BRHS X-Country
races at Skyview High
9-1-10
by Josh Craven
The Cross-Country team traveled to Skyview High School in Soldotna this weekend where the Warriors had a great run. Every Warrior runner who ran the course last year improved their times. The boys were led by senior Joseph Swope, putting the boy’s team in the top 16 out of 25 Varsity teams. Junior Chelsea Beans-Polk led the girls to a 15th team place out of 23 Varsity schools.
Bethel Boys Results
51st Joe Swope, 18:07, grade 12
67th Elliot Hoffman, 18:29, grade 10
81st Jeremiah Klejka, 18:40, grade 11
95th Jesse Klejka, 19:14, grade 10
117 Seth O’Brien, 19:40, grade 12
119 Joseph Liu, 19:53, grade 12
125 Carl Jimmie, 20:12, grade 11
There was a total of 145 Varsity Boy Runners. Top Boy runner at the invite was Jani Lane with a time of 15:56 from Service High School.
Bethel Girls Results
81st Chelsey Beans-Polk, 22:49, grade 11
87th Eniana Pellumbi, 23:09, grade 12
92nd Tanya Chavez, 23:39, grade 11
95th Christina McElwee, 23:55, grade 11
97th Nicole Jimmie, 23:58, grade 9
106th Kayla Tony, 25:07, grade 11
There were a total of 112 Varsity Girl Runners. The top time was held by Jennette Northey from Service High with a time of 18:43.
The warriors do not have an upcoming meet over Labor Day Weekend. The following weekend, they will compete in will be the ACS and Palmer Invitationals.
-Thanks, Coach Josh Craven and Jackie Klejka
Warrior Cross Country competes in first meet
8-26-10
Warrior cross-country traveled to their first meet over the weekend. The first race was held in Seward on Friday, August 20, 2010. There were a total of 60 runners. The fastest boy's time was held by Wasilla at 16:57. The second meet attended by BRHS Warrior runners was held at Bartlett High School on Saturday, August 21, 2010 with a total of 118 runners. The fastest boy’s time was held by East at 15:47. 99 runners participated in the girls’ race at Barlett. The fastest girl's time was held by Palmer at 18:30. The Barlett course will be this year’s State Cross Country venue.
Seward Results: Friday, Aug 20
5K- 3.1
BOYS
Place Name Grade Time
20th Joe Swope 12 18:38
23rd Jeremiah Klejka 11 18:55
24th Elliott Hoffman 10 18:57
35th Jesse Klejka 10 19:43
44th Carl Jimmie 11 20:43
48th Douglas Corp 11 21:04
58th Martin Oulton 11 22:17
Bartlett Results: Saturday, Aug 21
5K- 3.1
BOYS
Place Name Grade Time
51st Elliott Hoffman 10 18:16
61st Joe Swope 12 18:40
71st Jeremiah Klejka 11 18:50
95th Jesse Klejka 10 19:39
101st Carl Jimmie 11 20:06
110th Martin Oulton 11 20:54
115th Douglas Corp 11 21:32
GIRLS
Place Name Grade Time
66 Chelsey Beans-Polk 11 23:16
70 Tanya Chavez 11 23:32
72 Christina McElwee 11 23:36
84 Eniana Pellumbi 12 24:32
94 Kayla Tony 11 26:02
95 Elin McWilliams 12 26:23
The Bethel Warrior Cross Country team’s next meet is at Skyview this weekend. We apologize, the girls’ results for the Seward race were misplaced and were unavailable as of print time.
King, Lieb power Bethel
grapplers to fourth at state meet
5-13-10
by Tommy Wells
WASILLA – Keanu King and Brayton Lieb were among a handful of Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club members turning in outstanding efforts en route to guiding the Warriors to an impressive team showing at the 2010 Alaska USA Wrestling State Freestyle and Greco Roman Wrestling Championships recently.
King and Lieb both nailed down first place finishes in freestyle and Greco, and were part of a 10 gold effort by Bethel wrestlers. In all, 46 Bethel wrestlers competed in the tournament, which was held April 30 through May 1 at the Wasilla Sports Complex.
King starred in the Schoolboy division’s 265-pound ranks. The Bethel standout picked up his first gold medal in the Greco-Roman tournament, winning both of his matches. He added his second gold in the Freestyle meet, going 2-0.
Lieb, the son of Bethel Regional High School head coach Darren Lieb, left little doubt as to who was the top wrestler in the Cadet division’s 145-pound classification. He won both the Greco and Freestyle titles.
King and Lieb weren’t the only Bethel wrestlers doing well in the Greco competition. Bethel had 18 wrestlers finish in the top five of their divisions including 215-pound Junior Division champion Zach Pleasant and Cadet 112 standout Carlie McIntyre, and runners-up in Trevour Chavez and Randy Hanson. Chavez finished second in the Cadet 152-pound division. Hanson was second in the Junior 140-pound event.
Scott Carpenter and Corbin LePore almost added to the Warriors’ points totals in their respective matches. Carpenter suffered a loss in the finals of the Schoolboy 175-pound division. LePore was second in the Cadet 135 bracket.
McIntyre won the Cadet 112-pound bracket with a perfect 3-0 record.
Intermediate 122-pound standout Kaden Westdahl joined Cadet 152 standout Mario Kuqo as third-place winners.
Bethel notches several fourth-place finishers in Greco. The team picked up solid efforts from Jayvin Williams, Steven Andrew, Brandon Oulton, John Oulton. Rami Pellumbi, Jerek Pete and Carl Fox all placed fifth.
Temyka Ayuluk highlighted the Alaska Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Tournament. The Bethel standout took first in the girls’ 90-pound Cadet division.
Kayla Williams and Kayla White each finished among the six Bethel scorers u the women’s freestyle standings. Williams was second in the Cadet 119-pound class, while White was second in the Cadet 112. Missy Crow and Kelly O’Brien both finished third in the standings.
As a team, the Warriors had 18 of their 22 Greco wrestlers medal, and finished seventh in the final team standings.
Overall, there were 282 wrestlers competing in the Greco-Roman state meet.
The Warriors were even more impressive in the freestyle state meet. Led by gold medal efforts by King, Lieb, Corbin LePore, Zach Pleasant and Randy Hanson, the Bethel grapplers finished fourth out of 29 teams in the overall standings.
LePore, who lost in the finals of the Greco tournament, dominated the Cadet 135-pound ranks in the freestyle meet. The Bethel Regional High School standout went 3-0 – defeating the wrestler he lost to in Greco in the freestyle title match.
Pleasant and Hanson gave Bethel wins in the Junior 112- and 140-pound brackets. Pleasant was 2-0 in the 112 bracket, while Hanson cruised to a 4-0 record in the 140 ranks, including a win over the same wrestler that had beaten him in the Greco finals.
Chavez, Carpenter and Gage Hoffman just missed adding gold to the Warriors’ collection. Chavez finished second in the Cadet 152 bracket with a 3-1 record. Carpenter was second in the Schoolboy 175-pound division, while Hoffman was the runner-up in the Schoolboy 77-pound division standings.
Bethel picked up three third-place finishes in freestyle. Earning bronze medals were Jerek Pete, Aaron Olsen and Diesel Geerdts.
Thomas Dyment, Hayden Lieb, Tristan Evans, Steven Andrew, Brandon Oulton, John Michaels, Mario Kuqo and Timothy Robb all netted fourth place finishes, while Rami Pellumbi notched a fifth.
Sven Williams, Kane Gillilan and John Oulton all placed sixth in their respective divisions.
According to the Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club coaching staff, the Warriors programs continued growth and success at the state meet were made possible by support from local residents.
“There are many people we would like to thank for making our trip so successful,” the coaching staff said in a release. “First of all, thanks to all of the parents for allowing your child to be a part of our Club this year. Out of the 54 kids that came out, we ended with 50 still wrestling. Forty-six were able to pay their way to Anchorage, but we in no way forget the others who kept practicing with us.”
“Our club keeps growing every year, and we want to keep it going in that direction,” they added.
The club wishes to pass along special thank yous to the following businesses for their generous donations: Bethel Volunteer EMS Association - $1,000; NAPA Auto Parts - $300; Video World - $300; Power & Brown Law Office - $200; and Jeremy Westlake for purchasing a ticket for a very deserving young man.
“Without your support, we would all have to pay more out of pocket to pay for the 11 hotel rooms, three 15-passenger vans and food for the three days that we were in Anchorage. Thank you all very much!” the coaches wrote.
2010 Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club Roster
Coaches: Courtney Geerdts, Darren Lieb, Andrew Gillilan, Mike Roberts, & Thomas Young Sr.
Pre-Bantam: Gavin Aloysius, Angel Jacob & Tyler Roberts
Bantam: Diesel Geerdts, Makenna Westlake, Kaden Williams & Seth Williams
Intermediate: Thomas Dyment, Leon Evon, Avery Hoffman, Hayden Lieb, Kelly O’Brien, Kaden Westlake & Sven Williams
Novice: Temyka Ayuluk, Missy Crow, Tristan Evan, Colin Freitas, Kane Gillilan, Isaiah Guy, Aaron Olsen, Chris Tom & Jayvin Williams
Schoolboy: Steven Andrew, David Berezkin, Scott Carpenter, William Charles, Evan Dyment, Gage Hoffman, Keanu King, Patrick Kylook, John Michaels, Brandon Oulton, Rami Pellumbi & Jerek Pete
Cadet: Nolan Bean, Trevour Chavez, Brian Freitas, Sean Jackson, Mario Kuqo, Corbin LePore, Brayton Lieb, Carlie McIntyre, John Oulton, Douglas Palacios, Timothy Robb, Kayla White & Kayla Williams
Junior: Carl Fox, Randy Hanson, Martin Oulton & Zach Pleasant
Y-K athletes shine
at Anchorage NYO meet
4-29-10
by Tommy Wells
Yako McCarr came within a hair of setting a new Native Youth Olympics world record and highlighted a solid showing by Yukon-Kuskokwim athletes at the 2010 Anchorage Native Youth Olympics meet this past weekend. The multi-day tournament was held at the Dena’ina Center.
McCarr barely missed owning the Alaskan High Kick record last Thursday, nearly hitting the 94 inch mark. Despite the misses, the Lower Kuskokwim School District all-star won the boys’ Alaskan High Kick crown with a record-tying 93. LKSD’s Andrew White set the record a year ago.
McCarr wasn’t the only western Alaskan athlete doing well in the Alaskan High Kick. Toksook Bay’s Jason Tulik also did well, finishing third overall with a mark of 84”.
McCarr was a two-time winner at the meet, which drew NYO athletes from throughout the state. He also won the One-Hand Reach competition with a height of 65 inches. Chevak’s Conor Ferguson placed fourth in the One-Hand Reach event at 63”.
Jaclyn Weston of Anchorage beat her own record from 2009 in the girls’ Alaskan High Kick, ending at a height of 79”. She is originally from the YK delta villages of Kipnuk and Mekoryuk. She also placed 5th in the Toe Kick.
Toksook Bay’s Justin Bill and Moses Charles added to the Islanders’ medal count. Bill edged out LKSD’s Daniel Andrew for the top spot in the boys’ Kneel Jump standings. Bill finished with a mark of 63.75 inches. Andrew posted a final mark of 60 for silver. Also competing in Kneel Jump was Kipnuk’s Christian Paul representing Mt. Edgecumbe High School who placed 5th with a jump of 54”.
Charles, a veteran NYO standout, won the grueling Seal Hop event, hopping 154 feet, 5 ¼ inches. LKSD star Alexie Phillips was second at 126-0 ¾. Paul of MEHS placed 4th.
Charles also did well in the Two-Foot High Kick, finishing second at 86 inches. Yupiit School District’s Milton Jones of Akiachak was third. Jones also took 3rd in the 2-foot event.
Mt. Edgecumbe’s Jaylin Prince of Kotlik edged out Aniak’s Ben Haeldlt for the top spot in the Eskimo Stick Pull competition.
LKSD’s Peter Alirairia and Lower Yukon School District standout Justin Ulak both turned in solid outings in the Toe Kick. Alirairia was second overall, while Ulak finished third.
LYSD’s Andre Simon was fourth in the boys’ Indian Stick Pull.
In the boys’ Wrist Carry event, Chefornak’s David Chagluak posted a distance of 477 feet, 4.5 inches to win 3rd in this grueling event.
Toksook Bay’s Cynthia Asuluk highlighted a stellar effort by Y-K athletes on the girls’ side. In all, Y-K athletes finished in the top five 13 times. Asuluk posted a winning mark of 60 inches. Aniak’s Raven Phillips won silver with a kick of 59”.
Jackie Joekay of Oscarville representing LKSD placed 3rd in the girls’ 2-foot High Kick with a final kick of 68”.
Bethel Regional High School’s Mary Dyment narrowly missed a gold medal in the Seal Hop. She placed second overall with a mark of 137 feet, 11 inches. Anchorage’s Dajan Treder won the event at 141-0 ¼. Phillips and LKSD’s Heather Kanuk also did well in the Seal Hop. The two were part of a three-way tie for fourth.
Former Nightmute star Revie Tony picked up a bronze medal in the One-Hand Reach The Mt. Edgecumbe student netted a mark of 57 inches in the event. Bethel’s Stephanie Lupie was fifth at 56.
LKSD’s Chinace Egoak and Toksook Bay’s Laura Therchik also picked up medals. Egoak highlighted a 2-3-5 finish by Y-K athletes in the Alaskan High Kick by finishing second. Egoak’s best kick of the meet measured 70 inches – almost six feet.
LYSD’s Magdalene Isadora and Yupiit’s Jessica Waska of Tuluksak were third and fifth, respectively.
Therchik was third in the girls’ Kneel Jump. Anne Marie Paul, a 7th grade LKSD all-star, was fifth in the Wrist Carry standings, going 230-11.
In the ladies 1-foot High Kick event, Nicole Pingayak of Chevak representing MEHS won 2nd place behind new record holder Alice Strick of Wasilla. Strick also set a new record in the 2-foot high kick event. Pingayak also placed 5th in the 2-foot high kick.
LKSD District NYO Competition
by Chris Carmichael
Between April 15 through the 17th of April, the small village of Goodnews Bay was flooded with outstanding athletes from all over the Lower Kuskokwim area who arrived en masse to compete in the ANN TUNUNCHUK MEMORIAL NYO competition. Over 70 athletes and many coaches came to prove that they were worthy of advancing to the State Meet next week, and they did not disappoint.
The Opening Ceremonies began with a warm welcome for the visitors and special recognition for Goodnews’s village leadership. Also recognized for their long time achievements were Paul J. Paul of Kipnuk, who was named head judge of the meet, and Tommy Phillips of Kongiganak, who has in many ways been the senior statesman of the NYO movement in LKSD.
The Goodnews Bay Native Dancers, led by Sally Martin, performed two beautiful songs to welcome the village’s guests, and Sherri Carmichael’s Players presented a pictorial and tableau history of the village of Goodnews Bay.
Dinner the first night was locally caught trout and other goodies from the village, all donated by the residents of Goodnews Bay and lovingly prepared by Emma Martin and Deb Parsons. These two ladies, with help from Polly Ayojiak, Maggie Scholtz, and others, worked tirelessly for three days to make the meals for this event very special.
After a little time had passed for the food to settle, the competition began, and once it started, it was very well attended. The gym was standing room only during the first three events of the evening. Once they were completed it was time for the athletes to feast on huge homemade oatmeal cookies prepared by Diana Scoccia. Finally it was time for bed.
Friday found the athletes hard at work again, jumping, toe kicking, wrist carrying, seal hopping and stick pulling all day. The competition for every place was fierce, and the tension in the gym was so thick at time you could hear a pin drop. Interest was high enough that the event was broadcast throughout LKSD with the help of Chris Hauk and Ted Simmons, who made it work well despite lack of real space for the camera equipment.
Time was taken to feed the athletes a wonderful salmon dinner on Friday night, again donated by the residents of Goodnews, and the coaches enjoyed a special dinner of their own. Salmon, Prime Rib, a local blueberry tea, and other specialty dishes were prepared and were very much appreciated by the coaches and chaperones.
The last events of the evening were the seal hop, Alaskan stick pull, and the Indian Stick Pull. The crowd was roaring for their favorite athletes, and everyone felt supported, and we hope, successful.
The awards ceremonies were held on Saturday, and every first, second, and third place award for each event was individually recognized and applauded. Team trophies were also given. The Bethel Regional High School Team won the third place trophy. Second place went to the Kasigluk-Akula team, and the Kipnuk team took home the First Place trophy. The Tommy Phillips Memorial Sportsmanship Trophy was presented to the Goodnews Bay Bears, much to the delight of the hosting village.
Finally, the LKSD All Star team was selected. Representing LKSD at the state meet will be Daniel Andrew III (Akula) and Jackie Joekay (Oscarville) in kneel jump, David Chagluak (Chefornak) and AnnMarie Paul (Kipnuk) in wrist carry, Peter Aliralria (Kipnuk) and Carrie Beaver in toe kick, Yako McCarr (Kipnuk) and Chinace Egoak (Napaskiak) in Alaskan High Kick, Frank Link (Tununak) and Roxanne Paul (Kipnuk) in the one foot high kick, Yako McCarr (Kipnuk) and Jackie Joekay (Oscarville) in the two foot high kick, Yako McCarr (Kipnuk) and Carrie Beaver (Akula) in One Arm reach, Nicholson Tinker (Akula) and Rachel Ayaprun (Kipnuk) in Eskimo Stick pull, Elia Tulik (Nightmute) and Rachel Ayaprun (Kipnuk) in Indian stick pull, and Alexie Phillip (Kongiganak) and Jackie Joekay (Oscarville) in seal hop. Paul Dhaemers, host coach and presenter of the awards, called each of the selected athletes to be recognized, and did a fine job of not only recognizing the athletes, but also the All Star Coaches to guides the team in Anchorage, those being Paul J. Paul of Kipnuk, Tommy Phillips of Kongignak, Alex Joekay of Oscarville, and Megan Haglund of Kongignak.
Special thanks was also given to Paul Dhaemers of Goodnews Bay for hosting such a flawlessly run large event. This competition was one of the very finest this village has ever participated in, and everyone from the youngest athlete to the eldest elder, had a wonderful three days of sport, great food, incredible entertainment, and a chance to make new friends that may well last for a lifetime.
Chris Carmichael is the Site Administrator for LKSD in Goodnews Bay, AK.
