“On the Anchor…On the Anchor…!” We can all remember the refrains of the melody blaring forth from the AHS band as two basketball teams rushed onto the floor running their warm up drills—one in orange and white warm-up suits, the other in black and white—EAST and WEST—one high school, two teams; ever the twain shall meet!  We loved our cheerleaders, majorettes and flag girls as they whirled and twirled.

During our Junior and Senior years, AHS had grown so large that our school had to be divided into two athletic teams to be fair to the rest of Alaska.  The rivalry and the camaraderie were both intense.  In the ’59-’60 basketball season, West was picked to win it all, and East was the “Cinderella” team.  In its first game of the Western Alaska double elimination tournament, East fell behind 16-0 and lost 32-30.  By Saturday of the tournament week, East had to play Seward in the morning and win that game to remain alive.  Then they had to play West that night, and, if they won, again on Monday night since West was undefeated (just before the Monday night game, there was a power failure, and the teams were still playing at midnight after a long delay).  East won both games and the Western Alaska title before going on to Juneau for the state championship where they lost (playing in the cracker box Juneau HS gym—more neutral venues might have helped).

The ’60-’61 basketball season began with both East and West expected to have strong teams (East was even favored by some to win it all with several returning players).  West got off to the better start beating East in the first two outings.  East won the next two.  But, both teams faltered early in the Western Alaska tournament, leaving Fairbanks, Seward and Palmer to vie for the championship.

What we remember from the basketball seasons is not so much the details of the games but the sense of togetherness we felt as teams and as a school.  Who can forget the train trips to Fairbanks and Seward for the games—rolling parties which lasted for hours and were so much FUN?!  We loved the friendly competition in the halls leading up to game days.  I can remember some of us trying to jump into our pants with both legs so that we wouldn’t be like other mortals who “put their pants on one leg at a time!”  We felt a school spirit unrivaled since.

We know now that our coaches were trying to build people as much and more than programs.  They gave us something very constructive to do (both in practice and at the games) during the long Alaskan winter nights.  They helped shape our character and willingness to work and play hard which we would need for the years ahead.  We learned to love and appreciate them and each other in the process, and we look back on those times with longing, nostalgia, and wonderful memories.

We’ll share those memories and so many others this June—the more of us there, the more wonderful it will be!