Nolin Ainsworth

Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith, left, is checked by Colony’s Dane Jellich at Treadwell Arena on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Colony won 6-1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Knights stampede Crimson Bears with seven goals Friday night, six Saturday

Colony scored four goals in the third period Saturday afternoon to defeat Juneau-Douglas High School 6-0 and complete the weekend sweep of the Crimson Bears.… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith, left, is checked by Colony’s Dane Jellich at Treadwell Arena on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Colony won 6-1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Carl Tupou celebrates his win over Lathrop’s Jason Edwards in the 220-pound final at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State Wrestling Championships, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Michael Dineen | For the Juneau Empire)

Tupou takes 220-pound state title

Thunder Mountain High School’s Carl Tupou set out on a mission this wrestling season. Tupou accomplished that mission — winning a state title — Saturday… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Carl Tupou celebrates his win over Lathrop’s Jason Edwards in the 220-pound final at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State Wrestling Championships, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. (Michael Dineen | For the Juneau Empire)

Beatdown brings back belts

There’s more than just bragging rights at stake at this Saturday’s AK Beatdown at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. Three belts in the 155, 170 and 185-pound… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith, left, passes against Colony’s Cooper Smith at Treadwell Arena on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Colony won 6-1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Knights stampede Crimson Bears with seven goals

The Colony Knights took control early against Juneau-Douglas High School Friday night at Treadwell Arena, scoring three goals in the first period, to secure a… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Cameron Smith, left, passes against Colony’s Cooper Smith at Treadwell Arena on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. Colony won 6-1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Roy Tupou, right, and Puna Toutaiolepo workout with teammates during Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball practice at TMHS on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Season preview: New roster, new charisma for Blasco’s Falcons

At a weeknight practice in the second full week of the season, senior Josh McAndrews and other guards race up the court with noticeable speed.… Continue reading

Roy Tupou, right, and Puna Toutaiolepo workout with teammates during Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball practice at TMHS on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Bring on basketball

Bring on basketball

It was not a good feeling. My first day reporting for the Juneau Empire was reaching its end, and I couldn’t string together a few… Continue reading

Bring on basketball
Cyrene Uddipa, center, guards teammate Samantha Dilley during Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball practice at TMHS on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Season preview: Pedal to the metal for guard-heavy Falcons

It would have been easy for Chandler Christensen to pack it up and leave. In her first year as the head coach of the Thunder… Continue reading

Cyrene Uddipa, center, guards teammate Samantha Dilley during Thunder Mountain High School girls basketball practice at TMHS on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears fall in Houston tournament

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team fell to Kenai Central 4-3 in the third-place game at the Big Lake Lions Christmas Classic Saturday in Houston.… Continue reading

Professional basketball player Damen Bell-Holter, a Haida from Hydaburg, visits sixth-graders at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School to give an inspirational speech on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. Each sixth-grader, 178 in total, received a free lineform designed basketball during the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Spreading holiday cheer, one basketball at a time

Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School sixth-graders went home on Friday with more than fresh homework. Thanks to an assist from Central Council of Tlingit and Haida… Continue reading

Professional basketball player Damen Bell-Holter, a Haida from Hydaburg, visits sixth-graders at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School to give an inspirational speech on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. Each sixth-grader, 178 in total, received a free lineform designed basketball during the event. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Erik Genitz, left, moves the puck against a West Valley player at Treadwell Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hockey team to play in Houston tournament

The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team plays today on the road for their first away games of the season. The Crimson Bears (1-4, 0-2 MAC)… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Erik Genitz, left, moves the puck against a West Valley player at Treadwell Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Nordic Ski Team members Erin Wallace, front, leads Aaron Blust and Anna Iverson in a pole-less skiing drill through fresh snow on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, at the Mendenhall Campgrounds. The JNST attended a Thanksgiving clinic in Anchorage Nov. 24-26 with teams from Nome and Unalakleet and led by two-time Olympian Lars Flora. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Nordic team sees renewed interest in sport

The next time you go cross-country skiing in Juneau, keep on the lookout for a group wearing matching grey jackets. Several times a week between… Continue reading

Juneau Nordic Ski Team members Erin Wallace, front, leads Aaron Blust and Anna Iverson in a pole-less skiing drill through fresh snow on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, at the Mendenhall Campgrounds. The JNST attended a Thanksgiving clinic in Anchorage Nov. 24-26 with teams from Nome and Unalakleet and led by two-time Olympian Lars Flora. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Eaglecrest ski instructor Sarah Milks rides up an Eaglecrest chairlift with a fellow instructor, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Bumpy riding greets Eaglecrest opening day skiers

