Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior swim captains Matthew Godkin, Matthew Plang, Pacific Ricke and Nova Hines were chosen by teammates to lead the Crimson Bears in the pool this season. Godkin and Hines swam last year for the now defunct Thunder Mountain High School Falcons. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Swimmers find their lanes on combined JDHS team

Crimson Bears have 37 athletes who swim and 10 that dive, with 22 of them coming over from TMHS.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior swim captains Matthew Godkin, Matthew Plang, Pacific Ricke and Nova Hines were chosen by teammates to lead the Crimson Bears in the pool this season. Godkin and Hines swam last year for the now defunct Thunder Mountain High School Falcons. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
The South Sawyer glacier had shed many small bergs, which were occupied by hard-to-see resting seals. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: Excursions at the end of summer

In late August I went on a day cruise to Tracy Arm. The weather was good for observing: gray, overcast skies to reduce the glare… Continue reading

The South Sawyer glacier had shed many small bergs, which were occupied by hard-to-see resting seals. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)
Boys start the 5K race at the State Preview 2024 meet at Bartlett High School in Anchorage on Saturday. (Photo by Kent Mearig)

JDHS varsity cross-country teams in top 4, Ida Meyer wins girls’ 5K at State Preview 2024 in Anchorage

Consolidated team splits up for three weekend events; next up is Capital City Invite this Saturday.

Boys start the 5K race at the State Preview 2024 meet at Bartlett High School in Anchorage on Saturday. (Photo by Kent Mearig)
West Anchorage High School’s Zephaniah Sailele (6) breaks through Juneau defenders during Saturday’s game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies come up short at home in 28-27 nailbiter against West Anchorage

Juneau jumps out to 19-0 lead on Eaglesā€™ mistakes, but end up in battle until final few seconds

West Anchorage High School’s Zephaniah Sailele (6) breaks through Juneau defenders during Saturday’s game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Abby Dolan (wearing green) tries to take down Sofia Contreras during a Juneau Youth Wrestling Club camp Sept. 1 at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Youths try to get a leg up — and opponents down — with help from pros at wrestling camps

With participation by girls rising and school teams getting bigger, every tip helps

Abby Dolan (wearing green) tries to take down Sofia Contreras during a Juneau Youth Wrestling Club camp Sept. 1 at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A blacktail doe stares down the author on Sunday. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Limited enthusiasm

The alpine deer cabbage was yellow and gold, a sign of the coming fall. From a distance even the leaves turned brown seemed to take… Continue reading

A blacktail doe stares down the author on Sunday. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Eyebright flowers occur in abundance along local trails. (Photo by Denise Carroll)

On the Trails: Trailside flowers

On a gray morning in early September, with no cruise ships in town(!), I wandered up Basin Road and the first part of the Perseverance… Continue reading

Eyebright flowers occur in abundance along local trails. (Photo by Denise Carroll)
The Juneau Huskies, seen here taking the field for the second half of an Aug. 24 home game against Service High School, prevailed in a road trip game Friday night in Bishop, California, defeating Bishop Union High School 17-6. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau defeats Bishop Union High School 17-6 as lots of players make lots of key plays

Huskies survive as the fittest in ā€œcaveman footballā€ game during California road trip.

The Juneau Huskies, seen here taking the field for the second half of an Aug. 24 home game against Service High School, prevailed in a road trip game Friday night in Bishop, California, defeating Bishop Union High School 17-6. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls lead the pack during the season-opening cross country meet at the state fairgrounds in Haines on Aug. 31, 2024. (Lex Treinen / For the Chilkat Valley News)

Bell, Hansen, lead Haines at season opener meet against powerhouse Juneau-Douglas

JDHS boys and girls both take nine of top 10 spots at Haines Invitational Cross-Country Meet.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls lead the pack during the season-opening cross country meet at the state fairgrounds in Haines on Aug. 31, 2024. (Lex Treinen / For the Chilkat Valley News)
Florida State University graduate student Tyler Hunt scans a rock that contains several dinosaur footprints during a recent trip on the upper Colville River. (Patrick Druckenmiller, UA Museum of the North)

Alaska Science Forum: The lost world of northern dinosaurs

On a recent river trip in northern Alaska, scientists from the University of Alaska Museum of the North found a lost world, a time of… Continue reading

Florida State University graduate student Tyler Hunt scans a rock that contains several dinosaur footprints during a recent trip on the upper Colville River. (Patrick Druckenmiller, UA Museum of the North)
Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)

Juneau fumbles away opportunities in 42-0 loss to Anchorage South

Three first-half Huskies turnovers allow hometown Wolverines to break open close game.

