Predators Update
March 10, 2010 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Arctic Predators News Release
The Arctic Predator's Football Field has a name! Local business owner steps up in a big way to support Valley Professional Indoor Football. Messaoudi Ben-Hassouna, owner of Valley's Sicily's pizza signed a long term contract to be the official pizza supplier of the Arctic Predator's home games and for he field naming rights. The Arctic Predator's home games will be played on the Sicily's Field in the Menard Center.
Arctic Predator's Spotlight of the week.
Staff Spotlight
Randy Magner, former head coach of Colony high school and long time valley resident joins the Arctic Predator's staff as the Director of Football. Magner has expertise in developing new football programs into championship teams. At Colony High School he had ten consecutive seasons in the state playoffs, three times in the semi-finals, once in the championship. Magner has received numerous distinctions including: Alaska State Football Coach of the Year (1997 & 2000), Alaska State Region III Football Coach of the Year (1995, 1997, 2000), Coached two Alaska Gatorade Players of the Year, (2000, 2002), Coached 8 Alaska Players of the Year (Offense, Defense, Sp. Teams), Coached 72 All-State 1st Team Football Players, Coached 6 State Champions in Track & Field, Coached 40 high school athletes on to college athletic scholarships, Voted "Teacher of the Year", Skagway H.S., Palmer H. S., Voted Commencement Speaker, Skagway H.S. (1981, 82), Colony H.S.(2008), Mat-Su Career & Tech H.S. (2009). Valedictorian: Graduate School; College of Health & Physical Education Brigham Young University, Provo, UT (1982). With over 30 years of coaching and teaching at all levels of education, Magner brings an enormous amount of football knowledge to the team and is a valued staff member.
Born and raised in Palmer, Alaska, Troy Chapman comes on board as the Head Statistician for the Arctic Predators. Troy was born in Palmer at Valley Hospital on March 17, 1984. He is a life long Alaskan and has lived in Palmer his whole life except for 5 months in Seattle because of his transplant. Troy's second birthday is September 19, 2008, when after spending a week in a coma, he received his double lung transplant. Troy has been battling Cystic Fibrosis his entire life and although he had the transplant, he still has to closely watch his dietary situation. Troy played 2 years of football at Palmer High School. He was also the Varsity Basketball manager for four years at PHS where he learned to keep very accurate stats. He has completed extensive training to enhance his experience and prepare him to take stats on a professional level.
Out of State Players
Victor Smith-W/R,D/B- one of the fastest receivers in the nation with a 40 yard time of 4.12 using AccuTrac, has signed with the Arctic Predators Professional Indoor Football Team. From 2000 thru 2007, Smith won the Texas 9 man Fastest Award. A professional former AFL2 indoor football player, Smith has a great deal of indoor football experience playing on former championship teams as the offensive player of the year. Smith is also a former track star, clocking a 10.1 in the 100 meter and winning several Texas state titles.
Reggie Frazier-FB/RB-after winning All Conference Running back while plating for Santa Barbara City College, he finished up his college career a the University of Minnesota-Crookston. Frazier has professional indoor football experience with the Muskegon Thunder with 600 yards rushing in 2009. Frazier also brings speed to the Arctic Predators with a 40 yard time of 4.43 and shuttle of 4.09.
Eric Gaskin-OL- at 6'3" and 305lbs, Gaskins brings both size and experience to the Arctic Predators. His played at Wake Forest University for his college career. This former Fairbanks Grizzlies player can bench 225 over 20 times, this strength combined with Gaskins size will make him a force to be reckoned with on the field.
In State Players:
Earl Mason-QB-is an Emergency Manager in the USAF and originally from Somerville. Alabama. After high school, Mason continued his football career by playing for Bacone College. He then went on to play semi-pro for the North Bay Rattlers in Fairfield, CA before joining the semi pro Alaska Football League where he earned the 2009 AFL MVP award. Mason began his professional indoor football career last year with the Alaska Wild.
Randy Bendle, a valley resident, began his football career at Bartlett as a LT on varsity for 3 years and was honorable mention all-conference his senior year. Bendle then went on to play Semi-Pro football in the Evergreen Football League in Washington where he was the starting Middle Linebacker for the first half of the season and then switched to starting DE. He had over 64 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 1 INT for a Touchdown. He played both ways for the entire second half of the season. He returned to Alaska after graduating from Eastern Washington university with Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Anthony Shelton-DB/WR- is a former Dimond High School football star. After winning a high school state championship with Dimond, Shelton went on to play for Middle Tennessee State College. Shelton began his professional career with the Alaska wild, playing every season with them since they began. He brings professional indoor football experience and a great deal of talent to the Arctic Predators.
Dance/Cheerleaders
Krystal Cordle, a Palmer High School graduate where she was on the high school dance team, brings a great deal of talent and experience to the Arctic Predators. She was born and raised in Palmer, Alaska and is truly "Alaskan Grown"! Krystal is also a business owner, owning Custom Coffee located on the Glen hwy. Her favorite charities are Shadow of His Wings and Heart Reach Pregnancy Center. Shadow of His Wings provides a safe home and schooling for girls who have unfortunately been victims of abuse and neglect. Shadow of His Wings is home to over one hundred girls and will soon be providing care for boys as well.
Shanelle Nielsen, has been dancing since she was 5 years old. At Palmer High School, she did the school dance team all 4 years. She also choreographed many dances including the teams 2nd place winning"Jungle" routine & her own 2nd place winning lyrical routine. She has also competed and won dance on a national level. Her favorite Charity is Special Olympics. The summer of 2007 she had the privilege of speaking along side Tim Shriver-the international head of special O-in front of 1400 student council reps across the nation about special o based school programs. She bowls with matsu special Olympics every fall and volunteer at fund raisers such as spaghetti feeds and pledge walks year round. She teaches dance at a local dance studio to people who have mild to moderate disabilities.
The Arctic Predators first home game is March 28th. You can visit www.matsufootball.com for information and updates.
American Indoor Football Association Stories from March 10, 2010
- Erie's Rutherford and Terracina Named Players of the Week - Erie Explosion
- FireHawks Acquire FWO Athletic Trainer - AIFA
- Predators Update - Arctic Predators
- Booming Atmosphere Sets Tone in Harrisburg - Harrisburg Stampede
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