Alaska sports media have rewarded Thunder Mountain High School with 23 All-Southeast Conference nominations this year after the Falcons closed their season at 6-2 with a conference title and a No. 1 seed in the state tournament.
The Falcons dominated the conference rankings, logging two player of the year nods, two coach of the year awards, four nominations to first team offense and five nominations to first team defense. In addition, TMHS stacked up nominations with three first team specialist awards, three nominations to second team offense, two to second team defense and two honorable mentions.
Not to be outdone by their crosstown counterparts, Juneau-Douglas High School’s 25-man roster logged 11 nominations of their own. Junior defensive back and return specialist Donavin McCurley led the team in honors as Utility Player of the Year, first team return specialist and second team defensive back.
Junior lineman Ivan Williams highlighted the Falcons’ nominations as Lineman of the Year and a member of the first team offense, defense and special teams. Linebacker Garth Tupou followed Williams’ lead as Defensive Player of the Year while adding dual nods to first team offense and first team defense.
For the second year in a row, Falcons head coach Randy Quinto earned Coach of the Year. Offensive coordinator Tom Ramage earned Assistant Coach of the Year in his last season leading the Falcons’ high-flying attack.
JDHS running back Lance Galletes-Fiagatusa and guard Dominic Watt represented the Crimson Bears on first team offense while Nathan Van Sickle, John Hamrick and Derrick Roberts made first team defense.
TMHS running back Roy Tupou and tight end Mahina Toutaiolepo rounded out the Falcons nods to first team offense while linebacker Steven Rosales and defensive backs Jacob Tapia and Dominique Maua were named to first team defense.
• Contact Sports and Outdoors reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 or kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com.
