Local Sports

2024 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Amit Elor, 21, right, demonstrates a counter tie on Wasilla High School junior Taryn Wright, 16, during the Juneau Girls Wrestling Clinic on Tuesday at the Juneau Wrestling Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Alaska wrestlers take on Olympic and world champion at Juneau camp

Gold medalist Amit Elor shows girls path to success

 

Juneau’s John Bursell and Brandon Ivanowicz — team J & B — placed third and Whitehorse’s Nicolas Giangrande and Heron Land-Gillis — The Bonk Bros — first in the two-person male team race of last Saturday’s Kluane to Chilkat International Bike Relay. They also placed sixth and first overall, respectively. out of 284 teams. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Pure Sole: ‘Come and do the KCIBR’

It’s like the Klondike run, except with bikes

 

Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 batter Noah Lewis is hit by a pitch during American Legion action against South Post 4 earlier this season. Juneau will play a home series against Palmer Post 15 Saturday through Monday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Auke Bay Post 25 splits games in Anchorage

Juneau’s American Legion team will host Palmer this weekend

 

Runners cross Willoughby Avenue on Friday, June 20, 2025. Leading the pack are Adeline Souza and Heather Jones dressed as Mrs. Roper from the 1970’s sitcom Three’s Company. They were inspired by the nationwide phenomenon ‘Mrs. Roper Romps.’ (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)

Solstice tradition sends characters dashing through downtown

Blue Men, the Mad Hatter and a bowling ball bring the heat during the longest day of the year

Runners cross Willoughby Avenue on Friday, June 20, 2025. Leading the pack are Adeline Souza and Heather Jones dressed as Mrs. Roper from the 1970’s sitcom Three’s Company. They were inspired by the nationwide phenomenon ‘Mrs. Roper Romps.’ (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
Photo by Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion Jacob Katasse of Auke Bay Post 25 ducks under a pitch in front of catcher Conner Mitchuson of Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 on Friday, June 20 in the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai .

Juneau’s Alaska Legion baseball team hits the road

Auke Bay Post 25 travels to Kenai tournament, Anchorage next

Photo by Jeff Helminiak / Peninsula Clarion Jacob Katasse of Auke Bay Post 25 ducks under a pitch in front of catcher Conner Mitchuson of Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 on Friday, June 20 in the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai .
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Twins, Kentucky squad to play for Coz Wood Bat title on Sunday

The American Legion Post 20 Twins and Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 will play for the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament title Sunday at 1 p.m.… Continue reading

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Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 players Hunter Carte, JJ McCormick, Micaw Nelson and Noah Lewis listen to manager Joe Tompkins during last weekend’s action against Anchorage’s South Post 4 at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Alaska Legion baseball team hits the road

Auke Bay Post 25 travels to Kenai tournament

Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 players Hunter Carte, JJ McCormick, Micaw Nelson and Noah Lewis listen to manager Joe Tompkins during last weekend’s action against Anchorage’s South Post 4 at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Runners move along the Juneau Ridge Race course during the outing in 2023. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Ridge Race offers something for all

Warm weather, soft snow conditions to be expected

Runners move along the Juneau Ridge Race course during the outing in 2023. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 shortstop Kasen Ludeman attempts to tag Anchorage’s South Post 4 runner Mark Warren at third base during Alaska American Legion baseball action Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Juneau’s Alaska Legion baseball team opens season

Auke Bay Post 25 fights through four-game series.

Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 shortstop Kasen Ludeman attempts to tag Anchorage’s South Post 4 runner Mark Warren at third base during Alaska American Legion baseball action Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé track and field coach Jesse Stringer, 2025 JDHS graduate Nick Iverson, JDHS sophomore to be Bella Connally, and JDHS assistant track and field coaches Jennifer Strumfeld and Tina Martin pose for a photo on Wednesday at the JDHS auxiliary gym after Iverson and Connally had school records noted. (Photo courtesy Chris Connally)

Crimson Bears Iverson, Connally place names on record wall

JDHS track and field stars new school records registered on high.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé track and field coach Jesse Stringer, 2025 JDHS graduate Nick Iverson, JDHS sophomore to be Bella Connally, and JDHS assistant track and field coaches Jennifer Strumfeld and Tina Martin pose for a photo on Wednesday at the JDHS auxiliary gym after Iverson and Connally had school records noted. (Photo courtesy Chris Connally)
Grace Dumas approaches the finish of the East Glacier Trail Tangle on Tuesday. The 4.9-mile race follows part of Under Thunder Trail around East Glacier Trail and back. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Morely, Tanel top East Glacier Trail Tangle

Sprints, climbs, descents and bears overcome.