Like many at Eaglecrest for opening day on Saturday, 46-year-old Jason Donig didn’t come to ride the Porcupine Chair. Donig was almost finished lacing up… Continue reading

Eaglecrest ski instructor Sarah Milks rides up an Eaglecrest chairlift with a fellow instructor, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Greyson Liebelt, center, moves the puck against West Valley’s Dustin Sadler at Treadwell Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

West Valley sweeps Juneau-Douglas in hard-fought games

West Valley’s Dylan Savereide scored the game-winning goal with under three minutes to play Friday to stifle Juneau-Douglas High School’s comeback effort in a 3-2… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Greyson Liebelt, center, moves the puck against West Valley’s Dustin Sadler at Treadwell Arena on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
A skier makes his way down the Sourdough Run at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Eaglecrest gears up for one-chairlift opening day

Eaglecrest Ski Area opens for the first time of the season on Saturday. However, only one of the four chairlifts on the mountain will be… Continue reading

A skier makes his way down the Sourdough Run at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Youth Football League 49ers celebrate their 13U Central championship at the National Youth Football Championships in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Chris Connally)

Juneau Youth Football League team wins Las Vegas tournament

Esteban “Gaby” Soto knows how to make a good first impression. The 13-year-old Juneau Youth Football League running back scored on the very first play… Continue reading

The Juneau Youth Football League 49ers celebrate their 13U Central championship at the National Youth Football Championships in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (Photo courtesy of Chris Connally)
Gregor Schniewindt, 16, a Thunder Mountain High School junior German exchange student with the Rotary Club, in the seaside backyard of his host family this fall. The Neuenrade, Germany native played for the TMHS football team this year. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Meet the foreign exchange students on Juneau high school sports teams

In 2007, a high school exchange student from Hong Kong joined the Juneau-Douglas High School tennis team and won the state’s first-ever girls singles title.… Continue reading

Gregor Schniewindt, 16, a Thunder Mountain High School junior German exchange student with the Rotary Club, in the seaside backyard of his host family this fall. The Neuenrade, Germany native played for the TMHS football team this year. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Dalton Hoy, center, competes for the puck against Kenai’s Devin Every and Matt Hagel, right, in Juneau-Douglas’s first home match of the season at Treadwell Arena on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas splits weekend series with Kenai

Seniors Joseph Monsef — captain of the Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team— and Levi Mese — captain of visiting Kenai Central — each scored hat… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Dalton Hoy, center, competes for the puck against Kenai’s Devin Every and Matt Hagel, right, in Juneau-Douglas’s first home match of the season at Treadwell Arena on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Youth Football League coach Marcos Morehouse instructs several 49ers players at a weeknight practice at Glacier Valley Elementary School, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. The youth football team travels this week to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the National Youth Football Championships where they will play two games. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Juneau youth football to play in Thanksgiving tournament in Vegas

The Juneau Youth Football League senior division 49ers leave on Monday for the National Youth Football Championships in Las Vegas. The players have been preparing… Continue reading

Juneau Youth Football League coach Marcos Morehouse instructs several 49ers players at a weeknight practice at Glacier Valley Elementary School, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. The youth football team travels this week to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the National Youth Football Championships where they will play two games. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Koen Schultz (23) celebrates his touchdown reception with quarterback Max Wheat, left, against Thunder Mountain at TMHS on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. TMHS won 10-7 in overtime.

Merged football team will get new name

The Thunder Mountain High School football players will be resting a little easier tonight. They won’t be playing for their cross-town rival Juneau-Douglas High School… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Koen Schultz (23) celebrates his touchdown reception with quarterback Max Wheat, left, against Thunder Mountain at TMHS on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. TMHS won 10-7 in overtime.
Cameron Smith, right, brings the puck up with Joseph Monsef during Juneau-Douglas High School hockey practice at the Treadwell Arena on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau hockey opens the season against Kenai

After a month of practice, it’s time to play the first game of Season 13. The Juneau-Douglas High School hockey team plays in its first… Continue reading

Cameron Smith, right, brings the puck up with Joseph Monsef during Juneau-Douglas High School hockey practice at the Treadwell Arena on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)