In recognition of outstanding individual accomplishments, team contributions and service to each athlete’s school; each of the central peninsula’s three public high schools select an Athlete of the Year, both male and female, for the 2019-2020 school year.
Nikiski High School graduation ceremonies are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th. The annual award is voted on by the school coaches and recognizes a senior female and male athlete for exemplary athletic careers during their time at Nikiski High School.
Representing Nikiski High School as Female Athlete of the Year…
Kaitlyn Johnson
The Nikiski senior has been a mainstay of Nikiski volleyball, basketball and track & field throughout her career at Nikiski High School.
Volleyball
As a member of the Bulldogs volleyball team, Kaitlyn and her Nikiski teammates qualified for the 3A state tournament in 2017; won the ASAA 3A state championship in 2018, and finishing 3rd at state in 2019. Kaitlyn was named to the state tournament, all-tournament team in 2018 and 2019.
Kaitlyn was named Region III 3A Player of the Year in 2019.
Basketball
Bulldog girls basketball have been a powerhouse for the past three years. Kaitlyn and her Bulldog teammates placed 5th at the ASAA 3A state basketball tournament in 2017; Nikiski placed 4th at 3A state in 2018 and second at 3A state tournament in 2019. Kaitlyn was named to the Southcentral Conference-2nd team in 2019-20.
Track & Field
Kaitlyn, in the past three years of track & field, has individually qualified to the ASAA 1-2-3A Track & Field Championships finals in discus and shot put.
2017: Region III-2nd in Discus State-7th in Discus
2017: Region III- 5th in Shot State- 6th in Shot
2018: Region III-2nd in Discus State- 2nd in Discus
2018: Region III- 3rd in Shot State 6th in Shot
2019: Region III- 1st in Discus State- 2nd in Discus w/PR of 123′ 5″
2019: Region III- 3rd in Shot State- 4th in Shot w/PR of 33′ 5″
Representing Nikiski High School as Male Athlete of the Year…
Noah Litke
Noah Litke closed-out four years of athletic accomplishments with an all-conference selection for basketball on the final day of high school sports in Alaska.
Basketball
Leading the Bulldog boys in the Southcentral Conference Basketball Tournament, Noah scored 28 points in the tournament opener against top-seed Grace and scored 24 in a win against Redington.
Noah earned Southcentral Conference 1st Team honors for the 2019-20 regular season. Noah was also named to all-tournament team at the Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament and tournament MVP at the Kotzebue Husky Shootout.
Football
Noah quarterbacked the Bulldogs through the 2019 season leading Nikiski to a Small School division playoff berth.