BRHS hosts NYO Meet
Six teams compete before District Tournament
HS Boys
Kneel Jump School Distance
1 Yako McCarr KPN 59
2 Shawn Paul BET 52 3/8
3 Nick Joekay OSC 47b 3/4
5 Jack Diamond KKI 43 5/8
5 Dolan Fox 41 1/2
Wrist Carry School Time
1 Brandon Lupie BET 00:37.3
2 Nick Joekay OSC 00:33.7
3 Shawn Paul BET 00:30.9
4 Joseph Peter TLT 00:29.3
5 Mack Lincoln BET 00:29.1
2 Foot High Kick School Height
1 Milton Jones AKI 86
2 Yako McCarr KPN 83
3 Shawn Paul BET 78 & 1M
4 Jack Diamond KKI 78 & 2M
5 Dolan Fox KPN 74
Toe Kick School Distance
1 Yako McCarr KPN 76
2 Elia Tulik NME 72
AK High Kick School Height
1 Yako McCarr KPN 92
2 Nick Joekay OSC 74
3 Elia Tulik NME 70
4 Shawn Paul BET 70
5 Dolan Fox KPN 70
1 FT High Kick School Height
1 Milton Jones AKI 101
2 Dolan Fox KPN 96
3 Yako McCarr KPN 96
4 Jack Diamond KKI 92
5 Joseph Liu BET 88
One Arm Reach School Height
1 Yako McCarr KPN 64
2 Brandon Lupie BET 58
3 Waker Craft AKI 56
4 Nick Joekay OSC 54
5 Jack Diamond KKI 50
Stick Pull School
1 Walker Craft AKI
2 Elia Tulik NME
3 Joseph Liu BET
4 Yako McCarr KPN
5 Nick Joekay OSC
Seal Hop School Distance
1 Yako McCarr KPN 89 5 7/8"
2 Shawn Paul BET 84 11 1/4"
3 Joseph Lui BET 84 8"
4 Nick Joekay OSC 78 7"
5 Brandon Lupie BET 76 10"
Indian Stick Pull School
1 Joseph Liu BET
2 Nick Joekay OSC
3 Jeremy Mute BET
4 Phillip Charlie BET
5 Kalila Berezkin OSC
HS Girls
Kneel Jump School Distance
1 Jolene James KKI 35
2 Jackie Joekay OSC 34 1/2
3 Noel Lake KKI 28
4 Roxann Paul KPN 26 1/2
5 Stephanie Lupie BET 22
Wrist Carry School Time
1 Janlynn Jimmie BET 00:20.8
2 Roxann Paul KPN 00:17.9
3 Mary Dyment BET 00:14.2
4 Chelsey Beans Polk BET 00:11.9
5 Jolene James KKI 00:05.7
2 Foot High Kick School Height
1 Jackie Joekay OSC 67
2 Roxann Paul KPN 62
3 Mary Dyment BET 54
3 Janlynn Jimmie BET 54
5 Kristine Larson KKI 42
Toe Kick School Distance
1 Jackie Joekay OSC 29
AK High Kick School Height
1 Jessica Waska TLT 69
2 Christina McElwee BET 67
3 Jackie Joekay OSC 66
4 Roxann Paul KPN 64
5 Noel Lake KKI 56
1 Foot High Kick School Height
1 Roxann Paul KPN 77
2 Jackie Joekay OSC 76
3 Jessica Waska TLT 75
4 Noel Lake KKI 70
5 Chelsey Beans Polk BET 70 & 1M
& Mary Dyment
One Arm Reach School Height
1 Jessic Waska TLT 59
2 Stephanie Lupie BET 57
3 Jackie Joekay OSC 50
4 Roxann Paul KPN 46
Stick Pull School
1 Jessica Waska TLT
2 Noel Lake KKI
3 Rachel Ayapan KPN
4 Jolene James KKI
5 Leann Jackson AKI
Seal Hop School Distance
1 Mary Dyment BET 127 ft 1 in.
2 Jackie Joekay OSC 122 ft. 9 1/4 in.
3 Janlynn Jimmie BET 98 ft. 5 1/2 in.
4 Jolene James KPN 94 ft. 7/8 in.
5 Noel Lake KKI 91 ft. 8 1/2 in.
Indian Stick Pull School
1 Chelsea Beans-Polk BET
2 Leann Jackson AKI
3 Rachel Ayapan KIP
4 Roxann Paul KIP
5 Noel Lake KKI
JH Boys
Kneel Jump School Distance
1 Darren Buzz TLT 20 3/4
2 Adolph Larson OSC 15 1/4
Wrist Carry
1 James Ivanoff BET 23:40.0
2 Jason Polk BET 16:44.0
3 Darren Buzz TLT 10:22.0
4 Adolph Larson OSC 04:05.0
Two Foot High Kick
1 Jason Polk BET 54
2 Adolph Larson OSC 46
3 Darren Buzz TLT 38
Toe Kick
1 Darren Buzz TLT 24
2 Jason Polk BET 20
Alaskan High Kick
1 Jason Polk BET 61
2 Douglas Kylook BET 48
3 Adolph Larson OSC 48
4 Darren Buzz TLT 44
One Foot High Kick
1 Avery Coplin BET 77
2 Jason Polk BET 76
3 James Ivanoff BET 74
4 Adolph Larson OSC 66
5 Darren Buzz TLT 62
One Arm Reach
1 Jason Polk BET 49
2 Adolph Larson OSC 46
3 Darren Buzz TLT 20
Indian Stick Pull
1 Justin Tulik NME
2 Imen George NME
3 Doug Kylook BET
4 Darren Buzz TLT
5 Avery Copin BET
Seal Hop
1 James Ivanoff BET 52 1 3/4"
2 Darren Buzz TLT 32 7 1/2"
3 Jason Polk BET 29 9"
4 Adolph Larson OSC 20 2 1/2"
5 Imen George NME 19 3 7/8"
Eskimo Stick Pull
1 Avery Coplin BET
2 Justin Tulik NME
3 Douglas Kylook BET
4 Jason Polk BET
5 Imen George NME
JH Girls
Kneel Jump School Distance
1 Riana Joseph BET 29 1/8
2 Alicia Oscar BET 26 1/4
3 Rebecca Brink BET 25 5/8
4 Melanie Tulik NME 24 1/2
5 Brandi Dull NME 20 3/4
Wrist Carry
1 Maryssa Soots BET 0:23:34
2 Riana Joseph BET 0:10:09
3 Rebecca Brink BET 0:06:50
4 Jessi Berezkin OSC 0:00:03
5 Melanie Tulik NME 0:00:02
Two Foot High Kick
1 Alicia Oscar BET 55
T2 Auna Springer BET 52
T2 Melanie Tulik NME 51
4 Rebecca Brink BET 50
5 Brandi Dull NME 50 & 1M
Toe Kick
1 Brandi Dull NME 53
2 Melanie Tulik NME 41
3 Riana Joseph BET 32
4 Rebecca Brink BET 12
Alaskan High Kick
1 Riana Joseph BET 64
2 Rebecca Brink BET 61
3 Brandi Dull NME 60
4 Alicia Oscar BET 56
5 Jessi Berezkin & Melanie Tulik One Foot High Kick
1 Riana Joseph BET 72
2 Rebecca Brink BET 70
3 Alicia Oscar BET 66
4 Jessi Berezkin
& Melanie Tulik 62 & 2M
5 Brandi Dull NME 62 & 2M
One Arm Reach
1 Rebecca Brink BET 52
2 Brandi Dull NME 47
3 Melanie Tulik NME 46
4 Jessi Berezkin OSC 42
Indian Stick Pull
1 Riana Joseph BET
2 Vivian Tulik NME
3 Auan Spring BET
4 Jessie Berzken OSC
5 Marrisa Alexie BET
Seal Hop
1 Riana Joseph BET 93 5"
2 Rebecca Brink BET 76 10 3/4"
3 Alicia Oscar BET 76 4"
4 Brandi Dull NME 73 4 3/8"
5 Vivian Tulik NME 44 2 1/2"
Eskimo Stick Pull
1 Analise Noah KKI
2 Rebecca Brink BET
3 Asislyn Jackson KKI
4 Vivian Tulik NME
5 Riana Joseph BET
Shotokan members nab 27
medals at state tournament
4-9-10
by Tommy Wells
Amber Wade and Josh Mendenhall may be young, but they turned more than a few heads on March 27 at the Alaska State Shotokan Karate Tournament in Anchorage.
In fact, almost everyone from the Bethel karate club turned heads.
Wade and Mendenhall were among an elite group of karate athletes earning two gold medals at the event, and highlighted a 27-medal effort by the Bethel Shotokan Karate Club. Bethel earned nearly 30 medals – including seven golds – at the tournament, which drew karate clubs from as far as Fairbanks, Homer and St. Lawrence Island.
“This was a very successful tournament for Bethel,” said Bethel sensei Ted Barry. “We had 17 students compete and came home with 27 medals. I’m very proud of all of them.”
Wade and Mendenhall were among the big winners at the tournament, winning top honors in each of their two disciplines. An 11-year-old, Wade finished atop the Youth division’s Kata (form) and Kumite (sparring) competitions.
An 8-year-old, Mendenhall won his division’s Kata and Kumite events.
Kate McWilliams also netted a gold. The 12-year-old won her sparring division and placed third in the Kata, a complex series of up to 60 blocks, punches and kicks.
Arvin Dull, competing in the Adult Division, won a gold in the 18-45 division Kata competition. He was second in the sparring, and took third in the Kata in the Senior Division.
Myrna Peter collected Bethel’s other gold medal, winning first in the Senior Division Kata. She also took third in the Kumite.
James Mendenhall, Mark Kolbus and Nate Sidell turned in solid efforts as well. All three earned a pair of silver.
Mendenhall, a 15-year-old student, was second in the Kata and Kumite, while Kolbus, a 12-year-old standout, and Sidell, a 13-year-old karate star, finished second in their two events.
Alicia Evan, a 10-year-old, finished second in her Kata event, and third in sparring, while 12-year-old Maria Sebastian picked up two medals with bronze-medal finishes in the Kata and Kumite.
Bethel also picked up solid efforts in the Kata from Hunter Dull (silver), Seneida Sanchez (bronze), Shane Phelan (silver) and Solize Sanchez (bronze).
Dull, Seneida Sanchez and Phelan are all 8-year-olds. Solize Sanchez is a 7-year-old.
The Bethel Shotokan Karate Club meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, beginning at 6 p.m., and on Saturdays, beginning at 10 a.m., at the M.E. School.
Evan takes 1st in
K300 Camp Out Race
4-1-10
Joshua Evan of Napaskiak took first in the 2010 Kuskokwim 300 Camp Out Race with a time of 2:54:00. Joshua took in $1500 for his first place finish. Seven teams participated in the two-day event, held March 27th and 28th. Congratulation to Joshua and all the Camp Out Race mushers!
Teams traveled 40.5 miles on a non-competitive run from the mouth of the Bethel Small Boat harbor and camped overnight Saturday on the Gweek. Sunday morning teams raced home on the same trail. It was a close finish with just 30 seconds between the first and second place teams. Full race results are reported below. A total purse of $7500 was awarded to the mushers. Visit www.k300.org for more information on this and other K300 sponsored events.
2010 Camp Out Race Results
Musher Time In # Dogs In Elapsed Time
1 Joshua Evan 1:54:00 8 2:54:30
2 Casie Stockdale 1:54:30 8 2:54:00
3 Mike Williams Jr. 2:00:00 7 3:00:00
4 Solomon Olick 2:02:00 8 3:02:00
5 Lewis Pavilla 2:12:00 8 3:12:00
6 Jessie Klejka 2:20:00 8 3:20:00
7 David Simeon 2:40:00 8 3:40:00
Race results courtesy of K300.
2010 State Basketball Action Sports Photos
23rd Annual Coastal Conference -1A Tourney Sports Photos
State Champs!!
Hawks soar to first-ever state title
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – The Napaskiak Hawks went into the Class 1A state basketball tournament wondering what it felt like to be a state champion. They don’t have to wonder any more.
Backed by a stellar defensive performance, the Hawks nailed down their school’s first-ever state crown on Saturday by grinding out a 43-31 come-from-behind win over the Nunamiut Wolves. The Hawks held Nunamiut to just four points in the final eight minutes of the game and streaked to a decisive 22-14 second-half surge.
“The boys did a great job,” said Napaskiak head coach Eric Jung. “They made sure everyone was involved every time down the court.”
They also made sure Nunamuit’s potent outside shooting game was smothered. The Wolves had entered the finals as one of the state’s top three-point shooting teams. Against Napaskiak, Nunamiut made just six of their 27 attempts from behind the arc.
Nunamiut, which finished the season at 21-4, got off to a solid start against the Hawks. The Wolves knocked down several clutch shots from the floor in the opening moments and raced to a 10-7 advantage.
The Napaskiak defense took control from there. Led by the play of senior Travis Andrew, the Hawks shut down the Nunamiut offense for the next 6 ½ minutes, holding them scoreless until about the 1:30 mark of the frame.
Napaskiak didn’t have any such trouble finding the basket. The Hawks poured in 14 points in the second quarter and grabbed a 21-17 lead at the half.
Willie Steven staked the Hawks to their first lead of the stanza with 3:24 left in the second when he took a pass from Francis Nicholai and pushed it home for an 11-10 cushion. Joachim Maxie and Andrew both added shots shortly afterward and upped the ZJWS lead to 15-10. As a team, the Hawks shot 42 percent from the floor in the second, hitting six of their 14 attempts.
Napaskiak kept up the defensive pressure in the third quarter. Nunamiut, which had rallied from a 14-point deficit earlier in the tournament, managed just 10 points in the first eight minutes of the second half and went into the fourth quarter trailing by six, at 33-27.
Part of the Hawks’ success in the third was due to their ability to keep Nunamiut’s three-point game in check.
“We knew they would come out looking for the three-pointer,” said Jung. “They score half of their points off the three. We did a good job of taking away the three.”
Napaskiak also benefited from a bit of misfortune by the Wolves. Nunamiut guard Jack Williams, the team’s top scorer, picked up his fourth foul of the game early in the third and was forced to sit out much of the frame.
The Hawks continued to push their attack in the fourth. Maxie capped a 6-0 run in the first 4:11 of the frame by sinking a shot from the field. Maxie joined Andrew as the lone ZJWHS scorers to reach double figures. He finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
Andrew, who registered a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds, closed out the Hawks’ first title in grand style. He stole the ball from the Nunamiut offense in the closing seconds, bringing the large Napaskiak crowd on hand to its feet.
Andrew and Maxie both were named to the Class 1A boys’ all-tournament team following the game. Nicholai just missed posting a double-double in the state finals. He scored nine points and had 11 rebounds.
The Hawks earned their first-ever trip to the finals by posting an impressive 54-34 win over the Akiak Thunderbolts in the semifinals. The Hawks broke open a tight 22-20 game with a 32-14 second-half surge.
Napaskiak jumped out to a quick lead in the game, racing to a 13-1 advantage before Akiak could get its offense untracked. The Thunderbolts rallied back in the second. They outscored Napaskiak by a 16-8 clip in the second and went into the half down by two, at 22-20.
Andrew, Maxie and the Hawks’ offense took over in the third. Napaskiak opened the third with an 11-0 run in the initial six minutes of the second half and never looked back. As a team, the Hawks went on a 17-4 run in the third and took a 39-24 advantage into the final frame. Andrew finished the game as the Hawks’ top scorer, netting 18 points. Maxie added 13 more.
Napaskiak opened the state tournament with 52-42 win over Kivalina. In that game, Andrew rolled up 24 points.
Akiak finished fifth in the final team standings. Following their loss to Napaskiak in the semifinals, the Thunderbolts dropped a 70-60 decision to Newhalen in the third-place game.
Despite the loss, the Thunderbolts picked up solid play from three players, including Nels Jasper, Milton Jones and Walker Craft. Jasper finished with a game-high 23 points, while Jones added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Walker Craft had 16 points and 18 rebounds.
The Russian Mission Raiders went 0-2 at the state tournament, falling to Newhalen in the first round, 70-44, and to Elim in the consolation semifinals, 86-56.
1A Boys All-Tournament Team
Travis Andrew, Napaskiak; Matthew Askoak, Newhalen; Robert Clay, Newhalen; Walker Craft, Akiak; Oran Barger, Kivalina; Bart Jackson, Elim; Rolland James, Fort Yukon; Jonathan Rulland, Nunamiut; Joachim Maxie, Napaskiak; Oscar Takak Jr., Elim.
Comets battle their way to fourth at state
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – Conor Ferguson buried several clutch shots in the second half Saturday and helped carry the Chevak High School Comets to a 52-47 win over the Ninilchik Wolverines.
With the win, the Comets finished 2-1 at the Class 2A state tournament. The Comets, who had three players score into double figures against Ninilchik, got off to a slow start against the Wolverines. Chevak was outscored in the first eight minutes and went into the second period down by one, at 12-11.
The Comets raced back in the second, Chevak went on a 17-11 run in the frame and took a 28-23 lead into the half.
The Comets, who were led by Ferguson’s team-high 19 points, added to their lead in the third, upping their lead to eight, at 37-29. Cameron Olson and Brian Andrews both finished the game with 11 points.
The Comets rolled into the fourth-place game by picking up a wild 72-71 victory over Noatak. After falling behind in the first quarter, the Comets put together a solid run in the second quarter and race to a slim 37-35 halftime lead.
Chevak outscored Noatak by a 24-17 clip in the second. Noatak didn’t fade away, though. The Bears reeled off a 23-11 run in the third and went into the fourth holding a 58-49 cushion.
Chevak, which had four players score double digits, rallied for a 23-13 run in the final eight minutes to close out the win. Olson led all KHS scorers with 21 points. Quincy Bennett added 15, while Ferguson and Harald Paniyak chipped in 12 and 11, respectively.
The Comets, despite 24 points from Olson and 17 from Andrews, opened the state tournament with a tough 62-59 loss to Klawock. Paniyak added 13 in the tournament-opening setback.
The Chevak Lady Comets didn’t fare as well at the girls’ state tournament, suffering back-to-back losses to Skagway – the eventual Class 2A state champion – and Point Hope.
2A Boys All-Tournament Team
Jefferson Klapak, Ninilchik; David Reischach, CIA; Andrew Talerico, Tri-Valley; Ebrulik Frankson, Point Hope; Deion Jackson, Klawock; Ryan Scholten, Tri-Valley; Zacharia Lane, Point Hope; Conor Ferguson, Chevak; Rick Carle, Klawock; Adam Sage, Point Hope
Lady Kings
return to state tournament
by Tommy Wells
The Kwethluk Lady Kings are beginning to make a habit of advancing to the Class 1A state basketball tournament. A very frequent habit.
Twyla George and Kelly Ayapan both scored into double figures Saturday and powered the Kwethluk Lady Kings past the Chefornak Lady Shamans, 41-30, in the championship game of the Alaska Coastal Conference tournament.
The win earned the Lady Kings their fourth trip to the state tournament in past six years, and their first since 2008 when they finished seventh in the final standings.
Kwethluk proved it had a state-caliber defense early in the tournament finals. The Lady Kings held Chefornak without a single shot from the field in the first eight minutes. The Lady Shamans, the Island League champion, managed just two free throws in the period.
Unfortunately for Kwethluk, the Lady Kings weren’t able to take advantage of their defense’s efforts. Chefornak limited Kwethluk to just five points in the first quarter and trailed 5-2 at the end of the frame.
Ayapan breathed life into the Lady Kings’ offense in the second. After George had opened the second with a shot, Ayapan reeled off Kwethluk’s next eight points to key a 16-12 run that sent the Lady Kings into the half holding a 21-14 lead. In all, Ayapan tallied all 10 of her points in the second.
Jacqueline Matthew and Stacy Panruk helped the Lady Shaman weather Kwethluk’s second-period barrage. Matthew pushed in six of her seven points in the second, while Panruk dropped in a three-pointer.
George, Krystal Michael and Elena Phillip helped the Lady Kings add to their lead in the third. All three pushed in four points in the frame and led Kwethluk to a 12-8 spree. The Lady Kings took a commanding 11-point lead, at 33-22, into the start of the fourth quarter.
Andea Tunuchuk recorded six of Chefornak’s eight third-quarter points. Panruk added the other two. The two teams battled to an 8-8 draw in the fourth.
George finished the game as Kwethluk’s top scorer, netting 11 points. Michael and Phillip each contributed six.
Tunuchuk was Chefornak’s top scorer with eight points. Matthew and Panruk chipped in seven apiece, while Ashley Sipary added six.
Kwethluk, which advanced to the state tournament in 2005 and in 2007-08, advanced to the Coastal Conference finals with a tough 59-54 win over Tuntutuliak in the semifinals. Prior to that game, the Lady Kings had posted an easy 53-27 win over Toksook Bay in the tournament opener.
Chefornak dispatched Kwigillingok in the semifinals, 45-32. They opened the tournament on Thursday with a 75-15 rout of Quinhagak.
Tuntutuliak rebounded from their semifinal loss to Kwethluk by downing Kwigillingok in the third-place game. Tuntutuliak won that contest, 70-59.
Kasigluk-Akula took the consolation title, downing Toksook Bay, 55-51.
The Lady Kwethluk Kings will be playing the team from Kivalina during the opening rounds at the State 1A Championship on March 18, 2010 at the Sullivan Arena.
Late FTs send
Napaskiak to state tournament
by Tommy Wells
The fact that he had missed the previous three of his previous four attempts from the free throw line didn’t shake Travis Andrew’s confidence in a bit Saturday evening.
And the Napaskiak Hawks’ season is still alive because of it.
Andrew propelled Napaskiak into the Class 1A state basketball tournament for the third straight year by sinking a pair of game-winning free throws in the closing seconds of the Alaska Coastal Conference championship game. The two free throws lifted Napaskiak to a 55-53 come-from-behind win over Tuntutuliak in front of a large crowd in the Bethel WarriorDome.
With the win, Napaskiak advances to play the Kobuk Valley champion Kivalina in the first round of the state tournament, which will get under way on March 18 in Anchorage. The Hawks finished seventh at state a year ago, and placed fifth in 2008.
Punching out a trip to state was anything but easy. Tuntutuliak opened the game with two solid quarters and held a lead much of the first half. Kevin McIntyre and Jerome Carl both knocked down several clutch shots from the field in the opening minutes of the game to help Tuntutuliak get off to a quick start. McIntyre opened the game with a flurry. He wrapped a pair of three-point shots around a basket by Carl to vault the Jays to eight fast points.
Carl and Jerold Simon took over from there. Carl pushed in five unanswered points before Simon stepped up and drilled a three that spurred a 17-10 first quarter spree.
Willie Steven helped keep Napaskiak in the game. The ZJWHS star pushed in six points in the opening frame. Francis Nicholai and Andrew also chipped in shots. Andrew and Joachim Maxie helped Napaskiak catch fire in the second. Maxie dropped in eight of his team-high 21 points in the frame and keyed a 20-17 run that pulled the Hawks to within 34-30 at the half.
Carl supplied most of the offense for the Jays in the second, tallying 10 points – six of which came via two three-pointers. Carl completed the game with 24 points. In all, Tuntutuliak knocked down six treys in the first 16 minutes of play.
Napaskiak continued to wield the hot hand in the third. The Hawks picked up six more points from Andrew and pounded out a 14-10 third-quarter run. Napaskiak entered the final eight minutes of the contest with the score knotted at 44-44.
