Juneau United’s Hansel Hinckle reaches for the ball as Bartlett defender Josh Siania closes in at Chugiak High School on Saturday. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau United’s Hansel Hinckle reaches for the ball as Bartlett defender Josh Siania closes in at Chugiak High School on Saturday. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

‘A whole different animal’: Coach reflects on Juneau United’s inaugural season

Tough move up to Division I, but seven make all-conference team

Juneau United coach Randy Quinto called defensive end Puna Toutaiolepo and wide receiver Hansel Hinckle the unsung leaders of his team this season.

Not unsung anymore, though.

Toutaiolepo and Hinckle, in addition to wide receiver Max Wheat, were named first-team All-Chugach Conference in an email sent out to coaches on Tuesday. Juneau United also saw Caleb Traxler, Cooper Kriegmont, Marcos Yadao and Luis Mojica make it on the all-conference team, giving the program a small victory in a season largely defined by recurring defeats, one that ended with last weekend’s 65-12 loss to Bartlett High School.

Dealing with defeat for eight weeks in a row was something new to the coaching staff and varsity squad, which finished the season 0-8. Thunder Mountain High School went 6-2 last season and made it to the first round of playoffs. Juneau-Douglas finished last season a respectable 3-4.

“It was tough on everybody,” Quinto said. “The expectation from the community, from the student body.”

The team was still hurting for numbers even after the TMHS and JDHS programs combined. Over 20 seniors graduated from the two high schools last year, and while a dozen freshmen joined the team, most would not be ready for varsity action. Quinto said the low varsity numbers made for a troubling initial fit into the Division I ranks, made up of the state’s largest schools and best teams. JDHS and TMHS were formerly Division II teams.

“It’s a whole different animal up there,” Quinto said of Division I. “We walked onto the field against Bartlett and after the JV game, their whole JV (team) took off. They didn’t have any guys to swing and go JV and then varsity because they had enough to play varsity.”

Quinto also said it was also difficult getting players to buy into a fledgling program.

“What we’ve told our kids in the past is you don’t earn a spot in the offseason, but you can lose yours,” Quinto said. “We need to develop that mentality again or get these kids to realize they need to be in (the weight room) now. A couple of our kids after that Bartlett game, they’re like, ‘I don’t ever want to feel overpowered and outmanned like that again.’”

The varsity team’s struggles were only part of the story of this season. The junior varsity team, which was re-established after disappearing at JDHS and TMHS for several years, took fans on a fun six-week journey, posting wins over Lathrop, Wasilla and Colony. In Week 6, they went up late against Chugiak only to watch the Mustangs kick a game-winning field goal with four seconds remaining.

“It was awesome to see them progress along the way and build that confidence against bigger and fast players,” JV coach Vince Yadao said.

The former JDHS coach believes the future is bright for those young players.

“The main thing is: Are they coachable and are they willing to put themselves out there for their team and their coaches and community? And I think they did,” Yadao said “This is the team of the future right here. I think as far as being competitive and winning seasons, we give the squad two more years to develop, I think we’re right there. I think we’ll playing in October within two years just because of what we saw this year.”

While his seniors won’t be part of that transformation, Quinto said they provided leadership at a crucial time for the program.

“Those guys are a big part of what I believe the younger guys saw in how to be a leader,” Quinto said. “I think most teams have issues with having leaders and how do we become a leader when the previous year we weren’t leaders? We weren’t the ‘Ra-ra guy’ or the guy people came to. And those guys stepped into that role really well.”

2018 Chugach All-Conference Team

First team: Hansel Hinckle, Puna Toutaiolepo, Max Wheat

Second team: Caleb Traxler, Cooper Kriegmont, Marcos Yadao, Luis Mojica

Hon. mention: Dawson Hickok, Jacob Ferster, Mathias Weiderspohn, Richie Lehner


• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.


More in Sports

Through the author’s spotting scope: A Dall sheep feeds in Denali National Park near the Teklanika River. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: Too tough to call

The Teklanika River grows and moves swiftly as it flows north. Eventually… Continue reading

A flying squirrel launches a glide, with patagium spread wide. (Photo by Richard A. Wood)
On the Trails: Gliding in air

An eagle soars overhead, wings spread, making only minute steering adjustments of… Continue reading

Fresh snow covers the surface of Eaglecrest Ski Area on Friday morning. General Manager Dave Scanlan said Thursday the plan is to open the ski area next Saturday. (Webcam photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area)
Eaglecrest manager says things look cool for upcoming season, despite delayed opening

Strong numbers for season pass sales, number of foreign student employees, business leaders told.

The Yukon River, seen here as a wide white band, is freezing later in fall and breaking up earlier in spring than it was a few decades ago. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: Long-term views of a changed Alaska

As an instructor for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, I have stood before… Continue reading

A light dusting of snow covers the ground at Eaglecrest Ski Area on Wednesday morning. The planned opening for the ski area has been delayed a week until Saturday, Dec. 9, according to General Manager Dave Scanlan. (Photo courtesy of Eaglecrest Ski Area)
Eaglecrest delays scheduled opening by one week until next Saturday, Dec. 9

Warm temperatures and rain dissolved much of ski area’s snowpack, but cold and snow in forecast.

A female robin carries a wad of earthworms to her chicks. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: November gloom and cheers

I like to live where there are seasonal changes in weather and… Continue reading

Participants, many clad in fowl weather gear, head out onto the Airport Dike Trail during the annual Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Thursday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Turkey Trot participants thankful for fowl conditions

“Worst weather we’ve had in 10 years” just means burning off more calories.

The author guides his skiff in the direction of muskegs free from digital connectivity, but there is no escaping thoughts of contemporary life. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: Freedom of gratitude

I have fumbled for years attempting to put into words what the… Continue reading

Kristen Rozell skate skis in Valdez in January 2023. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: Surfing in winter on cross-country skis

With mild temperatures and ample snow, much of Alaska is now primed… Continue reading

(Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Soldotna hockey bounces back against Juneau

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale loses 3-1 on Saturday after 4-3 win Friday

Lance Fenumiai, a Juneau resident seen here carrying the ball in a rugby match for St. Vincent College in Pennsylvania, has signed a Major League Rugby contract with the Dallas Jackals. (Photo courtesy of Lux214 Media Group)
JDHS grad Lance Fenumiai signs pro rugby contract with Dallas Jackals

Former college All-American to spend holidays training intensely for season that starts in February.

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire
Casey Blackwell, 10, crosses the finish line after running 27 laps around the indoor track at Dimond Park Field House to complete the 5K Pajama Jog on Sunday.
Juneau Girls on the Run go the distance during 5K Pajama Jog

Participants finish looking like stars — 27 of them — after completing that many laps around track.