Sports

Western toads are terrestrial except during the spring mating season. (Photo by Deana Barajas)

On The Trails: Spring birds and toads

In late April, a male yellow-rumped warbler began coming regularly to my deck, visiting the feeders. He picks off mouthfuls of peanut butter, one after… Continue reading

 

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Bella Connally, Ketchikan senior Clara Odden and Sitka junior Adalyna Moore race to the finish of the 4x100 relay during the Capital City Invitational Track & Field Meet in Juneau on April 26. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

JDHS track team rises in the rain to challenge at Sitka

Crimson Bears compete with defending state champs Wolves.

 

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose with their third-place trophy Saturday at the 2025 Blue & Gold Softball Tournament in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)

Crimson Bears place third in Blue & Gold play

JDHS gets taste of possible state tournament matchups.

 

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior first baseman Riley Fick (22) attempts to catch an errant throw as Petersburg senior Brian Peterson (7) runs out a hit during the Crimson Bears’ 12-7 win over the Vikings on Friday at Mort Fryer Ball Park in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas sweeps road games at Petersburg

Crimson Bears best Vikings in rainy two-game series.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior first baseman Riley Fick (22) attempts to catch an errant throw as Petersburg senior Brian Peterson (7) runs out a hit during the Crimson Bears’ 12-7 win over the Vikings on Friday at Mort Fryer Ball Park in Petersburg. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) has his shot blocked by Soldotna junior keeper Luke Hillyer during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS Crimson Bears boys outshine Soldotna Stars in 3-0 home win

Two keepers, one new and one old, one wins and one loses, both highlight.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) has his shot blocked by Soldotna junior keeper Luke Hillyer during the Crimson Bears’ 3-0 win over the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) has a shot stopped by Soldotna sophomore keeper Ryan Queen (55) as Stars senior Kendra Rose trails the play during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe/ Juneau Empire)

JDHS soccer girls fall 2-1 to Soldotna

Crimson Bears dampened by Stars in home loss.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Peyton Wheeler (5) has a shot stopped by Soldotna sophomore keeper Ryan Queen (55) as Stars senior Kendra Rose trails the play during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Stars on Thursday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe/ Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Pedrin Saceda-Hurt signed an NCAA Division III student-athlete form on Wednesday in the JDHS commons to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and play for the Norse basketball team. At left is mother Nickie Saceda-Hurt and at right is father Frank Hurt. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)

Saceda-Hurt signs to play basketball at Iowa’s Luther College

JDHS senior exchanging mountains for rolling hills and cornfields.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Pedrin Saceda-Hurt signed an NCAA Division III student-athlete form on Wednesday in the JDHS commons to attend Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and play for the Norse basketball team. At left is mother Nickie Saceda-Hurt and at right is father Frank Hurt. (Klas Stolpe/Juneau Empire)
Steelheading with a baby is no excuse for getting shut out. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: It’s not fishing, its neuroscience

The payoff was coming. There was no doubt that with the high water and time of year it would be an absolute sure thing. If… Continue reading

Steelheading with a baby is no excuse for getting shut out. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club pose with other clubs at the Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle State Championships on May 1-3 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JYWC)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club grapplers takedown state in style(s)

Team competes at Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle championships.

The Juneau Youth Wrestling Club pose with other clubs at the Alaska USA Wrestling 2025 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle State Championships on May 1-3 at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla. (Photo courtesy JYWC)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Milina Mazon signs a Northwest Athletic Conference Letter of Intent on Monday in the JDHS commons to attend Edmonds College in Lynnwood, Washington, and play soccer for the Tritons. Shown from left are mother Heidi, sister Asianna, Milina, brother Sam and father Sonny. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Milina Mazon signs to play college soccer

JDHS senior commits to Edmonds College Tritons.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Milina Mazon signs a Northwest Athletic Conference Letter of Intent on Monday in the JDHS commons to attend Edmonds College in Lynnwood, Washington, and play soccer for the Tritons. Shown from left are mother Heidi, sister Asianna, Milina, brother Sam and father Sonny. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Freshwater bryozoans in Auke Lake make gelatinous round colonies. (Photo by KM Hocker)

On The Trails: Bryozoa

Sometime in April, a friend alerted me to some odd ball-shaped structures attached to a spruce log in Auke Lake. These are bryozoans, a type… Continue reading

Freshwater bryozoans in Auke Lake make gelatinous round colonies. (Photo by KM Hocker)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) puts a shot past West Anchorage senior Porter Youngman (19) and sophomore Nathan Conlon (12) during the Crimson Bears’ 7-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys pitched 7-1 by West Anchorage

Crimson Bears outplayed, but not overmatched against Eagles.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Kai Ciambor (14) puts a shot past West Anchorage senior Porter Youngman (19) and sophomore Nathan Conlon (12) during the Crimson Bears’ 7-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
West Anchorage and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players react to the Eagles’ game-winning goal by senior Hattie Luckasson (5) during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls soccer team falls 2-1 to West Anchorage

Crimson Bears score first, Eagles win second half.