Tuntutuliak found its stroke in the fourth. The Jays garnered fourth-quarter shots from Carl, Nicholas McIntyre, Kevin McIntyre and Derek David and battled its way to within striking distance of a state tournament berth. McIntyre finished with 11 points – nine of which came via three treys.Simon also neted 11 for Tuntutuliak.
Andrew, who had struggled early in the fourth quarter from the charity strip, hit twice from the charity stripe to end Tuntutuliak’s dreams of heading to state. Steven also aided the Hawks’ late run. He pushed in a pair of shots from the field in the fourth. He finished with 14 points.
Napaskiak had rolled into the championship game fresh off two impressive wins over Toksook Bay and Kwethluk. The Hawks edged Toksook Bay, the Island League champion, by a slim 59-54 margin in the first round after Toksook lost Jefferson Lincoln to injury in the second half, and then scratched out a 65-60 win over Kwethluk in the semifinals.
Tunututuliak earned its spot in the championship game with a wild 72-71 win over Akiuk. Akiuk rebounded from its loss to Tuntutuliak in fine fashion, downing Kwethluk, 74-52, in the tournament’s third-place game.
Toksook Bay also recovered from its first-round loss. The Islanders defeated Island League rival Chefornak, 68-36, in the consolation finals.
Lady Warriors go 2-2 at 3AWestern Conference tourney
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors turned in a solid effort this past weekend at the Western Conference Basketball Tournament in Unalaska.
Bethel went 2-2 at the tournament with wins over Kotzebue and Dillingham.
The BRHS girls treated Charmae Chavez to a birthday treat by downing Kotzebue in the opener, 48-41.
Mary Dyment helped Bethel rally from an early deficit in the closing moments of the first quarter. She sank a free throw that helped the Lady Warriors grab the upper hand.
Kotzebue rallied in the second half, pulling to within one before Kira Polk and Audrey Leary ignited the Lady Warriors to a win.
The win over Kotzebue propelled Bethel into the second round to face Dillingham. The BRHS girls, led by double-digit efforts from Polk and Lauren Forbes, pounded out an easy 39-29 win.
After battling to a slim 13-12 halftime lead, the BRHS offense heated up in the second. The Lady Warriors outscored Dillingham by a 14-6 clip in the third and never looked back. The Lady Warriors held a 27-18 lead at the start of the final eight minutes.
Polk finished the game with 16 points. Forbes added 12, while Leary and Dyment chipped in seven and four, respectively.
The rest of the tournament didn’t go as well for Bethel. The Lady Warriors suffered a loss to Barrow in the third round, and eventually bowed out of the event with a 2-2 record.
In 3A girls state tournament action, the Mount Edgecumbe Lady Braves will be meeting Glennallen on the court March 15th. Barrow will play Cordova in the first round games.
Barrow edges Bethel for final state tournament berth
by Tommy Wells
The Barrow Whalers turned out kryptonite for the Bethel Regional High School Warriors.
Barrow reeled off 21 points in the first quarter Saturday and raced to a 63-50 win over Bethel in the second-place game of the Western Conference Basketball Tournament.
With the win, the Whalers spoiled a solid effort by Bethel at the tournament. The Warriors, keyed by solid play from Chuck Hermann, went 2-1 in the first three rounds of play and advanced to within a win of qualifying for the Class 3A state basketball tournament.
Bethel, which finishes the season at 17-6, managed to hold its own early in the first. The Warriors knocked down several key shots in the opener and pulled to within 21-18 at the end of the initial eight minutes of action.
Barrow used a 17-14 run in the second to expand its lead to 38-32 at the half.
The Warriors’ offense struggled to get untracked in the third. Bethel managed just six points in the opening eight minutes of the second half.
Barrow tallied 10 in the stanza and held a 48-38 advantage heading into the fourth. Barrow closed out the contest with a 15-12 effort in the closing eight minutes.
Bethel opened the tournament on a high note on Thursday. The Warriors, who had trouble landing in Unalaska due to poor weather conditions, rode a dominating effort inside from Herman to a 55-26 win over Kotzebue.
The win over Kotzebue moved Bethel into a semifinal showdown against Nome-Beltz, the eventual Western Conference champion.
Bethel fell to Nome in the semifinals and slipped into a matchup with Dillingham. Despite the loss, the Warriors earned the right to face Barrow for the Western Conference runner-up spot.
For the boys 3A state tournament opening games, the Mount Edgecumbe Braves will be playing Glennallen, Barrow will meet Heritage Christian, starting March 15th.
Islanders cruise to Island League championship
3-2-10
by Tommy Wells
Jefferson Lincoln scored 20 points and Michael Lawrence added 15 more Saturday and led the Nelson Islanders to a 66-49 win over the Chefornak Shamans in the championship game of the Island League Basketball Tournament.
Toksook Bay, which has dropped just one Island League game all season, held off a late charge by Chefornak to net the win. The Shamans, led by Chris Panruk and Allen Abraham, outscored Toksook Bay by a 35-28 clip in the second half.
The Islanders got off to a solid start against Chefornak thanks to a hot start by Lincoln and Moses Charles. Lincoln pushed in four shots from the field in the first eight minutes. Charles added two, including a three-point bomb that spurred the Islanders to a 20-14 lead.
Toksook Bay owned the second quarter. The Islanders picked up eight more points from Lincoln in the frame and cruised to an 18-0 run. Toksook Bay held a 38-14 lead at the half.
Chefornak didn’t go down quietly. Abraham knocked down three three-point shots in the first eight minutes of the third quarter and helped lead a 25-8 run that cut Toksook Bay’s lead to four, at 43-39, heading into the fourth quarter. Abraham scored all 14 of his points in the third quarter. Panruk added seven.
The Islanders managed to regroup in the final period. Sparked by 10 fourth-quarter points by Lawrence and two clutch three-pointers by Lincoln, the Islanders rallied to score a 20-10 edge in the frame.
Panruk led all Chefornak scorers with 17 points. The Shamans also garnered eight points from Kasey Panruk, four from Lawson Kalistook and two from Albert Tununchuk. Charles finished with eight for Toksook Bay. George John added four.
Second-half surge lifts Chefornak to Island League crown
by Tommy Wells
The Chefornak Lady Shamans reeled off 24 points in the final 16 minutes of play Saturday and rolled to a 47-29 win over the Toksook Bay Lady Islanders in the girls’ championship game of the Island League Tournament.
Chefornak had two players score into double figures in the finals, which were played in front of a large crowd in the Nelson Island High School gym. The Lady Shamans jumped to a quick lead in the game. Stacey Panruk pushed in three shots from the field in the first quarter and powered Chefornak to a 12-7 lead. Andrea Tunuchuk also contributed to Chefornak’s first quarter success, throwing in four of her 13 points.
Cynthia Asuluk helped the Lady Islanders stay close in the second quarter. She knocked down two shots from the field in the stanza and led Toksook Bay to within 11-10 in the stanza. Toksook Bay trailed by just six, at 23-17, at the half.
Chefornak took control in the third. The Lady Shaman reeled off a 12-4 run in the stanza and built a 35-21 cushion heading into the final eight minutes of the contest. Panruk finished as the game’s top scorer, netting 17 points. Asuluk contributed nine.
Warriors power
their way past Hooper Bay
by Tommy Wells
Brodie Smith pumped in a game-high 16 points and Charles Herman, John Street and Mike Polk all scored into double figures Saturday and led the Bethel Regional High School Warriors to an 87-46 win over the Hooper Bay Warriors in the final game of a two-game series in the WarriorDome.
Bethel, which also claimed a lopsided win in the opener, used the two wins to improve to 16-5 for the season. The Warriors will head into the Western Conference tournament this week as the No. 3 seed behind Nome and Barrow.
The Warriors didn’t waste any time in taking control of the showdown with Hooper Bay. Backed by five points from Joey Glasheen and a three-point bomb by Street, the Warriors sprinted to a 21-13 lead in the first quarter. The news got worse for Hooper Bay in the second.
Smith, Patrick Hopstad and Street helped ignite a 25-point outburst by heating up from the field. Smith scored eight of his game-high total in the second. Hopstad and Street both added six, while Eric Pavil contributed four. Bethel carried a 46-24 lead into the half.
The Warriors, after posting a 17-11 margin in the third, closed out the contest with a convincing 24-11 run in the fourth. Polk and Herman led Bethel’s fourth-quarter surge by tallying seven and six, respectively. Herman closed out the game with 14 points. Street and Polk added 13 and 11, while Glasheen and Seth O’Brien just missed double figures with nine. Hopstad finished with eight.
Walter Naneng led all Hooper Bay scorers with 12. Joseph Hale and Francis Naneng both tallied seven.
Smith, Herman and Glasheen all hit double-digits in the Warriors’ 78-43 win on Friday in the first game. Smith chalked up a game-high 19 in the contest. Herman added 16, while Glasheen chipped in 14.
The Warriors all but wrapped up the win with a huge first-half effort.
Led by eight first-quarter points from Glasheen and seven more from Herman, the BRHS boys reeled off a 22-12 run in the first quarter. Bethel tacked on a 17-5 effort in the second and stretched its lead to 39-17 at the half.
Hooper Bay, now 1-7 overall, held its own in the third. The HBHS boys garnered five points from Carl Joe and Naneng in the stanza and scored 13 points.
Bethel unleashed its offense in the final minutes. The Warriors picked up points seven different players in the final eight minutes and streaked to a 24-13 run. Marlin Lake led all Hooper Bay scorers with 13 points. Naneng added 11.
Polk, Lady Warriors
sweep two from Hooper Bay
by Tommy Wells
Kira Polk pushed in nine of her game-high 18 points in the second quarter Friday and helped power the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors to a two game sweep of the Hooper Bay Lady Warriors on Saturday at the WarriorDome.
With the two wins, Bethel moved to 5-5 in conference action heading into next week’s Western Conference tournament in Unalaska. Hooper Bay slipped to 6-5.
Charmae Chavez, Polk and Audrey Leary made sure Bethel got off to a quick start against Hooper Bay. The three combined to hit seven times from the floor in the opening period and led the Lady Warriors to a 17-10 run. Lauren Forbes also added a shot to the BRHS effort.
Bethel all but salted away the win with a dominating performance in the second quarter. Backed by shots from Polk, Leary, Chavez and Florence Ashepak, the BRHS girls put together a 20-4 spree and took a 37-14 lead into the half.
The Lady Warriors continued to pour on the defensive heat in the third. Bethel held Hooper Bay to just four points in the first eight minutes of the third and rolled into the fourth holding a commanding 49-18 advantage.
Forbes and Chavez keyed the Lady Warriors’ third-quarter run with four points apiece. Leary and Danielle Stanley both contributed two. Chavez finished the game as the Lady Warriors’ second-leading scorer, netting 12 points. Leary and Forbes added nine and eight, respectively.
Hooper Bay rallied in the fourth. The HBHS girls posted a 20-11 run in the closing minutes to pull to within 22 at the final buzzer. Marissa Tomaganuk and Kurtelina Bell each pumped in 10 for Hooper Bay. Misty Gump added eight.
Bethel opened the weekend series with a 62-37 win over Hooper Bay on Friday.
Bethel dominated the game down the stretch. The BRHS girls outscored Hooper Bay by a staggering 14-1 clip in the fourth quarter en route to claiming the 25-point victory. Hooper Bay, now 6-5 in conference action, garnered a solid effort from Jolene Kopanuk in the first quarter and scratched out the early 13-11 lead. Kopanuk scored nine of her team-high 17 points in the opening frame.
Leary and Chavez kept Bethel close in the first quarter. Leary scored twice from the floor, while Chavez nailed four late in the period to account for the bulk of the BRHS offensive numbers. Leary took control in the second. She poured in seven of her 13 points in the frame and keyed a 17-15 run that enabled Bethel to pull to head into the half with the score knotted at 28-28.
Polk helped Bethel blow the game wide open in the third. She led Bethel’s 20-8 run in the stanza by pushing in 10 of her 16 points. Bethel, which also collected shots from Mary Dyment, Chavez, Leary and Ashepak in the third, took a 48-36 lead into the fourth.
Olivia Shields and Madi Reichard each scored twice in the fourth to power Bethel’s 14-1 game-ending spree.
Bethel wrestling standout
verbally commits to Big 10 power
by Tommy Wells
Bethel Regional High School head wrestling coach Darren Lieb knew deep down Randy Hanson had what it took to compete with the best in the nation.
As it turns out, so does the University of Minnesota wrestling coach J. Robinson. Robinson added one of the country’s top wrestlers to the fold last week when Hanson verbally committed to wrestle next fall for the Golden Gophers. The three-time Alaskan state champion, will be joining one of the top Division I wrestling programs in the country. The Gophers have won three national wrestling championships this decade, including 2007.
“Minnesota just felt right for me,” said Hanson, the 17-year-old son of Rick and Kathy Hanson. “They have a good program, and I have family there in Minnesota. I just felt like it was a good fit for me.”
“I’m excited about going there,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a good experience for me. I’m going to learn a lot and become a better wrestler.”
Hanson visited the campus of UM and Boise State University in Idaho earlier this month before making his decision.
Robinson said the addition of Hanson will only make the Gophers better in the future.
“We are very pleased to be adding Randy to our program,” head coach J. Robinson said. “As a three-time state champion and a top-ranked wrestler, he makes an already great class even better and will continue the successful tradition of Minnesota wrestling.”
Hanson turned more than a few heads during his career at Bethel. During his four seasons with the Warriors, he won three state crowns – in three different weight classifications.
As a sophomore, he won the 1-3-pound state crown. The following year as a junior, he stepped up to the 119-pound division and picked up his second state title. This past season, he wrestled his way to a 34-0 record and the state title in 125-pound classification.
Hanson, who won more than 75 matches during his career with the Warriors, credited Lieb, the BRHS coaches, his teammates and family members for his success.
“I would like to thank the coaches, my teammates and my family for helping me get here,” he said. “They all were important in helping me become the person, and wrestler, that I am.”
Hanson is scheduled to hit the mat with the Gophers beginning next fall. Minnesota just completed its 2009-2010 regular season with a 12-5 record, including a 7-1 effort in the Big 10. The Gophers will tip off the postseason on March 6 with an appearance in the Big 10 Wrestling Championships.
Chevak rolls to Nanook Showdown title
by Tommy Wells
The Chevak Lady Comets turned more than a few heads this past week with an impressive effort at the Nome-Beltz Nanook Showdown tournament. The Lady Comets posted a 4-0 record at the event, including a win over the Nome-Beltz junior varsity in the finals.
Chevak made easy work of winning the tournament title. The Lady Comets outscored their three opponents by a staggering 184-74 margin.
The Lady Comets opened the tournament with a 70-25 victory over the White Mountain Lady Wolves. They followed that win up with a 66-23 rout of Kaktovik in the semifinals. In the championship round, the Lady Comets defeated the Nome JV, 48-26. Chelsea Lake was named the Showdown’s MVP, while teammates Misty and Mary Olson were both selected to the all-tournament squad.
Lady Warriors
sweep pair from Togiak
2-24-10
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors found the offense when they needed it most this past weekend, and used it to grind out a pair of tough victories over Togiak in front of a large crowd in the WarriorDome.
Bethel needed all of the offense it could muster in the finale of the two-game series. The Lady Warriors pushed in several clutch shots in the closing moments to take a 43-39 win.
Bethel picked up a solid defensive effort early and sprinted to an early lead. The Lady Warriors limited Togiak to just three shots from the field – and just one trip to the free throw line – in the first eight minutes.
Kira Polk and the BRHS offense didn’t struggle. Polk knocked down four of her 13 points in the first quarter and led the Lady Warriors to a 13-7 lead. Lauren Forbes, Audrey Leary and Mary Dyment also scored for Bethel in the opening stanza.
Togiak didn’t go away quietly. The THS girls notched a 9-4 run in the second and went into the half trailing by one, at 17-16. Togiak continued to stay close throughout the second half. The Grizzlies reeled off an impressive run to start the fourth quarter and tied Bethel.
The Lady Warriors caught fire in the fourth. Leary, Forbes and Polk all pitched in four points in the frame and keyed a 14-13 fourth-quarter spree. Leary finished as Bethel’s top scorer with 14 points. Forbes added 10.
Whitney Carlos led Togiak with 13.
Bethel needed every point it could muster in the closing minutes of the series opener. Togiak reeled off 22 points in the fourth quarter on Friday and fought its way into a tie with only moments left in regulation. The Lady Warriors managed to drop in a few of shots late to seal the 46-34 win. Bethel dominated the first three quarters of the contest. The Lady Warriors outscored Togiak in each of the first three stanzas and built a comfortable 33-12 lead heading into the final frame.
Togiak hit stride from there. The THS girls went on a 22-13 run in the fourth to cut the BRHS margin of victory to 12.
Polk led all Bethel scorers in the win, netting 16 points, including 13 on the second half. Leary also finished in double digits, netting 10. Forbes added four, while Florence Ashepak, Danielle Stanley and Dyment all contributed four.
Stephanie Poulsen led Togiak with 13. Carlos finished with nine.
Olick, Brink shine at NYO Meet
by Tommy Wells
Lynn Olick can officially say she is among the best kickers in the state. Alaskan High Kick kickers, that is.
Olick recorded a kick of 59 inches this past weekend and finish second in the girls’ final standings at the 2010 CITCI Junior Native Youth Olympics Meet in Anchorage last week. Olick’s kick was just three inches shy of the mark set by Anna Padrick of Rabbit Creek.
Gladys Jung standout Ashley Mute placed third. Her best kick measured in at 56 inches. She edged out Scammon Bay Tribal Council’s Tedi Jones for third by having fewer misses. Teresa Kron of McGrath was 4th and Gladys Jung’s Faith Brink was fifth.
Mt. Spurr’s Jacob Davis won the boys’ high kick title with a jump of 58.
Olick and Brink also turned in stellar efforts in the girls’ Scissors Broad Jump. Olick placed fourth overall with a mark of 21 feet, 11 ¼ inches. Brink was fifth at posted a mark off 21-10 ¾. Ravenwood Elementary’s Dreanna Owens won the girls Scissors with a mark of 22-4. Mt. Spurr’s Tyler Hust won the boys’ event with an effort of 25-6.
Local government
supports basketball team
The City of Chefornak hands over a $5,600.00 check to Coach Robert Panruk. The check is for the Basketball Teams charter to Bethel. B.B Team (top row) from left are Chester Abraham, David Avugiak, Christopher Panruk, Kasey Panruk, Oscar Snyder, David Chagluak, and Lawson Kalistook. (Bottom row) from left are Jeffery Agimuk, Daryl Chagluak, Eric Tunuchuk, Jacqueline Mathew, Darian Erik, Andrea Tunuchuk, Ashley Sipary, Stacey Panruk, Vicki Wiseman, Janelle Kinegak, Margaret Kilanak. Coaches are Eva & Robert Panruk. City Representatives: Mayor - Robert Jimmy, Treasurer - Victor Wiseman, and Vice Mayor - Matthew Panruk.
Napaskiak, Aniak sweep pair from Lady Warriors’ JV
2-11-10
by Tommy Wells
The Napaskiak Lady Hawks and Aniak Lady Halfbreeds made the weekend a long one for the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors’ junior varsity. The two teams sweep four games from Bethel on Friday and Saturday in the WarriorDome.
Napaskiak opened their two-game series with Bethel by claiming a tough 38-36 win. The Lady Hawks, after being held to just 15 points in the first, reeled off a 16-4 edge in the third quarter and raced to a big lead.
Bethel rallied back to within two at the final buzzer with a 13-7 fourth-quarter spree.
Kim Nicholai and Becca Larson both hit double figures for the Lady Hawks. Nicholai chipped in a team-high 15 points, while Larson scored 12. Emily Maxie and Jomlya Bavilla added six and five points, respectively.
Bethel, which had held a 19-15 lead at the half, was paced by strong performances from Christina McElwee and Tiffany Hunter. McElwee poured in a game-high 17 points. Hunter and Mariaana Guerro added nine and six.
Napaskiak finished off its sweep of the BRHS girls on Saturday with a narrow 41-38 come-from-behind victory. In that game, Nicholai pushed in eight of her game-high 16 points in the first quarter and helped the Lady Hawks fight their way to within 22-18 at the half..
Larson took over from there. She notched seven of her 15 points in the third and spearheaded a 13-8 run that sent Napaskiak into the final period holding a 31-30 lead. The Lady Hawks garnered fourth-quarter shots from Larson, Bavilla, Maxie and Jonica Evan to seal the win. Bavilla finished with eight points.
The Lady Warriors’ luck wasn’t any better against Aniak. The GMHS girls notched a 32-26 win over Bethel in their opener on Friday. Aniak got off to a quick start against Bethel. The Lady Halfbreeds picked up 11 first-half points from Agnes Nicoli and raced to a 22-14 lead. Trisha Morgan aided the GMHS run by scoring seven in the first half. She finished the game with 13.
