Sports

The 2024-25 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose for a photo. They begin play next weekend at the Sitka Varsity Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)

JDHS softball returns to the circle, baseball to the mound

Crimson Bears girls in new conference, boys on new field.

The 2024-25 Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team pose for a photo. They begin play next weekend at the Sitka Varsity Tournament. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)
Basketball official Fred Angerman Jr speaks in a Region V Tournament pregame captains meeting in 2008. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: Fast Freddy

There are two sounds I can never seem to forget. One is the winter snow shovel scraping along the concrete basketball court I trudged to… Continue reading

Basketball official Fred Angerman Jr speaks in a Region V Tournament pregame captains meeting in 2008. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls soccer seniors pose for a photo during Wednesday practice at Thunder Mountain Middle School. Front row left to right are Alyssa Lawhorne, Adelyn Buss, Milina Mazon, Priscilla Lam and Cerys Hudson. Back row left to right are Alison Tingey, Dori Germain, Parker Boman, Daniela Lamas, Natalie Travis and Ella Orsborn. Not pictured are Mary Canapary, Lena Field and Lola Hines. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Soccer teams open with DI Eagle River

New season, new conference as Crimson Bears rise up.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé girls soccer seniors pose for a photo during Wednesday practice at Thunder Mountain Middle School. Front row left to right are Alyssa Lawhorne, Adelyn Buss, Milina Mazon, Priscilla Lam and Cerys Hudson. Back row left to right are Alison Tingey, Dori Germain, Parker Boman, Daniela Lamas, Natalie Travis and Ella Orsborn. Not pictured are Mary Canapary, Lena Field and Lola Hines. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Metlakatla Chiefs fall in third-place game at state 2A basketball tournament

Girls from Metlakatla also come up short in 4th/6th-place game.

Metlakatla senior Brody Booth (12) scores over Seward’s Lane Petersen and Jack Lindquisst (1) during their 3rd/5th-place game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships at UAA’s Avis Sports Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Hydaburg’s Devin Edenshaw looks for a move against Hoonah’s (#2) during a C bracket game Sunday at the the 76th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 23, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Opening day of 76th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament sets the bar high

Big games, little games, games of all shapes and sizes are underway at weeklong tournament at JDHS.

Hydaburg’s Devin Edenshaw looks for a move against Hoonah’s (#2) during a C bracket game Sunday at the the 76th Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 23, at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A pseudoscorpion contemplates a red mite for lunch. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On The Trails: Pseudoscorpions

Just before the spring equinox, a friend and I went out on the Fish Creek Trail one morning on a low tide. We saw five… Continue reading

A pseudoscorpion contemplates a red mite for lunch. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
Sitka’s Syd Eubanks (13) scores between Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) and Dave Buss (22) during the Masters Bracket Championship Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Masterful win by Sitka earns Gold Medal Championship

Sitka tops Klukwan 73-59 for tournament title.

Sitka’s Syd Eubanks (13) scores between Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) and Dave Buss (22) during the Masters Bracket Championship Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Hydaburg’s Darren Edenshaw is pressured by Metlakatla’s Bryan Hayward and Chris Bryant during the C Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Hydaburg tops Metlakatla 85-70 for C Bracket title

MVP Darren Edenshaw scores 31 in Gold Medal Championship

Hydaburg’s Darren Edenshaw is pressured by Metlakatla’s Bryan Hayward and Chris Bryant during the C Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Angoon’s Dominic Brinson (21) scores over Haines’ Kyle Rush (13) and James Hart during the B Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Angoon defends B bracket Gold Medal championship

Repeat champions ball out in 79-66 win over Haines

Angoon’s Dominic Brinson (21) scores over Haines’ Kyle Rush (13) and James Hart during the B Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Craig’s Nani Weimer (10) hits a shot past the arc during the Women’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

MVP Weimer leads Craig women to Gold Medal title

Craig runs past Hooper Bay for Womens Bracket Championship

Craig’s Nani Weimer (10) hits a shot past the arc during the Women’s Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-AML’s Mahina Toutaiolepo (24) scores over Mt. Edgcumbe’s Jaylin Prince (42) during the Open Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

MVP Tompkins leads Juneau to Gold Medal title

Juneau-AML tops Mt. Edgecumbe 90-84 in Open Bracket

Juneau-AML’s Mahina Toutaiolepo (24) scores over Mt. Edgcumbe’s Jaylin Prince (42) during the Open Bracket Championship on Saturday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Filcom’s Tony Yadao runs Mt. Edgecumbe defender Tyrell Cromer through a screen by Garrett Bryant (31) during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 86-79 A Bracket elimination game win Friday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Championships set for Gold Medal tournament on Saturday

Juneau v. Mt. Edgecumbe; Craig v. Hooper Bay; Sitka v. Klukwan; Metlakatla v. Hydaburg; Angoon v. Haines.

