Bowling champion Sean Rash, basketball star Butch Lincoln and open air trailblazer Dick Griffith headline the 2026 class of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.
The 18th class of the Hall of Fame, introduced Tuesday, additionally included two moments: the East-Bartlett triple time beyond regulation boys basketball state title recreation in 1993 and Ephriam Kalmakoff’s record-setting Mount Marathon race in 1928.
“I’m pleased to say that our 18th class of inductees is as impressive as the inaugural class,” Alaska Sports Hall of Fame government director Harlow Robinson mentioned in a ready assertion.
“Alaska has the most diverse sports heritage of any state in the union and the Class of 2026 reflects this.”
Rash, 43, has gained 16 Professional Bowling Association titles. The Anchorage bowler was additionally named 2011-12 PBA Player of the Year. Rash, who graduated from Dimond High, has additionally notched 30 excellent 300 video games and has been inducted into the USBC and PBA Hall of Fame.
Lincoln, who starred at Kotzebue, was twice named an all-stater in highschool. The level guard went on to play on the University of Alaska Anchorage from 1992-1997. During his tenure, the Seawolves gained three Pac West Conference titles and earned three berths to the Division II NCAA Tournament. In 1999, he was named one of Alaska’s 50 best sports activities figures of the twentieth century by Sports Illustrated.
Griffith was an adventurer and open air racer who logged 1000’s of miles throughout Alaska. For many years, he was a staple on the Alaska Wilderness Classic races. In complete, he completed the race 17 occasions. Griffith, who grew up in Wyoming, was a longtime resident of Anchorage and died earlier this month at his dwelling at age 98.
The East-Bartlett battle for the Class 4A state championship in 1993 was one for the ages.
Longtime journalist Lew Freedman, a former sports activities editor on the Anchorage Daily News with many years of expertise overlaying sports activities, thought of it the best highschool recreation he’s ever witnessed.
In a packed fitness center at West High, East’s Mark Schweigert buried a shot with 6 seconds left in triple time beyond regulation to provide the nationally ranked Thunderbirds a 92-90 victory.
Kalmakoff was simply a young person when he completed Mount Marathon in 52 minutes, 35 seconds to set a document in 1928.
Kalmakoff, from Chignik, repeated as champion in 1929 and gained once more in 1930 to turn out to be the primary three-time champion within the historical past of the race.
Kalmakoff lived on the Jesse Lee Home, a Seward boarding faculty. Record-keeping wasn’t superb throughout the early years of the race, however Kalmakoff was believed to be between 14 and 16 years outdated when he gained the race in 1928.
The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame choice panel is made up of media members, coaches and contributors from throughout the state and is chaired by former Anchorage Daily News sports activities editor Beth Bragg.
During the choice course of, every panel member completes a poll, and the cumulative vote from the general public and from the dwelling inductees is aggregated into one poll every.
The induction ceremony will probably be held in spring 2026 on the Anchorage Museum. After enshrinement, the brand new members will probably be featured on the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Gallery on the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.