Defending state soccer champion Dimond girls aim to send head coach Tim Valesko out on top

For over two decades, three high schools have dominated girls soccer in the at the Division I level in Alaska. A common denominator that the South, Service and Dimond programs share is that Tim Valesko has spent time on each of their coaching staffs.

Over the last decade, a fierce rivalry has formed between his current team, Dimond, and former team, South, as the Lynx and Wolverines have combined to win every state title since 2010.

“I would even go farther back than that when I was coaching at South with Brian Farrell,” Valesko said. “It’s been about 10 years now between South and Dimond. Service was in there for a couple of years but it’s a big rivalry between the two schools on the girls teams.”

After spending the first two-thirds of his coaching career as an assistant helping the Service Cougars and Wolverines claim multiple state titles, Valesko got his first crack at being a head coach in 2016.

In his first six years at the helm, he has guided the Lynx to numerous Cook Inlet Conference titles and an impressive four state championships.

With the canceled 2020 season excluded, Dimond has won five straight conference titles and four state championships in the last five years including state titles in 2019 and 2021.

“We’re hoping to repeat as league champions and state cup winners again and it does look like it will be a South versus Dimond race again,” Valesko said.

His seventh season at Dimond will be his last for awhile as he intends to step down and focus on coaching club soccer exclusively. In his 22 years of coaching at the high school level he believes that this year’s team is the strongest and deepest that he has ever had.

“I would say this group in total is one of the best teams I’ve ever had, if not the best team,” Valesko said.

He doesn’t like to use the term starter because he believes that he has “two full squads of varsity level players.”

“At every position we have multiple players who can play in those spots,” Valesko said. “Defense, midfield, forwards, we have quite a few players that can perform at a high level.”

He says two of his best players are senior Keegynn Applegate and junior Tatum Porter. Valesko has been coaching both in club long before he became their high school coach and they love being a part of the program’s rivalry with South.

“That rivalry is strong, is always competitive, you always see people fouling left and right, everyone is on the ground, everyone is battling and I think both teams kind of like that,” Applegate said. “It shows the competitive edge we have against each other to see who truly is the best and who wants to win.”

Both have experienced nothing but state championship success since they became Lynx. Applegate was freshman on the 2019 state title-winning team and a junior last year when they won it all.

Porter didn’t have freshman season due to the pandemic and feels like COVID derailed her high school plan of starting on varsity and trying to win state as a freshman but she is glad the classes after her didn’t have to experience a lost season.

“They’ll have all four years and I hope that they will be able to win all four years,” Porter said. “I just want to finish it out strong.”

The feeling among his players about his departure from the program after this year is somewhat bittersweet. While they are sad to see him go, they are also excited for what the lies ahead.

“I’m kind of upset that he is leaving but I’m kind of excited to see the new dynamic that goes on,” Porter said. “I’m sad to see all my seniors leave but moving forward I think it will be fun to see a new dynamic for my senior year.”

The Lynx are determined to send Valesko off the right way with another title to cement his legacy as one of the best high school coaches of his era while maintaining the high standard for future generations to follow.

“If we do win it all at least he’s leaving on a good note,” Applegate said. “I feel like having that new dynamic with a new coach will be good as well and just seeing how they will be able to carry on that legacy without him.”

Valesko shares his players’ optimism and excitement for the future and hopes the school will allow him to have some influence in the search for his replacement. He said there have already been a few coaches that have reached out to him stating their interest.

“If my input can help pick the right person, I’d love to help out,” Valesko said.

The decision to step away from Dimond wasn’t easy for Valesko.

“I’m just going to take a break from high school soccer,” Valesko said. “I’ve been doing this and club soccer 24 or 25 years straight and it just goes one season right into the next with no break.”

Summer season starts right after high school playoffs end with the Alaska Airlines Cup followed by Northwest regionals.

“It’ll be nice to take a little break and for at least a year,” Valesko said. “I’m just going to enjoy watching high school teams play.”

To go out on top with another state title would be a dream come true for Valesko.

“If you could write a movie script, that would be awesome,” Valesko said. “I know South would like that script to go the other way. It would mean a lot and be special to go out with another one but regardless, I’ve really enjoyed my time with these kids.”