The Rewind: UAA women's basketball clinches GNAC title, Emily Robinson breaks Junior Iditarod record, Alaska skiers excel at regionals

Welcome to The Rewind, a weekly digest that puts a spotlight on the biggest stories and best performances from Alaska’s world of sports.

This past week featured several notable individual and team performances across the Alaska sports landscape at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. The 2024 high school basketball season saw the defending girls state champion at the 4A level suffer its first loss in almost a year. The high school cross-country season came to a close with a dominant showing from one particular program. On the college scene, the University of Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team continued to dominate and accomplished a pair of goals. Outside the state, several Alaskans had impressive performances and career achievements worth recognizing and celebrating.

Service's Talia Smith, left, leads teammate Mia Kam-Magruder around a bend during the 2025 ASAA Alaska State Cross Country Skiing Championships Girls 7.5-kilometer Mass Start race Friday, February 21, 2025 on the Jim Whisenhant Ski Trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo by Eric Engman)

Headlines and highlights

The postseason for the high school cross-country season officially came to a close this past week in Fairbanks, and Service dominated individual and team competitions. Both Skimeisters were not only Cougars but underclassmen. Freshman Talia Smith won the girls 5K interval start classic race on Thursday, came in second to her teammate Miya Kam-Magruder in the 7.5K freestyle mass start, and was on the relay team that secured the team title for her program. Meanwhile, Sophomore Jack Leveque swept both individual races in the boys' division.

“(They) are young, and hopefully have years of great races ahead of them,” Service assistant Rachel Zafren said in an email. “They all already race with the confidence and race-intelligence of older skiers.”

_ Leveque, Smith earn Skimeister titles as Service girls, Colony boys win state ski championships_ _

In high school hoops action, reigning 4A girls basketball state champion Wasilla had its 23-game win streak dating back to last season snapped by archrival Colony in a low-scoring 39-38 defeat on the road last Tuesday. The Knights were led to the upset victory over the Warriors by star senior guard Hallie Clark, who accounted for more than half of the team’s total on the scoreboard with 21 points, the last of which came on the game-winning 3-pointer in the final minutes.

UAA senior Tori Hollingshead attempts a rebound during the Seawolves' 87-64 home victory over Montana State Billings at the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Bill Roth/ ADN)

On the college scene, the UAA women’s basketball team didn’t just complete its mission of finishing the regular season undefeated at home but with a 99-51 thrashing of Seattle Pacific University on Saturday night, clinched the seventh GNAC title under head coach Ryan McCarthy since he took over the program in 2012-2013.

“Tonight was another step along the way to meeting our goals for the season,” he said in a statement. “The hard part is just beginning though, and we need to stay focused and keep improving as we head into the final weekend and the playoffs.”

The Seawolves were led to victory by a career night from senior forward/center Tori Hollingshead, who recorded a game- and career-high 26 points and 15 rebounds for her fifth straight double-double and ninth of the season. For her dominant performance, she was named GNAC Player of the Week for women’s basketball for the third time.

“Tori has continued to get better and better this season,” McCarthy stated. “She has been a difference-maker for us on both ends of the floor, and her consistency has been a big key. I think what makes her different is her decision-making out of the post position and her ability to recognize double teams or find advantages. I’m so proud of her progress throughout this year.”

_ UAA women’s basketball avenges lone conference loss in blowout win over Montana State Billings_ _

While the women’s team closed out the home portion of its schedule on a heater, the men’s team did not. The Seawolves dropped their fourth and fifth straight games this past week despite getting career-best scoring performances from juniors Tyler Burraston (24) and Bishop Tosi (26).

UAA sophomore sprinting sensation Joshua Caleb was named the GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Meet last Tuesday at the 2025 GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships after repeating as the champion in the 60 (6.66) and 200 (21.07) running meet records in both events and earned the men’s high-point award after scoring 21.5 points.

Joshua Caleb dominates the GNAC Indoor Championships in Spokane, completing the 60m/200m double!

He clinched the men’s 60m title in 6.66s before storming to a 21.07s win in the 200m—just an hour later.

Caleb remains the fastest man in NCAA Division II this year at both… pic.twitter.com/5uFGedvxEy — Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) February 18, 2025

The UAA hockey team took the ice for the final time this season with a two-game series over the weekend with Lindenwood. After dropping the first game 6-4 on Friday night, the Seawolves bounced back and headed off into the offseason on a high note with a thrilling 1-0 shutout victory on Saturday. In his first career start, freshman goalie Bryant Marks of Wasilla secured his first collegiate shutout while fellow first-year contributor, forward Dimitry Kebreau, scored the lone goal of the game while displaying the program’s promising potential to cap off a season of hard lessons.

“We had a tough schedule, we had a lot of young guys and I think guys will take even bigger steps next year,” Marks said. “I think we’ll grow together, and I think next year will be even better.”

_ UAA hockey freshmen flash potential for a brighter future in season finale win_ _

The University of Alaska Fairbanks sent three skiers to the podium Saturday at the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships in Girdwood and Anchorage. Philipp Moosmayer claimed his first collegiate victory in the 20K freestyle mass start, Ben Dohlby reached the podium for the second time during the week by taking third, and Kendall Kramer placed second in the women’s race.

