The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys and girls basketball teams and the cheer squad will be honoring their seniors Saturday during homecoming weekend against visiting North Pole inside the George Houston Gymnasium. The Crimson Bears girls play at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and the Boys follow at 7 p.m.
JDHS coach Robert Casperson commented on his five seniors.
Damian Efergan (#1): Damian has been a pleasure to work with this year. His quiet and polite mannerisms off the court are quickly traded in for a focused and aggressive demeanor on the court. Damian works extremely hard for his teammates, and all season long he has stepped up to any challenge that’s been presented to him. His dedication has led him to become a steady defender and rebounder for us this year. It is no wonder that he is so well respected by his coaches and teammates. His unique balance of personality traits will surely serve him well in his pursuits after graduation and I am looking forward to hearing about all his adventures after high school.
Ahmir Parker (#2): Ahmir, a co-captain this season, has been an enigma to defenders across the state for the past two years on varsity. He uses his incredible footwork to knife his way through opposing defenses on his way to nifty finishes at the hoop. His moves excite the hometown fans, while confounding the opponents at the same time. I have enjoyed watching Ahmir’s development in our program, especially in the moments where he has realized how much speed, quickness and athleticism he brings to the game. His smile says it all. I appreciate his willingness to defend bigger and stronger post players on one possession and then quick little guards on the next. His versatility is crucial to our team. His versatility will be crucial to his success after high school, too. Ahmir has so much to offer as he moves forward and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.
Gavin Gerrin (#3): I distinctly remember seeing a middle school-aged Gavin as he dribbled a basketball while he was walking places in the valley during the summer. He has loved basketball since a young age, and his growth and development from that time through high school has been a pleasure to watch. Gavin has a unique mix of speed, quickness and athleticism that usually results in leaving a defender in his rearview mirror as he scores a basket. Add in his ability to shoot from distance, and he creates problems for all our opponents. He also does quite well in the classroom and has expressed a desire to get into the medical field. I’m excited to see where that path takes Gavin, and I look forward to bearing witness to his future.
Pedrin Saceda-Hurt (#10): Pedrin dove head-first into the opportunities before him this season and has seen the rewards of his hard work. He often sought out extra time in the gym and rallied his teammates to join him. All along the way he requested feedback from his coaches on what areas of his game he could improve, and then dedicated his time to expanding his talents in order to become a more complete player. Pedrin’s leadership through that process didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates, and they selected him as our speaking captain this season. That’s a very high honor in the Crimson Bear program. Mix these character traits together with his affable personality and I believe the sky’s the limit for Pedrin.
Ben Sikes (#11): Ben is the type of person that every program needs. He is fully committed to everything we do, works extremely hard, is kind to all, strives for competitive greatness, is a top-notch student and encourages everyone around him to do their best. And he does all this with a smile on his face. His dedication to his team and teammates is clearly evident on a daily basis. I have been impressed with his ability to make sure that everyone is included and feels valued. He displays so many of the qualities of leadership that I believe he has become a de facto captain this season. It has been such a pleasure to work with Ben this year, and I would not be surprised at all to see him in a leadership position as an adult.
The JDHS Crimson Bears girls seniors are four-year varsity members Cailynn Baxter (#23) and Kerra Baxter (#22), three-year varsity member Addison Wilson (#10), and two-year varsity member Mary Johnson (#4).
Girls basketball coach Tanya Nizich wrote, “All of our seniors provided such leadership and positive energy for the team this year. They are a wonderful and mature group of individuals. I have no doubt in my mind that they will succeed with anything they put their mind to, and I am excited to follow up with them down the road.”
Basketball Cheer Coach Carlen Nore commented on her four seniors.
Ayla Keller (four-year varsity cheer): Ayla has been a dedicated and enthusiastic cheerleader since day one. She came on the team mid-season of her freshmen year and has gained skill, confidence and leadership skills. She loves the sport and hopes to continue to cheer after high school.
Stefano Rivera (first-year varsity cheer): Stefano joined the team after some encouragement from other teammates. He works hard and is eager to learn skills. He always tries his best and has been an amazing addition to the team. The team as a whole can say, “Why didn’t you cheer earlier?”
Gabby Ely (first-year varsity cheer): Gabby brings kindness, work ethic and a smile to everything she does. She has grown as a cheerleader gaining new skills and confidence all while recovering from an injury sustained months ago. She’s mama to her team and can always be counted on for her friendship.
Sophia Percy: (first-year varsity manager): Sophia brings energy to everything she does. She’s involved in multiple activities and has been learning how to juggle school, work and activities. Managers don’t get enough credit for the behind-the-scene work that they do. She’s involved in cheer prep, theme nights, promotions, playing music, swapping out props, organizing/cleaning of our props and so much more. She gives her very best to support her teammates.
“This year, three of our four seniors are new to varsity cheer,” Nore said. “It makes it bittersweet as you’re proud of their accomplishments and growth but sad that you only had a few months with them. Just as you’re getting to really know them as a person, the season is ending. For all our seniors, we’re so proud of you and the athlete you’ve become. We hope your talent and the valuable lessons you have learned takes you to where you want to be in life and the memories of this team will remain in your heart. We’ll miss you all next season.”
The JDHS dance team and pep band did not respond with comment.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
