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This boreal owl has captured a vole. (Photo by Linda Shaw)

Sports

On the Trails: Three small owls

We have three small owls that share a lot of characteristics. They are the boreal owl (Aegolius funereus)…

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Nordic Ski team at the 2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Nordic Ski State Championships at Fairbanks Birch Hill Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy JDHS Nordic Ski team)

Sports

Lamb gives JDHS cross-country ski team historic finish at state tournament

Senior is first Crimson Bear to place during Nordic tournament; JDHS girls win Academic Award.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Jed Davis officiates a match as sophomore Jaxin Jim, senior Colton Cummins and freshman Carson Cummins coach elementary school age wrestlers. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Pure Sole: I could have been a wrestler

I could have been a wrestler.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Addison Wilson (10) is defended by Monroe sophomore Leila Church as Monroe coach Travis Cortez gives directions during the Crimson Bears’ 40-33 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls fall to Monroe 40-33 on Saturday

Crimson Bears lose in physical contest to visiting Rams.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Ahmir Parker (2) attempts a steal as Monroe senior Jett McCullough (4) dribbles behind his back during the Crimson Bears’ 71-55 loss to the Rams on Saturday in the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Crimson Bears battle, but are butted by Rams

JDHS falls to Monroe Catholic for the second night in a row

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Pedrin Saceda-Hurt leads the Crimson Bears onto the court Friday before their 76-55 loss to the Monroe Rams. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS basketball teams split first games of Monroe series as participants shoot for mental health awareness

Crimson Bears girls topple Rams 52-40, Crimson Bears boys fall 76-55.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior swimmers Pacific Ricke and Lucia Chapell signed national letters of intent to become student-athletes at Bates College and Colorado College, respectively, Thursday at Augustus Brown Pool. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Chapell, Ricke sign to swim at Colorado and Bates

From Haines to Juneau, fast friends follow futures in the pool.

Wrangell senior Della Churchill applauds the effort of a Stikine Middle School wrestler during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Championships at Thunder Mountain Middle School last week. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Della Churchill finds solace and perseverance on the mat

Wrangell senior’s strength through adversity a mark of her wrestling character

Researchers and crew members pose beside the University of Alaska Fairbanks research ship Sikuliaq in Dutch Harbor during a 2023 cruise to the Bering Sea to learn more about the Bering Land Bridge. (Photo by JR Ancheta)

Sports

Alaska Science Forum: Bering Land Bridge wasn’t such a dry place

Poking holes in the sea floor that used to be part of the Bering Land Bridge, researchers have…

In this 2014 photo Thunder Mountain High School senior Ben Jahn (32) and Juneau-Douglas senior Kevin Guimmayen (10) shake hands before their game. Guimmayen passed from leukemia in 2017. Funds from Saturday’s game will go to help Cancer Connection and childhood cancer awareness. Friday’s game will support mental health through Take A Timeout To Talk supported by Find Your Fire and Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Weekend home basketball welcomes Monroe

Series will feature mental health and cancer awareness.

Juneau Ski Club’s coach Kevin Stell, Elaine Duvall, Marin Lowell, coach Brock Tabor and McKinley Burgess-Fitzpatrick pose Friday at the Alyeska Cup races in Girdwood. (Photo courtesy JSC)

Sports

Juneau Ski Club takes 14 athletes to Alyeska

Andrews, Stell highlight four top five JSC finishes

2024 Thunder Mountain High School graduate James Polasky (34) is shown in action for St. Olaf College against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls this past November in the Oles gym in Minnesota. (Photo courtesy St. Olaf College)

Sports

Basketball a piece of cake for former TMHS star James Polasky

St. Olaf freshman has found taste for college.

Glacier Swim Club’s Levi Phelps, center, was 1st place high point winner for 14 year old boys at the Alaska Age Group Champs in Fairbanks over the weekend. At left is third place Noah Unks of Chugiak Aquatics Club and at right is second place Haoran Zhang of Midnight Sun Swim Team. (Photo courtesy GSC)

Sports

Glacier Swim Club thaws out Fairbanks pool with second-place team finish

Phelps, Soboleff, Woodruff pace team at Age Group Championships.

Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Falcons claim Southeast Middle School Championship

Inspired by heroes, wrestlers grapple for medals and titles.

Little beetles crawl over a skunk cabbage inflorescence. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

Sports

On The Trails: Beetle-mania

By Mary F. Willson

Juneau Douglas’s Elias Dybdahl makes a layup during Juneau Douglas 58-53 loss to Ketchikan at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Saturday. (Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News)

Sports

Crimson Bears split road series, fall to Kings in Ketchikan on Saturday after win on Friday

JDHS finishes 1-3 in conference, will return to Ketchikan in three weeks for Region V tournament.

Runners start the Sweetheart Relay on Saturday at Sandy Beach. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Sweetheart race, a run for love and waffles

Saturday race features appetites aplenty in diverse field.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore Layla Tokuoka (14) threads a pass through Ketchikan senior Shyla Abajian (5), junior Lauren Tucker (11) and junior Kylie Brendible (32) during the Crimson Bears’ 51-23 win over the Lady Kings on Friday in Juneau. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

JDHS girls finish home sweep of Ketchikan

Crimson Bears have perfect conference record over Lady Kings

Juneau-Douglas’s Brandon Casperson is fouled as Ketchikan players swarm him during Juneau Douglas’s 61-50 victory over Kayhi at the Clarke Cochrane Gymnasium on Friday. Photo by Christopher Mullen/ Ketchikan Daily News

Sports

JDHS boys win on the road at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears slay Kings at site of region tournament.

Thunder Mountain Middle School wrestler Matvii Kozodoi works a move against schoolmate Caleb Demmert during the inaugural Thunder Mountain Mayhem Team Duels Wrestling Tournament Feb. 1. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Sports

Thunder Mountain to host first-ever regional middle school wrestling tournament starting Friday

More than 230 wrestlers from 11 communities expected at two-day event.