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More than 4,000 stories covering over 1,000 athletes since 2009!

WRITTEN BY VAN WILLIAMS

ALASKA ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

MAX GERMAIN

Max Germain of Anchorage shocked the biathlon world with a bronze medal at the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in Switzerland. In the youth sprint at the IBU Championships the previous two years he had placed 74th and 66th. But at the 7.5-kilometer sprint the 18 year old won the bronze medal after skiing strong and missing just one of his rifle shots. A total of 106 athletes from countries around the globe participated.

The winner is selected by a panel each Friday and announced Saturday at 11 a.m. on the Sports Guys on CBS Sports Radio 590AM and 96.7FM. View past winners here.

Monumental moment: Hebard, Pili go head-to-head in Pac-12

February 17, 2020

Ruthy Hebard and Alissa Pili

As generational players from the same era, Ruthy Hebard of Fairbanks and Alissa Pili of Anchorage will forever be linked.

Together they have lifted Alaska women's basketball to new heights.

And even though they did not face each other in the only year they were in high school at the same time, they both wound up in the Pac-12, so it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed.

Swayman stops 41 shots for Maine in first shutout since 2018

February 15, 2020

Jeremy Swayman

Anchorage's Jeremy Swayman turned aside all 41 shots he faced for the University of Maine to highlight a 1-0 win over the University of Connecticut in Hockey East.

Swayman made 17 saves in the second period on his way to posting his first shutout since 2018, when Maine blanked Boston University 3-0.

The junior netminder has a 6-1 record in his last seven games.

Sandin Kidder

Sandin Kidder of Anchorage made her first eight field goals on her way to recording her first double-double in her first season with the Humboldt State University women's basketball team.

The transfer finished 8-of-10 from the floor and posted season highs with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Lumberjacks dumped Cal State San Bernardino 107-62 in Arcata, California.

Hornbuckle plays OT hero again as Portland sweeps Chemeketa

February 14, 2020

Daniel Hornbuckle

Daniel Hornbuckle of Fairbanks played overtime hero for the second time against Chemeketa as the Portland Panthers earned the regular-season sweep between the NWAC schools.

The sophomore guard bagged 13 of his team-high 28 points in OT to lead his team to 110-105 victory.

A month ago, Hornbuckle had nine of his 23 points in OT as Portland won 89-85. He also drained a 40-foot 3-point on the final play of regulation to force overtime.

Hornbuckle, of West Valley High fame, ranks sixth in the NWAC in scoring at 26.1 points per game.

He has scored 25 points or more eight times in 19 games.

Led by Hawes, Alyeska's Freeride Team excels in Wyoming

Carson Hawes atop the podium

Undaunted by the steep and technical backcountry ski terrain - not to mention wind, cold and high altitude - the Alyeska Ski Club's Freeride Team excelled at a junior national International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association competition in Grand Targhee, Wyoming.

Carson Hawes led the way by winning the male Under 12 ski division. He scored 63.16 in two runs to top the runner-up from Montana by 0.6 points.

Local athletes talk about overcoming adversity at PLAAY Summit

February 13, 2020

Everybody gets knocked down in life. The secret to success is getting back up.

It's far from easy, but overcoming adversity can strengthen a person's drive to be great.

Off-the-field tragedies can push an athlete on the field, and rather than shutting down, they turn it up.

Alaska sports stars Dominick Meriweather, DaJonee Hale, Denali Strabel and Jalil Abdul-Bassit know all too well the story of redemption and will share their inspiring stories at the fifth annual PLAAY Summit.

Hendrix doesn't need scoreboard to tell him when to play hard

February 12, 2020

Vante Hendrix

Anchorage's Vante Hendrix plays to win, even when the scoreboard isn't in his favor.

The sophomore was the lone bright spot for the University of New Mexico men's basketball team in an 82-59 loss to undefeated San Diego State in the Mountain West.

Ashley Huffine

Ketchikan's Ashley Huffine scored four straight points at the end of the second quarter to give Centralia College some breathing room before the Blazers suffocated Tacoma in a 71-46 win.

Huffine carried that momentum into the second half with eight of her 15 points as she reached double figures for the fourth time in 23 games in the NWAC.

The freshman guard is averaging 5.1 points per game coming off the bench.

Frisk drives in go-ahead run, picks up save in Crookston debut

February 11, 2020

Kamryn Frisk

Anchorage's Kamryn Frisk couldn't have scripted a better beginning to her softball career at the University of Minnesota Crookston.

With her team trailing 4-3 in the fourth inning, Frisk was brought into the game as a pinch-hitter with two outs and the bases loaded.

Anchorage's Maxime Germain wasn't considered a podium contender at the recent IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

After all, the 18-year-old placed 38th at the opening event - the Youth 12.5K individual race - on Jan. 26.

And he'd placed 74th and 66th in the youth sprint at the IBU Championships the previous two years in Estonia and Slovakia.

Andrews upsets No. 1 seed en route to WCWA All-American nod

February 9, 2020

Agatha Andrews

Akiak's Agatha Andrews won All-American status for the second straight year at the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association Nationals in Marietta, Georgia.

The Jamestown University sophomore entered the tournament ranked No. 5 in the WCWA and upset the No. 1 seed in the semifinals to reach the finals at 191 pounds.

Andrews, of Mt. Edgecumbe High fame, dropped an 8-1 decision to second-ranked Alexandra Castillo of Campbellsville in the championship match.

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Thanks for Reading!

The Alaska Sports Blog is hosted by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and written by Van Williams, formerAnchorage Daily News sports editor. The goal of the blog is to bring positive attention to Alaskans making good in sports on the international, national and local levels and to provide a forum for public discussion.

We always welcome your input and story ideas!

Thanks,

Harlow

Harlow Robinson

Executive Director

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

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The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame is 501(c)3 non-profit organization guided by the mission to teach, honor and inspire

Healthy Futures is the signature program of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame. Healthy Futures is a community initiative committed to empowering Alaska's youth to build the habit of daily physical activity.