High School Sports

Falcons softball senior Leah Hetle will be honored before a Saturday game against Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Falcons lone softball senior to be honored Saturday

Thunder Mountain will host Ketchikan and Sitka

Falcons softball senior Leah Hetle will be honored before a Saturday game against Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Mackenzie Olver is kissed by parents Barry and Stacy after signing a national letter of intent on Thursday in the Thunder Mountain commons, to play soccer and study at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Olver signs to play college soccer

Falcons defender will combine soccer skills and sociology studies

Mackenzie Olver is kissed by parents Barry and Stacy after signing a national letter of intent on Thursday in the Thunder Mountain commons, to play soccer and study at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball seniors are, from left: Finn Kesey, Marcus Underwood, Kaleb Campbell, Eli Crupi, Bodhi Nelson, Joseph Aline and Luke Dean. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears sandlot boys senior night on Saturday

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé will host Ketchikan

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball seniors are, from left: Finn Kesey, Marcus Underwood, Kaleb Campbell, Eli Crupi, Bodhi Nelson, Joseph Aline and Luke Dean. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS assistant coach Jasmine James, JDHS head coach Tanya Nizich, JDHS senior Kiyara Miller, JDHS assistant coach Nicole Fenumiai and retired JDHS coach Steve Potter on Wednesday in the JDHS gymnasium after Miller signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Peninsula College. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ Miller signs to play basketball at Peninsula College

Crimson Bears guard will take defensive skills to the next level.

JDHS assistant coach Jasmine James, JDHS head coach Tanya Nizich, JDHS senior Kiyara Miller, JDHS assistant coach Nicole Fenumiai and retired JDHS coach Steve Potter on Wednesday in the JDHS gymnasium after Miller signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Peninsula College. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Liam Hart (10) pitches against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Tuesday night. The Falcons rode timely hitting to a 9-6 victory. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS triumphs in cross-town baseball game

Falcons beat Bears 9-6 on Tuesday.

Thunder Mountain’s Liam Hart (10) pitches against Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé on Tuesday night. The Falcons rode timely hitting to a 9-6 victory. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Jesper Bennetsen (18) speaks about his senior brother Tayten Bennetsen (20), far right, during the JDHS boys final home game at Adair Kennedy pitch Tuesday. Seniors Jack Schwarting, Kean Buss (5), Gabe Cheng (21), Will Robinson (12), Micah Brown (23), Tommy Pearson (13) and T. Bennetsen listen. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).

JDHS earns clean slate on boys senior soccer night

Underclassmen honor the integrity of their older peers

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Jesper Bennetsen (18) speaks about his senior brother Tayten Bennetsen (20), far right, during the JDHS boys final home game at Adair Kennedy pitch Tuesday. Seniors Jack Schwarting, Kean Buss (5), Gabe Cheng (21), Will Robinson (12), Micah Brown (23), Tommy Pearson (13) and T. Bennetsen listen. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire).
Thunder Mountain High School senior Kiara Kookesh holds a Northwest Indian College jersey after signing to play college basketball for the Bellingham, Washington, school on Monday while flanked by her mother Marcie Kookesh and TMHS coach Andy Lee. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Kookesh signs to play at Northwest Indian College

TMHS Falcons defensive ace will hound NWIC Eagles opponents

Thunder Mountain High School senior Kiara Kookesh holds a Northwest Indian College jersey after signing to play college basketball for the Bellingham, Washington, school on Monday while flanked by her mother Marcie Kookesh and TMHS coach Andy Lee. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Ana Scopel, Kylie Morris, Mackenzie Olver, Mercedes Cordero, Samantha Mead, Brooke McAndrews, Lillian Palmer-Stears, Kaelin Tibbles. (Courtesy Photo / Cindy Eriksen)

Coaches Corner: Thunder Mountain girls soccer senior edition

“As senior night approaches, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the seniors…”

Ana Scopel, Kylie Morris, Mackenzie Olver, Mercedes Cordero, Samantha Mead, Brooke McAndrews, Lillian Palmer-Stears, Kaelin Tibbles. (Courtesy Photo / Cindy Eriksen)
Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer seniors are (back row left to right) Gabe Cheng, Micah Brown, Kean Buss, Jack Schwarting and Tommy Pearson. (Front, left to right) Will Robinson and Tayten Bennetsen.

Crimson Bears soccer boys honor seniors tonight

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé hosts Thunder Mountain

Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears boys soccer seniors are (back row left to right) Gabe Cheng, Micah Brown, Kean Buss, Jack Schwarting and Tommy Pearson. (Front, left to right) Will Robinson and Tayten Bennetsen.
TMHS sophomore Kajson Cunningham (30) dribbles the ball against Ketchikan High School who traveled to Juneau for two games on Friday and Saturday. Cunningham plays for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

TMHS boys soccer team gains experience with Kayhi games

Falcons play JDHS next on Tuesday, May 9.

