Nolin Ainsworth

Adelie McMillian returns a serve during a mixed-doubles match with partner Sammy McKnight against the team of Madisyn Carter and Kolby Hoover in a Southeast Regional Tournament match at JRC/The Alaska Club on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. McKnight and McMillian won the match 8-4. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS tennis selects five returnees for state tournament

The Juneau-Douglas High School tennis team is trending in the right direction at the state tournament. Thanks to strong performances in mixed doubles and girls… Continue reading

Adelie McMillian returns a serve during a mixed-doubles match with partner Sammy McKnight against the team of Madisyn Carter and Kolby Hoover in a Southeast Regional Tournament match at JRC/The Alaska Club on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. McKnight and McMillian won the match 8-4. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Hansel Hinckle runs against Ketchikan at TMHS on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. TMHS won 28-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons shut out Kings amidst offensive quandaries

Thunder Mountain High School and Ketchikan both exited the field Friday night with some sense of satisfaction. The former clinched a spot in the playoffs,… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Hansel Hinckle runs against Ketchikan at TMHS on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. TMHS won 28-0. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School’s Sadie Tuckwood sprints to the finish line well ahead of the competition, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, during the Division I Region V Cross Country meet. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Crimson Bears sweep Region V meet

Juneau-Douglas High School’s Sadie Tuckwood and Arne Ellefson-Carnes repeated as Division I Region V Cross Country Running Champions Saturday in Ketchikan. The duo won their… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School’s Sadie Tuckwood sprints to the finish line well ahead of the competition, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, during the Division I Region V Cross Country meet. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)
JDHS volleyball defeats talented Mt. Edgecumbe

JDHS volleyball defeats talented Mt. Edgecumbe

The Juneau-Douglas High School volleyball team won two matches in Sitka on Friday night. In a best-of-three game, JDHS defeated Sitka 2-0. The Crimson Bears… Continue reading

JDHS volleyball defeats talented Mt. Edgecumbe
Juneau-Douglas’ Kasey Watts, left, bats a pass away from North Pole’s Jamie Johnson at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. JDHS lost 16-22. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS falls in fumble-fest to North Pole

For a game that started with four fumbles, both Juneau-Douglas and North Pole High School showed plenty of of faith in their run game. The… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kasey Watts, left, bats a pass away from North Pole’s Jamie Johnson at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Field on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. JDHS lost 16-22. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Al Gliniecki’s tattoo of his trademarked logo of a cherry with its stem tied on an outstretched tongue. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Musings of a four-time Guinness World Record holder

On page 207 of the 2005 Guinness World Records book, between listings for the “Most champagne bottles sabered in one minute” (20 bottles) and “Oldest… Continue reading

Al Gliniecki’s tattoo of his trademarked logo of a cherry with its stem tied on an outstretched tongue. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Young, talented JDHS team ready for regionals

The starting line at Saturday’s Region V Cross Country Running Championships in Ketchikan will be roomy. Only seven boys and seven girls make up each… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Lilyan Smith tips the ball over against Sitka’s Hadley Andersen at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons volleyball travels to Puget Sound

Outside-the-box thinking by Thunder Mountain High School’s volleyball coach landed the team inside the Washington state border last season. The trip to Washington saved money… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Lilyan Smith tips the ball over against Sitka’s Hadley Andersen at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas strong at Anchorage’s Spiketacular

Juneau-Douglas strong at Anchorage’s Spiketacular

The Juneau-Douglas High School main gym laid unusually quiet and bare late Monday evening. Its normal tenants — the JDHS varsity volleyball team — were… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas strong at Anchorage’s Spiketacular
Runners jostle for position at the start of a cross country meet in Sitka on Sept. 16. (James Pulson | Sitka Sentinel)

JDHS girls run to season-best score at Sitka Invite

Overachieving freshmen. It’s something you find on the Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High School cross country teams this season. From the Falcons’ Hannah Deer finishing… Continue reading

Runners jostle for position at the start of a cross country meet in Sitka on Sept. 16. (James Pulson | Sitka Sentinel)
Ketchikan High School’s Tyler McLaren (21) defends Juneau-Douglas receiver Kasey Watts, left, on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, during the Kings’ 35-14 loss to Juneau-Douglas at Esther Shea Field. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS wins big over Kayhi; Falcons soar over Patriots

The Juneau-Douglas High School football team won their first of three conference games Friday night over the Ketchikan Kings. The Crimson Bears outscored the Kings… Continue reading

Ketchikan High School’s Tyler McLaren (21) defends Juneau-Douglas receiver Kasey Watts, left, on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, during the Kings’ 35-14 loss to Juneau-Douglas at Esther Shea Field. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)
Thunder Mountain’s Audrey Welling celebrates a kill shot with her teammates during their match against Sitka on Friday at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain defeats resilient Sitka on the court

Take away the third set, and the Thunder Mountain High School volleyball team rarely trailed the Sitka Wolves Friday night at TMHS. The Falcons’ superior… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Audrey Welling celebrates a kill shot with her teammates during their match against Sitka on Friday at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
In this Sept. 1 photo, Thunder Mountain’s quarterback Owen Mendoza throws in overtime against Juneau-Douglas at TMHS. Thunder Mountain won 10-7 in overtime. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Showtime in the Southeast Conference

