Sports

Coach Jesse Cruz watches his team workout during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Cruz’ control: Last-minute coach find turning out well for Thunder Mountain wrestling team

Kids and administrators think highly of him.

Coach Jesse Cruz watches his team workout during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Kadin Messmer wrestles Ketchikan’s Degan Linne during their 103-pound finals match in the Region V Division I Wrestling Championships at TMHS on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Linne pinned Messmer at 5:44 to win the region title. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

TMHS wrestlers resilient at Region V tourney

Next stop: state.

Thunder Mountain’s Kadin Messmer wrestles Ketchikan’s Degan Linne during their 103-pound finals match in the Region V Division I Wrestling Championships at TMHS on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Linne pinned Messmer at 5:44 to win the region title. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Sophomore Jake Ferster, top, workouts against senior Derek Mason during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons hosts Region V tourney

Do well and you’ll probably qualify for state.

Sophomore Jake Ferster, top, workouts against senior Derek Mason during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Team Juneau poses with its medals after competing in the Yukon Inter-Schools Arctic Sports Championships at the Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse, Yukon, on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Top row (Left to right): Coach Kaytlynne Lewis, Erik Jim, Josh Sheakley, Sara Steeves, coach Kyle Worl. Bottom row: Orion Denny, Matthew Quinto. (Courtesy Photo | Kyle Worl)

Juneau teens win big in Whitehorse Native Youth Olympics competition

Matthew Quinto is three gold medals richer.

Team Juneau poses with its medals after competing in the Yukon Inter-Schools Arctic Sports Championships at the Porter Creek Secondary School in Whitehorse, Yukon, on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Top row (Left to right): Coach Kaytlynne Lewis, Erik Jim, Josh Sheakley, Sara Steeves, coach Kyle Worl. Bottom row: Orion Denny, Matthew Quinto. (Courtesy Photo | Kyle Worl)
TMHS coach Randy Quinto works with his team at Thunder Mountain High School football practice at TMHS on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. Quinto was the TMHS head coach from 2015-17 and Juneau United head coach last season. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau football coach resigns, search on to find replacement

The team was winless last season.

TMHS coach Randy Quinto works with his team at Thunder Mountain High School football practice at TMHS on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. Quinto was the TMHS head coach from 2015-17 and Juneau United head coach last season. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas senior Steven Ireland-Haight attempts to take down Wrangell’s Jake Eastaugh in the 171-pound consolation semifinals at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)

Thunder wrestlers fifth in Sitka

One Falcon did win in triple OT though.

Juneau-Douglas senior Steven Ireland-Haight attempts to take down Wrangell’s Jake Eastaugh in the 171-pound consolation semifinals at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith is chased by Houston’s Blake Rogers, left, and Riley Scott in the first period at the Treadwell Arena on Saturday. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

JDHS hockey speeds past Houston

JDHS is rolling at home.

Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith is chased by Houston’s Blake Rogers, left, and Riley Scott in the first period at the Treadwell Arena on Saturday. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith skates up the ice against Houston during the Big Lake Lions Christmas Classic Tournament last December in the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center. Houston plays JDHS this Friday and Saturday at Treadwell Arena. (Courtesy Photo | MatSuSports.net)

JDHS takes on longtime foe Houston

Lane Styers will be reliving a portion of his hockey career this weekend. Styers, 23, is the head coach of the Houston High School hockey… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith skates up the ice against Houston during the Big Lake Lions Christmas Classic Tournament last December in the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center. Houston plays JDHS this Friday and Saturday at Treadwell Arena. (Courtesy Photo | MatSuSports.net)
Runners take off from the beginning of the Airport Dike Trail on Thursday for the fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Race proceeds went to the Juneau-Douglas High School hockey and Thunder Mountain High School cross country teams. (Courtesy Photo | Scott Spickler)

Photos: Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot

Tryptophan didn’t slow them down.

Runners take off from the beginning of the Airport Dike Trail on Thursday for the fifth annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Race proceeds went to the Juneau-Douglas High School hockey and Thunder Mountain High School cross country teams. (Courtesy Photo | Scott Spickler)
The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team crowned “Team Russia” (Zac Stagg, Fin Shibler, Chance Turinsky, Dalton Hoy, Owen Squires, Dawson Hickok) as the eighth annual Turkey Day 3-on-3 champions on Wednesday morning. The intersquad tournament pits six teams against one another and awards the winners with a dozen Breeze Inn donuts. (Courtesy Photo | Luke Adams)

