After main the Colony Excessive soccer workforce to the primary Division I Alaska state championship in class historical past within the fall of 2022, Jack Nash turned the third participant in program historical past to be named Gatorade Alaska Soccer Participant of the Yr on Friday.
“Profitable Gatorade Participant of the 12 months has all the time been a dream of mine,” Nash mentioned. “Being that third is an honor.”
The award not solely acknowledges a student-athlete for his or her phenomenal feats of athleticism, it additionally takes under consideration excellent educational achievement and extraordinary character exemplified on and off the sphere.
Nash maintained a 3.4 GPA and volunteered domestically as member of his college’s scholar authorities and management packages in addition to a soccer coach within the space Pop Warner program.
This distinction makes him a finalist for the nationwide Gatorade Nationwide Soccer Participant of the Yr award, to be introduced later this month.
Some notable recipients of the award from its earlier 37 years embrace former No. 1 total NFL Draft picks Matthew Stafford and Trevor Lawrence in addition to three-time Tremendous Bowl champion, Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee and NFL all-time main rusher Emmitt Smith.
Nash led the cost for the Knights on each side of the ball because the workforce’s beginning quarterback and free security. On offense, he recorded 2,656 whole yards and 34 touchdowns. On protection, he logged 104 tackles and led the whole state in interceptions with 12, together with three that have been returned for touchdowns.
“We knew he had a extremely good 12 months, there are a number of nice athletes on the market and I do know statistics aren’t all the things, however the best way he performed on each side of the ball, he was a whole and unimaginable soccer participant,” Colony head coach Robbie Nash mentioned.
His storybook season additionally resulted in him being named Co-Offensive Participant of the Yr for Alaska, Defensive Participant of the Yr for Alaska, and Alaska Maxpreps Participant of the Yr.
“My brothers have gone by means of Colony’s program and I’m simply that little brother that has all the time been there watching, and it’s actually like a dream come true having this all occur,” Nash mentioned.
Through the common season, Nash break up the Offensive Participant of the Yr award with Niko Alailefaleula of Bartlett. Each have been in rivalry for this honor, and whereas each carried out at an elite degree within the postseason, Colony’s shining Knight took his recreation up one other notch.
“I knew it was coming all the way down to these two however as soon as we bought to the playoffs, Jack caught on fireplace and he knew nothing would burn out,” Robbie Nash mentioned.
Jack Nash mentioned he’s glad that he was capable of make his household and the extraordinarily tight-knit Palmer group happy with him along with his accomplishments on and off the sphere this previous fall.
“This can be a lot smaller city than Anchorage, so all people sort of is aware of all people, so that they’re all fairly grateful and blissful that I received it,” Nash mentioned.