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Indoor sports rule the day in Alaska, as you might think: It can get pretty cold up there, especially when the sun only comes out for a few hours in the winter.
A list of the greatest NCAA athletes to hail from the state includes swimmers, basketball players, gymnasts and hockey stars, all hailing from either Alaska-Anchorage or Alaska-Fairbanks.
Here's a look at the 10 greatest college athletes to ever play in the state of Alaska, part of USA TODAY Sports' USA 250 initiative:
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Dean Fedorchuk, Alaska-Fairbanks
Probably the most accomplished men's hockey player in program history, Fedorchuk holds the school record for most goals (113) and was a Hobey Baker finalist as the nation’s top player in 1994. He was a three-time team MVP.
USA 250 LISTS: Alaska | Alabama | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia
Matt Emmons, Alaska-Fairbanks
Emmons was an All-America pick in all four years of eligibility in smallbore and air rifle. He led the Nanooks to four national championships while claiming four individual NCAA titles. Emmons was the first and then only shooter in NCAA history to win three smallbore national championships. He would go on to compete in four Olympics, winning a gold, silver and bronze medial.
Jon Pauole, Alaska-Anchorage
Pauole is the only four-time All-America swimmer in Alaska-Anchorage history after a career than ran from 1989-92. He also owned 14 All-America certificates, including seven as a senior, and set five school records while completing on three record-setting relay teams.
Dean Larson, Alaska-Anchorage
One of the top men's hockey players in school history, Larson was named the team MVP as a sophomore and as a senior. He finished his career as the school leader in points (200) and assists (137) and for most points (66) and assists (48) in a season.
PROGRAM RANKINGS: Top 25 | Big Ten | SEC | ACC | Big 12
Elena Tkacheva, Alaska-Anchorage
Tkacheva remains the goal standard for Alaska-Anchorage gymnastics. She won 10 All-America honors holds the school marks on bars, beam and floor, and won national championships in floor and all-around in 1997.
Steve Moria, Alaska-Fairbanks
A scoring machine for the men's hockey team, Moria’s 109 points in the 1984-85 season are tied the second-most in NCAA history. The All-America pick holds school single-game records for goals (four), assists (five) and points (seven).
Robin Graul, Alaska-Anchorage
Graul was the first female athlete in school history to have her number retired. That was earned via 18 school basketball records, including career points (2,237). She was a four-time team MVP who led Alaska-Anchorage to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Bente Heller, Alaska-Fairbanks
Heller became the school’s first women’s swimming individual NCAA champion after winning in the 100-yard backstroke in 2013. She also was 14 All-America certificates to set a program record. Heller set school marks in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke.
Keith Street, Alaska-Fairbanks
Street ranks in the men's hockey program’s top 10 for scoring despite playing only three years. But he scored 30 points as a freshman, 44 as a sophomore and then 83 in 31 games as a junior, scoring 37 goals along with 46 assists. The program’s top annual scorer receives an award named in Street’s honor.
Cathy Cox, Alaska-Fairbanks
Cox is the top scorer in women’s basketball history at Alaska-Fairbanks after dropping 2,075 points across here four seasons. Also the top per-game scorer (19.6 points), Cox finished fourth in school history in rebounds and was team MVP all four years.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA250: 10 greatest college athletes from Alaska
