Sports

James Connally (10), a senior, and Payton Grant, a junior, embrace following a touchdown. Connally caught and threw for a touchdown in the Huskies’ 30-17 loss to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / Larry Schrader)

Juneau’s title chase comes to an end against East Anchorage

The Juneau Huskies finished their 2021 season as runner-ups for the state’s Division I title.

James Connally (10), a senior, and Payton Grant, a junior, embrace following a touchdown. Connally caught and threw for a touchdown in the Huskies’ 30-17 loss to Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. (Courtesy Photo / Larry Schrader)
Payton Grant, a junior wide receiver, makes a move following a reception against Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. The Huskies won their last game against East 39-28 on Saturday, Sept. 4 at home. The two teams will play again for a state championship at Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Empire Live: Huskies play hard, fall short of title

Thunderbirds win the state championship 30-17.

Payton Grant, a junior wide receiver, makes a move following a reception against Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School. The Huskies won their last game against East 39-28 on Saturday, Sept. 4 at home. The two teams will play again for a state championship at Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Huskies quarterback Noah Chambers, a senior, celebrates after moving through a tunnel of fans and cheerleaders following Juneau’s second-round playoff win. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies are heading to state

Huskies dominate in home win.

Juneau Huskies quarterback Noah Chambers, a senior, celebrates after moving through a tunnel of fans and cheerleaders following Juneau’s second-round playoff win. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School’s Kiah Dihle came in third for the state of Alaska in the Alaska School Activities Association’s 2021 state championships, hosted in Anchorage, on Oct. 9, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Kent Mearig)

Juneau cross country teams cross muddy finish line on season

Thunder Mountain’s Kiah Dihle placed third overall for Alaska.

Thunder Mountain High School’s Kiah Dihle came in third for the state of Alaska in the Alaska School Activities Association’s 2021 state championships, hosted in Anchorage, on Oct. 9, 2021. (Courtesy photo / Kent Mearig)
Jarrell Williams, a junior defensive back, prepares to tackle Roman Smith. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Huskies win at home behind big second half

Bartlett comes to town next week.

Jarrell Williams, a junior defensive back, prepares to tackle Roman Smith. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Sam Sika, a junior who plays full back and defensive line for the Huskies, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Photos: The Juneau Huskies’ season from practice to playoffs

The season continues at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Sam Sika, a junior who plays full back and defensive line for the Huskies, celebrates after scoring a touchdown against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Brandon Campbell chases down a Dimond ball carrier during an Aug. 21 game. The Juneau Huskies and Dimond Lynx will face off again on Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

Huskies ready for a home playoff game

Kickoff is at 3 p.m.

Brandon Campbell chases down a Dimond ball carrier during an Aug. 21 game. The Juneau Huskies and Dimond Lynx will face off again on Saturday. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: The Huskies are conference champs

Takeways from the Week 7 win and a look ahead to the playoffs.

James Connally, a senior, makes his way toward the end zone to open the scoring for the Juneau Huskies. Connally also caught a pair of touchdowns in a 42-7 win against South Anchorage High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Lucas White (21) and two other Huskies take down a player from Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said solid tackling by White and others played a major role in the Huskie's 27-14 win against Bartlett High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

7 points: Huskies make it 3 in a row

Next game is senior night.

Lucas White (21) and two other Huskies take down a player from Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. Juneau coach Rich Sjoroos said solid tackling by White and others played a major role in the Huskie's 27-14 win against Bartlett High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Payton Grant, left, plays football against East Anchorage High School on Sept. 4, 2021. Grant scored in last week’s away game against Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

7 points: Juneau football brings the heat to Service in away game

It’s Juneau’s first road win for the season.

Payton Grant, left, plays football against East Anchorage High School on Sept. 4, 2021. Grant scored in last week’s away game against Service High School. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau's Wallace Adams, a senior, trudges forward while draped in East Anchorage defenders. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: Huskies outlast East Anchorage

Takeaways from Saturday’s game and a look ahead.

