Sports

Thunder Mountain High School senior Kara Strong, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Nadia Wilson (12), TMHS junior Kerra Baxter (22) and JDHS freshman Layla Tokuoka (14) battle for a rebound during the Falcons 42-28 win over the Crimson Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas, Thunder Mountain girls split local road games

Crimson Bears win 42-40 at Falcons’ Thunderdome, Falcons win 42-28 at George Houston Gymnasium.

Thunder Mountain High School senior Kara Strong, Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Nadia Wilson (12), TMHS junior Kerra Baxter (22) and JDHS freshman Layla Tokuoka (14) battle for a rebound during the Falcons 42-28 win over the Crimson Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gavin Gerrin (1) scores from past the arc over Kodiak junior Mac Abellera (00) during the Crimson Bears 75-50 win over the Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas boys sweep visiting Kodiak

Crimson Bears defend home den against northern island Bears

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gavin Gerrin (1) scores from past the arc over Kodiak junior Mac Abellera (00) during the Crimson Bears 75-50 win over the Bears on Saturday at the George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe/For the Juneau Empire)
Fairbanks residents engage in a favorite cold-weather activity of taking photographs of themselves in front of the University of Alaska Fairbanks time-and-temperature sign on the morning of Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Alaska still excellent at manufacturing cold

Moments after bashing some drywall with a hammer to expose my home’s water pipes to warmer air, I logged in to see another Special Weather… Continue reading

Fairbanks residents engage in a favorite cold-weather activity of taking photographs of themselves in front of the University of Alaska Fairbanks time-and-temperature sign on the morning of Jan. 27, 2024. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Thunder Mountain senior Thomas Baxter (30) defends Kodiak junior Kelly Ticman during the Falcons 71-49 home win over the Bears, Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain boys basketball team too fast for Kodiak

Falcons show depth of bench in 71-49 win at home.

Thunder Mountain senior Thomas Baxter (30) defends Kodiak junior Kelly Ticman during the Falcons 71-49 home win over the Bears, Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Kenai Central’s Avery Martin tries to split Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale’s Dylan Sowa and Camden Kovach on Thursday at the Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

JDHS loses 4-2 to Kenai in DII state hockey tournament opener

No. 4 seed Crimson Bears lose chance for title as No. 5 Kardinals get first-ever opening game win.

Kenai Central’s Avery Martin tries to split Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale’s Dylan Sowa and Camden Kovach on Thursday at the Division II state hockey tournament at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
While the weather forecast plays a big role in ocean adventures, the gut often has final say. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Math meets guts

I found myself emotionally involved Sunday and felt the pending demise of the Detroit Lions with every dropped pass. I liked the story of the… Continue reading

While the weather forecast plays a big role in ocean adventures, the gut often has final say. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Members of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s hockey team look to get the puck out of their end of the rink during Saturday’s game against Houston High School at Treadwell Arena. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Hensen)

Crimson Bears get tough tuneup entering hockey playoffs

JDHS, ranked fourth, loses final two regular season games to top-ranked Houston High School.

Members of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s hockey team look to get the puck out of their end of the rink during Saturday’s game against Houston High School at Treadwell Arena. (Photo courtesy of Bailey Hensen)
A mallard feeding on rockweed in North Tee Harbor. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Mallards eating rockweed (and how plants hear)

Mallards are omnivores, eating seeds, little invertebrates, an occasional tiny fish, and whatnot. Recent midwinter observations at North Tee Harbor documented them grazing on rockweed,… Continue reading

A mallard feeding on rockweed in North Tee Harbor. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
From left, Cole Richards, Lynn Kaluzienski and Carl Tape prepare to stick seismometers in frozen ground during a February 2019 mission to deploy instruments along the Denali seismic fault. The instruments helped scientists recently find the presence of a body of molten rock seven miles deep. (Photo by Ned Rozell)

Alaska Science Forum: Magma found beneath volcano-less country

For years, scientists have wondered why North America’s highest mountain is not a volcano. All the ingredients for volcanic activity lurk deep beneath Denali, which… Continue reading

From left, Cole Richards, Lynn Kaluzienski and Carl Tape prepare to stick seismometers in frozen ground during a February 2019 mission to deploy instruments along the Denali seismic fault. The instruments helped scientists recently find the presence of a body of molten rock seven miles deep. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Nadia Wilson, left, and Layla Tokuoka, right, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé fight for possession of the ball with Skylar Morris of South Anchorage High School during Saturday’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys, girls deliver matching pair of basketball wins for homecoming

Both Crimson Bears teams score on key plays in closing seconds of back-and-forth contests.