JDHS hockey’s Thanksgiving tourney winners

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team crowned “Team Russia” (Zac Stagg, Fin Shibler, Chance Turinsky, Dalton Hoy, Owen Squires, Dawson Hickok) as the eighth annual… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team crowned “Team Russia” (Zac Stagg, Fin Shibler, Chance Turinsky, Dalton Hoy, Owen Squires, Dawson Hickok) as the eighth annual Turkey Day 3-on-3 champions on Wednesday morning. The intersquad tournament pits six teams against one another and awards the winners with a dozen Breeze Inn donuts. (Courtesy Photo | Luke Adams)
Palmer’s Zach Nelius is hounded by four Juneau-Douglas players in the second period of the JDHS-Palmer conference game on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. JDHS won 9-0. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas icers sweep Palmer

JDHS wins big over Palmer

Palmer’s Zach Nelius is hounded by four Juneau-Douglas players in the second period of the JDHS-Palmer conference game on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. JDHS won 9-0. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Chance Turinsky pushes the puck up the ice between Palmer’s Alex Nelius, left, and Easton Armstrong on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Seniors lead Crimson Bears past Moose

It was the Crimson Bears’ home opener and first victory of the season.

Juneau-Douglas’ Chance Turinsky pushes the puck up the ice between Palmer’s Alex Nelius, left, and Easton Armstrong on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School senior Finn Yerkes applies pressure on a West Anchorage player on Saturday at the fourth annual Palmer Showdown Tournament at the MTA Events Center in Palmer. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

West defeats Crimson Bears 8-1

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team lost 8-1 to the West Anchorage Eagles on the final day of the fourth annual Palmer Showdown Tournament on… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Finn Yerkes applies pressure on a West Anchorage player on Saturday at the fourth annual Palmer Showdown Tournament at the MTA Events Center in Palmer. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School juniorTasi Fenumiai spikes the ball as South Anchorage’s Camryn Houser goes up for the block in the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Volleyball State Championships on Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. South won 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-12). (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons place fifth at state tournament

Thunder Mountain notches first state win ever.

Thunder Mountain High School juniorTasi Fenumiai spikes the ball as South Anchorage’s Camryn Houser goes up for the block in the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Volleyball State Championships on Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. South won 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-12). (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas junior Ethan Welch skates after the puck during the Palmer Showdown Tournament on Thursday at the MTA Events Center in Palmer. The Knights won 3-1. JDHS plays reigning Division I state champion Dimond on Friday. Soldotna, West Anchorage, Homer, Dimond, Wasilla and Palmer are also participating in the three-day tournament. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Photos: JDHS season opener

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team fell to the Colony Knights 3-1 in the team’s season opener Thursday at MTA Events Center in Palmer. Senior… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas junior Ethan Welch skates after the puck during the Palmer Showdown Tournament on Thursday at the MTA Events Center in Palmer. The Knights won 3-1. JDHS plays reigning Division I state champion Dimond on Friday. Soldotna, West Anchorage, Homer, Dimond, Wasilla and Palmer are also participating in the three-day tournament. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School sophomore Sophia Harvey spikes the ball in between West Anchorage’s Danika Brown, left, and Kathleen Dexter in the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Volleyball State Championships on Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain downed by West at state

It was TMHS’ first-ever state tournament appearance.

Thunder Mountain High School sophomore Sophia Harvey spikes the ball in between West Anchorage’s Danika Brown, left, and Kathleen Dexter in the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Volleyball State Championships on Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Caleb Peimann prepares to surface in the 100-yard backstroke at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State Swim and Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Peimann finished eighth with a time of 56.35 seconds (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys fifth at state meet

Both of Juneau’s boys teams finished in the top 10.

Juneau-Douglas High School sophomore Caleb Peimann prepares to surface in the 100-yard backstroke at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State Swim and Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. Peimann finished eighth with a time of 56.35 seconds (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School junior Micah Grigg swms in the 200-yard freestyle final on Saturday at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Swim & Dive Championships at Bartlett Pool in Anchorage. Grigg finished in fifth place. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Photos: State swim meet

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Tyler Weldon capped his high school career with an exhilarating podium finish at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Swim & Dive… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School junior Micah Grigg swms in the 200-yard freestyle final on Saturday at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Swim & Dive Championships at Bartlett Pool in Anchorage. Grigg finished in fifth place. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Hannah Taube reacts after setting a new lifetime best time in the 500-yard freestyle event. (Courtesy Photo | Phil Loseby)

JDHS boys claim first region title in eight years

The Juneau-Douglas High School boys swim and dive team ran away with their first Region V championship in eight years on Saturday in Petersburg. They… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Hannah Taube reacts after setting a new lifetime best time in the 500-yard freestyle event. (Courtesy Photo | Phil Loseby)
Juneau-Douglas’ Riley Stadt uses a soft touch to get the ball over Thunder Mountain’s Sophia Harvey, left, and Mariah Tanuvasa-Tuvaifale at TMHS on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears treat alums to thriller

A senior night to remember.

Juneau-Douglas’ Riley Stadt uses a soft touch to get the ball over Thunder Mountain’s Sophia Harvey, left, and Mariah Tanuvasa-Tuvaifale at TMHS on Friday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)