Juneau's Wallace Adams, a senior, trudges forward while draped in East Anchorage defenders. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Huskies practice on Aug. 10. The high school football team's record stands at 2-1 following a loss to West Anchorage over the weekend. On Saturday, Juneau will host East Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)

7 points: Despite good first half, West Anchorage takes Huskies down

Juneau turns in a solid performance on an away game.

The Juneau Huskies practice on Aug. 10. The high school football team's record stands at 2-1 following a loss to West Anchorage over the weekend. On Saturday, Juneau will host East Anchorage. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Jamal Johnson fights for extra yards during Juneau's 35-6 win against Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: Juneau jumps out to 2-0 record

Juneau, 2-0.

Jamal Johnson fights for extra yards during Juneau's 35-6 win against Dimond High School on Saturday, Aug. 21. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Rayna Tuckwood, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore, sprints to the finish during a cross country race at Savikko Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Tuckwood would place first with a time of 20:20 as the JDHS girls took the first five places. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Cross country teams coming out of the gates hot

JDHS girls scored a perfect meet: five-for-five.

Rayna Tuckwood, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore, sprints to the finish during a cross country race at Savikko Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Tuckwood would place first with a time of 20:20 as the JDHS girls took the first five places. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
FILE - This Jan. 29, 2014 file photo shows former Denver Broncos offensive lineman and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth in New York. Schlereth returned home to Alaska this week to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Service High alumnus made a halftime appearance Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at West High, where his alma mater squared off against the West Eagles. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

Ex-NFL player Mark Schlereth urges Alaskans to get vaccine

“I just want to encourage everybody to do your part.”

FILE - This Jan. 29, 2014 file photo shows former Denver Broncos offensive lineman and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth in New York. Schlereth returned home to Alaska this week to encourage people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Service High alumnus made a halftime appearance Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at West High, where his alma mater squared off against the West Eagles. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Gaby Soto crosses the goal line to put six points on the board for the Huskies in Juneau’s first high school football game in nearly two years. Soto scored three touchdowns for the Huskies in the first half. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

7 points: Juneau wins big in season opener

Seven takeaways from the first game in two years

Gaby Soto crosses the goal line to put six points on the board for the Huskies in Juneau’s first high school football game in nearly two years. Soto scored three touchdowns for the Huskies in the first half. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Members of the Juneau Huskies practice on Tuesday. After COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 high school football season, the Juneau Huskies are eager to take the field for the season opener against Colony High School. The varsity and JV squad will both play Saturday, August 14 on the field at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)

Huskies football returns —after nearly 700 days between games

The Juneau high school football team prepares to take the field.

Members of the Juneau Huskies practice on Tuesday. After COVID-19 forced the cancelation of the 2020 high school football season, the Juneau Huskies are eager to take the field for the season opener against Colony High School. The varsity and JV squad will both play Saturday, August 14 on the field at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Ben Hohenstatt/Juneau Empire)
Runners from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cross country team practice during the preseason. (Courtesy photo / Tristan Knutson-Lombardo)

Cross country teams gaining speed and numbers

Both high schools are looking at substantial rosters this year.

Runners from the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cross country team practice during the preseason. (Courtesy photo / Tristan Knutson-Lombardo)
Members of Glacier Swim Club’s winning 13-14 girls 400-meter free relay team from Summer Champs pose for a photo. The team includes Valerie Peimann, Pacific Ricke, Dannan Mills and Caitlin Sanders. (Courtesy Photo)

It’s a busy time for local swim club

Big meets in the past, tryouts in the future.

Members of Glacier Swim Club’s winning 13-14 girls 400-meter free relay team from Summer Champs pose for a photo. The team includes Valerie Peimann, Pacific Ricke, Dannan Mills and Caitlin Sanders. (Courtesy Photo)
Gold medalist Lydia Jacoby of the United States celebrates on the podium after the final of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.(AP Photo / Matthias Schrader)

Seward embraces state’s 1st swimmer to win gold

“What happened last night couldn’t happen to a nicer kid,” he said.

Gold medalist Lydia Jacoby of the United States celebrates on the podium after the final of the women’s 100-meter breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.(AP Photo / Matthias Schrader)