacial lakes expanded over 38 years in southeast Alaska, the downstream river channels stabilized, allowing willows and bushes to spread across floodplains.
“It creates salmon habitat,” Hood says. A 2021 study by Moore and Hood predicted that by 2100, glacial retreat in southeast Alaska will transform 6,000 kilometers of river channels into decent habitat for some local species of salmon. The lakes themselves will create spawning grounds for sockeye salmon — an important commercial species.
But these changes will come with upheaval.
For instance, one major river, the Alsek, will probably shift its course as retreating glaciers cause two lakes to merge, providing an easier path to the ocean.
People in Juneau are feeling another dramatic effect of expanding lakes. At least once per year, a lake dammed by the nearby Mendenhall Glacier spills out in a flash flood that gushes through town, forcing some residents to build protective levees around their homes.
These ecosystems “are going to be transformed,” Moore says. “But that transformation is going to be pretty violent and pretty dangerous.”
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