Thunder Mountain High School

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 File)

Player of the Week: Derek Mason

Derek Mason is the Juneau Empire player of the week. Mason, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, won the Region V Wrestling Championships 215-pound… Continue reading

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 File)
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)
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’ Caitlin Pusich, left, shoots under the basket against Thunder Mountain’s Nina Fenumiai, center, and Kyra Jenkins-Hayes during their game at TMHS on Friday, Jan. 5, 2017. JDHS won 53-33. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

High school basketball season begins

Wednesday marked the first official day of the 2018-19 high school basketball season. A total of 14 teams will be making their way to the… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Caitlin Pusich, left, shoots under the basket against Thunder Mountain’s Nina Fenumiai, center, and Kyra Jenkins-Hayes during their game at TMHS on Friday, Jan. 5, 2017. JDHS won 53-33. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
30 Juneau students earn all-state honors for band, orchestra and choir

30 Juneau students earn all-state honors for band, orchestra and choir

They banded together in Anchorage.

30 Juneau students earn all-state honors for band, orchestra and choir
Thunder Mountain High School sophomore Neal Garcia, playing for Dumbledore’s Army, drives between Kira Frommherz, left, and Krystle Dewitt-Castro during the first half of their Black Friday Basketball Tournament game at TMHS on Friday night. The tournament, which has a total of 10 teams, runs through Sunday and supports the TMHS boys basketball program. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Photos: Black Friday Basketball Tourney

Juneau Empire… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School sophomore Neal Garcia, playing for Dumbledore’s Army, drives between Kira Frommherz, left, and Krystle Dewitt-Castro during the first half of their Black Friday Basketball Tournament game at TMHS on Friday night. The tournament, which has a total of 10 teams, runs through Sunday and supports the TMHS boys basketball program. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
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)
Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire) Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons pick up two Lancer Smith medals

The Thunder Mountain High School wrestling team brought nine wrestlers to the Lancer Smith Memorial on Friday and Saturday at the Menard Sports Complex in… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire) Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (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)
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 celebrates after defeating Juneau-Douglas 3-2 in the Region V 4A championship game on Saturday at JDHS. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons rally for first ever Region V Championship

Thunder Mountain High School rallied from a one-set deficit to claim their first-ever Region V 4A championship on Saturday night at JDHS. The Falcons defeated… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain celebrates after defeating Juneau-Douglas 3-2 in the Region V 4A championship game on Saturday at JDHS. (Nolin Ainsworth | 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 celebrates a point against Juneau -Douglas during the second round of the Region V Volleyball Championships at JDHS on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. TMHS won 3-1 (25-20, 25-10, 16-25, 25-21). (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain overpowers JDHS in Region V Tourney

The Juneau teams could meet again Saturday.

Thunder Mountain celebrates a point against Juneau -Douglas during the second round of the Region V Volleyball Championships at JDHS on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. TMHS won 3-1 (25-20, 25-10, 16-25, 25-21). (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Audrey Welling spikes the ball against Juneau-Douglas’ Shaylin Cesar at TMHS on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Falcons and Crimson Bears to clash in Region V tourney

Juneau-Douglas High School will go for its third consecutive region championship when they host the Region V 3A/4A Volleyball Tournament Friday and Saturday. The 4A… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Audrey Welling spikes the ball against Juneau-Douglas’ Shaylin Cesar at TMHS on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The JDHS boys swim team celebrate their Region V Championship on Saturday at the Petersburg Community Center. (Courtesy Photo | Phil Loseby)

Juneau swimmers to compete in state swim meet this weekend

Juneau swimmers will be well-represented at the state swim and dive championships on Friday and Saturday at Barlett High School in Anchorage. The Region V… Continue reading

The JDHS boys swim team celebrate their Region V Championship on Saturday at the Petersburg Community Center. (Courtesy Photo | Phil Loseby)
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)