Returning players #25 Cpt. Timotheen Charles, #17 Co-Cpt. Yeako Berlin,
#21 Paul Martin, #30 Golga Oscar, #3 Yago Andrew, and #5 Alaina Tinker
formed a strong core while new players #23 Esther Berlin, #12 Leah
Demientieff, #35 Henry Charles, and #33 Leondre Demientieff all
contributed significant minutes during the season. #33 Leondre
Demientieff joined the ranks of 8th graders to have played in an
official mixed six game, becoming the third player in the history of
Akiuk Memorial School to do so.
The 2014 Grizzlies went undefeated against LKSD teams and ended the year
with a limited 6-6 record after missing out on hosting a tournament and
being unable to travel on another date. Akiuk topped Akiak in
the consensus game of the tournament in the first round of the regional
tournament, eventually clawing back after being down 2 games to 1 and
winning the fifth game of the match 15-13. Akiuk would go out against
Tuluksak in the semifinal round and finish 4th in the region.
Another defining feature of the Grizzlies season was a protest
concerning the absence of LKSD village schools at the
regional tournament held in Bethel. In 2014, 5 village schools were not
granted berths to the regional tournament. In the past, all teams in the
region were granted a berth. Akiuk students felt this was an
unfair exclusion of only LKSD schools, as all other districts in the
region sent all their teams. The team chose to protest by placing
their hands over their mouths while facing the crowd and sacrificing the
first point of the match against Akiak. On their hands were the names
of the 5 schools that were not allowed to attend the tournament.
Meanwhile, on the bench, coaches and players wrote "ASAA, where is our
2nd berth?", in reference to ASAA refusing to grant region one
an additional berth at the state tournament.
The Delta Discovery covered this event and wrote an article about it which can be viewed at the link below:
Akiuk Protest: Delta Discovery Article
Additionally, Senior
Timotheen Charles and Junior Esther Berlin were awarded player of the
tournament awards for their outstanding play during the
regional tournament. With their victory in the first ever LKSD Mixed
6 Volleyball Championship, the Grizzlies continue to experience success
and build towards winning a regional championship. Get to know
the Kasigluk-Akiuk Grizzlies mixed six volleyball team!