Filcom’s Tony Yadao runs Mt. Edgecumbe defender Tyrell Cromer through a screen by Garrett Bryant (31) during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 86-79 A Bracket elimination game win Friday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Rick Thoman created this graphic to display the snow drought measured at Anchorage International Airport in the 2024-2025 season thus far. (Graphic by Rick Thoman)

Alaska Science Forum: Snow’s absence and welcome presence

Rick Thoman noted in a recent report that the paucity of 2024-2025 snowfall in Anchorage and other Southcentral Alaska locations may be unprecedented in the… Continue reading

Rick Thoman created this graphic to display the snow drought measured at Anchorage International Airport in the 2024-2025 season thus far. (Graphic by Rick Thoman)
The author prefers gambling on new shrimp sports more than putting money into a casino or betting on sports. (Photo by Jeff Lund)

I Went to the Woods: Money Madness

I doubled our money. Then lost the winnings. Then lost the initial bet. Just like that I turned our $100 into $200 then $0 in… Continue reading

The author prefers gambling on new shrimp sports more than putting money into a casino or betting on sports. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) blocks a shot by Metlakatla’s Danny Marsden as Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt and Brian Friske look on during their 65-63 Masters Bracket elimination game win over Metlakatla on Thursday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Thursday Gold Medal play features semifinal action

Big guns fill half the championship final berths, four more teams exit tourney

Klukwan’s Andrew Friske (12) blocks a shot by Metlakatla’s Danny Marsden as Klukwan’s Stuart Dewitt and Brian Friske look on during their 65-63 Masters Bracket elimination game win over Metlakatla on Thursday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Zach Anderson (50) scores on a screen by Brian Friske (33) as Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) closes out during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 81-55 A Bracket elimination game win Wednesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Shakeout of teams underway as Gold Medal hits halfway point on Wednesday

You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Zach Anderson (50) scores on a screen by Brian Friske (33) as Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) closes out during Mt. Edgecumbe’s 81-55 A Bracket elimination game win Wednesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Filcom’s Alwen Carrillo (11) floats a shot over Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) during Filcom’s 77-74 A Bracket win Tuesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

New bracket, new thrills and elimination games Tuesday at Gold Medal

Return of A Bracket features recent JDHS star Alwen Carrillo against TMHS grad Samuel Lockhart.

Filcom’s Alwen Carrillo (11) floats a shot over Southeast Boys’ Ryan Lee (40) during Filcom’s 77-74 A Bracket win Tuesday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla’s Willie Hayward floats through Klukwan defenders Dave Buss (22), Erik McCormick (6) and Andrew Friske (12) during Masters Bracket action Monday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Monday madness at Gold Medal

Late night track meet, early morning celebration, mid-day shootout.

Metlakatla’s Willie Hayward floats through Klukwan defenders Dave Buss (22), Erik McCormick (6) and Andrew Friske (12) during Masters Bracket action Monday at the 76th Annual Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament in Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé’s George Houston Gymnasium. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
A red-winged blackbird male shows off his colorful “epaulets.” (Photo by Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Spring comes slowly

February ground to a halt and March slowly geared up. Days were getting longer, but the tedious pseudo-spring weather prevailed — no longer really winter… Continue reading

A red-winged blackbird male shows off his colorful “epaulets.” (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé dance team performs a portion of their Region V tournament routine during halftime of the East Anchorage/Ketchikan state championship game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS dance team brings magic to state tournament

Crimson Bears return to state venue for first time in 18 years

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé dance team performs a portion of their Region V tournament routine during halftime of the East Anchorage/Ketchikan state championship game Saturday at the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)