FAIRBANKS - The Nanooks Nordic ski and cross country team's have announced the addition of Blake Hanley. Hanley, a 5'11" incoming freshman for 2024-25, hails from Anchorage, Alaska.
Ski's assistant coach, Ben Buck had this to say on Hanley, "Blake is another top talent out of West Anchorage High School who we have been keeping an eye on over the past couple of years. A dual-sport athlete, Blake is one of the hardest-working young men I've ever met, and the energy he will bring to our team is sure to elevate everyone's game! He has a wealth of potential that he has only just begun to tap into, and we anticipate big things for him in the coming years surrounded by a young, talented men's team."
In skis, Hanley earned All-American status at the 2024 Junior National Championships when he took eighth-place in the U20 skate 7.5k interval. A year before, at the 2023 Junior National Championships he took sixth-place in the 7.5k classic interval start and 16th in the skate sprint. At the U.S. Nationals this past January, he took 16th in the 10k junior skate mass start. Finally, at West Anchorage High, he was a member of the 2023 and 2024 State Championship ski teams.
His club team was the Alaska Winter Stars Club.
Conrad Haber, the Nanooks assistant coach for cross country added this on Hanley's addition, "Blake was one of the top athletes in the state during the cross country season this fall, finishing third-overall in the most competitive division at the Alaskan State Championships. We have had tremendous success with the dual athletes in the past and I'm excited about the possibilities that lie ahead with such a hard-working and talented athlete."
In cross country, Hanley placed third in the Division I Alaska State High School XC Championships alongside his two All-State XC accolades. Academically, he was a West Anchorage High School honors graduate, a National Honors Society member, earned the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and gathered more than 20 hours of volunteer work at the local food bank.
He is the son of Pat and Tracy Hanley and intends to study homeland security and emergency management at UAF.
Additional signees will be announced at a later date.
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