{"id":98776,"date":"2023-05-07T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/sports\/petersburgs-izabelle-ith-honored-with-hall-of-fame-selection\/"},"modified":"2023-05-08T11:04:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T19:04:26","slug":"petersburgs-izabelle-ith-honored-with-hall-of-fame-selection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.juneauempire.com\/sports\/petersburgs-izabelle-ith-honored-with-hall-of-fame-selection\/","title":{"rendered":"Petersburg’s Izabelle Ith honored with Hall of Fame selection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t

Athletes earn awards through excellence in competition. Athletes of distinction are feted for that excellence, but it is secondary to the character and compassion they exhibit and nurture as lives off the podium continue.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Heralded for such achievements on the track, in the pool and beyond, Petersburg High School 2017 graduate Izabelle Ith was honored Sunday at the 2023 Alaska School Activities Association Alaska High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Anchorage’s Lakefront Hotel.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\"The<\/a>

The Alaska School Activities Association 2023 High School Hall of Fame inductees are, front row left to right: Harold Wilson, Allie Ostrander, Stacey Wayne, Izabelle Ith, and Milo Griffin. Top row, l-r: Josh Gemmell, Bill Stoltze, Armand Ruffin, Robert Rychnovsky, Brandon Drumm, and Rus Schreckenghost. (Brad Potter \/ ASAA)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

“It’s so cool,” Ith said from Anchorage. “I am so excited to be here and to be part of the Alaska High School Hall of Fame. It’s wonderful. It came as such a surprise.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

As part of this year’s 11-member class, Ith, in front of ASAA dignitaries, past award winners and members of the public, was presented with a legislative citation from state Rep. Mike Cronk, a Tok\/Northway Republican. Ith’s Hall of Fame plaque was presented by Jo Ann Day, her middle school science teacher who nominated her for the honor.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Day said she could only think of adjectives when talking about Ith.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

“Responsible, reliable, respectful, positive, uplifting, kind, adventurous,” Day noted. “I’m sure her friends could tell you about some great times they’ve had together ice skating, camping, boating, hiking and taking road trips but all these things are possible because Izabelle is someone people want to be around… she is everybody’s friend. She is a patient and a kind mentor. She loves adventure, and challenges herself.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

ASAA representative Don Winchester said of those honored: “These are the people that make history in Alaska… these are the people we need.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

Ith’s high school accomplishments alone are worthy of the honor.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

She wore a four-time varsity letter for both track and swimming.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t

\"Petersburg<\/a>

Petersburg High School sophomore Izabelle Ith, left, and Thunder Mountain junior Naomi Welling lead the field in the girls 100-meter hurdles finals at the 2015 Capital City Invitational. (Klas Stolpe \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

In track and field, she was a four-time state champion (2014-17) in both the 100 meter hurdles and triple jump, a two-time state champion ( ‘15, ‘17) in both the 300 meter hurdles and long jump, state runner-up in the 300 hurdles (‘16), long jump (‘14) and 100 meters (’14) and was the women’s 123A State Championship Athlete of the Meet (’17). She was the 2017 Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year for track and field — a first for Petersburg High School — and still holds the record for highest point total at the state championships (scoring 154 out of 160 possible points). She was a four-event Region V Champion (’14, ’15, ’16) and Region V Most Valuable Athlete (’15, ’16, ’17). In swimming, she was a seven-time event placer (50 free, 100 free, 1 meter dive) at the ASAA Swim & Dive Championships and the Region V dive champion (’14).<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t