Bethel rallied back in the third. Backed by six points from McElwee, the Lady Warriors pounded out a 10-8 run in the frame and pulled to within 30-24. Unfortunately for Bethel, their offense went cold in the fourth. The Lady Warriors managed just one shot from the field in the final stanza.
Nicoli led all Aniak scorers with 17 points. Adrian Baelens added two. McElwee led all BRHS scorers with 12 points. Hunter added five. Led by 17 points from Nicola and 15 from Morgan, the Lady Halfbreeds closed out their series with a 39-38 win. McElwee went for 12 for the Lady Warriors.
Koester powers
Bethel to split with Aniak
by Tommy Wells
Kyle Koester scored 10 points in the third quarter and powered the Bethel Regional High School Warriors to a 48-38 win over the Aniak Halfbreeds and to a split of their weekend series with their western Alaska rival.
Koester and the BRHS offense hit the floor running in their second game with Aniak. Bethel picked up first-quarter points from Austin Miller, Elliott Hoffman, Charles Strickland and Koester and sprinted to a 14-8 lead.
The Warriors continued to pile on the points in the second. Backed by four points from Hoffman, Bethel pounded out a 12-5 run in the frame and took a 26-13 halftime lead.
Hoffman finished with six points.
Koester exploded in the third. He pushed in 10 of his game-high 22 in the frame and helped the Warriors roll into the fourth with a 40-27 advantage.
Miller accounted for the Warriors’ other four points in the third. He finished with eight points
Aniak outscored Bethel by an 11-8 margin in the fourth. Riley Morgan led all GMHS scorers with 11 points. Harry Morgan chipped in nine. Aniak picked up its win by snaring a wild 50-49 win.
In that game, Morgan poured in a game-high 23 points, while Ryan Morgan and Wayne Morgan both hit double figures with 12 apiece.
Johnson and Nelson led Bethel with 21 and 15 points, respectively.
Napaskiak added to Bethel’s woes on Friday. The Hawks rode double-digit performances from Travis Andrew and Francis Nicholai to a 52-49 victory in the series with BRHS. Andrew scored a game-high 26 points in the contest. Nicholai tallied 11.
Koester led Bethel offensively with 21 points. Austin Miller added 18.
Chythlook-Sifsof poised to become first Native Olympian
by Tommy Wells
Growing up a small village in the Wood-Tikchik State Park north of Dillingham, Callan Chythlook-Sifsof took a lot of pleasure of following her older brother into the mountains and spending the day snowmachining, hiking and snowboarding.
Little did she dream those days of fun would one day help her write her name into Alaskan lore, and give the United States a legitimate chance at walking away from the 2010 Winter Olympic Games with a little gold. The 20-year-old western Alaskan will join some of the United States’ top athletes over the next two weeks in Vancouver competing in the Olympic Games, which begin Feb. 12.
One of 18 snowboardcross athletes named to the U.S. Olympic snowboarding team, the 20-year-old snowboarder will make U.S. history when she begins her initial run down Cypress Mountain by becoming the first Yup’ik-Inupiaq athlete to ever compete in the Olympic Games.
Chythlook-Sifsof’s development into one of the world’s top snowboarders began in the small village of Aleknagik. There, at the foot of the Wood River, she starred in volleyball and spent countless hours with her brother, Will, riding snowmachines, playing behind their grandfather’s house and snowboarding down Marsh Mountain and Mable Mountain.
Her life changed dramatically when she turned her 12 when her family moved from western Alaska to Girdwood, south of Anchorage.
It was there she her love of snowboarding took hold.
A few years later, Chythlook-Sifsof earned a spot on the U.S. national snowboarding team. In 2007, she began making herself a household name. In her first World Cup snowboardcross race in 2007, Chythlook-Sifsof finished third. As it turned out, that was just the beginning of her rise. A few months later, she accepted the national snowboardcross championship.
Making it to the Vancouver Olympics hasn’t been easy for Chythlook-Sifsof. Less than two years ago, she found herself in braces and moving around on crutches after having reconstructive surgery after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament early in the 2008-2009 World Cup tour. As part of the rehab, physicians hooked her to a machine that kept her leg in motion. The motion, doctors said, helped promote healing and helped her stay in condition.
Chythlook-Sifsof spent months in rehabilitation.
Her career began to take a turn for the better last September. After completing rehab, she joined the U.S. national team on the World Cup tour and reeled off four top 21 finishes, including a 14th-place mark in Switzerland.
In January, she received the best news of all – she had been selected to represent the U.S. in snowboardcross at the Olympic Games.
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association president and CEO Bill Marolt’s announcement that Chythlook-Sifsof would be on the squad was a historic event that has been celebrated by Alaska Natives and Alaskans, as a whole.
Chythlook-Sifsof and the rest of the U.S. snowboardcross team will take their shot at winning a gold medal on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium treated her to a special send-off celebration last Friday that honored her for becoming the first Yup’ik-Inupiaq Native to qualify for the Olympics.
Overall, Chythlook-Sifsof is the third Alaskan to compete in the Olympics. She joins former Juneau high school basketball standout Carlos Boozer and Anchorage hockey star Scott Gomez as Olympic team members. Boozer, who now plays in the National Basketball Association with the Utah Jazz, won a bronze medal in 2004. Gomez, was a member of the U.S. hockey team at the 2006 Olympics.
Bethel JV vs. Chevak JV
2-3-10
by Victor L. Andrews
On Friday and Saturday, the weekend of Jan. 22nd-23rd, both the Bethel Warrior boys and girls junior varsity basketball teams Chevak to contest against the Jr. varsity boys and girls of the Chevak Comets.
JV Boys
It was a thriller as the JV boys of Bethel went into double-overtime in the opening game! The Chevak Comet fans have not made so much noise lately, as both the Bethel JVs and the Comet JVs hustled to fight and win.
The Comet boys edged out the Bethel Warriors 54 to 58 in one of the most exciting games ever played in the history of Chevak Comet basketball!
On Saturday, it turned out to be another nail biter, as the Comet boys came from behind to win over the tough JV Warrior boys. The Comets won by only one point, 47-46 in the second match, leaving the Warrior boys winless on Comet territory.
JV Girls
During the girls match between the JV Warrior girls and the Comet girls JV team, the Comet girls were on top, 34-26 as they won by 8 points. On Saturday the 23rd, the final game was easily won by the Comet girls, 26 to 10.
Chevak Search and Rescue Men’s 35 & Over
Also, in the Chevak Search and Rescue Men’s 35 & Over basketball tournament, the Niners fought back to force the championship into overtime against the Qemirmiut team. The Niners came out on top after a close battle with the Qemirmiut, who were missing one of their star players.
Thank you all who came to support the Comets and the Chevak Search and Rescue tourney!
Lady Warriors suffer
43-21 loss to Nome-Beltz
by Tommy Wells
Sometimes the shots fall. Sometimes they don’t. For the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors, this weekend was definitely a case of the latter.
The Lady Warriors, despite a solid effort from Lauren Forbes, struggled to find their offensive shot in a tough 43-21 loss to rival Nome-Beltz. Bethel managed just nine shots from the field in the contest, including just three during a crucial stretch in the first 16 minutes of play.
Nome streaked to an early lead in the contest. Keyed by a pair of shots from Liz Sherman-Luce, Nome opened the contest on a high note. Aided by a three-pointer from Hilary Stiles, Nome pounded out a 14-4 run in the first quarter.
Forbes tallied Bethel’s only points of the stanza, hitting two free throws and a shot from the floor. Bethel’s offensive woes continued in the second. The Lady Warriors tallied just two shots in the frame – one apiece from Forbes and Audrey Leary – and fell behind, 22-8, at the half.
Forbes helped the Lady Warriors find their offensive attack in the third. The BRHS standout knocked down a pair of field goals in the first eight minutes of the second half and spearheaded a nine-point spree.
Unfortunately for Bethel, Nome pumped in 12 in the period and stretched its lead to 44-17. Mary Dyment, Olivia Shields and Leary also tallied points for the Lady Warriors in the third. Nome-Beltz salted away its second win of the season over Bethel with a 9-4 run in the fourth.
Forbes finished as the Lady Warriors’ top scorer, netting 10 points. Leary added five more, while Dyment, Shields and Kira Polk all chipped in two. Stiles paced Nome with 13.
Nanooks hold off Bethel for 50-42 win
The Nome-Beltz Nanooks scored 20 points in the final eight minutes of regulation on Saturday en route to claiming a tough 50-42 win over the Bethel Regional High School Warriors.
The loss spoiled a stellar performance from Bethel standout Brodie Smith. He finished the game with 20 points, including six in the second quarter that enabled the Warriors to sprint to a halftime lead.
Bethel held its own against Nome early in the contest. The Warriors matched the Nanooks point-for-point in the first eight minutes of the contest and went into the second with the score knotted at 9-9.
Smith led Bethel’s first-quarter scoring by pushing home two shots from the field. Charles Herman and Mike Polk added three and two points, respectively.
Smith shouldered the BRHS scoring attack in the second. He scored all three of the Warriors’ baskets in the stanza and powered Bethel to a 15-13 advantage.
Nome, which had been limited to just one shot from the field in the second, managed to get its game untracked in the opening minutes of the second half. Senior Jeremy Head and top-ranked player scored five points and led a 17-13 third-quarter run.
Nome took a 30-28 lead into the fourth quarter.
Joey Glasheen and John Street both knocked down crucial three-point shots in the third to keep Betel close. Smith also chipped in four points.
Nome, which had defeated Bethel two weeks ago at the Nanook Showdown, hit stride in the fourth. The Nanooks reeled off a 20-14 run in the stanza.
Street, who sank two treys in the game, finished as Bethel’s second-leading scorer with nine points. Glasheen added six.
Lake, Lady Comets
take two from Bethel girls
1-29-10
by Tommy Wells
The Chevak Lady Comets rolled into the weekend’s two-game series with the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors wanting to prove to themselves they were among the best teams in western Alaska.
Consider it mission accomplished.
Chelsea Lake scored a game-high 21 points and Misty Olson added 14 more on Saturday and led the Lady Comets to a convincing 50-26 victory and completed a two-game sweep of Bethel in front of a large crowd in the WarriorDome.
Chevak’s win in the finale didn’t come easy. Bethel’s Florence Ashepak made sure of that. Ashepak knocked down several key shots in the first eight minutes of the contest and powered Bethel to a 6-5 lead.
Mary Olson provided the bulk of the Lady Comets’ offensive push. She sank a three-pointer late in the first quarter. Margaret Anderson tallied Chevak’s only other basket.
Chevak stepped up its offensive attack in the second. Keyed by three-point shots from Lake and Misty Olson, the Lady Comets went on a 12-2 run that sent them into the half clutching a 17-8 lead.
Audrey Leary posted Bethel’s only score of the second quarter.
Olson and Lake came up big for Chevak in the third. The two combined to score 14 points and ignited a 14-6 spree that sent the Lady Comets into the fourth quarter holding a 31-14 lead. In addition to double-digit efforts from Lake and Olson, Chevak benefitted from six points from Anderson and two from Laverna Paniyak.
Leary led all BRHS scorers with 10. Ashepak and Lauren Forbes both tallied eight. Chevak’s win on Friday didn’t come quite as easy. Anderson sank a free throw in the closing moments to give the Lady Comets a nail-biting 45-44 decision.
Bethel, which had five players score in the game, opened the game with a strong offensive push. The Lady Warriors garnered five first-quarter points from Mary Dyment and four more from Ashepak and Lauren Forbes and rolled to an early 15-11 lead.
Chevak answered back in the second. The Lady Comets rode two three-point bombs from Misty and Mary Olson to a 16-6 run and a 27-21 halftime lead.
Bethel managed to hold its own in the third. The BRHS girls netted third-quarter points from Ashepak, Forbes, Leary and Dyment and matched Chevak shot for shot.
Bethel threatened to steal the game in the final moments. The Lady Warriors outscored Chevak by a 14-8 clip in the fourth before Anderson hit the front end of a two-shot free-throw opportunity to seal the win.
Lake led all Chevak scorers with 15 points, while Misty Olson added 13. Mary Olson finished with eight, while Anderson and Paniyak tallied six and one, respectively.
Ashepak paced the BRHS girls with 14 points. Charmae Chavez and Dyment finished with nine and eight points, respectively, while Forbes and Leary chipped in seven and six.
Glasheen, Smith lead Warriors
to two wins over Comets
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Warriors rolled into their showdown with the Chevak Comets this past weekend in a determined mood.
They didn’t leave the WarriorDome unhappy.
Bethel, keyed by a dominating 23-12 run in the first quarter on Saturday, rolled to a 66-39 win over the Comets and cruised to a two-game sweep of their western Alaska rivals.
The Warriors didn’t waste any time in taking control. Joey Glasheen and Brodie Smith combined to score 14 points in the first eight minutes of the non-conference contest and powered Bethel to a 23-12 advantage. John Street aided the BRHS run with a three-point shot late in the first. Chuckie Herman also added four points.
Conor Ferguson helped Chevak stay as close as they did in the opening minutes. He punched out eight of his team-high 18 points in the first quarter.
Glasheen and the BRHS offense continued to roll in the second. Glasheen poured in 10 of the Warriors’ 16 points in the frame and sparked Bethel to a 39-18 halftime lead. The Warriors picked up third quarter points from Patrick Hopstad, Glasheen, Smith and Herman and raced to a 53-29 advantage.
Glasheen finished as the Warriors’ top scorer, netting 24 points. Smith and Herman also hit double figures with 18 and 10 points, respectively.
Smith and Glasheen spearheaded the Warriors’ offense in Friday’s series-opening 60-52 win. Smith pumped in 11 of his game 22 points in the first quarter of Friday’s series-opener and led Bethel to a 19-7 advantage.
Glasheen, who finished the contest with 15 points, added four in the first quarter. Street, Herman and Mike Polk also scored.
Quincy Bennett led all Chevak scorers in the first period. The Comets, who had six players score in the game, cut Bethel’s lead to seven in the second. Ferguson and Harold Paniyak combined for 10 points and led a 15-10 spree that pulled Chevak to within 29-22 at the half.
The Warriors regrouped in the second half, however. Bethel posted a 31-30 run in the final two quarters to collect the win. Polk finished as Bethel’s third-leading scorer with nine points.
Ferguson led all Chevak scorers with 15. Bennett and Paniyak pumped in 12 and 10.
Islanders grab two
wins from Bethel
1-21-09
by Tommy Wells
Islander Coach Simeon Lincoln made it into Bethel last Friday with only 5 players – wind and weather had kept the team from traveling earlier in the day, and ended up winning their games – despite losing players to foul-outs in both sessions.
George John scored big on Saturday afternoon for the Toksook Bay Islanders. All three shots were extremely crucial in the Islanders’ 47-44 win over the Bethel Regional High School Warriors’ junior varsity.
John all but sealed Toksook Bay’s two-game sweep of Bethel in the closing moments of the Islanders’ win on Saturday. He buried a shot from the floor with 30 seconds left that staked Toksook Bay to a 47-41 lead.
Just how big was John’s shot? Consider this: Had John not scored, the Warriors could have knotted the game at 44-44 on their ensuing possession. Seth O’Brien drilled a three-point shot with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
As it was, O’Brien’s trey only pulled Bethel to within three.
Jefferson Lincoln and Moses Charles got the Islanders off to a strong start. After Lincoln had opened the Islanders’ scoring with a pair of free throws, Charles took charge. He scored eight of Toksook Bay’s next 10 points and powered the Islanders to a 12-8 first-quarter advantage.
Mike Lawrence collected Toksook’s only other points of the frame.
Bethel managed to get its game untracked in the second. The Warriors picked up eight second-quarter points from sharpshooter John Olson and rallied to grab an 18-16 halftime lead.
Defensively, Bethel played well in the second. The Warriors allowed Toksook Bay just two shots from the field – and none over the final 3:46 of the half.
Charles helped Toksook Bay regain the momentum in the third. He pushed in four of his team-high 17 points in the first eight minutes of the second half and enabled the Islanders to battle their way to an 11-9 run, and a 27-27 draw at the start of the fourth quarter.
Sparked by 11 points from Jason Tulik, a three-point bomb by Charles and John’s late basket, the Islanders posted a 20-17 run in the final stanza to cement the win. Lincoln and Charles fouled out, and with only three players left in regulation the remaining Islanders carried the team to victory. Tulik scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth.
Olson led all BRHS scorers with 18 points. O’Brien finished with 11.
The Islanders opened their two-game series with the Warriors’ JV on Friday with a 65-49 win. After racing to a 15-9 lead in the first quarter, Charles and Lincoln all but iced the win with stellar second-quarter efforts. The two combined to score 19 points in the frame and ignited a 21-8 second-quarter run that sent the Islanders into the half holding a 36-17 lead. Star forward George John fouled out in the second half.
Charles tallied 11 of his game-high 23 points in the second. Lincoln pumped in eight of his 16 in the spree. Tulik and Lawrence also hit double figures in the game, finishing with 12 apiece.
Kyle Koester paced Bethel with 18 points. Austin Miller and Carly Romer added 14 and 12, respectively.
13 mushers sign up for K300
1-6-09
The Kuskokwim 300 now has 13 mushers signed up to race in 2010 – including Lance Mackey of Fairbanks – three time Iditarod champion and four time Yukon Quest champion. Mackey plans on bringing a second team although it is not known who that musher will be yet.
The K300 Committee has received word from three other mushers that plan to sign up but have not officially entered. They are Quinn Iten of Kotzebue, Dee Dee Jonrowe of Willow, and Richie Diehl of Aniak. If these three mushers as well as the musher coming with Lance Mackey all sign up, there will be a field of 17 mushers for the 2010 Kusko.
In order of sign up they are: Ramey Smyth, Jeff King, Dallas Seavey, Mitch Seavey, Jackie Larson, Peter Kasier, Mike Williams Jr., Mike Williams Sr., Ronald Nathan Underwood Sr., Martin Buser, Paul F. Gebhardt, John Baker, and Lance Mackey.
The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated sponsors who have committed Sponsorship in December for 2010. These businesses generously give back to the YK Delta by sponsoring this great community event.
Long-time, rural freight airline, Arctic Transportation Services (ATS), has joined the K300 as a Prime Sponsor in 2010. ATS President, Wilfred “Boyuck” Ryan is also helping the race by arranging freight shipments for straw for the race.
A very big thank you to the following Local Sponsors who recently joined us: Nicholson’s Auto Inc., Airland Transport, Back Creek Marine Service, Images of Life (Chris Pike, Photographer), Kuskokwim Wilderness Adventures, and Lee Foley.
The K300 Race Committee would like to invite any interested business or individual to help keep the sprit of dog mushing alive in Western Alaska. Sponsoring the K300 is not only a great was to give back to the community in which we live and work, but also is a great way to promote your business. Visit www.k300.org for more information about our sponsors.
To get involved as a sponsor or as a volunteer, contact Casie Stockdale, K300 Race Manager at 907-545-3300 or k300@alaska.com.
Kuskokwim 300 Race start nearing
The 2010 Kuskokwim 2010 is less than 2 weeks away! The race is scheduled to start at 6:30 PM, Friday January 15th, 2010.
In a time when the K300 Race Committee would have predicted decreased support from our Sponsors, as seen with other races such as the Iditarod, the people and businesses of the Bethel have reach out and supported the K300 as much as ever. The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated sponsors who have recently committed Sponsorship.
We are please to announce that the YKHC Tobacco Control and Research Department has joined us as a New Supporting Sponsor. According to Wole Fadahunsi, Director of Community Health and Wellness at YKHC, “YKHC’s Nicotine Control and Research Department works to reduce any tobacco use in the YK Delta. Tobacco use is highly prevalent in our region. Coincidentally, tobacco use is one of the most important modifiable health risk factor because tobacco has been implicated in many human conditions including cancers, respiratory infections, and low birth weight infants.”
The Tobacco Control and Research Department is working with the Kuskokwim 300 to help inform the people of the YK Delta about the risk of tobacco use and what the Department is doing to help reduce tobacco use. According to Fadahunsi, “Our department is involved in prevention and control work to reduce tobacco use amongst YK Delta people. We also collaborate with reputable institutions to conduct research to generate new knowledge that help us better understand the tobacco issues in our region and develop new treatments.”
A second company also joined as a New Supporting Sponsor, Everts Air Cargo, who will be shipping straw for the race to Bethel. Shipping straw is an ever-increasing cost to the race. There are also logistical and timing issues involved with shipping the straw. The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee is very appreciative of the help we are receiving from Everts and we hope to continue this partnership in the future.
A big thank you to The Lumber Yard, who is returning as a Supporting Sponsor. The Lumber Yard joined us in 2009 and we thank you for your continued support!
The K300 Race Committee would like to invite any interested business or individual to help keep the sprit of dog mushing alive in Western Alaska. Sponsoring the K300 is not only a great was to give back to the community in which we live and work, but also is a great way to promote your business. Visit www.k300.org for more information about our sponsors.