Grace Dumas approaches the finish of the East Glacier Trail Tangle on Tuesday. The 4.9-mile race follows part of Under Thunder Trail around East Glacier Trail and back. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Stinky Rats’ Jason Norat is congratulated by teammates as he finishes the Seacoast Relay at the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Stinky Rats find burritos at Seacoast Relay

13 teams share in the spoils of winners’ bounty.

Stinky Rats’ Jason Norat is congratulated by teammates as he finishes the Seacoast Relay at the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter on Sunday, June 8, 2025. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The author finishing the 2024 Seacoast Relay from UAS to the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter. (Photo courtesy The Marmoteers)

Pure Sole: Race the Seacoast Relay, I dare you

I have learned two important lessons in my competitive sports career. One: Be humble in your endeavors or you may be humbled by a competitor.… Continue reading

The author finishing the 2024 Seacoast Relay from UAS to the Eagle Beach State Park outer beach picnic shelter. (Photo courtesy The Marmoteers)
Klas Stolpe, a sports reporter for the Juneau Empire and multiple other publications since the mid-1990s, receives the Alaska School Activities Association’s Gold Lifetime Pass for Region V this year during a ceremony at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday. (Melissa Bastable Ganey / Mel G Photography)

Longtime Southeast Alaska sports reporter Klas Stolpe wins ASAA’s annual Gold Lifetime Pass award

Honor recognizes “significant service to high school students of Alaska” for at least 20 years.

Klas Stolpe, a sports reporter for the Juneau Empire and multiple other publications since the mid-1990s, receives the Alaska School Activities Association’s Gold Lifetime Pass for Region V this year during a ceremony at Thunder Mountain Middle School on Saturday. (Melissa Bastable Ganey / Mel G Photography)
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)
Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

More than 430 players on 37 GCLL teams revisit tragic day in history with a field of dreams.

Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Youth Wrestling Club members, left-to-right, Jaxin Jim (JDHS sophomore), Caleb Aube (JDHS freshman), Colton Cummins (JDHS senior) and Hayden Aube (JDHS senior) pose with their All-American Status diplomas and medals last week at the Adidas National Wrestling Tournament in Independence, Missouri. (Photo courtesy Loren Cummins)

JYWC sends seven grapplers to Adidas National tournament

Colton Cummins, Hayden and Caleb Aube, Jaxin Jim earn All-American Status.

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club members, left-to-right, Jaxin Jim (JDHS sophomore), Caleb Aube (JDHS freshman), Colton Cummins (JDHS senior) and Hayden Aube (JDHS senior) pose with their All-American Status diplomas and medals last week at the Adidas National Wrestling Tournament in Independence, Missouri. (Photo courtesy Loren Cummins)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Jayce McDonald kicks a shot on goal during the Crimson Bears 4-2 loss to Ketchikan at Esther Shea Field on Wednesday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)

JDHS JV soccer team plays at Ketchikan

Road trip results in two tough contests against Kayhi varsity.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé freshman Jayce McDonald kicks a shot on goal during the Crimson Bears 4-2 loss to Ketchikan at Esther Shea Field on Wednesday. (Christopher Mullen/Ketchikan Daily News)
Yakutat's Rose Fraker is presented with the Walter Soboleff Award at the 2025 Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament by Steve Brandner, a previous winner, and Lions Club president Tim Wilson. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Saving Yakutat one basket at a time

Rose Fraker honored for Walter Soboleff Award

Yakutat's Rose Fraker is presented with the Walter Soboleff Award at the 2025 Juneau Lions Club Gold Medal Basketball Tournament by Steve Brandner, a previous winner, and Lions Club president Tim Wilson. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Jean Jackson made Gold Medal history in the 2025 Juneau Lions Club basketball tournament as the first woman inducted into the GMT Hall of Fame. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Jackson makes history as first woman player in Gold Medal tournament’s Hall of Fame

Klawock resident was star high school player and title-winnng coach; four-time Gold Medal MVP.

Jean Jackson made Gold Medal history in the 2025 Juneau Lions Club basketball tournament as the first woman inducted into the GMT Hall of Fame. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)