Cross Country
West Valley Invite
Aug 13, 2022
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Bucs Cross-Country team is off to a great start this season! After a week of wet, cold weather, the team was greeted with a sweltering 82 degrees in Fairbanks. This season preview is a mere 3K, but gives runners a preview of other runners in the region. The course has continuous ups and downs with a flat finish.
The Freshman started the races off at 10:00 with a coed race. James Humphrey sat this race out as he continues healing from an ankle injury. Erik Vincent and Oliver Ownbey started off together and then Erik began to stretch his long legs. Vincent cruised up the first hill and was working hard to maintain his speed. Ownnbey was a couple minutes later and worked hard to get up the first hill. Vincent raced through the finish line at 20:04 and Ownbey stayed strong through the end, finishing 23:11.
Next Sophomore Morgan Hamilton and Junior Anika Palomar faced off with the other girls from Region 6. The temperature was quickly rising as the girls were warming up. Palomar picked off other runners on the first hill and stayed in the middle of the pack, finishing at 17:09. The heat was beginning to slow Hamilton down as she began trudging up the first hill. She fought through the heat and finished strong at 20:15. Both Hamilton and Palomar made impressive improvements over last year’s times for this course.
Finally, Junior Rafe Caruthers and Senior Cole Wadsworth were ready to test their speed and strength on this hilly course. Caruthers remained impressively strong and consistent throughout the entire course. He finished strong at 13:03, shaving almost 2 minutes off of last year’s time. Wadsworth also remained strong and was slightly slowed by the heat. He sprinted across the finish line at 15:19.
We are off to a strong start! This weekend we are hosting our only home meet! Come out and support your runners!
Go Bucs!
J. V. Volleyball
Colony JV Jamboree
Aug 13, 2022
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Valdez Junior Varsity Lady Buccaneer Volleyball team kicked off the new season with the Colony JV Jamboree this past weekend. The tournament included three 4A schools (Colony, Wasilla, and Palmer) and three 3A schools (Houston, Grace, and Valdez).
With only four returning JV players and eight freshmen stepping up into the program, we are excited for this 2022 season to begin. That being said, we knew stepping into this tournament after only three days of practice as a team would be a huge challenge. Our main goals for the weekend were to talk on the court, understand our rotations and transitions to base, and to start building trust in each other’s strengths.
This was a great opportunity for the team to experience a much faster level of play than they have been accustomed to in the past, and to stand up against some very strong offensive attacks. Both Jade Cook and Jazlyn Gallatin were doing an excellent job of defending our court from the back line, while Mariah Dunning started to put up a wall at the net with her blocking. We also saw an impressive serving performance from Marcedes Taylor (13 serves), Holly Carter (11 serves), and Emily Brewi (10 serves).
Great games to come from this team! Go Bucs!
Photo by Tony Day
Varsity Volleyball
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – This weekend, the varsity traveled to the Palmer Jamboree for their first games of the season. Friday’s pool play consisted of playing one set to 25 against every team. The girls started their season off strong beating Palmer, ACS, Houston, and Grace Christian. The games for the jamboree were officiated and ran by the other teams who were not playing. This was a great learning experience for the team and gave them a new perspective on the rules and what officials do. They ended the night playing hard but losing their last two matches to Wasilla and Colony. We ended pool play seated 3rd going into Saturday’s games.
Saturday started off with playing 3 one set matches. Our first game of the day was against Colony. The girls played hard but struggled to overcome the height disadvantage. The following two matches were easy wins against ACS and Houston. These matches were great to try some new rotations and get everyone on the floor for some game time experience. Our last match of the weekend was best 2 out of 3 against Palmer for 3rd place. The girls played the entire match with great energy and control on the floor. They won the match 2-1 taking 3rd place for the jamboree. We travel next week to Eagle River to play in the Chugiak Invitational as the only 3A team.
BUC SPORTS THIS WEEK
X-Country @ Home: Valdez Invite
Saturday- Starting on the VHS Track, running up Mineral Creek, return to Track. Boys start @ 10am, Girls @ 10:45am
Football: Friday- scrimmage Redington @ 6pm in Wasilla
Varsity Volleyball: Chugiak Invitational- Friday & Saturday
J.V. Volleyball: Monroe JV Tournament at Lathrop- Friday & Saturday
Swim Team: Sat @ Colony