The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee is seeking volunteers for the 2010 race. Volunteers are needed for: the K300 Benefit Concert, Start/Finish line, Head Quarters, K300 Banquet, and for food donations. To get involved as a sponsor or as a volunteer, contact Casie Stockdale, K300 Race Manager at 907-545-3300 or k300@alaska.com.
Volleyball gym 09 season dream
Kalskag Grizzlies earn berth at State
12-9-09
As the smoke from the burning George Morgan Sr. High School rose, the community of Kalskag looked on in shock and dismay. But even as Coach Marcus Dammeyer watched the school burn, already the question of where the 2009 volleyball team would play loomed in his mind.
Before the rubble had ceased smoking, he was pacing the little gym at the Lower Elementary School, vainly trying to find enough space to play regulation volleyball. Prior to the January 28, 2009 fire, all the stars seemed to align for the Grizzlies. Three talented juniors in Ariel Ramadanovic, Raven Levi, and Sophia Levi would be returning for their final year of competition. Along with a cast of 7 other die-hard players, the Grizzlies were peaking with a talented team in the same year that would see the 7 large 3A programs moving out of the 1A 2A 3A West conference and into the regular 3A conference.
For years these schools had stood between Kalskag and their quest for a State Tournament berth. Now the field seemed ripe for the pickings as the 1A Grizzlies would only have to beat other 1A and 2A teams. After 12 years of coming up short on a berth to the State Tournament, it looked like year 13 would be the lucky year after all.
And then the devastating fire of January 28 seemed to send the dream up in smoke. Uniforms, balls, but most of all the full size gym were destroyed in 3 hours. Despite the blow of losing the gym, the team looked at every building in Kalskag for a place to play. The only other place that was feasible was the gym/cafeteria at the Zakar Levi Elementary School. The only problem was that volleyball is played on a court 60 feet in length, while this space was only 44 feet from wall to wall. Still, all those years of battling with bigger and taller teams had made the Grizzlies a stubborn sort of contender, with years of practice trying to find ways to defeat programs that had more volleyball athletes in them than Kalskag had students.
First it was decided that Kalskag would play on in 2009. Then permission was granted from Principal Greg Wohlman to make semi-permanent additions to the walls so the volleyball net could be strung in two locations in the little gym/cafeteria. One position had the net strung from wall to wall across the center of the gym. This gave 22 feet from the net to the wall. However, the ever-present basketball hoop stuck 8 feet into the court on each end, forcing setters and passers to go around it and making the small court even smaller.
To overcome the 8 missing feet of floor length on each side, an out of bounds line was placed two feet up the wall. Balls that hit below this line are inbounds in this gym. Another net position placed the net about 12 feet from one wall, allowing half a regulation court to be taped in so the team could attack into a real court and work on defense and rotation work in what was sort of like a normal court. The sidelines are perilously close to the wall and bleachers, and the end line was almost touching the back wall.
With a series of ratchet straps borrowed from the wood-hauling sled, the net was raised and attached to eyebolts threaded into the wall. It isn’t the original gym, but it’s still a volleyball net at the right height and far better than cashing in the season. A spring clinic conducted by volleyball guru Joe Yoder of Bethel confirmed that the gym was limited but useable.
A trip to Soldotna for a team camp in August proved profitable for the Grizzlies, as they matched up and played with teams as large as the 4A classification.
At the pre-season meeting, Coach Marcus and the team were undaunted by their logistical situation. The looked over the teams left in the conference and decided on the lofty team goal of their first ever State Tournament Qualification and making a bid for the 1A 2A State Title.
Then they went off to the little gym with a big dream and tried to prepare for the challenges that any team wishful of a championship knows they will face. In such a small space, practices are necessarily different from those of old. Many of the old drills just wouldn’t fit into the new practice space. New variations were adapted, and some skills had to be tuned in new ways. But in other ways, the challenge of the little gym was helpful
With a very low ceiling, passes have to be gentle and deliberate. The slightest swing on a fast moving ball would send it like a torpedo into the ceiling. The team’s passing improved, as did ball control. With a potent middle attack in Senior Ariel Ramadanovic and Sophomore Patricia Holmberg, passes turned into points as control grew. Points turned into victories, as Kalskag stunned 4 teams at the Ninilchik Spike-Fest in October and then downed 4 more at the Tok Round Robin Tournament in November.
Freshman Jodi Samuelson and Cheyenne Wise brought new talent into the program, while veteran sophomores eVonda Williams and Marie Davis formed a core of experienced passing and hitting talent.
Bethel’s potent 3A program served as a great training ground where Kalskag lost 3 times, but each time winning one game per match as they battled. Even Nome was unable to sweep the Grizzlies, and Kalskag made it through the entire season without meeting an opponent whom they didn’t win at least one game against.
By November, Kalskag was getting confident. Then a trip to New Stuyahok brought them back down to earth. First they lost a close 2-3 match to New Stuyahok in the evening. Star Ariel Ramadanovic had a muscle injury in this match and was unable to play the next day. Without her, the Grizzlies lost to a scrappy Koliganek squad in 5 games. After dominating the teams from the two conferences on the road (4 of which would qualify for the State Tournament) Kalskag was looking at a tough road to qualification in the Great Alaska Conference.
This was compounded by the fact that two players were academically ineligible, leaving the Grizzlies with only 6 players and no subs. One injury and Kalskag’s dream was finished.
The Regional tournament in Bristol Bay brought a new surprise, as Port Lions showed up with a team with a 13-5 record. This earned the newcomers a #2 seed, and dropped Kalskag to the 4th seed in the tournament. King Cove was unable to make it due to weather; so only 5 teams were participating.
From lofty goals, Kalskag found themselves seeded second to last and with a lot to prove. They went right to work, downing the Bristol Bay Angels in a close match in front of a spirited home crowd. They then faced the #1 seed, New Stuyahok, who had lost only one regular season match, earning a record of 13-1. In a grueling battle, they outlasted the Eagles, winning 3-2 in a hard-fought match to advance to the Championship.
There they faced the Koliganek Huskies, who were old rivals. Despite having matched up against this team in 4 other regional tournaments, Kalskag had never beaten a Koliganek team before.
Year 13 proved no different, as Koliganek prevailed in a very close 3-2 victory. With their backs to the wall, Kalskag had 20 minutes to regroup from the heart-rending loss in the championship before facing the #1 seeded New Stuyahok Eagles. The Eagles had rebounded from their loss to the Grizzlies, and beaten Port Lions and Bristol Bay in the consolation bracket to earn a chance to qualify for State.
The Grizzlies and Eagles took the court, with a trip to State on the line. Tired, hungry, and mentally drained after the championship, Kalskag played some of the best volleyball of the season and swept the Eagles 3-0 to earn their first ever berth to the State Tournament. The tiny gym had proved large enough to fulfill a long-time Grizzlies dream!
Raiders claim fifth
Yukon River conference title
by Tommy Wells
The dynasty is still intact. The Russian Mission Raiders nailed down their fifth straight Lower Yukon School District Mixed 6 volleyball conference crown this past weekend in Nunam Iqua. The Raiders edged out 10 other teams from western Alaska to clinch a berth in this weekend’s Mixed Six State Volleyball Tournament.
Led by Bruce Morgan and Nadia Duffy, Russian Mission edged out Marshall for the top spot in the overall team standings. Kotlik and St. Mary’s finished third and fourth, respectively.
Morgan and Duffy were selected the tournament MVP and named to the LYSD all-conference team. Also making the squad were Mountain Village’s Hazel Andrews, Kotlik’s Leon Akaran, Marshall’s Art Askoar, Emmonak’s Marilyn Hootch, Pilot Station’s Daniel Green and Clarence Hootch, Alakanuk’s Jalen Paukan and Scammon Bay’s Olivia Kaganak. Pilot Station was selected the 2009 recipient of the tournament’s sportsmanship award.
Warriors send 18
to state wrestling tournament
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional Warriors made a statement this past weekend at the Great Alaska Conference Wrestling Tournament.
A real state … ment.
Bethel had a school record 18 grapplers earn berths in the Class 1-2-3A state wrestling tournament en route to rolling to second place in the conference tournament, which was held in New Stuyahok. The Warriors finished just 6.5 points behind Dillingham in the Great Alaska Conference large-school standings.
Bethel won six weight classes at the tournament, including the 125-pound division by senior Randy Hanson. Hanson posted a 2-0 record in the tournament and defeated teammate Brayton Lieb in the finals of the finals. Hanson was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
A freshman, Lieb won his first two matches before facing Hanson in the 125-pound finals.
Seth O’Brien, Zach Pleasant and Ryan Chavez added to the Warriors’ gold-medal count. O’Brien won the 130-pound championship, while Chavez took the 140-pound honors.
A junior, O’Brien went 3-0 in his division and beat Dillingham’s Craig Schlosser in the finals. Chavez outwrestled Chevak’s Conor Ferguson in the finals of their weight class.
Carl Fox also secured a trip to state by finishing third in the 140-pound division. The top four competitors in each division advance to the state meet, which will be held this weekend at Bartlett High School.
Pleasant went 3-0 and won the 103-pound division.
Iljber Kadriu and Timothy Robb also nailed down first-place finishes at the tournament. Kadriu outwrestled Dillingham’s Justin Braswell in the finals of the 189-pound ranks, while Robb beat Dillingham’s Darrel Tilden in the 285-pound division.
J. Bruce Crow was third in the 189-pound classification.
Mario Kuqo, Martin Oulton and Trevour Chavez almost picked up golds. Both advanced to the finals in their weight classification before falling. Kuqo was second in the 112-pound class. Chavez was second in the 135-pound division. Christof Swope was fourth in the 135-pound ranks.
Oulton finished second in the 145-pound division, falling to Dillingham’s Reed Tennyson in the finals. Timothy Michaels also finished second. He was the runner-up in the 171-pound bracket. Joseph Liu was third in the 152-pound division.
Bethel competed in the tournament without one of their top wrestlers in Corbin LePore. The BRHS standout, ranked among the state’s best all year, failed to make weight and was ruled ineligible for the meet.
Caleb Sleppy and senior Crissy Elliott added to Bethel’s state-qualifying numbers. Sleppy was fourth in the 215-pound bracket and Elliott was third in the 171 lbs. weight class.
The Warriors weren’t the only western Alaskan team shining in the tournament. The Chevak Comets finished second in the small-school bracket.
Quinhagak’s Jamie Nick and Aniak’s Dakota Phillips both qualified for the state tournament in the 103-pound bracket. Nick was second to Pleasant in the final standings. Phillips was fourth, finishing just ahead of BRHS’ Carl Jimmie.
Chevak standout Aaron Ulroan wrestled his way to state by placing third in the 112-pound standings. Emmonak’s Darrel Waska and Chevak’s Joel Jones also made it to state. Waska was fourth in the 119-pound standings, while Jones was fourth in the 125 standings. In all, Chevak had three wrestlers advance to state.
Hooper Bay’s Walter Naneng and Jamin Carl both turned in solid outings as did Aniak’s Anderson Kvamme. Naneng was fourth in the 152-pound classification, while Carl was the third-place finisher in the 160-pound ranks.
Aniak’s Jonathan Wilson and Joseph Charles also reached the state tournament. Wilson was third in the 215-pound division, while Charles was fourth in the 285-pound class.
Great Alaska Conference Wrestling Tournament Final Team Standings: 1. Dillingham 376.5; 2. Bethel 370; 3. New Stuyahok 127.5; 4. Chevak 67; 5. Aniak 53; 6. Unalaska 49; 7. Hooper Bay 37; 8. Emmonak 31; 9. Newhalen 22; 10. Quinhagak 20; 11. Koliganak 10; 12. King Cove 7; 13. Napaskiak 6.
Kalskag spikers
sweep Tok tournament
by Tommy Wells
The Kalskag Lady Grizzlies are starting to get a reputation with the teams in Region 2. It’s a reputation the Lady Grizzlies are proud of.
In October they won the Ninilchik Spike-Fest, and this weekend they went back onto the road system and swept the Tok Round Robin Tournament.
Making a clean sweep, the Grizzlies beat Kenny Lake, Tok, Nenana and Wasilla Lake Christian to go 4-0 and take home the trophy.
Middle hitter Ariel Ramadanovic continued to dominate at the net, and Raven Levi had an active weekend setting the team. Both were selected to the all-tournament team. Sophia Levi, eVonda Williams and Jodi Samuelson were all selected as player of the game during weekend competition.
The Grizzlies stepped up their passing over the weekend and this allowed the Grizzly offense to overrun their opponents.
The Kalskag serving was strong across the team. Patricia Holmberg led the team with a blistering barrage of aces that made generating offense difficult for opponents all weekend.
In addition to winning the tournament, the Grizzlies also matched up with Tok and Kenny Lake during the trip and notched two more victories.
Kalskag was interested to see the teams from Kenny Lake and Tok since they are both likely to qualify for the State Tournament in December in the Northern conference in Region 2. Kalskag will compete with the teams from Southwest Alaska in a bid to qualify for the state tournament. The regional tournament will be held in early December in Bristol Bay.
This coming weekend, Kalskag will be traveling to New Stuyahok to meet Togiak, New Stuyahok, Koliganek, and Bristol Bay.
Falcons edges Chefornak
for Kipnuk NYO crown
by Tommy Wells
Yako McCarr won three events and placed second in another last weekend and helped Kipnuk edge out Chefornak for the varsity team title at the 2009 Kipnuk Native Youth Olympics meet.
Kipnuk mustered 228 points in the meet. Chefornak, behind strong performances from David Chagluak and Albert Tunuchuk, placed second with 200. Oscarville was third with 110.
McCarr led the Kipnuk boys’ efforts. He edged out Nightmute’s Phillip Tulik and Kipnuk teammate Dolan Fox for the top spot in the boys’ two-foot high kick competition. McCarr, Tulik and Fox all recorded kicks of 82 inches, but McCarr was ruled the event’s winner due to the number of misses.
McCarr, who finished as the meet’s top scoring male athlete with 56 points, won the Alaskan High Kick and One-Arm Reach titles. McCarr posted a kick of 88 inches and edged out Oscarville’s Anissum Henry by an inch in the High Kick standings. Chefornak’s Kasey Panruk and David Avugiak were third and fourth, respectively.
In the One-Arm Reach, McCarr beat out Avugiak and Tunuchuk for the top spot with a height of 64 inches. Avugiak and Tunuchuk both finished at 62.
Tulik also turned in a solid effort at the meet. In addition to finishing second to McCarr in the Two-Foot High Kick, he posted wins in the Kneel Jump and One-Foot High Kick. McCarr was second overall in the Kneel Jump.
David Chagluak and Avugiak gave Chefornak a 1-2 finish in the Wrist Carry, while Kipnuk’s Peter Aliralria won the Toe Kick honors.
Kipnuk collected a 1-2 finish from Phillip Kiunya and Eddie Chuckwuk in the boys’ Seal Hop. Kiunya won the event with a distance of 122 feet and 2 ¾ inches. Chuckwuk was second at 121 feet.
Jackie Joekay powered Oscarville’s efforts. She placed in the top five in eight girls’ events, including first in the Kneel Jump and Two-Foot High Kick.
Chinace Egoak also starred for Oscarville. She won the Alaskan High Kick and the One-Foot High Kick events. In the One Foot event, she kicked an astounding 79” and placed second to Chefornak’s Janelle Kinegak in the One-Arm Reach standings.
Kipnuk picked up stellar efforts from AnnMarie Paul and, Danielle Paul, Heather Kanuk and Roxanne Paul.
AnnMarie Paul won the Wrist Carry title with a mark of 31.88 seconds – 11.29 seconds better than second-place finisher Roxanne Paul. Kipnuk teammate Rochelle Slim was third.
Danielle Paul won the girls’ edged out teammate Marlene Egoak in the finals of the Eskimo Stick Pull, while Kanuk nipped Joekay for the top spot in the girls’ Seal Hop.
Roxanne Paul was second to Chefornak’s Theresa Mark in the India Stick Pull standings. She was also second in the One-Foot High Kick and Kneel Jump. Chefornak’s Danelle Kineguk won the Toe Kick and One-Arm Reach events.
Kipnuk easily won the junior varsity division. The Falcons rolled up 227 points. Kongiganak finished second, while Oscarville netted third. Kongiganak’s Brandon Phillip finished as the JV division’s top performer, netting 62 of his team’s 170 points. Kongiganak’s Jessica David led all female scorers with 42 points.
BRHS Volleyball
team plays hard at regionals
by Amy Vanasse
We played Hooper Bay Thursday night and won in 3. Scores: 25-12, 25-11, and 25-7. The girls did a great job. Some highlights: Olivia Shields served 14 in a row during game 3 with a couple aces and shanks. Charmae Chavez got a kill off of a 32--fast set to the area between the middle and outside positions. It was AWESOME. Olivia, Mary Dyment, and Audrey Leary all got a back row kill. Charmae got a complete half block/half bday ball for a point. We have been working on our pushes and tips in practice and made lots and lots of points with those! Overall the girls played well as a team and worked hard to pick up every ball.
Friday we played Kotzebue (no 1 seed) at 11am. Unalaska came in late after weather trouble so the games were rearranged a bit that day. We lost to Kotz in 3 games. Scores: 14-25, 23-25, and 12-25. The girls from both teams came out strong. We played very hard but just couldn’t pull out with a win.
Highlights: Mary Dyment had a pancake save. Olivia Shields had four kills in game 1 and served 7 in a row in game 2. Audrey Leary had three kills in game 1 and three kills in game 2. We discussed our performance after the loss and came out optimistic about our next match up against Barrow Friday night.
After watching lots of volleyball games it was finally time to play Barrow! We beat them in three games. Scores: 25-22, 25-10, and 25-11. It was pretty good showing for us. A little scare there in the first game, but much better after that. The girls did a great job placing the ball offensively. We scored on many serves and offensive plays.
Highlights: Olivia Shields served six in a row in game 1, including one ace. Audrey Leary served six in a row in game 2, including 2 shanks. Charmae Chavez had three kills in game 3 out of five attempts. Stephanie Lupie served five in a row. Great defense from Mary Dyment across the back row throughout all games. Mary also had two kills out of three attempts in game 1.
Next was Nome. The winner between Nome and BRHS would play in the true second place state qualifier game later that night. The girls came out ready to play. We got behind in game 1 right from the start. That was hard to overcome. The girls played hard but weren’t able to pull ahead in game 1 and similar story in game 2. The girls renewed their energy in game three and we picked up a lot of momentum. They were playing hard and with lots of energy. Then Olivia smashed her lips on the floor after running after a wild ball. She was bleeding so had to sub out. She wasn’t hurt that bad, but couldn’t go back in because she was still bleeding. She was out the rest of the game. That was a bummer. We lost to Nome in 3 games. Scores: 18-25, 19-25, and 14-25.
Highlights: Ashley Korthuis served six in a row in game 1, including one ace. Olivia Shields served five in a row in game 2, including one ace. Audrey Leary scored on 3 of 5 offensive attempts-two kills and one tip. Ashley Korthuis had a kill in both game 2 and 3 (she is the setter so doesn’t usually get hitting opportunities)
Overall the girls had a good tournament. Olivia Shields and Ashley Korthuis made the All-Tournament team. As a team, we received the sportsmanship award. After the games and awards were over, most of the girls from all the schools played a massive game of sardines (like hide and seek--but opposite, one person hides and you have to find them and hide with them until everyone finds you). A great time was had by all. It was nice to see the all the teams being friendly to each other-making friends from other schools.
While our season is over this year, the girls are already planning for and thinking about next year!! Looking back, It has been a good season overall. I am very proud of the progress the girls have made individually and as a team. They learned a lot about volleyball and I learned a lot about coaching as well! We are all looking forward to next season!
Amy Vanasse is the Girls volleyball coach and the School Counselor at BRHS.
BRHS grapplers place ninth at South Anchorage meet
by Tommy Wells
Heading into the South Anchorage wrestling tournament, Bethel Regional High School head coach Darren Lieb knew the top three teams from western Alaska were pretty even. Exactly how even Bethel, Kotzebue and Dillingham were may have shocked everyone.
The three teams finished seventh, eighth and ninth in the final team standings at a meet this past weekend. And all three were within striking distance of the other.
Bethel finished ninth overall, downing the North Pole Patriots in the 9th/10th-place matchup. Kotzebue placed seventh, while Dillingham finished eighth. Bethel split its first two dual matches on Friday, downing Dimond, 60-22, and falling to Wasilla, 42-29.
On Saturday, the Warriors showed just how evenly matched they are with Region I rival Kotzebue. The two teams battled to a 39-39 draw in their dual. To decide a winner, tournament officials were forced to go to the fourth tie-breaker. Both teams finished their dual with five falls, one forfeit and one decision. Kotzebue was awarded the win based on having more near fall points, 17-10.
