Obed Vargas was named Alaska Athlete of the Week after becoming the first Alaskan to play in the World Cup after taking the field in the 70th minute for Mexico to close out a 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara.
The 20-year-old midfielder more than held his own in a tightly contested match, making several plays on ball and firing a shot on goal in the 86th minute that forced the South Korean keeper to make a save on the goal-line.
Vargas, a dual citizen, who was born and raised in Anchorage played for the Cook Inlet Soccer Club until he was 13, when he left for Seattle to pursue a professional career.
He has been breaking barriers for Alaska soccer ever since. Earlier this year, Vargas left the Seattle Sounders of the MLS after five seasons to join Atlético Madrid of Spain’s famed La Liga.
- Kendall Kramer – The runner from Fairbanks qualified for the WRMA World Cup Uphill Finale by placing fourth at the USATF Uphill Mountain Running Championships in Palisades Tahoe, California.
- Claire Shaha – The recent graduate of Gruening Middle School in Chugiak placed 12th out of 120 girls in the 1600 meters at the Middle School Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in personal best time of 5:02:00.
- Briggs Winfree – The golfer from Anchorage qualified last week for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship set for Pennsylvania in late July.
The Alaska Athlete of the Week is selected by a panel each Monday. Send athlete of the week recommendations to info@alaskasportshall.org.
