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)
Top three high scoring teams seen here in Anchorage at this year’s Alaska Swimming State Championship where the Glacier Swim Club took second place overall. (Courtesy Photo / Savona Kiessling)

Glacier Swim Club takes 2nd place at Alaska State Championship

PJ Foy earns Outstanding Male Athlete.

Top three high scoring teams seen here in Anchorage at this year’s Alaska Swimming State Championship where the Glacier Swim Club took second place overall. (Courtesy Photo / Savona Kiessling)
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.
High school and Little League baseball and softball teams bow their heads during invocation for Gastineau Channel Little League's opening day Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire

Pure Sole: The Little League

It’s the Little League season.

High school and Little League baseball and softball teams bow their heads during invocation for Gastineau Channel Little League's opening day Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau empire
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)
Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

A pitch-perfect opening day for Gastineau Channel Little League

A big day for Little League touches on local program’s history.

Jacob Katasse, 16, gets ready to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the Gastineau Channel Little League baseball season to his Parker Katasse, 9. The two are the great grandsons of Officer Richard Adair, one of two police officers killed in the line of duty for whom the park is named. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club finds gold in Wasilla

USA Wrestling Alaska State Championship held from May 3-7.

Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)
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)
Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker) Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)

Henry, Dorn, Taintor top Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet

Rerouted course included nearly 1-mile hill.

Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker) Hiram Henry, 48, wins the 7.5-mile run in the Magnificent Mendenhall Mudpuddle Meet on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Quinn Tracy/ Heather Parker)
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)
The Juneau Skating Club poses for a group photo after taking third place overall in the 2023 Ice Sports Industry West Coast Championship in Tacoma, Washington at the end of April. (Courtesy Photo / Marianne Oelund)

Juneau Skating Club takes third overall in West Coast Championship

Team Forget-Me-Not takes first in division.

The Juneau Skating Club poses for a group photo after taking third place overall in the 2023 Ice Sports Industry West Coast Championship in Tacoma, Washington at the end of April. (Courtesy Photo / Marianne Oelund)
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)