Caleb Ziegenfuss (left) looks to pass for the Juneau Huskies during Saturday’s road game against South Anchorage High School. (Screenshot from Juneau Huskies Football livestream)
A willow rose develops in late summer. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: Bird activity, willow roses

I haven’t seen much bird activity along my mid-August trails recently, but here at home there is always something going on. The suet block, seed… Continue reading

A willow rose develops in late summer. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)
Jayden Johnson (4) eludes a Service High School tackler while running a fake punt in for a touchdown during the first quarter of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s first home game of the season Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Jayden Johnson named Alaska Sports Report’s Athlete of the Week

Senior for Huskies had 58 yards receiving, 58 rushing, 55 passing and two TDs in win against Service.

Jayden Johnson (4) eludes a Service High School tackler while running a fake punt in for a touchdown during the first quarter of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s first home game of the season Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Just beyond the beauty of Alaska is the harshness of reality that brings out the best — and the ridiculous — in us as residents. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Community anxiety cycle in Ketchikan after landslide

I felt like a lab rat pawing the lever. Click. Click. Click. Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. It’s normal to want to know about a tragedy. You… Continue reading

Just beyond the beauty of Alaska is the harshness of reality that brings out the best — and the ridiculous — in us as residents. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
A medium-sized chiton commonly known as black katy can sometimes reach a length of 12 centimeters. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: A diversity of eyes

This essay was launched by reading an almost unintelligible (to me) scientific paper about chiton eyes. Nevertheless, that paper led to others, and here I… Continue reading

A medium-sized chiton commonly known as black katy can sometimes reach a length of 12 centimeters. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Huskies run over Service 48-6 in season home opener

Offensive line plays ā€œbest game in more than a yearā€ as JDHS overcomes injury to starting QB.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé linemen Ricky Tupou, (77), Jonah Mahle (54), Walter Haube-Law (55) and Benny Zukas (58) block for Ethan Van Kirk (3) during Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Huskies players face off against each other during practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Huskies enter first home game of season with key players who are stronger, faster and more confident

After opening loss against East Anchorage, football team sets sights on beating Service High School.

Juneau Huskies players face off against each other during practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Service High School at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Phillip Wilson (blue jacket) and Dan Mann stand on a rock outcrop that was scoured by floodwaters a few centuries ago when Black Rapids Glacier — far in the distance — advanced to dam the Delta River. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: The galloping glacier’s recent dramas

LACK RAPIDS OF THE DELTA RIVER — If we climb high enough above this tumble of gray water, we can see a wedge of blue-white… Continue reading

Phillip Wilson (blue jacket) and Dan Mann stand on a rock outcrop that was scoured by floodwaters a few centuries ago when Black Rapids Glacier — far in the distance — advanced to dam the Delta River. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Juneau high school students and alumni take off from the starting line in the women’s 5K race of the Sayéik Invitational at Savikko Park on Saturday morning. The unofficial meet was the first event of the season for the cross-country team newly consolidated Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Alumni go back to school to take on JDHS cross-country team in season-opening 5K

More than 60 students from consolidated high school team run against adults at SayƩik Invitational.

Juneau high school students and alumni take off from the starting line in the women’s 5K race of the Sayéik Invitational at Savikko Park on Saturday morning. The unofficial meet was the first event of the season for the cross-country team newly consolidated Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Red elderberry is toxic to humans, but birds consume the fruits readily. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Late summer fruits — lots of questions

Mid-August and the berry crops of wild currants are ripe. The stink currant (reportedly so-called for the smell of crushed leaves) sometimes bears large crops… Continue reading

Red elderberry is toxic to humans, but birds consume the fruits readily. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)