The Thunder Mountain High School football team has quietly developed one of the best defenses in state this season. The Falcons have allowed just 26… Continue reading

In this Sept. 1 photo, Thunder Mountain’s quarterback Owen Mendoza throws in overtime against Juneau-Douglas at TMHS. Thunder Mountain won 10-7 in overtime. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Metcalfes and Friends team poses together as a team after completing the Klondike Trail of ‘98 International Road Relay. Top row (L to R): Ken Hoff, Bienvenido Metcalfe, Patrice Parker, Kim Metcalfe, Lindsay McTague, Brian McTague, Jake Metcalfe. Front row (L to R): Bob Lohr, Peter Metcalfe, Michael Fleischhauer. (Photo courtesy of Kim Metcalfe)

Hundreds of locals run the Klondike Relay

Juneau was well represented during the running of this year’s Klondike Trail of ‘98 International Road Relay. A total of 49 teams from the capital… Continue reading

The Metcalfes and Friends team poses together as a team after completing the Klondike Trail of ‘98 International Road Relay. Top row (L to R): Ken Hoff, Bienvenido Metcalfe, Patrice Parker, Kim Metcalfe, Lindsay McTague, Brian McTague, Jake Metcalfe. Front row (L to R): Bob Lohr, Peter Metcalfe, Michael Fleischhauer. (Photo courtesy of Kim Metcalfe)
Juneau-Douglas High School’s Shadrach Stitz runs in the Wrangell Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Stitz finished in sixth place in the boys 5-kilometer race. (Photo courtesy of Matt York)

JDHS XC wins in Wrangell

Juneau-Douglas High School’s Sadie Tuckwood and Arne Ellefson-Carnes took first in their respective 5-kilometer races Saturday. But JDHS coach Merry Ellefson was just as happy… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School’s Shadrach Stitz runs in the Wrangell Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. Stitz finished in sixth place in the boys 5-kilometer race. (Photo courtesy of Matt York)
Thunder Mountain senior running back Roy Tupou dashes through defenders Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, during the Falcons’ 42-9 win against Ketchikan High School at Esther Shea Field. Tupou scored a 51-yard touchdown in the game. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)

Falcons solve Kayhi defense in 42-9 victory

For the first 20 minutes of their game against Ketchikan on Friday, the Thunder Mountain High School receivers might’ve felt a little left out. “They… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain senior running back Roy Tupou dashes through defenders Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, during the Falcons’ 42-9 win against Ketchikan High School at Esther Shea Field. Tupou scored a 51-yard touchdown in the game. (Taylor Balkom | Ketchikan Daily News)
Sibblings Jake, Kim and Peter Metcalfe reminisce over pervious Klondike Trail of ’98 International Road Relay races during an interview on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017.

Klondike Road Relay runs in this Juneau family

Each group portrait follows the same pattern: two rows of middle-aged runners, big smiles, matching race shirts and the Yukon River as a backdrop. With… Continue reading

Sibblings Jake, Kim and Peter Metcalfe reminisce over pervious Klondike Trail of ’98 International Road Relay races during an interview on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017.
The new-look Thunder Mountain High School 200-yard medley relay team (L to R): Casey Hamilton, Bergen Davis, Spencer Holt, Chris Ray. The team retained three of its members from last year, when they won the event at the state championships at the Dimond Park Aquatics Center. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

A perfect storm

The Thunder Mountain High School boys swimming team took third place at the state championships last season. During the meet, TMHS won the 200-yard medley… Continue reading

The new-look Thunder Mountain High School 200-yard medley relay team (L to R): Casey Hamilton, Bergen Davis, Spencer Holt, Chris Ray. The team retained three of its members from last year, when they won the event at the state championships at the Dimond Park Aquatics Center. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Sadie Tuckwood sprints the final 100 meters of the Capital City Invitational, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017. Tuckwood won the Palmer Invitational on Saturday. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)

Tuckwood wins her second meet of the season

Sophomore Sadie Tuckwood needed every inch of her 5-foot-4 frame to pull off a win Saturday. The 2016 girls state cross country champion used a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Sadie Tuckwood sprints the final 100 meters of the Capital City Invitational, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017. Tuckwood won the Palmer Invitational on Saturday. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain’s Bobby Cox (40) celebrate his team’s win as Juneau-Douglas’ quarterback Cooper Kriegmont is stopped shy of the goalline on the last play in overtime at TMHS on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. TMHS won 10-7 in overtime. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Babcock’s field goal lifts Falcons in overtime

Nothing could have prepared junior Jacob Babcock for his first high school football game Friday night. The lean but athletic soccer player-turned-kicker — who didn’t… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Bobby Cox (40) celebrate his team’s win as Juneau-Douglas’ quarterback Cooper Kriegmont is stopped shy of the goalline on the last play in overtime at TMHS on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. TMHS won 10-7 in overtime. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)