The Warriors bounced back from their tie with Kotzebue with a vengeance. Bethel routed Bartlett in their final dual, winning by a lopsided 66-15 margin. The Colony Knights finished atop the tournament’s team standings. Colony beat out Service for the top spot in the 16-team tournament.
Eight of Bethel’s 12 grapplers finished at or above .500 in the event. Randy Hanson and Corbin LePore both kept their season records unblemished during the South tournament. Hanson improved to 22-0 for the year by grinding out a 3-0 run in the 130-pound division. LePore improved to 9-0 by winning all four of his matches in the 125-pound classification.
Zach Pleasant and Seth O’Brien also did well. A junior, Pleasant ran his season total to 22-1 with five straight wins in the 112-pound bracket. O’Brien was 3-0 in the 135-pound division, improving his 2009 season record to 23-4.
Ryan Chavez and Mario Kuqo reached the 20-win plateau this season. Kuqo went 2-3 in the tournament and upped his season mark to 21-6. Chavez, a senior, posted a 3-2 record in the two-day gala and improved to 23-6 overall.
Martin Oulton went 2-2 and improved to 17-13 in the 152-pound bracket. Other BRHS wrestlers notching wins were sophomore Carl Jimmie (3-2 in the 103-pound classification), Timothy Michaels (1-4 in the 171-pound division), J. Bruce Crow (1-2 in the 189-division) and Timothy Robb (1-2 in the 215-pound division).
Bethel is scheduled to compete in the Anchorage Christian Schools Invitational Tournament this weekend. The meet will begin on Friday in the ACS gym.
Islanders roll to
NYO tournament title
The Toksook Bay Islanders nailed down seven first-place finishes this past weekend and rolled to an easy win in front of their home fans at the Toksook Bay Native Youth Olympics Tournament.
The Islanders boys and girls racked up a staggering 262 points at the meet and easily outdistanced Newtok for the top spot. Newtok finished a distant second in the final standings with 128 points. Tununak and Mekoryuk rounded out the top four spots with 98 and 82 points, respectively.
Jason Tulik and Moses Charles both turned in stellar efforts in the varsity boys’ division. The two combined to win five first-place medals and 88 points.
Tulik, who posted 40 points in the meet, won the kneel jump, Alaska High Kick and Indian Stick Pull crowns. Charles won the 2-Foot High Kick and Seal Hop crowns, while also finishing second in the Kneel Jump and 1-Foot High Kick standings.
George John and Patrick White also got in on the gold medal act for the Islanders. John won the 1-arm reach crown, while White was the top participant in the stick pull.
White was one of three Toksook Bay athletes to score 40 or more points in the meet.
Tununak’s Frank Link tied Charles as the boys’ top scorer, netting 48 points by placing in six events. Link won the Wrist Carry and 1-Foot High Kick titles and placed second in the 2-Foot, Alaska high kick and Indian Stick Pull events.
Michael Albert was Tununak’s second-leading boy scorer, finishing with 30 points – 10 of which came via a first-place finish in the Toe Kick. Allen Brankovic led all Mekoryuk scorers with 18 points.
The Newtok Jaegers “Fab Four” of Annie Patrick, Erica Tom, Rachel Charles and Katie Waska provided the power their team needed in the girls’ division. The foursome tallied all but 10 of the Jaegers’ 128 points. White tallied 38 points in the meet, while Charles and Waska added 30 apiece and Tom chipped in 10.
Megan Friday powered a 106-point effort by the Toksook Bay girls. Friday won three events, including the Wrist, 1-arm and Seal Hop competitions. She was second in the Toe Kick and Alaska High Kick. Brentina Nicholai won two events, taking top honors in the 2-Foot High Kick and the Toe Kick.
Mekoryuk’s Delcie Davis also did well, finishing with 52 points and gold medals in the Kneel, Alaska High Kick and 1-Foot High Kick.
Tununak edges Toksook
for JV crown at NYO Meet
by Tommy Wells
Lucy Post won four events and finished second in two others this past weekend en route to helping Tununak grind out a nail-biting win over Toksook Bay in the Toksook Bay Native Youth Olympics meet.
Keyed by Post’s efforts, Tununak rolled up 250 total points – four more than Toksook Bay. Newtok was a distant third with 92.
In the JV girls division, Post and Toksook Bay’s Mary Friday were dominant. Post won the Wrist Carry, Alaska High Kick, 1-Foot High Kick and 1-Arm Reach titles, and finished second in the stick pull and Indian Stick Pull competitions. Overall, Post finished the meet with 62 points.
Friday was just as impressive. She won the 2-Foot High Kick, Toe Kick and Seal Hop and added silver medals in the Kneel Jump, Alaska High kick, 1-Foot High Kick and 1-Arm Reach. Overall, Friday rolled up a meet-high 70 points by placing in the top five in 10 events.
Toksook Bay’s Dorothy Braden and Naomi John also did well. The two combined to score 112 points and post wins in two events. Braden won the Kneel Jump honors, while John was tops in the stick pull.
Tununak’s Mary Slats also pocketed a win, taking top honors in the Indian Stick Pull competition.
Waska Oscar led the Tununak boys’ efforts by winning three events. He was the top participant in the Alaska High Kick, 1-Foot High Kick and Indian Stick Pull. Overall, Oscar tallied 60 points.
Newtok’s Jack Tom, Brandis Angaiak and Jordan George combined to win five golds. Tom won the boys’ 2-Foot and 1-Foot titles, while Angaiak and George posted wins in the Wrist and Kneel, respectively.
Lady Warriors reel
off three wins over Barrow
11-4-09
by Tommy Wells
The United States Postal Service might want to make the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors their official mascots after this weekend. The Lady Warriors, after all, didn’t let a lot of miles, a few stumbles or a little snow get in their way of delivering a few Halloween tricks to the Barrow Lady Whalers.
Bethel, sparked by a solid effort at the net by Mary Dyment, Olivia Shields and Charmae Chavez, nailed down three straight wins over their Western Conference rivals this weekend. The BRHS girls battled back from early deficits to win the final two contests.
“The girls did a good job,” said Bethel head coach Amy Vanasse. “Overall, the girls played a lot smarter this weekend.”
The Lady Warriors opened their weekend triple-header with Barrow on Friday and bolted to a quick lead. Bethel won the first two games of their first match by scores of 25-16 and 27-25. Barrow rallied back to win Game 3 and Game 4 and force a decisive Game 5.Bethel took the final game by a 15-10 clip.
The Lady Whalers threatened to turn the tables on Bethel in the second match on Friday. Barrow raced to a quick 2-0 lead by winning the first two games, 25-22 and 25-10. Bethel managed to gets its game untracked from there. The BRHS spikers reeled off wins of 28-26 and 25-16 to tie the game county at 2-2. They nailed down the victory with a 25-22 win in Game 5.
Bethel, which saw two of its players fall face-first into the snow earlier in the day while touring Alaska’s northern-most community, pounded out a 2-25, 25-19, 25-15 and 25-22 win in Saturday’s series finale.
“The girls did a good job of winning in four (games),” Vanasse said. “The first game we had was a little rough but the girls really pulled it back together.”
Shields led the BRHS offense in Game 5 by recording three kills. Ashley Korthuis registered four blocks in the finale, while Chavez and Audrey Leary both record one. With the three wins, Bethel will head into the Region I Volleyball Championships in Hooper Bay on Nov. 5 with a full head of steam.
Bethel grapplers finish
sixth at Wasilla tournament
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Warriors did exactly what they wanted Saturday at the Wasilla Invitational Wrestling Tournament. Facing a Who’s Who lineup of Alaska state wrestling powers, the Warriors finished sixth in the final team standings.
Bethel racked up 118 points – the most by any Class 1-2-3A team at the meet. North Pole finished atop the team standings with 178 points, followed by Colony, Wasilla, South Anchorage and Chugiak.
The Warriors had four wrestlers medal in the meet, including Zach Pleasant, Mario Kuqo, Ryan Chavez and Randy Hanson. In all, the team had seven wrestlers finish in the top eight of their respective weight divisions.
A junior, Pleasant posted a 2-1 record in the meet and finished second in the 103-pound classification. The loss, which came in the finals, was Pleasant’s first of the season and left him at 17-1 for the year. Kuqo also went 2-1, falling in the finals of the 112-pound division. Chavez, a senior, hammered out a 4-1 record in the 140-pound bracket and finished third overall.
Hanson netted Bethel’s lone gold-medal effort by winning the 125-pound classification. The defending Class 1-2-3A 125-pound state champion, Hanson beat Class 4A’s two-time defending champion in the finals. With his 3-0 run in the tournament, Hanson improved his season record to 18-0.
Seth O’Brien and freshman Trevour Chavez also turned in solid performances, as did Martin Oulton. O’Brien placed fifth in the 130-pound ranks, while Chavez was seventh in the 135-pound division. Oulton was eighth in the 145-pound bracket.
The Warriors also turned in a solid effort on Friday, finishing among the top teams at the Wasilla Duals. In all 24 teams participated in the event in three divisions at the event. Teams were seeded into the three divisions based on their point-totals in the first round.
Sparked by a pair of wins in the opening round, the Warriors were seeded in the top division along with perennial Class 4A powers in Chugiak and Wasilla.
Bethel notched three wins in their division, downing West Anchorage, 52-24, and Skyview, 46-33, before suffering a tough 40-36 loss to Chugiak. The Warriors finished off the dual meet with a 53-16 shellacking of Kodiak. With their effort at the meet, Bethel improved to 7-5 for the season in dual action.
Pleasant and Hanson both wrestled well at the duals meet. Pleasant was 3-0 on the mat, while Hanson nailed down a 4-0 mark. Kuqo and Seth O’Brien were also unbeaten, going 2-0. Trevour Chavez, Joseph Liu and Ryan Chavez each turned in stellar performances, too. All three wrestled their way to 3-1 records in duals action. Oulton and Caleb Sleppy both posted a pair of wins, while Shawn Paul and Iljber Kadriu added one apiece.
The Warriors are scheduled to return to action this weekend by competing in the Anchorage Christian Schools Invitational.
Warriors wrestle their
way to second at Bush Brawl
by Tommy Wells
Randy Hanson proved what everyone in the state already new last weekend: He really is one of the top wrestlers in the Class 1-2-3A ranks.
While en route to leading the Bethel Regional High School Warriors to second in the overall team standings in the annual Bush Brawl tournament in Kotzebue, Hanson staged a huge win in the finals of the 125-pound classification. The BRHS posted a dominating win over last year’s 125-pound state runner-up.
The defending 125-pound state champion, Hanson built an early 8-3 lead over Nome’s Lonny Booshu in the first two periods. In the third period, Hanson managed to throw Booshu onto his back and collect the win.
Hanson went 4-0 during the tournament. Hanson was far from the only Warrior walking away with a gold medal. Zach Pleasant and Seth O’Brien took first place in their respective divisions. Pleasant went 3-0 and won the 103-pound division. O’Brien posted a 3-0 mark en route to winning the 130-pound classification.
Mario Kuqo, Ryan Chavez and Martin Oulton just missed taking firsts. Kuqo finished at 2-1 and placed second in the 112-pound standings. Chavez and Oulton were second in the 140- and 145-pound divisions. Shawn Paul, Brayton Lieb, Trevour Chavez and Joseph Liu all garnered third-place marks in the tournament, while Crissy Elliott and Iljber Kadriu both placed fourth.
As a team, the Warriors rolled up 195 points, finishing just 10 points behind North Pole for the team title. Kotzebue and Nome finished third and fourth, respectively.
Final Team Standings: North Pole 205; Bethel 195; Kotzebue 178.5;Nome-Beltz 165.
Nunapitchuk posts
easy win at home tournament
by Tommy Wells
Nunapitchuk rolled up 71 points in the middle and elementary divisions last week and rolled to the overall team championship at its own Nunapitchuk School Wrestling Tournament.
Nunapitchuk finished the meet with 88 points and edged out Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay and Emmonak for the team title. Hooper Bay was second with 49 points.
Jesse Alexie was among four Nunapitchuk wrestlers to win at the middle/elementary level. Alexie outwrestled Hooper Bay’s Harold Hoelscher in the finals of the 145-pound bracket. Scammon Bay’s John Hunter finished third, just ahead of Atmautlak’s Frankie Pavilla.
Jonathan Evans and Tyler Andrew also posted wins for Nunapitchuk in the middle/elementary bracket. Evans defeated Emmonak’s Justin Evans in the finals of the 135-pound classification. Andrew edged out teammate Michael Enoch in the 120-pound standings. Jarret Mojin also garnered a gold for Nunapitchuk, winning the 95-pound title. He edged out teammate Jason Parks for the top honors.
Napaskiak’s Steven Jacob and Kwethluk’s Moses Jackson also notched wins, as did Kwethluk’s Tyler Rivers and Akiachak’s Joseph Charles. Jacob won the 75-pound division, while Jackson took the top spot in the 80-pound bracket. Rivers was the top 85-pound wrestler, while Charles netted the win in the 105-pound classification.
Hooper Bay’s James Joe defeated Nunapitchuk’s Michael Enoch to win the 120-pound crown. Hooper Bay claimed three gold medals in the high school division, including first-place efforts from Billy Night, Francis Naneng and Jamin Carl.
Kwethluk’s Kenny Jackson also won, taking the 125-pound title.
Cameron Tobeluk and Mishael Angaiak picked up Nunapitchuk’s only wins in the high school division. Tobeluk garnered top honors in the 112-pound bracket, while Angaiak won the heavyweight class.
Emmonak’s Stephan Waska won the 119-pound high school bracket. The Emmonak team also walked away with the sportsmanship honors.
Final Team Standings: 1. Nunapitchuk 88; 2. Hooper Bay 49; 3. Scammon Bay 32; 4. Kwethluk 30; 5. Akiachak 30.
Individual Standings MS/GS: 75 – 1. Steven Jacob, Napaskiak; 2. Ezekial Angaiak, Nunapitchuk; 3. Jon Phillip, Akiachak; 4. Kia Charles, Scammon Bay; 80 – 1. Moses Jackson, Kwethluk; 2. Dalton Jacob, Napaskiak; 3. Terence Ekamrak, Akiachak; 4. Henry Active, Atmautlak; 85 – Tyler Rivers, Kwethluk; 2. Theodore Sundown, Scammon Bay; 3. James Altsik, Akiachak; 4. Adam Williams, Napaskiak; 95 – Jarret Mojin, Nunapitchuk; 2. Jason Parks, Nunapitchuk; 3. Corey Nicholai, Napaskiak; 4. Leo Unin, Scammon Bay; 105 – Joseph Charles, Akiachak; 2. Emmitt Paul, Atmautluak; 3. Norman Charlie, Scammon Bay; Shandon Rivers, Scammon Bay; 115 – Tyler Andrew, Nunapitchuk; 2. Tony White, Nunapitchuk; 3. Fritz Jackson, Akiachak; 4 William Cholok, Scammon Bay; 120 – James Joe, Hooper Bay; 2. Michael Enoch, Nunapitchuk; 3. Mattius Hautala, Kwethluk; 4. Omri Tobeluk, Nunapitchuk; 135 – Jonathan Evan, Nunapitchuk; 2. Justin Evan, Emmonak; 3. Emmitt Nicori, Kwethluk; 4. James Tunutmoak, Scammon Bay; 145 – 1. Jesse Alexie, Nunapitchuk; 2. Harold Hoelscher, Hooper Bay; 3. John Hunter, Scammon Bay; 4. Frankie Pavilla, Atmautluak.
High School: 125 – 1, Kenny Jackson, Kwethluk; 2. Faron Totemoff, Hooper Bay; 3. Darrell Waska, Emmonak; 4. Robert Charles, Akiachak; 130 – 1. Billy Night, Hooper Bay; 2. Charles Naneng, Hooper Bay; 3. Justin Lewis, Nunapitchuk; 4. Henry Kanulie, Akiachak; 140 – 1. Francis Naneng, Hooper Bay; 2. Craig Twitchell, Nunapitchuk; 3. Larry Mojin, Nunapitchuk; 4. Elliot Kaganak, Scammon Bay; 160 – 1. Jamin Carl, Hooper Bay; 2. Isaac Seton, Emmonak; 3. John Olson, Hooper Bay; 4. Chance Hunter, Scammon Bay. RR/High School: 112 – 1. Cameron Tobeluk, Nunapitchuk; 2. Larry Seton, Emmonak; 119 – 1. Stephan Waska, Emmonak; 2. Larry Utteryuk, Scammon Bay. HWT: 1. Mishael Angaiak, Nunapitchuk; 2. Isiah Wilson, Hooper Bay; 3. Ray Smith, Hooper Bay.
Kalskag Grizzlies volleyball looking good
10-28-09
by Marcus Dammeyer
I am very pleased with the way we played this weekend. We came to Bethel looking for experience against solid 3A schools, and our matches were exciting and a great training ground. Defeating Hooper Bay and winning a game against both Nome and Bethel in competitive matches were an added bonus.
Nome looked very tough against Bethel on Friday, so we worked hard to be positive and play hard regardless of the score. I think it was a bit of a surprise for everyone when we won game 2 and kept it close in game 3. Ariel Ramadanovic had a banner day hitting kill after kill, and Raven Levi did a great job setting from all over the court. eVonda Willams' serves led the way to a great comeback in Game 2, and Patricia Holmberg was tough at the serving line and at the net.
The Bethel match was a bit up and down, but anytime you lose game 4 in overtime to a solid 3A school you have to feel pretty good about that match. Two areas where we need to improve include our serving consistency throughout our line-up, and passing on serve-receive. We were missing two of our starters this weekend, and full strength I think we would have been even tougher. Despite practicing in our little makeshift gym, we seem to be able to adjust to the full-size gym pretty quickly. Our Principal Greg Wohlman has been very supportive of helping us get opportunities to play, and the staff at Aniak have twice hosted us so we could practice in the full-size gym there. So despite ending the weekend with a record of 5-5, we feel pretty good knowing that four of our five losses are against 3A teams that we won’t face again at the 1A/2A regional tournament. All in all it’s been a fun and exciting season, and we are looking forward to the Tok tournament in mid-November.
Nome sweeps Bethel, Kalskag
by Marcus Dammeyer
The Nome Nanooks Volleyball team proved too much for the competition this weekend with a sweep of the Bethel Warriors and Kalskag Grizzlies. On Friday the Nanooks came out strong in game one, but the Warriors put together a spirited effort in game two only to fall 23-25. In game 3, Nome rebounded to control the game 25-15.
On Saturday Nome continued their sweep with a 3-1 decision over the Kalskag Grizzlies. Nome lost their only game in a game featuring a come-from-behind 8 point serving run by eVonda Williams coupled with a flurry of kills by Ariel Ramadanovic. Kalskag’s elation was short lived, as Nome went on to win the next two bouts 25-19 and 25-17. On Saturday evening, Nome repeated a 3-0 sweep of the Warriors in a match that was almost a mirror of Friday’s action. Game 2 was again a nail-biter that Nome won 25-23, but games 1 and 3 were controlled by Nome.
In other action Saturday, the Bethel Warriors downed the Kalskag Grizzlies in a 3-1 match that culminated in a game 4 overtime 26-24 win by the Warriors. Despite a 20-24 deficit, the Bethel team dug deep and came back to beat the Grizzlies with 6 un-answered points behind the serve of # 24 Audrey Leary.
The Hooper Bay Warrior team also had a busy weekend, losing a close 2-3 decision to Kalskag on Friday. On Saturday, Hooper Bay started slow and dropped two games to Nome’s JV, only to win a hard-fought 3rd game en route to an exciting come-from-behind 3-2 win.
BRHS hosts Hooper Bay, Kalskag, Nome
by Amy Vanasse
BRHS Warrior Volleyball hosted Hooper Bay, Kalskag, and Nome last Friday and Saturday. Fridays results are:
BRHS JV v. Nome JV (25-10, 25-11, 25-7) Nome JV 3-0
Hooper Bay v. Kalskag (16-25, 25-10,25-18, 15-25, 15-12) Kalskag 3-2
BRHS v. Nome (25-18, 25-14, 25-15) Nome 3-0
Saturday’s Results:
Hooper Bay v. Nome JV (16-25, 9-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13) Hooper Bay 3-2
Kalskag v. Nome (25-14, 23-25, 25-19,25-17) Nome 3-1
BRHS JV v. Hooper Bay (25-22, 25-19) Hooper Bay 2-0
BRHS v. Kalskag (25-21, 18-25, 25-13, 26-24) BRHS 3-1
Nome JV v. BRHS JV (25-16, 25-14, 15-10) Nome JV 2-0
Nome v. BRHS (25-17, 25-23, 25-15) Nome 3-0
Roberta Aloysius was here to help referee the games this weekend. It was nice to have her back in the gym (Coach of the State Championship team) for the weekend. She is so full of volleyball knowledge and practical volleyball know-how, it is hard to talk about anything else when she is around! She did a great job as an official as well.
