Local Sports

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-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.

 

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

 

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)
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)
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)
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)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cheerleaders Stefano Rivera, MAC the Bear, Olivia Hickman (kneeling), Ayla Keller and Gabby Ely pose for a photo during a recent basketball game at the George Houston Gymnasium. The cheerleaders will be helping honor their seniors and the seniors of the basketball and dance teams and pep band this weekend during homecoming games against North Pole. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

JDHS homecoming weekend welcomes North Pole for senior nights

Crimson Bears to honor basketball, cheer, dance and pep band seniors

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé cheerleaders Stefano Rivera, MAC the Bear, Olivia Hickman (kneeling), Ayla Keller and Gabby Ely pose for a photo during a recent basketball game at the George Houston Gymnasium. The cheerleaders will be helping honor their seniors and the seniors of the basketball and dance teams and pep band this weekend during homecoming games against North Pole. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Glacier Swim Club’s Levi Phelps, center, was 1st place high point winner for 14 year old boys at the Alaska Age Group Champs in Fairbanks over the weekend. At left is third place Noah Unks of Chugiak Aquatics Club and at right is second place Haoran Zhang of Midnight Sun Swim Team. (Photo courtesy GSC)

Glacier Swim Club thaws out Fairbanks pool with second-place team finish

Phelps, Soboleff, Woodruff pace team at Age Group Championships.

Glacier Swim Club’s Levi Phelps, center, was 1st place high point winner for 14 year old boys at the Alaska Age Group Champs in Fairbanks over the weekend. At left is third place Noah Unks of Chugiak Aquatics Club and at right is second place Haoran Zhang of Midnight Sun Swim Team. (Photo courtesy GSC)
Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Falcons claim Southeast Middle School Championship

Inspired by heroes, wrestlers grapple for medals and titles.

Thunder Mountain Middle School’s Minali Reid works a pin on Schoenbar Knights grappler Loriel Zapanta in the girls 106-pound championship match during the Southeast Middle School Regional Wrestling Tournament on Saturday at TMMS. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Wasilla’s Layla Hays blocks a Colony shot in the Warriors win over the Knights in last season’s state title game. Hays, a senior, and her number-one ranked Warriors play JDHS inside the George Houston Gymnasium on Friday and Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)

Sports on tap for this week feature current and future state champs

Sports fans living in Juneau, or visiting, will be treated to a possible preview of this season’s girls state basketball championship game as Alaska’s number-one… Continue reading

Wasilla’s Layla Hays blocks a Colony shot in the Warriors win over the Knights in last season’s state title game. Hays, a senior, and her number-one ranked Warriors play JDHS inside the George Houston Gymnasium on Friday and Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
Elementary Division action at the 32nd Annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Dimond Park Field House. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

New Year’s Eve champions crowned at Holiday Cup

Nutmeggers, Tinsel Toes, Jingle Ballers, Iced Out, Chilkat Bandits, and Eggnog & Nutmegs win.

Elementary Division action at the 32nd Annual Holiday Cup Soccer Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Dimond Park Field House. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)