Alaska's Top Youth Athletes Honored at Sports Hall of Fame

Finalists include football standout, wrestlers, and skiers from across the state

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:07pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting abstract figures of a football player, wrestlers, and skiers in a dynamic, colorful composition.The diverse array of youth athletic talent in Alaska is celebrated through a cubist-inspired illustration.Seward Today

The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame has announced the finalists for its annual Pride of Alaska youth awards, honoring the top boy and girl athletes from the past year. The finalists include a fearsome high school football player, two elite wrestlers, and three accomplished skiers across different disciplines.

Why it matters

The Pride of Alaska awards celebrate the state's rising athletic stars and showcase the depth of talent in Alaska's youth sports scene, from football and wrestling to cross-country skiing and biathlon. These awards help inspire the next generation of Alaskan athletes and recognize the hard work and dedication of the finalists.

The details

The boys finalists are Deuce Alailefaleula, a dominant defensive lineman for Bartlett High's football team; Zane Gerlach, an undefeated state champion wrestler for South High; and Jack Leveque, a standout cross-country skier who excelled at the state and national levels. The girls finalists are Sobina Clendaniel, a Seward High wrestler who medaled at major national tournaments; Katie Rowekamp, a Girdwood alpine skier who qualified for the World Junior Championships; and Reine Soule, an Anchorage biathlete who swept the U.S. Junior National titles.

  • The Pride of Alaska youth awards will be announced next week.
  • The winners will be honored at a ceremony on June 3 at the Anchorage Museum.

The players

Deuce Alailefaleula

A fearsome defensive force for the Bartlett High football team who has committed to play at Boise State University.

Zane Gerlach

An unbeatable wrestler for South High who is a two-time state champion and has made an early college commitment to Arizona State University.

Jack Leveque

A cross-country skier who excelled for Service High, the Alaska Winter Stars, and Team USA, winning multiple medals at the Junior National Championships.

Sobina Clendaniel

A junior wrestler at Seward High who has established herself as one of the top wrestlers in the nation, winning medals at major national tournaments.

Katie Rowekamp

A 16-year-old alpine skier from Girdwood who attends Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont and qualified for the World Junior Championships.

Reine Soule

A 16-year-old biathlete from Anchorage who swept the gold medals at the U.S. Junior National biathlon championships.

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What they’re saying

“The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame's Pride of Alaska youth awards are a great way to recognize the incredible athletic talent we have in this state. These finalists have all achieved remarkable success at the high school and national levels, and they are truly inspiring the next generation of Alaskan athletes.”

— Trajan Langdon, Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Board Member

What’s next

The winners of the Pride of Alaska youth awards will be announced next week, and the honorees will be celebrated at a ceremony on June 3 at the Anchorage Museum.

The takeaway

The Pride of Alaska youth awards showcase the depth and diversity of athletic talent in Alaska, from football and wrestling to skiing and biathlon. These finalists have all achieved remarkable success at the high school and national levels, and their accomplishments are inspiring the next generation of Alaskan athletes.