Throughout the weekend, we picked up our game defensively and our serve receive passing was a lot better. We were looking forward to playing Nome again and we are always excited to play at home. After Friday night, our goal was to get more offensive points and to better defend the attacks from the Nome offense. We reached that goal! The girls played really hard on Saturday night against Nome earning some rousing offensive points and played great defense in the back row. The crowd was small, but energetic and behind the girls all the way. It was fun to play in front of such supportive fans--the girls really appreciated it.
We will continue to work on our passing and offense in practice this week for our last weekend of regular season competition against Barrow and for Regions. Overall, this team is a great bunch of girls and that makes it a lot more fun to coach. It is nice to see the improvements they are making as a team and as individuals.
Some highlights: Charmae Chavez got a block and 100% (no missed serves) serving Sat vs. Nome, great defense in Nome games Sat. Audrey Leary scored on 12 of 15 attacks and 100% serving the whole weekend. Ashley Korthuis had 100% serving against Nome and had an awesome pancake in game 2, great defense and setting choices that enabled our better offensive play Sat. Olivia Shields scored on 10 of 16 attacks Sat night, good defense in back row. Mary Dyment lots of great defense on Sat night in the back row.
“Although we didn’t beat Nome, I feel that we’ve gained a lot from the games. Regions is going to be filled with serious competition, but our team has to be nothing be excelling in the game of volleyball,” said Audrey Leary, Junior starter/Outside Hitter. “We’ll walk into regions ready and more determined then ever.”
“I thought we did much better on Saturday compared to Friday night’s game,” said Charmae Chavez, Junior starter/Middle Hitter. “I think we just need to work a little harder and pull together to prepare for Regions.”
“In the beginning of the year we struggled with learning how to play as a team,” said Olivia Shields. “Now that we know how to play as a team, we have improved greatly. I know that when we go to regions we are going to give our all. Since this is my last year in Bethel I am going to miss my team next year.”
Kalskag Lady Grizzlies
Win Ninilchik SpikeFest
10-22-09
The Kalskag Grizzlies Volleyball Team started their season strong, winning the Ninilchik Spikefest Tournament October 9th and 10th. Despite having only 6 players for the trip, the Lady Grizzlies rose to the occasion and defeated CIA, Seldovia, Homer JV, and Su-Valley. This included a 2 game sweep of Homer JV, who were the 2nd place team in the tournament. Their only loss was to Ninilchik, who ended up 4th in the tournament standings. Ariel Ramadanovic, Patricia Holmberg, and Jodi Samuelson were all selected to the All-Tourney Team, while eVonda Williams, Marie Davis, and Cheyenne Wise rounded out the Grizzlies line-up. Kalskag’s next action was in Bethel on October 16th and 17th against the Bethel Warriors.
Veteran group leads Warriors into ’09 grappling season
by Tommy Wells
Bethel Regional High School head coach Darren Lieb enters the 2009 season with a luxury few Alaska coaches have: numbers to load up divisions and experience to lead the way.
The Warriors, the Class 1-2-3A state runners-up a year ago, should again be a state power as they roll into the third week of action sporting 56 wrestlers – including a pair of state champions.
“We do have a fairly young team this year, but have a pretty good group of returners, and a lot of new and young wrestlers,” said Lieb.
Headlining the returning veterans is two-time defending state champion Randy Hanson. A senior, Hanson has advanced to the state tournament in each of his first three years. After finishing second as a freshman, he claimed state titles in the 119-pound weight classification in 2007 and 2008.
Last season, Hanson was one of the most dominant wrestlers in the U.S. He posted a 43-6 record during the season, and then capped his year by placing eighth overall at the national Reno Tournament of Champions.
Corbin LePore also adds sparkle to the BRHS roster. A season ago, the Warrior grappler wrestled his way to a gold medal at the Alaska state championships in the 112-pound division – as a freshman. LePore posted a stellar 33-4 record in 2008.
Ryan Chavez and Zack Pleasant also return. Both will be looking to improve on impressive efforts a year ago. In 2008, Chavez went 26-10 and finished second in the state’s 130-pound bracket. Pleasant, a junior, hammered out a 31-6 record and placed third in the state’s 103-pound classification.
Chris Jerry and Mario Kuqo add even more veteran talent to the BRHS lineup. Jerry went 14-6 a year ago and finished fourth in the 112-division. Kuqo was 20-9 last year as a freshman and placed fifth in the state’s 119-pound bracket.
Other BRHS wrestlers to keep an eye on this season include Sean Paul, Brayton Lieb, Trevour Chavez, Iljber Kadriu and Caleb Sleppy.
BRHS Wrestling Schedule
Oct. 23 – at Kotzebue
Nov. 5 - at South Anchorage
Nov. 12 – at Anchorage Christian
Nov. 19 - BRHS Duels
Nov. 20 - BRHS Tournament
Dec. 3 – Regions @ New Stu
BRHS grapplers open ’09 with solid outings in Nome, Nikiski
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Warriors opened the 2009 high school wrestling season with two strong performances. The Warriors placed second at the Nome-Beltz Invitational and during duals action in Nikiski.
In Nome, the Warriors wrestled their way to second in the overall team standings. Bethel won four weight classes, and had six members take home second-place honors.
Carl Jimmie and Marjus Kuqo both starred in their weight divisions. Jimmie won the 103-pound division by downing Nome’s Kaly Booshu in the finals. Kuqo defeated teammate Sean Paul in the final round of the 119-pound bracket.
Trevour Chavez and Ryan Chavez also posted wins. Chavez won the 135-pound bracket by edging out Kotzebue’s Marvin McCall. Ryan Chavez defeated teammate Martin Oulton in the 145-pound finals.
Seth O’Brien (130-pound division), Carl Fox (140), Douglas Corp (152) and Joseph Liu all finished second in their respective divisions.
Bethel’s Brayton Lieb and Iljber Kadriu finished third in the 125- and 189-pound brackets, respectively. J. Bruce Crow and Caleb Sleppy were fourth-place finishers.
Chevak’s Aaron Ulroan and Shane Lake were third in the 119- and 135-pound classifications. Ben Anderson, Joel Jones were fourth.
Bethel posted a split of its two matches at the Peninsula Duels on Thursday. After dropping a 39-34 decision to Nikiski on Friday, the Warriors defeated Grace Christian, 63-30, in their final match,
Against Nikiski, Bethel won six weight classes. Among the winners were Zack Pleasant (112), Randy Hanson (125), Carl Fox (140), Ryan Chavez (145), Caleb Sleepy (215) and Tim Robb (Heavyweight).
On Friday, Bethel dropped a 52-16 decision to three-time defending Class 4A state champion Colony. The Warriors bounced back nicely, however. In its next matchup, Bethel dominated Seward, winning 69-12. All of Seward’s points came via two BRHS forfeits.
On Saturday, the Warriors collected wins over Grace Christian and Nikiski and dropped matches with Colony and Dillingham.
As a team, Bethel placed fourth in the final Peninsula Duals standings. There were 16 teams competing in the three-day event.
Peninsula Duals Individual Results
Wt. Wrestler Record
103 - Zach Pleasant 8-0
112 - Marjus Kuqo 7-1
119 - Corbin LePore 5-0
125 - Randy Hanson 7-0
130 - Seth O’Brien 6-2
135 - Trevour Chavez 5-2
140 - Carl Fox 4-2
145 - Ryan Chavez 6-1
152 - Martin Oulton 3-5
160 - Joseph Liu 3-4
215 - Timothy Robb 2-6
285 - Caleb Sleppy 3-3
Napaskiak grapplers
grab win on home mat
by Tommy Wells
NAPASKIAK – The Napaskiak Hawks won four weight classifications and raced to the top of the team standings at the 2009 Napaskiak Invitational Wrestling Tournament on Saturday.
The Hawks, keyed by wins by Keaton Jacob, Corey Nicholai, Scott Williams and Howard Nicholai, rolled up 74 points in the eight-team meet. Bethel Regional High School finished second with 57 points. Gladys Jung Elementary turned in a solid effort in the lower divisions and placed third.
Jacob gave Napaskiak its first win of the tournament by gaining the top spot in the 75-pound weight class. The Napaskiak standout edged out Gladys Jung’s Lars Ponsness in the final. Jacob’s Napaskiak teammate Bernard Williams finished third, one spot ahead of Akiachak’s Jon Phillips.
Corey Nicholai was the top finisher in the 90-pound ranks. He outwrestled teammate Paul Larson for the top spot.
Sophie Nicholai gave Napaskiak a 1-2-3 run in the 90-pound division by placing third. She bested Antonia Tikiun of Atmautlak for the third-place honors.
Williams and Aaron Olsen went 1-2 in the 95-pound division for the Hawks, while Howard Nicholai defeated Keanu King for the top spot in the Heavyweight division.
Bethel also walked away from the meet with four gold medals, including one for Evan Dyment in the 85-pound elementary division. Dyment edged out Quinhagak standout Jeremy Roberts for the win. Bethel’s Stephen Glasheen placed third one spot ahead of Kwethluk’s Tyler Rivers.
Theodore Naneng wrestled his way to the top spot in the 110-pound division. The BRHS grappler defeated teammate Carlie McIntyre in the finals of the classification.
Douglas Palacios and Jerek Pete also came away with wins for Bethel. Palacios won the 115-pound bracket, while Pete defeated Patrick Jones of Quinhagak in the finals of the 130-pound bracket.
As a team, the Quinhagak Seahawks placed fourth in the standings.
Gladys Jung Elementary wrestlers Avery Hoffman and Gage Hoffman dominated the meet’s two smallest brackets. Avery Hoffman outwrestled teammate Thomas Dyment for the gold medal in the 65-pound division. Gage Hoffman clipped Napaskiak’s Steven Jacob for the No. 1 spot in the 70-pound class.
Kwethluk’s Moses Jackson and Emmitt Nicori posted first-place efforts in their respective divisions. Jackson edged out Napaskiak’s Dalton Jacob in the finals of the 80-pound division, while Nicori outpointed Akiakchak’s Joseph Charles III in the 120-pound finals.
Joseph Charles was the top wrestler in the 105-pound division. He defeated Napaskiak’s Josiah Nicholai in the championship match.
Napaskiak Invitational Wrestling Tournament Team Standings
Napaskiak 74; Bethel 57; Gladys Jung 39; Quinhagak 26; Kwethluk 23; Akiachak 20; Atmautluak 16; Nunapitchuk 11; Sportsmanship Award – Kwethluk Kings.
Y-K athletes leading
Kenai’s push for football crown
10-15-09
by Tommy Wells
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has never been home to a single high school football game. Other than a few pick-up games in the front yard, Pinky’s Park, or the highway sandlot, football has never found it’s way into high school sports in Bethel.
In fact, the best opportunity for western Alaska fans to see a game is to fly more than 300 miles to Anchorage.
That could all change this Saturday if Billy Kiefer and Todd Kruger have their way. The two Bethel-born athletes will try and give western Alaskans a reason to cheer as they lead the Kenai Kardinals into the small-school state championship game. Kenai is scheduled to play three-time defending small-school state champion Soldotna in the finals.
Kiefer, the state’s leading rusher, and Kruger, a junior offensive lineman, helped the Kardinals earn their first trip to the state finals since 2005 on Saturday with a win over Kodiak in the semifinals.
The road to the state finals for the two began more than a decade ago as far away from a football field as humanly possible – the Bethel Trailer Park.
As a youngster, Kiefer fine-tuned his athletic skills by playing touch football with his friends on the “Green Field” near the trailer park or on the elementary school playground.
“We played all the time,” said Kiefer, the son of Steve and Fina (Moses) Kiefer. “We (Kiefer and Todd) were always playing. I had a lot of fun playing with guys like Trevor (Henderson), Randy (Hanson), John (Street), and Joey Glasheen.”
Kiefer also starred in wrestling, shining in Darren Lieb’s youth program.
Fortunately for Kenai, Kiefer’s life took a change of direction in October 2003. His father, an employee at the Bethel Youth Facility was named the Supervisor at the Kenai Youth Facility – a fact that meant his family would be relocating to the Kenai Peninsula.
“At first I wasn’t too thrilled about it because I was leaving all my friends,” Kiefer said. “Then, after we got here, I found out I could play football.”
It didn’t take long for the Kardinals coaches to figure out Kiefer was an athlete. As an eighth grader, he took the experience he gained as a wrestler to win the borough wrestling crown.
A few months later, he impressed the Kardinals football coaches enough to earn a spot on the Kenai varsity squad as a freshman.
His ability, Kiefer said, was aided by his years of playing football with his friends in Bethel.
“I think it helped me a ton growing up there,” he said. “As a running back you rely a lot on your instincts. When I was growing up, we played a lot of games where you run away from each other. I think that really helped me become a running back.”
His father agreed, saying the years his son spent “going at every sport” with his friends in Bethel helped him develop his skills.
As her son was developing into a legitimate star, his mother was developing an appreciation for the sport.
“My family was always pretty sports-oriented,” said Fina, the youngest of the 14 children born to the late Jesse Moses and Emma Moses. “When we moved here, I was excited for him to experience football. It was exciting for me because I wasn’t brought up with it.”
“I really didn’t think you could go beyond basketball, as far as excitement,” she said. “But it does. Football is so exciting. It’s so much more exciting than I ever thought it would be.”
“When I was growing up, everything in Bethel was basketball. I think maybe I’m turning over a new leaf,” said Fina, whose brothers – Axel, Greg and Floyd Moses – and many of her 10 sisters still call Bethel home.
Heading into Saturday’s game against rival Soldotna, Billy Kiefer has given his parents – and the Kardinals’ fans – plenty to get excited about. Through Kenai’s first 10 games, he has rushed for 1,174 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Like Kiefer, Todd Kruger’s road to the state football championship began in the Bethel Trailer Park. Unlike his friend, however, football was something he lived with – literally – every day of his life.
Kruger’s father, Jon, is easily the biggest fan of the Oakland Raiders in Alaska. His passion for the NFL franchise has led him to collect more than 400 pieces of Raiders memorabilia.
A former employee at the Bethel Youth Facility, Kruger first came to Alaska in 1979 with the United States Air Force. Shortly after arriving, he found his way to Goodnews Bay where he met his wife, Susan Evan. The couple – who are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year – eventually moved to Bethel, where their sons Todd and Sean were born.
Like Kiefer, Todd Kruger grew up playing whatever spot was available in Bethel.
In 2005, as a seventh grader, his life took a turn. His father was offered a position with the Kenai Youth Facility.
“It was kind of hard for us to go,” said Jon Kruger, the Juvenile Justice Unit Supervisor at KYC. “We really loved living in Bethel, but we decided there were a lot of opportunities for our boys. Plus, I really wanted then to have the chance to play football.”
“For us, the opportunities and the chance to play football was too great,” he added.
Thus the Krugers loaded up 16 years of life in boxes and headed to Kenai.
The move has been a good one, Kruger said. The opportunity to play football has helped Todd stay motivated enough to earn a spot on Kenai Central High School’s honor roll.
As an eight grader, Kruger broke onto the football scene, starting as an offensive lineman for the Kards. His time on the offensive line didn’t last long. Impressed with Kruger’s work ethic and determination, Kenai head coach Jeff Baker switched him to the defensive side of the ball when he arrived at the high school level.
“I think living in Bethel helped Todd get to where he is today,” said his father who played high school football as a teenager in Seffner, Florida. “It toughened him. The environment and the weather made him tough. He’s very self-sufficient and determined, two things that are really important in football and life.”
A back-up defensive end, Kruger is part of a stingy Kenai defensive unit. Through the Kardinals’ first nine games, Kenai allowed opposing offenses just eight points per outing.
With Kiefer and Kruger helping shoulder the offensive and defensive load, the Kardinals opened the season with a bang. The team reeled off eight straight wins, including six shutouts, before heading into the final week of the regular season to face Soldotna for the Northern Lights Conference crown.
Soldotna won the conference crown and took the No. 1 seed for the small-school playoffs. The loss dropped the Kardinals into a first-round showdown with the Barrow Whalers, the first football team from rural Alaska.
Kenai won their playoff opener easily, claiming a 47-13 decision. The win over Barrow propelled the Kardinals into the semifinals against Kodiak.
Kiefer and Kruger are far from the only western Alaska athletes making a name for themselves on the high school football field. Former Bethel resident Aaron Richardson is also making waves as a member of the Houston High School Hawks.
Richardson is the son of Clarence “Rooster” and Crystal Richardson.
“It was kind of neat to play them earlier this year,” said Kruger. “The boys have all known each other since their days in Bethel,” said Jon Kruger, noting his youngest son will be playing for KCHS next fall.
Kenai defeated Houston in Week 2 of the season by a 71-0 margin.
Another pair of western Alaskans are playing football in the Lower 48. Former Nome Elementary students Tommy Wells Jr. and Bobby Wells – the sons of Tommy and Patricia Wells – are members of the Strawn High School Greyhounds’ football program in northcentral Texas.
A senior, Tommy is a quarterback/safety for Strawn, which won the six-man state championship a year ago. Bobby Wells is a freshman running back.
Strawn is 19-2 over the past two seasons under head coach Dwaine Lee. The team entered the 2009 season ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and Canada among all six-man football programs.
Warriors sprint to fourth at
1-2-3A state meet
10-6-09
by Tommy Wells
PALMER – You can officially write down the Bethel Regional High School Warriors among the state’s best Class 1-2-3A crosscountry teams.
And, while you are at it, pencil in Harald Paniyak and Billy Night in among the best runners.
The Warriors, powered by solid performances from Corbin LePore and Randy Hanson, raced their way the fourth in the final standings at the 1-2-3A state cross-country running championships on Saturday at Palmer High School’s Janecek Trails. Bethel rolled up 111 points in the meet and finished behind only Grace Christian, Seward and Nome-Beltz in the boys’ team standings.
Paniyak, a standout at Chevak, was the fastest western Alaskan at the meet. He legged out a time of 17 minutes and 3.6 seconds and placed seventh overall. A Hooper Bay standout, Night placed 17th overall at 17:36.
LePore and Hanson powered the Warriors’ efforts on the 5-kilometer race. LePore got off to a strong start in the race and finished 19th in the individual standings. His final time in the event was 17:39.6.
Hanson finished less than two seconds after LePore, placing 20th overall at 17:41.3
Overall, Bethel had five runners finish in the top 61 in the individual standings, and seven in the top 80. More than 110 high school runners from throughout the state participated in the race.
Jeremiah Klejka was the Warriors’ third-best finisher at state. He legged out a time of 18:04.7 and finished at No. 31 in the standings.
Seth O’Brien and Jesse Klejka also starred at the event. O’Brien placed 48th with a time of 18:24.9, while Klejka – the younger brother of Jeremiah Klejka – checked in at No. 61 with a time of 18:48.
Ryan Chavez and Michael Polk finished 74th and 79th, respectively.
Adrian Alexie etched Tuluksak’s name into the top 30 with a strong performance. The 9th grader from the Kuskokwim river village sprinted to a 30th-place finish with a time of 18:02.9.
The regional also picked up stellar efforts from Chevak’s Conor Ferguson, Brian Andrews and Toksook Bay’s George John. Ferguson was 53rd overall with a time of 18:35.2, while Andrews and John placed 71st and 82nd, respectively.
Alaska School Activities Association/First National Bank Alaska State Cross-Country Running Championships Saturday, Michael Janecek Running Trail, Palmer High Class 1-2-3A Boys Results
Team scores -- 1, Grace Christian 27. 2, Seward 84. 3, Nome Beltz 109. 4, Bethel 111. 5, Sitka 146. 6, Anchorage Christian 149. 7, Craig 149. 8, Mount Edgecumbe 174. 9, Eielson 205. 10, Galena 309.
Hunter, Y-K runners
shine at state meet
by Tommy Wells
PALMER – Jaclyn Hunter, Marissa Tomaganuk, Eniana Pellumbi and Margaret Anderson used the trip to the state cross country meet for two things this past weekend: they proved they were among the top runners in the state by turning in impressive efforts at the Class 1-2-3A state cross country meet. All four placed in the top 40 in the girls’ division.
Secondly, they used the chance to see the big city.
Hunter, a Scammon Bay standout, posted the top finish by any Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta runner by legging out a time of 21 minutes and 31.5 seconds, and finished 14th in the final standings.
Tomaganuk, Pellumbi and Anderson added to the Y-K’s prestige by claiming No. 32, No. 34 and No. 37, respectively. Tomaganuk, a Hooper Bay star, completed the race at No. 32 with a time of 22:24.7.
Pellumbi, a top runner for Bethel Regional High School, was 34th at 22:25.3, while Anderson, a Chevak standout, was 37th at 22:36.7.
Chevak also picked up solid performances from Chelsea Lake. Lake ran her way to 48th in the girls’ standings with a time of 22:57.9. Chelsea Beans-Polk of Bethel was 58th at 23:27.
Scammon Bay’s Carla Uttereyuk and Bethel’s Kira Polk also competed in the race, taking 67th and 88th, respectively.
