Sports

Emanual Canales Ortiz of the Juneau Youth Wrestling Club prepares for second period against Dawson Folcik of Palmer on March 3-4 in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Melinda Messmer)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club returns from Fairbanks tournament

27 Juneau wrestlers go to 47th annual Tanana Middle School Invitational.

Emanual Canales Ortiz of the Juneau Youth Wrestling Club prepares for second period against Dawson Folcik of Palmer on March 3-4 in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Melinda Messmer)
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter plots his next move during the Falcons’ first game of the Region V 4A Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. Kayhi prevailed in a close game. Next up for Kayhi, are the conference-leading Crimson Bears. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter plots his next move during the Falcons’ first game of the Region V 4A Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. Kayhi prevailed in a close game. Next up for Kayhi, are the conference-leading Crimson Bears. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (23) draws a foul on his way to the hoop while defended by Wrangell sophomore Daniel Harrison (34) and Wrangell senior Ethan Blatchley (12). Late free-throws from Biggers, who suffered a knee injury during the game, helped secure the win for Petersburg in what ended up being a 1-point game. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Petersburg boys battle Wrangell in tournament’s 1st round

Vikings and Wolves go the distance in long-standing rivalry.

Petersburg senior Kyle Biggers (23) draws a foul on his way to the hoop while defended by Wrangell sophomore Daniel Harrison (34) and Wrangell senior Ethan Blatchley (12). Late free-throws from Biggers, who suffered a knee injury during the game, helped secure the win for Petersburg in what ended up being a 1-point game. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Craig senior Alissa Durgan (14) wills her way to the hoop while defended by Haines sophomore Ashlyn Ganey (32) and Haines senior Alison Benda (14) in the second half of a Craig win in the first round of the Region V 2A Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Craig girls slow down Haines in region tournament

Lady Panthers earn 37-31 win

Craig senior Alissa Durgan (14) wills her way to the hoop while defended by Haines sophomore Ashlyn Ganey (32) and Haines senior Alison Benda (14) in the second half of a Craig win in the first round of the Region V 2A Tournament. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Mila Hargrave sets her eyes on the basket during the first 4A girls game of the Region V 2A/4A Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior Mila Hargrave sets her eyes on the basket during the first 4A girls game of the Region V 2A/4A Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell High School senior Kiara Harrison (11) rebounds over senior teammate Trinity Faulkner (2) and Petersburg High School sophomores Iris Case (10) and Kylie Mattingly (30) during the Lady Wolves’ 48-10 win over the Lady Vikings in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Wrangell girls top Petersburg in Region V tournament opener

The Juneau Empire’s expanded coverage of the Region V tournament is made possible by Sealaska Corp. Thanks to this sponsorship, this article —and all 2023… Continue reading

Wrangell High School senior Kiara Harrison (11) rebounds over senior teammate Trinity Faulkner (2) and Petersburg High School sophomores Iris Case (10) and Kylie Mattingly (30) during the Lady Wolves’ 48-10 win over the Lady Vikings in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Haines High School senior Eric Brouillette (40) shoots over Craig High School sophomore Ayden Benolken (24) and freshman Josh Bennett (10) during the Glacier Bears 68-39 win over the Panthers in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023 at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Haines defeats Craig in boys Region V tournament opener

Glacier Bears chill Panthers with 68-39 win.

Haines High School senior Eric Brouillette (40) shoots over Craig High School sophomore Ayden Benolken (24) and freshman Josh Bennett (10) during the Glacier Bears 68-39 win over the Panthers in the Region V 2A/4A Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2023 at Thunder Mountain High School in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Author Klas Stolpe (13) in action for the Petersburg Vikings against the Sitka Wolves at the 1977 Region V Tournament in Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Closed: Find Me At The Gym

Basketball is a game that rounds out the rough edges of life.

Author Klas Stolpe (13) in action for the Petersburg Vikings against the Sitka Wolves at the 1977 Region V Tournament in Ketchikan. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl goes in for a layup against TMHS during a conference game early this season. The two cross-town rivals are set to play games for the Region V Tournament this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl goes in for a layup against TMHS during a conference game early this season. The two cross-town rivals are set to play games for the Region V Tournament this week. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A basketball passes through a hoop at Thunder Mountain High School. Expect to see a lot more of that this week as the Region V Tournament will be hosted at the high school. Games start Wednesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

2A Schools will fill gym at Region V Tournament

Top teams and players are among the state’s best.

