In the fifth grade, when Mindy Dawson arrived in Ninilchik from Slana, a Bush town located halfway between Tok and Glennallen on the Tok Cutoff, it didn't take her long to figure out what new sport she'd be taking up.In the fifth grade, when Mindy Dawson arrived in Ninilchik from Slana, a Bush town located halfway between Tok and Glennallen on the Tok Cutoff, it didn't take her long to figure out what new sport she'd be taking up.
"Right off the bat, I started playing basketball," said Dawson, who is now a senior. "It's the biggest thing in school. It's an event for the whole community."
The Wolverines have won seven Class 2A girls state basketball titles, including the last five in a row, so Dawson's decision to take up the sport came as no surprise.
It wouldn't be long before Dawson, the daughter of Brenda and Gary Jackinsky, was contributing to some of those state titles herself.
The old adage says defense wins championships. Not surprisingly, Ninilchik coach Dan Leman, the author of all the Wolverines' state titles, puts an emphasis on defense.
Growing up in Slana, where she could only reach her cabin by snowmachine in the winter and canoe in the summer, Dawson is no stranger to the hard work that defense requires.
"Dan makes it clear that we're a defensive team, and that's what he told me to focus on," Dawson said. "He wants me to block out, rebound and be aggressive on defense."
Now that Dawson is a senior and has seen significant playing time on two of Ninilchik's state championship teams, Dawson is invaluable in another regard.
"Experience is very important," Leman said. "When you get in situations in games where you've been there before, it means a lot."
Dawson also has gotten used to handling the pressure that comes with being a basketball player at the juggernaut that is Ninilchik. This year, the team is 19-4 as it heads to the Class 2A tournament to defend its title.
"There's always been pressure being on the team, but this year since we've lost a little bit more there hasn't been as much pressure," Dawson said. "Because we're losing, though, there's pressure to work a lot harder."
Dawson also started playing volleyball at Ninilchik School in the seventh grade and has helped take the program to new heights.
As a junior, Dawson helped Ninilchik make its first appearance at the state tournament. The Wolverines followed that up with another state appearance this season. Dawson was on the all-tournament team at both region tournaments.
Brenda Jackinsky said there is a big difference in the way her daughter plays basketball and volleyball.
"She beams when she's on that (volleyball) court," Jackinsky said. "You can just see the excitement coming out of her.
"She smiles from ear to ear when she's on that (volleyball) court, but she's a very serious basketball player — extremely serious."
Dawson, who is a middle hitter, said that volleyball comes much easier to her. She also said the sport isn't as pressure-packed as basketball.
Ninilchik coach Mary Clock and Dawson grew up together in the program, with Clock starting as coach when Dawson was a freshman.
"She came as a freshman with not a lot of confidence, grew, and ended up being a pretty aggressive player," Clock said.
Dawson said she is not a natural leader. In basketball, she leaves the leadership duties to senior Emily Wood and juniors Kendra Moerlein and Lauren Wolford.
In volleyball this year, however, Dawson was the only senior on the team and was forced to lead.
"I think she really stepped up to what needed to be done and got it done," Clock said. "It was awesome for her not to have anybody else to lean on.
"She took control and did a great job. I just really think she'll blossom even more in the years to come."
Dawson carries a B average at Ninilchik and is involved with other activities besides sports. She is in the choir and does the 30-hour famine, a fund-raising program where students fast for 30 hours.
Dawson also gets involved with the community through the American Legion Auxiliary and is in the Close-up program, which allows students to learn more about the government. She will take a trip to Washington, D.C., with that program in April.
Dawson said she will attend UAF next year, where she would like to work toward becoming a pilot. She said during a flight the volleyball team took to Seldovia this season, it suddenly became clear to her that her future was up in the air.
"I love to fly," Dawson said. "On that flight to Seldovia, that was the first time I realized that becoming a pilot is my dream."
For now, Dawson's dream is to help the Wolverines find a way to take a sixth consecutive state title. Last season, Ninilchik lost to Bristol Bay in the Peninsula Conference final only to beat the Angels in the title game at state. Ninilchik lost to Bristol Bay again in this year's conference final.
"I want to win so bad," Dawson said. "Hopefully, things will work out just like they did last year."