Nadia Wilson, left, and Layla Tokuoka, right, of Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé fight for possession of the ball with Skylar Morris of South Anchorage High School during Saturday’s game at JDHS. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tracks from a hermit crab that wandered over the sands at Eagle Beach. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)

On the Trails: Animal tracks (and bird feeder activities)

One of my winter pleasures is traipsing around after a nice snowfall and looking for animal tracks. In mid-January, I walked up my driveway to… Continue reading

Tracks from a hermit crab that wandered over the sands at Eagle Beach. (Photo by Mary F. Willson)
The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team are shown with their championship trophy after winning the Wolverine Classic Tournament at South Anchorage High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy TMHS)

Falcons boys top Eagle River for Wolverine Classic championship at South Anchorage

The Thunder Mountain High School boys basketball team defeated the Eagle River Wolves 61-57 to win the championship game of South Anchorage High School’s Wolverine… Continue reading

The Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team are shown with their championship trophy after winning the Wolverine Classic Tournament at South Anchorage High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy TMHS)
Thunder Mountain High School senior Thomas Baxter and South Anchorage High School senior Larenz Miller were selected Players of the Game after their contest on Friday during the Wolverine Classic Basketball Tournament at SAHS. (Photo courtesy South Anchorage High School)

Falcons boys top South, earn championship game tonight in Anchorage basketball tournament

Player of the Game selection Thomas Baxter scored 22 points to lead the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team to a 60-54 semifinal… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School senior Thomas Baxter and South Anchorage High School senior Larenz Miller were selected Players of the Game after their contest on Friday during the Wolverine Classic Basketball Tournament at SAHS. (Photo courtesy South Anchorage High School)
UAF Ph.D. student Audrey Rowe trowels loess soil at an archeological site in the uplands of Interior Alaska. (Photo by Mat Wooller)

Alaska Science Forum: On the ancient trail of a woolly mammoth

The female woolly mammoth was 20 years old when she stumbled amid the grasslands. She fell in a cloud of dust, then gasped her last… Continue reading

UAF Ph.D. student Audrey Rowe trowels loess soil at an archeological site in the uplands of Interior Alaska. (Photo by Mat Wooller)
Thunder Mountain junior varsity and Hoonah varsity players battle for a rebound during the inaugural Elizabeth Peratrovich Women’s High School Basketball Invitational Tournament on Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. The tournament runs through Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Smalls schools win big at inaugural Elizabeth Peratrovich basketball tournament

A chance for more opportunities, a voice for those often slighted and a venue to showcase athletic talent from across the state came to fruition… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain junior varsity and Hoonah varsity players battle for a rebound during the inaugural Elizabeth Peratrovich Women’s High School Basketball Invitational Tournament on Thursday at Thunder Mountain High School. The tournament runs through Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain senior Jaya Carandang (3) scores past South Anchorage defenders Reese Gebauer (11) and Isa Costadasily (32) during the Falcons 73-37 win over the Wolverines on Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Undefeated Falcons girls too fast for South Anchorage Wolverines in home opener

A well-tuned machine is only as good as its parts and Thunder Mountain High School sophomore guard Cambry Lockhart was definitely one of the pistons… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain senior Jaya Carandang (3) scores past South Anchorage defenders Reese Gebauer (11) and Isa Costadasily (32) during the Falcons 73-37 win over the Wolverines on Thursday at the Thunderdome. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
Lathrop senior Atticus Foley and Thunder Mountain senior Samuel Lockhart were selected Players of the Game after their contest on Thursday during the Wolverine Classic at South Anchorage High School. (Photo courtesy Lathrop High School)

Falcons boys run past Lathrop 68-55

Player of the Game selection Samuel Lockhart connected for 25 points to lead the Thunder Mountain High School Falcons boys basketball team to a 68-55… Continue reading

Lathrop senior Atticus Foley and Thunder Mountain senior Samuel Lockhart were selected Players of the Game after their contest on Thursday during the Wolverine Classic at South Anchorage High School. (Photo courtesy Lathrop High School)
Thunder Mountain High School’s James Polasky scored 17 points against the Chugiak Mustangs during Wednesday night’s road game. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Falcons boys fly past Mustangs

Thunder Mountain topples Chugiak 70-54 on start of northern road trip

Thunder Mountain High School’s James Polasky scored 17 points against the Chugiak Mustangs during Wednesday night’s road game. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Juneau Ski Club U16 racer Eva Meyer competes in a slalom run during the Coca-Cola Classic Sunday at Girdwood. (Photo courtesy Bob Eastaugh)

Meyer, Satre lead Juneau Ski Club down Girdwood course

First competition of the ski season gives JSC firm footing for national qualifications

  • Jan 18, 2024
  • By Klas Stolpe, For the Juneau Empire
  • SkiingSports
Juneau Ski Club U16 racer Eva Meyer competes in a slalom run during the Coca-Cola Classic Sunday at Girdwood. (Photo courtesy Bob Eastaugh)
Areas like Denali National Park allow nature to be preserved which is great, so long as there are also areas that allow for the maximum benefit of Alaskans as stated in the state’s constitution. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: The problem with caricatures

While people are usually up for a good fight, things seem to get particularly heated this time of year. It’s cold, it’s dark, our team’s… Continue reading

Areas like Denali National Park allow nature to be preserved which is great, so long as there are also areas that allow for the maximum benefit of Alaskans as stated in the state’s constitution. (Photo by Jeff Lund)