High School Sports

Ketchikan High School’s Bella Westfall-Zink attempts to block Thunder Mountain High School’s Ashlyn Gates during Friday’s match in Ketchikan, which Thunder Mountain won 3-0. TMHS also swept Ketchikan 3-0 on Saturday night. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)

TMHS volleyball sweeps Ketchikan during two-night road trip, remains undefeated

Last year’s conference champs haven’t lost a set this season, boost record to 4-0

Ketchikan High School’s Bella Westfall-Zink attempts to block Thunder Mountain High School’s Ashlyn Gates during Friday’s match in Ketchikan, which Thunder Mountain won 3-0. TMHS also swept Ketchikan 3-0 on Saturday night. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
A Service High School player returns a punt deep into Juneau territory during the first quarter of Saturday’s game on the Anchorages school’s home field. Service scored its second touchdown a short time later to take a 15-0 lead before going on to win 54-14. (Courtesy of Juneau Huskies Football)

Punting miscues pivotal as Huskies lose to Service 54-14

Bad snap, kicks and coverage result in TDs for Anchorage team as Juneau drops to 0-4.

A Service High School player returns a punt deep into Juneau territory during the first quarter of Saturday’s game on the Anchorages school’s home field. Service scored its second touchdown a short time later to take a 15-0 lead before going on to win 54-14. (Courtesy of Juneau Huskies Football)
Evelyn Richards (12) spikes the ball to score a point Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé near the end of the team’s second game against Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday at JDHS. THMS won the game by a score of 25-10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JDHS volleyball team hopeful about future potential despite losses against TMHS

THMS completes sweep of two nights of matchups between local teams on each other’s courts.

Evelyn Richards (12) spikes the ball to score a point Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé near the end of the team’s second game against Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday at JDHS. THMS won the game by a score of 25-10. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior racer Oliver Zigmund leads a pack of runners as they charge up a hill during the Sayeik Invitational on Douglas Saturday morning. Zigmund finished the race 10th with a time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau cross-country teams have successful start at first home meet

Alumni and high school runners go neck-and-neck on their home turf.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior racer Oliver Zigmund leads a pack of runners as they charge up a hill during the Sayeik Invitational on Douglas Saturday morning. Zigmund finished the race 10th with a time of 18 minutes and 18 seconds. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Chloe Casperson (right) of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé tries to get a shot by Adella Dinle of Thunder Mountain High School during a game on Friday night at TMHS. TMHS swept all three games during the evening, with the teams set for a rematch Saturday at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

THMS volleyball team takes advantage of seniority at home against JDHS

The two schools plan to apply lessons learned during rematch Saturday at JDHS.

Chloe Casperson (right) of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé tries to get a shot by Adella Dinle of Thunder Mountain High School during a game on Friday night at TMHS. TMHS swept all three games during the evening, with the teams set for a rematch Saturday at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Anthony Garcia (22) celebrates with Juneau Huskies teammates after intercepting a pass with less than two minutes left in the third quarter against the Dimond High School Lynx on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Field. The interception sparked a rapid 19-point rally by the Huskies, who were trailing 32-14 at the time, as they took a 33-32 lead with about 10 minutes in the fourth quarter before going on to lose by a final score of 40-33. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Big plays and a big rally for Huskies, but Dimond gets final score to win

Juneau scores TDs of 91, 73, 71 and 51 yards, turns 24-7 deficit into 33-32 lead before losing 40-33

Anthony Garcia (22) celebrates with Juneau Huskies teammates after intercepting a pass with less than two minutes left in the third quarter against the Dimond High School Lynx on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Field. The interception sparked a rapid 19-point rally by the Huskies, who were trailing 32-14 at the time, as they took a 33-32 lead with about 10 minutes in the fourth quarter before going on to lose by a final score of 40-33. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School cross-country team begin their workout during practice outside of the high school Thursday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The TMHS cross-country team is back — bigger and better than ever before

Practice is underway as runners prepare for an upcoming joint race with JDHS.

The Thunder Mountain High School cross-country team begin their workout during practice outside of the high school Thursday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Senior captains Edgar Vera and Etta Eller lead the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School cross-country team in a warmup jog during a rainy day practice near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

JDHS runners return to Juneau’s roads and trails with big ambitions

Cross-country coaches and captains share early season goals ahead of joint race with TMHS.

Senior captains Edgar Vera and Etta Eller lead the Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School cross-country team in a warmup jog during a rainy day practice near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center on Monday. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Players collide during the second quarter of the Juneau Huskies’ season opener against East Anchorage Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Huskies return with fresh faces, defeated in the season opener

Head coach optimistic for the season despite major turnover.

Players collide during the second quarter of the Juneau Huskies’ season opener against East Anchorage Saturday afternoon at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on April 28, 2022. Transgender girls would be barred from participating on high school girls' athletic teams in Alaska under a proposal being considered Wednesday by the state board of education. Opponents of the proposal call it discriminatory and unconstitutional and say it likely will lead to litigation. Supporters, including Dunleavy, say it is needed to ensure fairness in girls' sports. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)

Alaska board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams

Alaska board delays action on proposal to bar transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams The state board of education Wednesday delayed action on… Continue reading

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Alaska State Capitol on April 28, 2022. Transgender girls would be barred from participating on high school girls' athletic teams in Alaska under a proposal being considered Wednesday by the state board of education. Opponents of the proposal call it discriminatory and unconstitutional and say it likely will lead to litigation. Supporters, including Dunleavy, say it is needed to ensure fairness in girls' sports. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File Girls teams face off on the twin courts of the main gym at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School during the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza on Oct. 15, 2022. A proposal being considered by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development to ban transgender females from participating in girls high school sports could take effect before this year’s fall sports season.

