Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School assistant volleyball coach Dale Bontrager speaks at practice last season. Bontrager retired from coaching volleyball at the beginning of the season. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)

High school volleyball coach legacy spans two generations

The Juneau-Douglas High School volleyball team’s senior night is Saturday right before its regular season finale against Thunder Mountain at 6:30 p.m. In addition to… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School assistant volleyball coach Dale Bontrager speaks at practice last season. Bontrager retired from coaching volleyball at the beginning of the season. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)
Coach Mark Kappler walks with Brice Norton, right, Mackenzie Lam and Renee Win, left, as they practice their trap shooting at the Juneau Gun Club on Thursday, June 21, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Youth trap shooters to compete locally

The Juneau Trap Team is hosting the fourth annual Southeast Fall Tournament this weekend at the Juneau Gun Club. Close to 20 team members will… Continue reading

Coach Mark Kappler walks with Brice Norton, right, Mackenzie Lam and Renee Win, left, as they practice their trap shooting at the Juneau Gun Club on Thursday, June 21, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Southeast teams from Juneau, left, Sitka, center, and Ketchikan, right, stand for the national anthem at the start of the “Halloween Classic” gymnastics meet on Saturday morning at the Southeast Alaska Gymnastics Academy in the Mendenhall Valley. The USA Gymnastics-sanctioned meet included 50 gymnasts competing on all four girls’ events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, and in the all around. Juneau’s Kristie Kulbeth, Skylar Oliva and Megan Lujan ranked first in their respective age classes and divisions. (Courtesy Photo | Bridget Lugan)
Southeast teams from Juneau, left, Sitka, center, and Ketchikan, right, stand for the national anthem at the start of the “Halloween Classic” gymnastics meet on Saturday morning at the Southeast Alaska Gymnastics Academy in the Mendenhall Valley. The USA Gymnastics-sanctioned meet included 50 gymnasts competing on all four girls’ events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, and in the all around. Juneau’s Kristie Kulbeth, Skylar Oliva and Megan Lujan ranked first in their respective age classes and divisions. (Courtesy Photo | Bridget Lugan)
Falcons fifth overall at Dimond tourney

Falcons fifth overall at Dimond tourney

Thunder Mountain had yet to play teams from the volleyball hotbed in Southcentral before this week. The Falcons had fared well against Southeast schools, and… Continue reading

Falcons fifth overall at Dimond tourney
Juneau-Douglas junior Jahrease Mays looks over at the official as he pins Ketchikan’s Patrick Rauwolf in the 125-pound bracket final of the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays won by pin at 1:10. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons wrestling hit the Pilot mats

Juneau-Douglas 125-pounder Jahrease Mays made quick work of his finals match at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday night at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays,… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas junior Jahrease Mays looks over at the official as he pins Ketchikan’s Patrick Rauwolf in the 125-pound bracket final of the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays won by pin at 1:10. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Going out with a splash

Going out with a splash

It’s about an hour into a weekday diving practice at Augustus Brown Swimming Pool. Thunder Mountain High School coach Savona Kiessling takes her eyes off… Continue reading

Going out with a splash
Thunder off to hot start in Anchorage tourney

Thunder off to hot start in Anchorage tourney

Juneau’s high school volleyball teams traveled north this weekend for one final look at the statewide competition. Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain joined 18 other teams… Continue reading

Thunder off to hot start in Anchorage tourney
Juneau Capitals join ‘comp’ ranks

Juneau Capitals join ‘comp’ ranks

It doesn’t take long to get a sense of just how much twins Jaeger and Stein Dostal think about hockey. “Our backchecking — like when… Continue reading

Juneau Capitals join ‘comp’ ranks
Brundige bowls perfect game

Brundige bowls perfect game

Juneau bowling hobbyist Keith Brundige recalls being in an almost trance-like state. Routine distractions didn’t bother the Sunday Mixed League bowler one bit, nor did… Continue reading

Brundige bowls perfect game
Hilary Lindh scholarship open

Hilary Lindh scholarship open

Eaglecrest Ski Area is now accepting applicants for the Hilary Lindh Scholarship. Four finalists will receive a complimentary season pass, and all applicants will receive… Continue reading

Hilary Lindh scholarship open
Thunder Mountain’s Leilani Eshnaur celebrate a point against Sitka at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Thunder Mountain won 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Player of the Week: Leilani Eshnaur

Leilani Eshnaur is the Juneau Empire’s player of the week. Eshnaur, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, posted a team-high 16 digs in the… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Leilani Eshnaur celebrate a point against Sitka at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Thunder Mountain won 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Falcons fly away with JIVE title

Falcons fly away with JIVE title

Thunder Mountain High School volleyball coach Julie Herman can always tell when her team is in the zone. “You can just see it on their… Continue reading

Falcons fly away with JIVE title
JDHS boys win Ketchikan Invite

JDHS boys win Ketchikan Invite

The Juneau-Douglas High School boys swim team leapfrogged Sitka in their second meet of the weekend on Saturday at Ketchikan’s Gateway Aquatic Center. After finishing… Continue reading

JDHS boys win Ketchikan Invite
Thunder Mountain senior Rosemary Kiessling completes a front flip on Friday during the Ketchikan Invitational at the Gateway Aquatic Center in Ketchikan. (Dustin Safranek | Ketchikan Daily News)

Juneau divers shine at Kayhi Invite

The Juneau-Douglas High School boys took two out of the three relays and finished as the runner-up at Ketchikan Invitational Swim Meet on Friday at… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain senior Rosemary Kiessling completes a front flip on Friday during the Ketchikan Invitational at the Gateway Aquatic Center in Ketchikan. (Dustin Safranek | Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS on top to start JIVE

JDHS on top to start JIVE

So far, so good for Juneau-Douglas High School at the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza. With pool play mostly completed and Friday in the books, the… Continue reading

JDHS on top to start JIVE
Falcons go for JIVE three-peat

Falcons go for JIVE three-peat

The 2016 Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza (JIVE) remains a sweet memory for the Thunder Mountain High School volleyball team. “Being a new school and everything,… Continue reading

Falcons go for JIVE three-peat
Photos: High school hockey begins

Photos: High school hockey begins

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team launched its 2018-19 campaign on Wednesday morning at Treadwell Arena. The Crimson Bears’ first home games are Nov. 16-17… Continue reading

Photos: High school hockey begins
Running club president steps down

Running club president steps down

Juneau Road and Trail Runners President John Kern is looking to move on from his post. The volunteer position calls for putting together the annual… Continue reading

Running club president steps down
Perseverance pays off for JDHS state tennis

Perseverance pays off for JDHS state tennis

The first day of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Tennis State Championships was not all too kind to Juneau-Douglas High School. Despite going 1-4 in… Continue reading

Perseverance pays off for JDHS state tennis
Thunder Mountain’s Letasiilemilion Fenumiai, left, hits against Sitka’s Joei Vidad, center, and Abby Forrester at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Thunder Mountain won 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons volleyball win nail-biter over rivals

The Thunder Mountain High School volleyball team defeated Juneau-Douglas High School for the second straight night on Saturday at TMHS. Junior Tasi Fenumiai had 14… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Letasiilemilion Fenumiai, left, hits against Sitka’s Joei Vidad, center, and Abby Forrester at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Thunder Mountain won 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)