Meanwhile, UAA’s top finisher was Jan Ronner, who finished seventh in the men’s slalom Saturday and was joined by three other Seawolves who earned top-10 finishes. Carmen Nielssen was the team’s top finisher in the women’s slalom in ninth place while Peter Hinds finished eighth and Derek Deuling was ninth in the men’s 20-kilometer freestyle race.

The Anchorage Wolverines completed the second leg of a two-week road stint since returning from their bye week, but came up short in both games to the Chippewa Steel. They dropped the first game on Friday 5-2 and allowed their Midwest Division foes to erase their earlier 2-0 lead in Saturday’s 5-4 loss. Forward Cole Christian led the team in goals with a pair he scored in the second game.

Nenana’s Emily Robinson claimed her fourth consecutive Junior Iditarod title on Sunday, setting the record for most career wins. She finished in 8 hours, 59 minutes, 11 seconds. That pace was eight minutes ahead of runner-up Isaac Redington. With her fourth win, Robinson broke the previous record that she held along with Kenai Peninsula musher Tim Osmar, who won in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

Alaska stars shining Outside

Anchorage’s Alissa Pili reached double figures in scoring for Team Harrison in three games this past week in the Athletes Unlimited basketball league. The 2024 WNBA top 10 pick of the Minnesota Lynx and former Dimond multi-sport star dropped 15 points against Team Siegrist last Wednesday, 17 against Team Sims on Friday, and 10 against Team Caldwell on Sunday.

Anchorage’s Jeremy Swayman wasn’t able to help the Boston Bruins come out on top of their Saturday night matchup with the Anaheim Ducks as the starting goaltender; however, they still managed to gain a point in the standings by forcing overtime before falling 3-2. The former South standout made 26 saves on 29 shots with a save percentage of .897.

Fairbanks’ Daishen Nix helped lead the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to a 134-110 victory over the Memphis Hustle last Thursday in the NBA G-League. He finished second on the team in scoring and assists with 24 points and six to go along with tying for the team lead in steals with three and recording a blocked shot. Nix went 2-of-3 from behind the arc, 8-of-11 from the field overall, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Palmer’s Patrick McMahon set a single-game career high in scoring in the Montana State University men’s basketball team’s 89-85 loss to rival Montana University on Saturday. The former Colony High star and Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year led the Bobcats with a game-high 22 points that included going 8-of-11 on free throws and shooting 7-of-11 from the field to go along with two rebounds.

Wasilla’s Sullivan Menard set a single-game career high in scoring in the Northwest Nazarene University men’s basketball team’s 74-62 win over GNAC foe Western Oregon University this past Saturday. The former Colony High star and Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year led the Nighthawks with a game-high 22 points that included knocking down 6-of-12 3-pointers and going 4-of-5 on free throws to go along with six rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

Anchorage’s Isaiah Moses continued to be a potent scorer for the University of California Riverside men’s basketball team this past week with his sixth and seventh straight games of reaching double figures in scoring. In a commanding 87-66 win over Long Beach State last Thursday, the former Dimond star and Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year went 3-of-4 from behind the arc and 4-of-4 on free throws. He also recorded a pair of rebounds and two assists to help the Highlanders clinch a spot in the Big West championship tournament.

Anchorage’s Mikayla Johnson reached double figures in scoring for the third and fourth straight games this past week for the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team. In a 69-55 loss to Florida State last Thursday, the former Bartlett standout finished second on the Panthers in scoring with 19 points just four days after recording her career-high. She followed it up with an 11-point outing in the team’s 72-59 win over Clemson this past Sunday.

Anchorage’s Angelline Nageak helped lead the Adams State University women’s basketball team to a 71-65 victory over University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in her first game back since earlier this month last Thursday. The former Dimond standout led the Grizzlies with five steals, finished fourth in scoring with 13 points, and also recorded three assists and two rebounds.

Anchorage’s Bret Link recorded his fifth goal of the season and second in a week this past Friday for the Colorado College men’s hockey team in a 4-3 win over St. Cloud State to split a two-game series between the teams.

Anchorage’s Colin Kessler recorded his 11th goal of the season, fourth in the last month and second in the last week for the University of Vermont men’s hockey team in a 6-3 loss to Boston College in the first of a two-game weekend series this past Friday.

(If you know of an Alaska athlete who has achieved a standout performance or reached a noteworthy milestone on the Outside, email [email protected] or [email protected] with the details.)

Fast Forward

Prep

Basketball

Dimond at Service, Wednesday 7:30 p.m.

The second- and third-ranked boys teams in the CIC heading into the final week of the regular season will face off for the fourth time this year with the second seed in next week’s regional tournament on the line. The Lynx have won two of the first three matchups including the most recent one 62-58 at home.

Dimond at Bartlett, Friday 6 p.m.

