FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks and their partners at Fort Wainwright have announced their inaugural Warriors of the Month of January. Monthly, the Nanooks athletic department and Fort Wainwright officials will name two athletes and two soldiers for their efforts in the classroom, on the court, on the front line and in the community. 
 
Koby Huerta and Cate Whiting were named the selections for the Alaska Nanooks athletic department while Sgt. 1^st Class Joshua E. McGee and Cadet Adrienne Hatley were named the first honorees for Fort Wainwright. 
 
Koby Huerta, Sr., Guard, Men's Basketball
Huerta is a senior guard on the men's basketball team. A Secondary Education Major from Covington, Wash., Huerta joined the Alaska basketball team at the beginning of the 2019-20 season. In his first season, he helped the Nanooks to the 2020 GNAC Championships for the first time in a half-decade before falling in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Currently, in his senior season, Huerta is averaging 11.3 points per game, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and has started all 12 games of the season. According to coaches, Huerta exemplifies leadership on and off the court. He is a constant reminder of hard work, dedication to academic excellence and leads by example on and off the court. 
 
Huerta is a loyal, honest and dedicated Nanook and values both his time as a student and an athlete. He continues to better himself by studying for academics and film and shares his knowledge with those surrounding him. Koby is constantly volunteering his time on campus in the athletic department and surrounding athletic events. He participated in the recent back to school event and actively engaged with students as they were entering their schools and classrooms. He is a positive young man who has a bright future. Huerta and his wife live on campus and both can be seen at all Nanook events cheering and uplifting spirits. Finally, he has volunteered with the Mormon church and is a dedicated religious man; he is involved in church activities throughout the week. Head coach of the men's basketball, Greg Sparling, had this to say about Huerta's honor, "Congratulations to Koby Huerta for winning the warrior of the month award.  He exemplifies what it means in every sense.  Hard worker, selfless teammate, dedicated student and someone that gives back to his community.  Nanook Nation and the men's basketball program are happy to have this young man be a part of our culture and community.  He is a great Nanook student-athlete, but even a better person."
 
Cate Whiting, Graduate-Student, Setter, Volleyball
Whiting was a senior on the volleyball team during the 2021 season. A Civil Engineering Major from Rapid City, S.D., Whiting was with the Nanooks for her entire college career. She first joined the 'Nooks in 2017 before playing the next five seasons in Fairbanks. She ended her career with 3,798 assists, second all-time for Nanooks volleyball, 1,177 digs, sixth all-time and an attack-percentage of .261, fifth all-time. Whiting finished her undergrad with a 3.9 GPA before posting a 4.0 in her first semester of Grad School. She was a 3x team captain, 3x GNAC First-Team selection and according to volleyball head coach, Brian Scott, Whiting has exemplified a model student-athlete her whole career. She was the first to show up in the gym or classroom and would be the last to leave. 
 
Cate is currently a volunteer coach for Elevate Volleyball Club, the only interior volleyball club in Alaska. In addition to her volunteer coaching, she has spent countless hours volunteering at multiple organizations in the greater-Fairbanks area, including but not limited to, Fairbanks Girl Scouts of America, The Denali Center, Fairbanks Food Bank, and multiple Fairbanks' area elementary schools. She is actively engaged at UAF and in the local community. Alongside her hundreds of hours in volunteer work, she is also volunteering for clubs on campus like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the UAF Student Leadership and Involvement Club, and Tau Beta Pi. She is a model student, maintaining a 3.9 GPA throughout her career and anyone that knows her, understands her dedication to the University, Fairbanks and her sport. Cate has exemplified a warrior mentality, not only this month, but every month she has been an Alaska Nanooks student-athlete. 
 
Sgt. 1^st Class Joshua E. McGee
McGee is a Battalion Fire Support Noncommissioned Officer with 5-1 Calvary Fire Support Element, 1^stStryker Brigade Combat Team. He is also the current U.S. Army Alaska NCO of the Year. 
 
The native of Albany, Ga., graduated from high school in May 2007, enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 2010, and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., as a Military Policeman. He then reclassified his military specialty to become a Fire Support Specialist, completing Advance Individual Training at Fort Still, Okla. He has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. 
 
McGee completed his Associate of Arts Degree in General Education at American Military University while deployed to Iraq and is working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Sports and Health Science. He has earned numerous awards and achievements while serving, including the JT Monty Leadership Award and induction into the prestigious Sergeant Audi Murphy Association. Throughout his distinguished career, his unit leaders named him NCO of the Quarter in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2020, as well as Soldier of the Year in 2012, 2013, and most recently in 2021-22. 
 
Cadet Adrienne Hatley
Cadet Adrienne Hatley is currently an active duty "Green to Gold" cadet who is pursuing a Master's in Justice Administration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks with later aspirations to pursue a Juris Doctorate in Healthcare Law. 
 
Hatley is a role model cadet who consistently sets the standard through his academic achievements, exemplary leadership in the Nanook Battalion and active involvement in the Fairbanks community. Hatley currently serves as the UAF Detachment First Sergeant and as the UAF Color Guard co-captain, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Hatley uses his experience as a master fitness trainer and medical equipment specialist to improve the overall training proficiency of the UAF Detachment in preparation for Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky.
 
An active community member, Hatley volunteers at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank and Fairbanks Rescue Mission and is a volunteer youth athletic coach at the YWCA and YMCA.
 
The Alaska Nanooks and Fort Wainwright invite you to the women's basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 22 against Western Washington at 3:00 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium in the Patty Center as the Nanooks will hold a halftime ceremony for the four individual honorees.  
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks athletics department, follow @AlaskaNanooks on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks athletics page on Facebook.