Valdez Elks Tournament
Photo by Amanda Jones
Members of the impromptu combined youth and adult Elks Tournament Pep Band: Pheobe and Jaime Winchester, James Hall, Braiden Williams, Ann Norris, Jenny Kelly and Paxson Williams (seated in stands.)
February 23, 2023
Amanda Jones - CRR Staff
Valdez High School hosted their 45th Annual Elks Basketball Tournament this past weekend, February 9-11. Sixteen teams played eight games daily, culminating in the championship girls and boys games Saturday evening. Student and community volunteers, as well as numerous coaches and players traveling across the state made this event a success.
Over 170 players, 25 cheerleaders, 44 coaches, 30 Valdez student volunteers, and 20+ community volunteers all worked together with Todd Wegner, Valdez High School’s Athletic Director, to bring 16 teams together for this three-day tournament.
Teams participating were from Seward, North Pole, Sitka, Delta, Barrow, Cordova, Wasilla, and Valdez. Games began at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 9th, and finished at 9:00 p.m. Saturday with Mt. Edgecombe High School beating Barrow for the boys’ title, 53 to 43.
The Valdez girls’ team competed in the championship game against Wasilla High School Saturday evening, but lost 17 to 54. In the semi-finals they’d pulled away early to win against Seward, 45 to 31.
The Valdez boys’ team fought hard in their semi-final game against Barrow on Friday night. They were ahead by a margin going into halftime, but Barrow slowly took away the lead. With three minutes to the buzzer, Barrow tied the game.
Valdez had a chance for a three-point shot but missed, and Barrow ended up sinking a three-pointer to end the game 50 to 47. Playing for 3rd place, the Valdez boys easily won over North Pole on Saturday afternoon. The final score was North Pole 37, Valdez 62.
Teacher and student volunteers raised about $4,000 selling concessions during the games. These funds will help pay for this year’s prom, as well as the current Junior class graduation ceremony and festivities next year.
Teachers and community members gave of their time and talents to make the games possible, including, for the first time, a community band coming together to provide live pep band music for the varsity games all three days.
Many of Valdez High School’s band members were traveling with other sporting events, jeopardizing the possibility of having a pep band for the games. However, a call went out to the community and alumni and community members as young as 10 years old were excited to be involved.
Other highlights of the tournament included Dr. Kathy Todd being recognized for the Truck Egan award during games. The award recognizes and honors Valdez community members who are distinguished for years of dedicated community service.
Dr. Todd was recognized for her extensive volunteerism throughout the community as a medical professional, Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, and PTA and School Board Member among other things. She is credited with having delivered over 1,000 babies in Valdez over her career. In several documented cases this has included delivering three generations in the same family.
Teams planning to come to next year’s Elks Tournament include Cordova, Nome, Seward, Nenana, Bethel, Kenai, Chugiak, Hutchison, and Valdez.
Amanda Jones is a Valdez High School teacher and band leader.