Public comment open for statewide transgender sports ban

Proposal barring transgender girls from girls’ high school sports teams to be reconsidered July 26

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire File Girls teams face off on the twin courts of the main gym at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School during the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza on Oct. 15, 2022. A proposal being considered by the Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development to ban transgender females from participating in girls high school sports could take effect before this year’s fall sports season.
TMHS senior Mallory Welling, running for team North/Southeast, competes in the 100 hurdles at the Brian Young Invitational on Saturday in Kodiak. (Photo courtesy Brandi Adams)

Local athletes qualify for Junior Olympics

Southeast track stars impress at Kodiak’s Brian Young Invitational

TMHS senior Mallory Welling, running for team North/Southeast, competes in the 100 hurdles at the Brian Young Invitational on Saturday in Kodiak. (Photo courtesy Brandi Adams)
Thunder Mountain High School recent graduate Mallory Welling, shown at last weekend’s ASAA state track and field meet, will compete at the Brian Young Invitational, Friday and Saturday, in Kodiak. (Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion)

Southeast track stars to challenge records

One final hurdle for athletes at Kodiak’s Brian Young Invitational

Thunder Mountain High School recent graduate Mallory Welling, shown at last weekend’s ASAA state track and field meet, will compete at the Brian Young Invitational, Friday and Saturday, in Kodiak. (Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion)
Photo Courtesy JDHS Softball JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich slides into home plate against Kodiak during the Crimson Bears 9-1 win over the Bears on Thursday in the ASAA Division II State Softball Tournament at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields.

JDHS splits first steps of state softball marathon

Crimson Bears girls open tournament with win over Kodiak, loss to North Pole

Photo Courtesy JDHS Softball JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich slides into home plate against Kodiak during the Crimson Bears 9-1 win over the Bears on Thursday in the ASAA Division II State Softball Tournament at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields.
JDHS senior third baseman Kaleb Campbell tags out Colony freshman Kaesen Buzby on a steal attempt during the Crimson Bears 9-1 loss to the Knights on Thursday in the opening round of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships at Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS baseball boys open state with loss

Crimson Bears jousted by Colony Knights 9-1

JDHS senior third baseman Kaleb Campbell tags out Colony freshman Kaesen Buzby on a steal attempt during the Crimson Bears 9-1 loss to the Knights on Thursday in the opening round of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships at Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Region V champion Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team are the top Southeast seed for the state tournament this weekend in Anchorage. Front row: Milina Mazon. Second row: Mariah Schauwecker, Chloe Casperson, Zoey Billings, Carlynn Casperson and Gloria Bixby. Third row: Bailey Hansen, Mila Hargrave, Taiya Bentz, Kiah Yadao and Gwen Nizich. Fourth row: Amira Andrews, Tristan Oliva, Anna Dale and Tatum Billings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS softball champs ready for state

Top seed Crimson Bears, second seed Sitka heading north

The Region V champion Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team are the top Southeast seed for the state tournament this weekend in Anchorage. Front row: Milina Mazon. Second row: Mariah Schauwecker, Chloe Casperson, Zoey Billings, Carlynn Casperson and Gloria Bixby. Third row: Bailey Hansen, Mila Hargrave, Taiya Bentz, Kiah Yadao and Gwen Nizich. Fourth row: Amira Andrews, Tristan Oliva, Anna Dale and Tatum Billings. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Photos by Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire Sitka junior Grady Smith slides safely into home plate during the Wolves 13-7 win over the Ketchikan Kings for the Region V Baseball Championship on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Field.

Sitka baseball boys win regions

Wolves defeat Kayhi for title, JDHS still state bound

Photos by Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire Sitka junior Grady Smith slides safely into home plate during the Wolves 13-7 win over the Ketchikan Kings for the Region V Baseball Championship on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Field.
The TMHS Falcons pose with their Sportsmanship Award at the Region V Softball Tournament on Saturday in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo)

Falcons fall from softball region tourney

TMHS leaves bases loaded for next season.

The TMHS Falcons pose with their Sportsmanship Award at the Region V Softball Tournament on Saturday in Sitka. (Courtesy Photo)
This combination image shows Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Etta Eller, Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling and Ketchikan High School senior Jason Lorig competing during the Region V Track & Field Championships Saturday May 20. All three fared well at the state championships. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Southeast Division I track stars battle at state

Ketchikan’s Lorig, JD’s Eller and TM’s Welling place high

This combination image shows Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Etta Eller, Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling and Ketchikan High School senior Jason Lorig competing during the Region V Track & Field Championships Saturday May 20. All three fared well at the state championships. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Sitka sophomore Clare Mullin and Haines senior Avari Getchell start the anchor leg of the Division II girls 4x400 relay after taking baton passes from Sitka freshman Natalie Hall and Haines sophomore Ari’el Godinez Long during the Region V Track & Field Championships. Sitka performed well at the state championship this weekend, earning a Division II title. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sitka wins DII state track & field team title

Petersburg’s Cumps, Sitka’s Prussian top events

Sitka sophomore Clare Mullin and Haines senior Avari Getchell start the anchor leg of the Division II girls 4x400 relay after taking baton passes from Sitka freshman Natalie Hall and Haines sophomore Ari’el Godinez Long during the Region V Track & Field Championships. Sitka performed well at the state championship this weekend, earning a Division II title. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)