Track and field state champions staying close to home highlight second round of Alaska’s high school senior signings

The University of Alaska Anchorage has become a popular destination for some of the state’s top track and field talent over the past two years. Many of them opted to become Seawolves instead of venturing out of state to continue their athletic careers.

There were 23 Alaskans on the program’s roster for the 2025 season, and 20 of them were underclassmen who joined the team in the last couple of years. Now, the number of elite homegrown talents on the team is set to increase for the third year in row as several local products have committed to be part of the Green and Gold’s 2025-26 recruiting class.

Among this year’s crop of incoming talent is a quartet of recently crowned state champions.

Ketchikan’s Jason Lorig is a three-time state champion in the Division I boys 100 meter race, and set a state record as a junior. Lorig nearly broke his own record as a senior with a first-place time of 10.82.

“I really like Alaska, I like living here and it will be a good experience to run up there with a lot of new people from Alaska,” he said.

Lorig started talking to the Seawolves coaching staff around October and was sold after he visited the campus.

“I really liked their program and I liked the coach and they produce a lot of talent there,” he said.

Lorig cited incredible success stories such as Joshua Caleb, who rewrote program and GNAC records over the past two years, as a major selling point.

“I think it’d be good for me to go up there,” Lorig said.

Homer’s Gracie Miotke won the Division II girls 100-meter race at state with a personal and school record time of 12.51. She was also on the Mariners’ 4×200 and 4×100 relay teams that claimed state titles and broke more school records in the process. However, her principal event at UAA will be women’s hurdles.

“I’m super excited to keep competing in Alaska,” she said. “I know that they have a super great program and I can’t wait to go run with them.”

Miotke started talking to the Seawolves this past winter, beginning with assistant coach Ray Shadowens. She went on an official visit and even after going to look at some other schools, UAA just felt like the right fit.

“I committed in November and haven’t looked back since,” Miotke said.

Bartlett’s Tyler Drake claimed his first Division I boys state title in the 110-meter hurdles this past season. The previous year as a junior, he came up short to multi-time state champion and 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year A.J. Szewczyk. Szewczyk, who is coming off his freshman year with the program, will soon be a teammate of Drake’s.

“I’m just so excited to compete in Alaska with all these athletes,” Drake said. “I think the top seven best (senior) athletes in the state are all going to UAA. It’s just such a great feeling knowing that we’re going to help build up the UAA program. It’s already at a great point, I just can’t wait to make it an even greater program.”

Seeing athletes he grew up with and recently competed against already in the program, Drake believes joining the UAA roster will essentially be like competing on an “Alaskan all-star team.”

“You’re competing against them all the time and not just one meet,” he said.

Drake started talking to the staff at the end of last year, and in February, he called up a coach and let him know that he was set on becoming a Seawolf.

Chugiak’s Alliyah Fields capped off her prep career by successfully defending both of her titles in the 400 and 800 meter races and was the anchor on the 4×400 relay team that won a title as well, with a school-record mark.

“We all pulled through and I just did my job as an anchor leg and ran as hard as I could to close the gap,” she said. “I did not expect to break a school record, but it felt amazing.”

While Fields is sad to be hanging up her spikes as a Mustang, she is excited to lace them up as a Seawolf, and at UAA she’ll be honing her skills and pushing past her limits with many familiar faces.

“I am very grateful that I will be training alongside with athletes I’ve been competing against my whole high school career and finally call them my teammates,” she said. “I had the chance to talk to some of the talented athletes that will be attending UAA. They are very good people and we’re all looking forward to running with each other.”

Fields first met UAA head track and field coach Chas Davis during her junior season and kept in touch with him throughout the process. She committed after hearing some firsthand testimonials and endorsements from athletes already in the program.

“I knew I wanted to compete for UAA when I got to know some of my future teammates in person,” Fields said. “They were very helpful to tour me around their campus and talk about some of their programs and training facilities.”

Other 2025 graduates who have also committed to join the UAA track and field team include Sitka’s Marina Dill and Dimond’s Sarah Dittman and Avery Campbell.

The Anchorage Daily News asked coaches, parents and student-athletes to report individual college commitments. The following list is a compilation of those responses along with reporting from ADN sports reporter Josh Reed. If you know of a local student-athlete who could be included in a future article on college commitments, email jreed@adn.com or sports@adn.com.

Juneau-Douglas

Kai Ciambor will be competing in soccer at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

West

Beckett Stolp will be competing in track and field at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.

Henry Carr will be competing in golf at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

Liam Hase will be competing in wrestling at Bismarck State College in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Piper Sears will be competing in cross country skiing at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Max Erickson will be competing in cross country running and track and field at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Merridy Littell will be competing in cross country skiing at Michigan Tech University in Houghton County, Michigan.

Marcus Walsted will be competing in cross country running and track and field at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Olivia Chichenoff will be competing in softball at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dylan Sanders will be competing in football at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

Colony

Kaidence Browning will be competing in softball at Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, New York.

Ridge Spencer will be competing in football at College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho.

Chugiak

Alliyah Fields will be competing in track and field at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Dimond

Aubree Ogee will be competing in softball at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon.

Ketchikan

Jason Lorig will be competing in track and field at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Homer

Gracie Miotke will be competing in track and field at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Bartlett

Tyler Drake will be competing in track and field at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Service

Nevaeh James will be competing in basketball at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Louisiana.

South

Jioni Walker will be competing in softball at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington.

Milly Wurst will be competing in softball at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Catie Newall will be competing in softball at Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Washington.

Bettye Davis East

Muhammed Sabally will be competing in basketball at University of Alaska Anchorage.

Deng Deng will be competing in basketball at University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Colony

Jonathan Figgins will be competing in football at University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, Wisconsin

Monroe Catholic

Shannel Kovalsky will be competing in basketball at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington.

Tucker Williams will be competing in basketball at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington.

West Valley

Layla Fields will be competing in track and field at Central Washington University in Kittitas County, Washington.

Zaire Stebbins will be competing in football at Victor Valley College in Victorville, California.

Devillain Mataia will be competing in flag football at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.

Lathrop

LillyAnne (Ruby) Tansy will be competing in volleyball at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Neveah Moreland will be competing in basketball at Nelson University Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona.

Wayne Snowden will be competing in football at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Geronimo Talo will be competing in football at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Kodiak

Amaya Rocheleau will be competing in swimming at California State University-East Bay in Hayward, California.

Valdez

Romen Weber will be competing in wrestling at Minnesota North College-Itasca in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Angelo (AJ) Tudela will be competing in wrestling at Minnesota North College-Itasca in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Hoonah

Krista Howland will be competing in wrestling at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas.