“Everything’s dedicated to him,” said senior Kiara Burnell, who’d had Derek Ahgeak as a coach since she was a freshman. “It’s really personal this year.”
The Barrow Whalers girls basketball team's shirts featured a photograph of their late coach, Derek Ahgeak, on their backs during the 3A state basketball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The Whalers defeated the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves 58-45 to advance to the finals on Saturday.
The last time the team brought the championship home was in 2022, with Ahgeak as coach. Ahgeak died from cancer in September 2023, but at this year’s state tournament, his presence is palpable. “Coach Derek has always been so supportive on and off the court. He’s the reason my confidence improved on the court as he would encourage me to try my best before every game,” senior Kimberly Wolgemuth said. “He worked very hard to get us to competitive tournaments out of state. I looked up to him, he was a very wise and genuine person, and I aspire to be like him one day.”
“He loved having a good time,” he said. “Funny stuff would happen. We’d all be cracking up in the gym. It’d be a great time. ... He was never down. That’s what I loved.”
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