West Anchorage and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé players react to the Eagles’ game-winning goal by senior Hattie Luckasson (5) during the Crimson Bears’ 2-1 loss to the Eagles on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore June Troxel catches a pop-up during the Crimson Bears’ 10-5 loss to Ketchikan at Dudley Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)

Rain dampens JDHS softball play at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears lose rain delayed doubleheader to Kings.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore June Troxel catches a pop-up during the Crimson Bears’ 10-5 loss to Ketchikan at Dudley Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Riley Fick throws a pitch during the Crimson Bears’ 10-0 victory over Ketchikan at Norman Walker Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS baseball plays triple-header at Ketchikan

Crimson Bears sweep Kings as rain forced game consolidation

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Riley Fick throws a pitch during the Crimson Bears’ 10-0 victory over Ketchikan at Norman Walker Field on Friday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior defender Reed Maier (19) marks an attack by West Anchorage senior Noah Robinson during the Crimson Bears’ 1-1 tie with the Eagles on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys defense keeps pitch even against West Anchorage

Crimson Bears played state-ranked Eagles through rain and wind.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior defender Reed Maier (19) marks an attack by West Anchorage senior Noah Robinson during the Crimson Bears’ 1-1 tie with the Eagles on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore forward Clairee Overson (18) moves a ball past West Anchorage freshman Kiana Isenberg (28) during the Crimson Bears 0-0 tie with the Eagles on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. Overson earned the Crimson Bears’ Hard Hat Award in the game. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS soccer girls play even with West Anchorage

Crimson Bears and Eagles go scoreless on the pitch.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore forward Clairee Overson (18) moves a ball past West Anchorage freshman Kiana Isenberg (28) during the Crimson Bears 0-0 tie with the Eagles on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. Overson earned the Crimson Bears’ Hard Hat Award in the game. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Glacier Swim Club’s Valerie Peimann and Emma Fellman tied for first place for the 15-19 girls high-point award at the Alaska Swimming State Championships last weekend in Anchorage. At right is third-placer Lelaina Trembath of Chugiak Aquatics Club (Photo courtesy GSC).

GSC places second in Alaska Swimming State Championships

Glacier Swim Club wins honors as seniors swim final meet.

Glacier Swim Club’s Valerie Peimann and Emma Fellman tied for first place for the 15-19 girls high-point award at the Alaska Swimming State Championships last weekend in Anchorage. At right is third-placer Lelaina Trembath of Chugiak Aquatics Club (Photo courtesy GSC).
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears first baseman Taylor Williams puts out Sitka Wolves runner Vada West during softball action Wednesday at Moller Field in Sitka. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)

Crimson Bears devour Wolves 18-9, get nipped 10-9

Nizich home run highlights JDHS “rap sheet” in two game series.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears first baseman Taylor Williams puts out Sitka Wolves runner Vada West during softball action Wednesday at Moller Field in Sitka. (James Poulson / Daily Sitka Sentinel)
Glacier Swim Club senior Lucia Chapell (Colorado College signee), coach Lisa Jones, senior Pacific Ricke (Bates College signee), Coach of the Year Scott Griffith, Female Athlete of the Year Emma Fellman (University of Minnesota signee) and coach Seth Cayce are shown Friday at the 2025 Alaska State Swimming Championships in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy GSC)

Emma Fellman named Alaska Female Athlete of the Year

Glacier Swim Club captain and JDHS senior honored.

Glacier Swim Club senior Lucia Chapell (Colorado College signee), coach Lisa Jones, senior Pacific Ricke (Bates College signee), Coach of the Year Scott Griffith, Female Athlete of the Year Emma Fellman (University of Minnesota signee) and coach Seth Cayce are shown Friday at the 2025 Alaska State Swimming Championships in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy GSC)