The three mushers featured in Part III of Rookie Review are all from the Wasilla/Anchorage area.  One is a principal, one is an ER/CCU nurse and one is a sprinkler fitter for a fire protection firm.  Their occupations are diverse but their avocation, mushing, brings them to common ground with training and caring for their great canine athletes.   

Sean Williams – Chugiak – Bib #2

Sean Williams is looking forward to making it to the start of Iditarod and down the trail to Nome.  Williams was signed up last year but withdrew hours before the race began to attend to family needs.  Sean is the founder, president and principal of the Alaska Mushing School which offers hands on mushing experiences to adventurous travelers.  He is an active promoter of dog mushing seeking to keep the mushing culture alive in the Anchorage area.

Sean who lives in Chugiak, Alaska, has been mushing for 15 years.  During that time he’s worked with mushing masters Martin Buser, Dean Osmar, DeeDee Jonrowe, Matt Failor and Matt Hayashida.  He is active in the Chugiak Dog Musher’s Association.  Williams is dedicating his 2022 Iditarod run to his late mother, Patricia Daniel Williams.

Matt Paveglia – Eagle River – Bib #48

Matt Paveglia calls Eagle River, Alaska home.  He arrived in Alaska from Lansing, Michigan in 2008.  He has worked as a travel nurse and also in the Emergency room and Critical Care unit of an Anchorage hospital.  Matt loves the out of doors and the opportunities for adventure that Alaska offers.  He soon found himself on the runners of a sled and enjoyed working with the amazing canine athletes.

Working as a primary handler at Jim Lanier’s Northern Whites Kennel, Matt began pursuing the Iditarod by completing his qualifiers.  Lanier is a celebrated elder of the Iditarod who has completed the race in 5 decades from the 1979 to 2013.  Lanier is responsible for helping not only aspiring adult mushers reach the Iditarod trail but also countless junior mushers have benefited from his knowledge and support.

Matt says he was raised to be wild and free.  He hunted, fished and sailed the Great Lakes of Michigan.  Iditarod is his opportunity to continue living as a free spirit.  He is very thankful for the great friends and mentors he’s met through mushing.  Matt’s daughter is participating in the 2022 Jr. Iditarod.  Praveglio finished the Willow 300 in 11th place.  His daughter, Teitje, completed the Willow Jr. 100 in 8th place.  Good luck to father and daughter on your respective Iditarod trails.

Eric Kelly – Knik – Bib #14

Eric Kelly lives with his family in Knik and operates Daybreak Kennel.  After moving from Arizona to Alaska, Kelly met Jamaican musher Newton Marshall.  He helped Marshall prepare for the 2014 Iditarod.  For the next few winters, Eric worked for and trained with Kathleen Fredrick at Shameless Huskies.  After four years of handling for Fredrick, he decided he’d like to start his own kennel.  The kennel that started with 12 dogs and the goal of running Iditarod has grown to 30 dogs and signing up for the 2022 run to Nome.

Eric has focused on mid-distance racing over the past few years.  In doing that he’s completed his qualifiers.  He’s run both the Willow 300 and the Copper Basin 300.  Growing up, Eric loved hunting, fishing, riding snowmachines and exploring nearby Vermont mountain ranges.  He credits his love for mushing and Iditarod dream to meeting and working with Newton Marshall.  That’s where his passion for sled dogs was born.  Kelly has enjoyed expanding his skill set and bonding with his team of Alaskan huskies that running mid-distance races has offered.  He extends a heartfelt thank you to his sponsors, handlers, wife and kids.

Check back soon for another story in the Rookie Review series.  In the meantime make sure your subscription to the Ultimate Insider is up to date.  You won’t want to miss the Insider video clips sharing personal stories of mushers and their experiences on the trail.  Having GPS tracker at your fingertips is invaluable when following the race and keeping track of your favorite mushers.  For the 50th Iditarod, the Insider crew has been busy capturing interviews with mushers from the ‘old’ days and memorializing mushers and founders who have passed.