TMHS sophomore Kajson Cunningham (30) dribbles the ball against Ketchikan High School who traveled to Juneau for two games on Friday and Saturday. Cunningham plays for both the junior varsity and varsity teams. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Izabelle Ith, second from left, poses with her Alaska High School Hall of Fame plaque. At left is ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland. Second from right is Jo Ann Day, who nominated Ith for the honor. At right is Alaska state Rep. Mike Cronk who presented Ith with a legislative citation. (Brad Potter / ASAA)

Petersburg’s Izabelle Ith honored with Hall of Fame selection

Southeast athlete pushed Alaska competitors to their sporting limits.

Izabelle Ith, second from left, poses with her Alaska High School Hall of Fame plaque. At left is ASAA Executive Director Billy Strickland. Second from right is Jo Ann Day, who nominated Ith for the honor. At right is Alaska state Rep. Mike Cronk who presented Ith with a legislative citation. (Brad Potter / ASAA)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Cadence Plummer (12) follows through on a goal-scoring kick in the second half of a win against Thunder Mountain High School at TMHS. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Second-half goals power JDHS to win over TMHS

Tightly contested match was up for grabs after first 45 minutes.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Cadence Plummer (12) follows through on a goal-scoring kick in the second half of a win against Thunder Mountain High School at TMHS. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Ruby Rivas (9) dribbles the ball down field against Grace Christian High School on Friday in Anchorage for a 7-1 victory, non-conference game. (Courtesy Photo / Matt Dusenberry)

JDHS girls soccer returns from Anchorage with two wins and a tie

The Bears record now sits at 6-1-1 and 4-0 in conference.

JDHS junior Ruby Rivas (9) dribbles the ball down field against Grace Christian High School on Friday in Anchorage for a 7-1 victory, non-conference game. (Courtesy Photo / Matt Dusenberry)
JDHS junior Oliver Zigmund (15) blocks a shot at Adair-Kennedy Field on Saturday against Ketchikan High School for the Bears’ first two conference games of the season. Zigmund puts in extra playing time by playing with both the JV and varsity team. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys soccer keep undefeated season alive with wins against Kayhi

Crimson Bears record sits at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in conference.

JDHS junior Oliver Zigmund (15) blocks a shot at Adair-Kennedy Field on Saturday against Ketchikan High School for the Bears’ first two conference games of the season. Zigmund puts in extra playing time by playing with both the JV and varsity team. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Teaser

State association considers transgender ban on student sports

Change would limit girls teams to birth-assigned sex; public meeting scheduled Monday

Teaser
JDHS’ Gloria Bixby slides safe into second base and under the tag of TMHS’ Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game against Thunder Mountain High School in May 2021 that raised money for mental health. TMHS and JDHS both will be participating in the Paint it Pink Cancer Awareness games on Saturday, May 13 along with Ketchikan and Sitka high schools at Melvin Park and Dimond Park Field No. 4 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Southeast high school softball teams go to bat for cancer awareness

Paint it Pink Cancer Awareness Games on May 13.

JDHS’ Gloria Bixby slides safe into second base and under the tag of TMHS’ Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game against Thunder Mountain High School in May 2021 that raised money for mental health. TMHS and JDHS both will be participating in the Paint it Pink Cancer Awareness games on Saturday, May 13 along with Ketchikan and Sitka high schools at Melvin Park and Dimond Park Field No. 4 (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling launches over a hurdle during the 300 meter hurdle prelims at the Capital Invitational Track and Field meet Friday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s track and field season kicks off with Capital Invitational

The weekend meet was the first of the season.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Mallory Welling launches over a hurdle during the 300 meter hurdle prelims at the Capital Invitational Track and Field meet Friday evening. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker sits before friends and family on Wednesday at the JDHS gymnasium to sign a letter of intent to play softball with Southern Idaho. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS senior signs letter of intent with Southern Idaho

“It’s been one of my biggest dreams since I was a little girl.”

JDHS senior Mariah Schauwecker sits before friends and family on Wednesday at the JDHS gymnasium to sign a letter of intent to play softball with Southern Idaho. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
JDHS sophomore Milina Mazon (11) keeps the ball from TMHS freshman Ariana Gonzales (40) during the two schools second match up of the season on Tuesday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls soccer wins second match up against TMHS

Crimson Bears sit at 4-0 for conference record.

JDHS sophomore Milina Mazon (11) keeps the ball from TMHS freshman Ariana Gonzales (40) during the two schools second match up of the season on Tuesday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
A soccer ball rests on the field at Thunder Mountain High School. The JDHS girls bested TMHS 9-0 on Wednesday behind five goals from Peyton Wheeler. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls see 8 goals from underclassmen in season-opener

New faces make impact in cross-town win over TMHS.

A soccer ball rests on the field at Thunder Mountain High School. The JDHS girls bested TMHS 9-0 on Wednesday behind five goals from Peyton Wheeler. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)