A basketball passes through a hoop at Thunder Mountain High School. Expect to see a lot more of that this week as the Region V Tournament will be hosted at the high school. Games start Wednesday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire
The JDHS boys basketball team celebrates after a hard fought battle against TMHS on Thursday night for the final conference game of the season. Thursday night was also JDHS’s senior night where seniors from the dance squads, prep band and basketball teams were honored in between the girls and boys games.
Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire
The JDHS boys basketball team celebrates after a hard fought battle against TMHS on Thursday night for the final conference game of the season. Thursday night was also JDHS’s senior night where seniors from the dance squads, prep band and basketball teams were honored in between the girls and boys games.
Swimmers compete in the USMS state masters swimming meet over the weekend, hosted for the first time by the Glacier Swim Club at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center. (Courtesy Photo / Philip Loseby)
Swimmers compete in the USMS state masters swimming meet over the weekend, hosted for the first time by the Glacier Swim Club at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center. (Courtesy Photo / Philip Loseby)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire 
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter (30) watches as his game-winning shot makes its way past the arms of JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl (20) and JDHS senior Kai Hargrave (24) who contested the shot closely.

Thunder Mountain strikes twice in senior night games

Boys and girls win in cross-town contests against JDHS.

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire 
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter (30) watches as his game-winning shot makes its way past the arms of JDHS senior Orion Dybdahl (20) and JDHS senior Kai Hargrave (24) who contested the shot closely.
Juneau's Orion Dybdahl (20) forces a jump ball with Kayhi's Jared Rhoads (15) during Juneau's 71-52 loss to Kayhi on Friday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau's Orion Dybdahl (20) forces a jump ball with Kayhi's Jared Rhoads (15) during Juneau's 71-52 loss to Kayhi on Friday at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium. (Christopher Mullen / Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS junior Mila Hargrave drives to the basket against Ketchikan on Saturday to help secure the win for the Bears, 43-29. Hargrave would lead in scores on Saturday with a total of 13 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls go 1-1 at home against Ketchikan

Next up will be a pair of games against TMHS.

JDHS junior Mila Hargrave drives to the basket against Ketchikan on Saturday to help secure the win for the Bears, 43-29. Hargrave would lead in scores on Saturday with a total of 13 points. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Racers from the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay head south on the Haines Highway during the first leg of the race the last time it was held on June 15, 2019. Organizers have announced the 2023 race is planned to go ahead on June 17, with registration opening March 15. (Yukon News file)

Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska bike relay returns June 17

Registration opens March 15 with spots for 1,200 cyclists

  • Feb 24, 2023
  • Stephanie Waddell News Reporter
  • Cycling
Racers from the Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay head south on the Haines Highway during the first leg of the race the last time it was held on June 15, 2019. Organizers have announced the 2023 race is planned to go ahead on June 17, with registration opening March 15. (Yukon News file)
TMHS sophomore Cailynn Baxter (center) is swarmed by teammates following a last-second, game-winning shot against JDHS Tuesday night. The teams have met two times so far this season and each game has come down to the wire. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

TMHS secures another close win against JDHS

The Juneau teams will meet again on Feb. 28 and March 1.

TMHS sophomore Cailynn Baxter (center) is swarmed by teammates following a last-second, game-winning shot against JDHS Tuesday night. The teams have met two times so far this season and each game has come down to the wire. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Glacier Swim Club pose for a group photo in Anchorage during the 2023 Alaska Age Group Champs. (Courtesy Photo / Shireen Taintor)

Glacier Swim Club places 2nd in Anchorage meet

Four swimmers broke team records.

Members of the Glacier Swim Club pose for a group photo in Anchorage during the 2023 Alaska Age Group Champs. (Courtesy Photo / Shireen Taintor)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver takes a free throw shot during a game against Thunder Mountain High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Oliver finished with a total of 20 points against the Crimson Bears’ most recent game against Palmer High School on Friday, Feb. 17. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
JDHS junior Sean Oliver takes a free throw shot during a game against Thunder Mountain High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Oliver finished with a total of 20 points against the Crimson Bears’ most recent game against Palmer High School on Friday, Feb. 17. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire file)
TMHS junior Thomas Baxter rises for a layup on a fastbreak during a Saturday night game against Ketchikan. Baxter on Feb. 9 became the fastest Falcon to reach 1,000 points and is now the school's third leading scorer.  (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Baxter passes 1K points, now eyes Thunder Mountain’s scoring summit

He’s the fastest in school history to hit 1,000-point mark.

TMHS junior Thomas Baxter rises for a layup on a fastbreak during a Saturday night game against Ketchikan. Baxter on Feb. 9 became the fastest Falcon to reach 1,000 points and is now the school's third leading scorer.  (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)