2016 was the last time a 1A Yakutat team

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Currently the Yakutat K-12 school numbers are at 55 students in the building and with the Homeschool Lead Program the total is at 77.

2012 was the last year a Yakutat team played in a 2A state tournament game. Both the girls (fourth) and boys (fifth) attended. The boys had won regions, the girls were runners-up. The prior year in 2011 the girls were state runner-up to Skagway after winning regions.

School population numbers dropped them down to 1A after 2012 country wise email marketing list and the classrooms continued to shrink.

went to the state tournament, the girls placed seventh.

For Fraker those numbers burn. She had led the Yakutat girls to the state title in 2009 defeating Southeast conference rival Skagway 53-38 and in 2008 defeating Ninilchik 32-20. She was also on the 2007 title team that defeated Point Hope 51-44 and on the 2006 team that placed sixth. She had four straight Region V championships.

She of course was not alone. Teammates over those years included Justine Wheeler, Heidi Esbenshade, Cherise Ryman, Sharnel Vale, Heidi Esbenshade, Sylvia Schumacher and Hannah Esbenshade.

Before them were Samantha Johnson, Stephanie Johnson, Sheena Brantley, Jasmine James, Rebecca Widdows, Jacquoi James, Violet Sensmeier and Ashton Schmidt had played at state.

After them came Tina Esbenshade, Cyndal Klushkan, Kaitlyn Ivers, Sarah Newlun, Janie Jensen, Kasia Adams, Danielle Go, Amanda Israelson, Savannah Beckstrom, Nadine Fraker, Katrina Fraker, Ellen Esbenshede and Tina Esbenshede to name a few.

The boys team also did well, including a state title in 2006, and players such as Stephen Adams, Shea Jackson, Clinton Ivers, Jack Klushkan, Kyle Dierick, Alin Vale, Sam Ferguson, and Tracy Jackson were known. Others followed including Jake Taylor, Kaleb Klushkan, Aedan Blazina, Robert Lekanof, Joshua James, Kelani Russell, Cody Jensen, Billy Brown and Robert Sensmeier.

Youth players grew up into a strong high school program in Yakutat.

“When I was my kids’ age it started with us,” Fraker said. “It just progressed and through high school we had a really good solid program, we did the things, we won regionals, I’ve never lost a regional game, been a champion in all those years and we went to state.”

Yakutat lost at state her freshman year but then won three state titles in a row.

“I had this sense of pride that was built up,” Fraker said.