The top two girls teams in the CIC will square off to close out the regular season where the Lynx will aim to avenge a 30-point loss they suffered on their homecourt last week by returning the favor to the top-seeded Golden Bears who have yet to lose a game to a conference opponent this season.

NAHL

Anchorage Wolverines v. Fairbanks Ice Dogs at Sullivan Arena, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The hometown junior hockey franchise will be back on home ice for the first time since earlier this month after a four-game road stint and will take on their rivals with a chance to catch them in the Club 49 Cup points race.

Last week’s results

High School

Basketball

Girls

Monday

Seward 47, Unalaska 18

Tuesday

Service 60, South 45

North Pole 42, West Valley 16

Colony 39, Wasilla 38

Bartlett 71, Dimond 41

Monroe Catholic 65, Hutchison 22

Chugiak 47, Eagle River 7

Lumen Christi 35, Unalaska 25

Mt. Edgecumbe 44, Sitka 33

Sitka 56, Redington 21

Wednesday

Napaaqtugmiut 62, Buckland 35

Aqqaluk 49, Kiana 34

Klawock 23, NVTO 13

Napaaqtugmiut 63, McQueen 19

Hoonah 47, Angoon 20

Thursday

Davis-Romoth 64, Aqqaluk 52

Hoonah 18, Hydaburg 8

Buckland 79, McQueen 38

Kalskag 54, Tuluksak 50

Unalakleet 63, Unalaska 32

Susitna Valley 33, Lumen Christi 25

Valdez 58, Hutchison 22

Newhalen 59, Dillingham 33

Dimond 42, Chugiak 40

South 55, East 32

Mt. Edgecumbe 65, Houston 27

West 68, Eagle River 26

Metlakatla 41, Cordova 20

Craig 57, Haines 43

Davis-Romoth 73, Kiana 41

Klawock 20, Hydaburg 15

Akiak 60, Akiachak 58

Friday

White Mountain 76, Brevig Mission 55

Akiak 47, Kalskag 42

Unalakleet 56, Cordova 52

Juneau-Douglas 52, Monroe Catholic 40

Service 70, East 44

Wasilla 88, West Valley 10

South 30, Eagle River 28

Grace Christian 64, Nikiski 25

Colony 54, Mountain City Christian 43

Kenai Central 45, Homer 25

Dimond 51, West 47

Petersburg 43, Wrangell 32

Bethel 42, Nome-Beltz 39

Saturday

Barrow 84, Kotzebue 12

Bristol Bay 64, Tanalian 31

Hogarth Kingeekuk Sr. Memorial 45, James C Isabell 40

Jimmy Huntington 40, Nunamiut 26

Akiak 49, Aniak 39

Grace Christian 58, Soldotna 12

Seward 53, Nikiski 27

Bartlett 71, Eagle River 13

Unalaska 44, Cordova 37

Mt. Edgecumbe 63, Redington 14

Metlakatla 48, Unalakleet 23

Monroe Catholic 40, Juneau-Douglas 33

Wrangell 41, Petersburg 34

Nome-Beltz 53, Bethel 46

Boys

Monday

Seward 58, Unalaska 48

Tuesday

Wasilla 63, Colony 52

East 49, West 42

Dimond 59, Bartlett 48

Chugiak 72, Eagle River 45

Service 74, South 44

Unalaska 47, Lumen Christi 42

Palmer 59, Mountain City Christian 38

Thursday

Susitna Valley 67, Lumen Christi 57

Mt. Edgecumbe 78, Houston 57

East 59, South 19

West 67, Eagle River 38

West Valley 58, Palmer 39

Friday

Cook Inlet Academy 77, Holy Rosary Academy 30

Mt. Edgecumbe 88, Houston 50

Grace Christian 55, Soldotna 47

Seward 85, Ninilchik 66

Homer 64, Kenai Central 55

Chugiak 59, Bartlett 48

Wasilla 69, West Valley 59

Colony 52, Mountain City Christian 48

East 64, Service 48

Dimond 78, West 64

South 64, Eagle River 39

Palmer 78, Kodiak 58

Saturday

Kenai Central 55, Ninilchik 47

Palmer 67, Kodiak 51

Grace Christian 79, Soldotna 32

Sitka 80, Houston 45

Seward 57, Nikiski 33

• • •

College

Women’s basketball

Thursday

UAA 87, Montana State Billings 64

Seattle Pacific 73, UAF 67

Saturday

Montana State Billings 74, UAF 46

UAA 99, Seattle Pacific 51

• • •

Men’s basketball

Thursday

Montana State Billings 66, UAA 60

UAF 71, Seattle Pacific 60

Saturday

UAF 72, Montana State Billings 64

Seattle Pacific 83, UAA 74

• • •

Gymnastics

Friday

Sacramento State 195.150, UAA 193.325

Sunday

Sacramento State 194.575, UAA 193.300

• • •

Hockey

Friday

Lindenwood 6, UAA 4

Saturday

UAA 1, Lindenwood 0

• • •

NAHL

Friday

Chippewa Steel 5, Anchorage Wolverines 2

Saturday

Chippewa Steel 5, Anchorage Wolverines 4