State Cross-Country Running Championships Saturday, Michael Janecek Running Trail, Palmer Hig Class 1-2-3A Girls Results
Team scores -- 1, Grace Christian 36. 2, Sitka 96. 3, Seward 107. 4, Monroe 119. 5, Skagway 124. 6, Dillingham 150. 7, Craig 162. 8, Anchorage Christian School 178. 9, Kotzebue 196.
Hunter, Pellumbi among
eight to qualify for state meet
Volleyball Action Photos Here!
9-30-09
by Tommy Wells
UNALASKA – Jaclyn Hunter and Eniani Pellumbi were among eight area girls nailing down berths in the Alaska Schools Activities Association’s 2009 Cross Country State Championships this past weekend by staging strong performances at the Region I South Cross Country meet.
The top two teams, as well as the top 15 runners in the boys’ and girls’ division advance to the state meet, which is slated for Oct. 3 in Palmer.
Hunter, a senior at Scammon Bay High School, made sure she would be one of the runners to watch next weekend by placing second in the regional meet. She completed the 5-kilometer course in a time of 20 minutes and 16 seconds.
Hunter’s time was just 49 seconds off the winning pace set by Port Lions’ Katie Strong.
Pellumbi, the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors’ top runner, added her name to the list of state title contenders with a fifth-place finish. A junior long-distance runner, she posted a time of 21:09, and finished just three seconds behind Dillingham’s Amanda McGill for fourth.
Chevak’s Margaret Anderson also did well. She placed sixth in the final standings with a time of 21:21.
Marissa Tomaganuk and Chelsea Lake both legged out top 10 runs at the meet. Tomaganuk, a senior at Hooper Bay, edged out Lake, a sophomore at Chevak, by one second to claim eighth. Tomaganuk’s time in the race was 21:27.
Lake checked in at 21:28.
Pellumbi was far from the only BRHS runner earning a trip to the state meet. The Lady Warriors’ Chelsea Beans-Polk and Kira Polk both picked up invitations with top 15 efforts.
Beans-Polk placed 12th overall with a time of 22:24. Kira Polk was 15th at 23:14.
Scammon Bay’s Carla Uttereyuk joined Hunter in representing SCHS at the state meet. Uttereyuk was 14th overall at 22:32.
Togiak’s Whitney Carlos checked in at No. 13 and will also advance to the state meet.
The Dillingham Lady Wolverines walked away from the meet as the Region I South girls’ team champion. Dillingham scored just 40 points and had three runners place in the top seven spots.
Paniyak, Warriors claim
Region I South titles
by Tommy Wells
UNALASKA – Harald Paniyak and the Bethel Region High School Warriors each went into the Region I South Cross Country Championships with a goal in mind. Both wanted to win.
They did.
Paniyak turned in an outstanding effort Saturday and nailed down the Region I South’s top individual honors. While Paniyak was proving he was one of the top individual runners in the state, the Warriors made it clear they are one of the state’s best teams. Sparked by having four runners finish in the top 15, Bethel amassed just 35 points and ran away with the Region I South crown.
By placing first at the regional meet, the Warriors earned a trip to the Alaska Schools Activities Association state championship meet on Oct. 3 at Palmer. The top finishers in the boys’ and girls’ division will also advance to the state meet.
Paniyak was without equal in the boys’ 5-kilometer race. After getting off to a quick start, the Chevak High School senior took control. He, along with Bethel’s Randy Hanson, sprinted to the front of the pack and began building a lead over the rest of the field.
Paniyak managed to pull away from Hanson over the final half of the race. He completed the race in a time of 16 minutes and 38 seconds – seven seconds ahead of Hanson, who earned the Region I South runner-up honors with a time of 16:45.
Even though Hanson didn’t win the Region I South title, he led an outstanding effort by the Warriors. Bethel had four runners sprint their way into the top 13.
Sophomore Corbin LePore followed Hanson into boys’ final standings, finishing third overall with a time of 16:53.
Jeremiah Klejka was the third BRHS runner to finish in the top 10. The junior raced his way to seventh overall with a final time of 17:15. His time was just four seconds behind Hooper Bay’s Billy Night, and just six seconds off the fifth-place total posted by Tuluksak’s Adrian Alexie.
Seth O’Brien was the fourth BRHS runner to finish in the top 15. A junior at BRHS, he checked in at No. 13 in the final standings with a time of 17:48.
Paniyak wasn’t the only Chevak standout doing well at the race. Teammates Conor Ferguson and Brian Andrews also did well. Ferguson sprinted to eighth in the boys’ standings with a time of 17:21. Andrews, who has finished in the top 20 in almost every race he has participated in this fall, was 11th at 17:45.
Toksook Bay’s George John also did well, earning a trip to the state meet by placing 10th in the Region I South standings. John completed the course with a mark of 17:35.
Chevak added to its cross country resume even more following the race. The Comets were presented with the Region I South Grade Point Average award for having the highest cumulative GPA of all schools entered.
Lady Comets’ Anderson
races to Bethel Invite title
Cross Country Action Photos Here!
9-22-09
by Tommy Wells
Margaret Anderson knew one thing when she stepped to the starting line for the 2009 Bethel Invitational Cross Country Meet. She was expected to do well. The Chevak High School standout didn’t disappoint anyone.
Anderson edged out more than 20 other runners for the top spot in the varsity girls’ division. She completed the Bethel Sand pit course in a time of 26 minutes and 14 seconds.
Anderson’s final time was seven seconds batter than her nearest competitor, Nome’s AnnieKate Olson.
Anderson wasn’t the only Chevak turning in outstanding efforts in the race. Teammates Chelsea Lake, Kerri Tall and Tess Hardiman-Agimuk all legged out top 10 finishes. Lake placed third overall with a time of 27:24. Tall and Hardiman-Agimuk were seventh and ninth, respectively.
Chevak’s Trish Tuluk and Amber Jones also did well for the Lady Comets. Coming in at No. 13 and No. 16, respectively.
Eniana Pellumbi highlighted a strong showing by the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors. Pellumbi was fourth in the final standings with a time of 27:37.
Chelsey Beans-Polk and Kira Polk also registered top 10 efforts. Beans-Polk was sixth, while Polk checked in at No. 10.
Christine McElwee just missed cracking the top 10. She placed 11th with a time of 30:51.
The Lady Warriors also garnered solid runs from Tanya Chavez (15th), Elin McWilliams (18th), Florence Ashepak (19th) and Chrissy Elliott (22nd).
Oscarville’s Jackie Joekay and Eek’s Bevgerly Alexie both turned in solid outings. Joekay was 20th overall, while Alexie was 21st.
Akiachak’s Kristine Larson was 23rd.
Nome’s Rosa Schmidt held off a hard push from Bethel eighth graders Molly Graham and Alison Oscar to win the junior high girls’ race.
Schmidt posted a time of 12 minutes and 46 seconds. Graham and Oscar placed second and third, respectively.
Kwethluk’s Carmen Rivers was fourth.
LePore, Hanson lead Warriors
to second at Bethel Invitational
by Tommy Wells
BETHEL – Corbin LePore and Randy Hanson both legged out top 10 finishes Saturday and helped lead the Bethel Regional High School Warriors to second at the 2009 Bethel Invitational Cross Country Meet.
The Nome-Beltz Nanooks won the boys’ team title. Nome had five runners finish among the top 17 spots and tallied just 40 points. Bethel placed second with 47, while Chevak netted third.
Nome’s Teddy Payenna and Jeremy Head gave the Nanooks the top two spots in the varsity boys’ standings. Payenna won the 5-kilometer race in a time of 19 minutes and 28 seconds. His time was five seconds faster that Head’s mark of 19:33.
Chevak’s Harold Paniyak continued to prove he was one of the top runners in western Alaska by placing third. He finished just ahead of LePore with a time of 20:13.
A sophomore at BRHS, LePore was the Warriors’ top runner. He outran Chevak’s Conor Ferguson over the last 400 yards and completing the course in a time of 20:42.
Ferguson was fifth overall with a time of 20:46.
Randy Hanson and Seth O’Brien added to the Warriors’ solid performance. A senior, Hanson legged out a time of 21:02 and finished sixth. Hanson gave Bethel three top 10 finishers by placing 10th with a time of 21:38.
Elliot Hoffman just missed giving BRHS a fourth top 10 spot. He turned in a stellar effort en route to finishing 11th. He final time was 21:52 – just three seconds slower O’Brien’s mark.
Sophomore Jeremiah Klejka added to the Warriors’ impressive outing. He finished 16th overall at 22:01.
The Nanooks managed to seal the team win by having runners finish 10th, 13th and 14th.
Paniyak wasn’t the only Chevak runner cracking the top 10. Conor Ferguson raced to a fifth-place mark in the event, while Brian Andrews finished eighth.
Bethel also picked up solid runs from senior Ryan Chavez and Joseph Swope. Chevez placed 19th, while Swope earned 20th.
Senior Mike Polk also an well, as did Martin Oulton, Trevour Chavez and Doug Corp. Polk finished at No. 22, while Oulton, Chavez and Corp gave BRHS a 26-27-28 finish, respectively.
Ben Bean and Mack Lincoln placed 34th and 35th, respectively, while Mike White and Francis Bailey checked in at 49th and 62nd.
Chevak’s Jo Bukowski and Thomas Bukowkski dominated the junior high boys’ race. The two finished first and second, respectively.
Cory LePore of Bethel was third. Overall, Bethel had five runners finish in the top 20, including Ito Naneng (5th), Taylor Hoffman (8th), Jerek Pete (9th) and John Oulton (16th).
Orlando Daniel of Atmautluak was 4th, with a time of 11:21. Alexie Galila of Quinhagak was 10th at 11:39.
Hooper Bay runs away with LYSD cross country crown
by Tommy Wells
RUSSIAN MISSION – Billy Night sprinted across the finish line Saturday afternoon in Russian Mission and helped the Hooper Bay Warriors added to their trophy collection. Not only did the Hooper Bay standout win the individual honors at the 2009 Lower Yukon School District Cross Country Meet, he helped his team claim the overall boys’ team title.
Keyed by having Night and two other runners finish in the top 10, the Warriors edged out Emmonak and Mountain Village in the team standings. Hooper Bay tallied just 12 points in the meet, eight less than runner-up Emmonak.
Scammon Bay won the girls’ team title, edging out Mountain Village in the final standings. Hooper Bay was third.
Night was without equal in the boys’ 5-kilometer race. He completed the course nearly two minutes ahead of Wassillie Changsak. Night’s final time was 18 minutes and 20 seconds.
Changsak checked in at 20:06 – 1 minute and 46 seconds off the winning pace.
Jalen Paukan finished third, finishing the race in a time of 20:32. Leemon Bunyan and Stephen Waska rounded out the top five in the race.
Scammon Bay’s Jaclyne Hunter was just as impressive in the girls’ race, finishing almost two minutes ahead of Marissa Tomaganuk.
Hunter’s final time was 21 minutes and 15 seconds. Tomaganuk checked in at 23:09.
Carla Uttereyuk, Tiffany Ahwiak and Kaylene Tomaganuk finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
The top finishers in the boys’ and the girls’ races advance to the regional cross country meet later this month.
2009 LYSD Cross Country Meet Final Team Standings
Boys: 1. Hooper Bay; 2. Emmonak; 3. Mountain Village
Girls: 1.Scammon Bay; 2. Mountain Village; 3. Hooper Bay
Individual Results (Top 20 only)
Boys: 1. Billy Night 18:20; 2. Wassillie Changsak 20:06; 3. Jalen Paukan 20:32; 4. Leeman Bunyon 20:49; 5. Stephan Waska 20:58; 6. Darrel Waska 21:00; 7. Tom Bellard 22:26; 8. Mike Martin 22:36; 9. Dalles Agathlun 22:37; 10. Hank Uttereyuk 22:58; 11. John Aguchak 23:10; 12. Warren Paukan 23:15; 13. Darrel Hootch 23.18; 14. Christopher Long Jr. 23:23; 15. Corey Olson 24:04; 16. Roderick Hanson 24:10; 17. Dominic Kokrine 24:13; 18. Eugene Stevens II 24:25; 19. Leo Aguchak 24:32; 20. Steven Pitka 24:47
Girls: 1. Jaclyne Hunter 21:15; 2. Marissa Tomaganuk 23:09; 3. Carla Uttereyuk 24:04; 4. Tiffany Agwiak 24:37; 5. Kaylene Tomaganuk 25:27; 6. Denise Hunter 25:47; 7. Misti Moses 28:08; 8. Loretta Agwiak 29:03; 9. Tiffany George 30:01; 10. Ariel Williams 31:30; 11. Maggie Beans 31:49
John sprints to Islander Invitational crown
9-16-09
by Tommy Wells
George John simply could not be stopped Saturday.
Not by mud. Not by the course. Not even by almost losing a shoe.
Despite running in muddy conditions, the Toksook Bay High School standout cruised to an easy win at the Islander Invitational Cross Country Meet.
Just how easy was John’s win? Consider this, despite the course conditions, his winning time was more than 5 minutes faster than his nearest competitor. John finished the 5-kilometer race in a time of 21 minutes and 19 seconds. His final mark was just two minutes off the Islander Invitational course record.
Mekoryuk’s Teddy Whitman finished second overall. He posted a time of 26:25 on the trail. Kongiganak’s Kevin Brown raced to third in the standings. He finished just seven seconds after Whitman, at 25:32.
Nightmute’s Elia Tulik and Joshua Dull rounded out the race’s top five spots, respectively. Tulik was fourth with a time of 28:06, while Dull checked in fifth at 28:26.
Other runners competing in the race included Toksook Bay’s Moses Charles and Derek Kusaiak, Kongiganak’s Kevin Brown, Goodnews Bays’ Charlie Mark, Mekoryuk’s Jeremy Oscar and Tununak’s Michael Albert.
Warriors, Comets
shine at Palmer Invitational
by Tommy Wells
PALMER – The Bethel Regional High School Warriors and Chevak High School Comets sent a clear message to the rest of the state Saturday that they would be teams to reckon with this season.
Real dangerous teams.
Bethel and Chevak sprinted to fourth and fifth place, respectively, in the Class 1-2-3A division at the Palmer Invitational Cross County Meet. The Warriors, who had five runners place in the top 35, rolled up just 119 points in the event. Chevak had five runners finish among the top 50 spots.
Corbin LePore highlighted Bethel’s efforts at the 5-kilometer race. He finished 13th in the overall boys’ standings. He completed the course in a time of 17 minutes and 43.53 seconds.
The Warriors’ Randy Hanson also turned in a solid performance, finshing 18th at 17:54.53. Bethel’s Jeremiah Klejka, Elliot Hoffman and Seth O’Brien also ran well. Klejka finished 27th at 18:26.73. Hoffman finshed two places later, at 29th, with a time of 18:29.16. O’Brien completed the race in 33rd position, at 18:40.26.
Chevak’s Harold Paniyak turned in the top effort of all western Alaska runners at the event. He finished seventh in the boys’ standings with a time of 17:11.40. Comets’ standout Brian Andrews also ran well, placing 16th overall with a time of 17:51.53. Conor Ferguson also notched a top 40 run, finishing 36th overall.
Grace Christian’s Jacob Kirk won the Class 1-2-3A title with a run of 15:56.41.
Led by Kirk’s run, Grace Christian won the top spot in the team race, finishing first with 30 points. Nome-Beltz and Anchorage Christian finished second and third, respectively.
The Warriors’ and Comets’ showing at the Palmer Invitational came on the heels of stellar efforts on Friday at the Anchorage Christian School Class Race. Freshman and sophomores competed against one another, while juniors and seniors competed in the 3-kilometer event.
LePore was second overall in the Freshman/Sophomore race, finishing at 10:46.10. Grace Christian’s John Klein won the race with a time of 10:32.90.
Klejka and Hoffman also turned in outstanding runs. Klejka was seventh in the younger division with a time of 11:12.70, while Hoffman finished 15th overall at 11:29.90. Hanson was 11th in the Junior/Senior division.
Paniyak and Ferguson highlighted the Comets’ efforts. Paniyak raced his way to seventh overall in the Junior/Senior bracket with a time of 10:33.00, while Ferguson was 12th at 10:48.90.
Pellumbi shines at
Palmer, ACS meets
by Tommy Wells
PALMER – Eniana Pellumbi turned more than a few heads this past weekend with her performances at the Anchorage Christian School Class Race and the Palmer Invitational Cross Country Meet.
The Bethel Regional High School standout opened the weekend’s action with a stellar effort at ACS’ Class Race. She legged out a time of 13 minutes and 4.3 seconds in the 3-kilomer race and finished seventh in the Junior/Senior division.
Skyview’s Ivy O’Guinn won the Junior/Senior race with a time of 11:40.90.
Pellumbi came back on Saturday and ran the 13th in the girls’ standings at the Palmer Invitational Class 1-2-3A event. Pellumbi turned in a time of 22:33.95 in the 5-kilometer event. Bethel’s Chelsey Beans-Polk also ran well at Palmer, finishing 36th overall with a time of 23:52.87.
Chevak also picked up solid performances from Chelsea Lake, Margaret Anderson and Tess Hardiman-Agimuk. Lake was 23rd in the final standings with a run of 22:54.76.
Anderson, who finished 14th in the ACS Class Race on Friday, nailed down 28th in the Palmer meet. Hardiman-Agimuk was 30th.
Jackson sprints to easy win in Akula
9-10-09
by Tommy Wells
Martin Jackson knew going into the Akula Cross County Championships this past Saturday that everyone in western Alaska had put a target on his back.
The fact that everyone wanted to beat him didn’t faze the Kwethluk High School standout a bit. All his did was make sure everyone saw the target – from a distance.
Jackson sprinted to the top spot in the high school boys’ division, outrunning the top of the field of the field by more than two minutes. Martin covered the 5-kilometer course in a time of 22 minutes, 36 seconds – more than 2 and one-half minutes ahead of teammate Kenneth Jackson, who checked in at 25:10.
The 1-2 finish marked the second consecutive week Martin and Kenneth Jackson have placed first and second in a cross-country race. Last weekend, they raced to the top of the Kwethluk meet standings.
The Martin Jackson-Kenneth Jackson wasn’t the only thing the Kings’ cross-country coach had reason to smile. Kwethluk’s Joshua Sergie gave the Kings a clean sweep of the top three spots by racing his way to third. Sergie’s final time was 25:57.
Akula’s Carrie Beaver was dominant on her home course. She netter her second win in as many weeks by legging out a time of 31:39 in the girls’ division.
Newtok’s Erica Tom finished second in the girls’ race, checking in a distant second with a mark of 34:04.
Gilbert Charles and Kevin Brown ended the Kings’ dominance of the boys’ standings by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. A standout at Newtok, Charles finished fourth at 26:52. Brown was Kongiganak’s top runner with a time of 27:54.
Newtok’s Michael Charles edged out a pair of Nightmute runners for sixth. Elia Tulik and Joshua Dull finished behind Charles, while Oscarville’s Nick Joekay finished ninth.
Newtok’s Mark Kassauli and Mike Fairbanks rounded out the top 11 spots.
Akiachak’s Chelsea Kasayulie finished third in the girls’ standings with a time of 35:16. Oscarville standouts Chinace and Jackie Joekay placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Akiachak’s Kristine Larson placed sixth.
Akula Cross Country Meet Final Standings
High School Boys
1. Martin Jackson (Kwethluk) 22:36
2. Kenneth Jackson (Kwethluk) 25:10
3. Joshua Sergie (Kwethluk) 25:57
4. Gilbert Charles (Newtok) 26:52
5. Kevin Brown (Kong) 27:54
6. Micheal Charles (Newtok) 29:15
7. Elia Tulik (Nightmute) 30:50
8. Joshua Dull (Nightmute) 31:10
9. Nick Joekay (Oscarville) 31:25
10. Mark Kassauli (Newtok) 40:42
11. Mike Fairbanks (Newtok) 44:59
High School Girls
1. Carrie Beaver (Akula) 31:39
2. Erica Tom (Newtok) 34:04
3. Chelsea Kasayulie (AKK) 35:16
4. Chinace Egoak (Oscarville) 36:25
5. Jackie Joekay (Oscarville) 38:01
6. Kristine Larson (AKK) 40:44
Phillip, David race to
Akula CC junior high crowns
by Tommy Wells
Brandon Phillip and Jessica David of Kongiganak both raced their way to the top of the Akula Cross Country meet’s junior high divisions on Saturday. Phillip won the boys’ title, while David legged out a win in the girls’ division.
Phillip used a hard kick to outdistance Atmautluak’s Orlando Daniel over the last one kilometer of the race to net the win. Phillip’s late push enabled him to turn in a time of 18 minutes and 13 seconds.
Daniel finshed 13 seconds later with a time of 18:27.
Kongiganak’s Stacey Paul placed third in the boys’ standings, finishing just ahead of Newtok’s Evan George and Kwethluk’s Moses Howard and Moses Jackson.
Jordan George and Emmett Paul staged one of the more exciting runs at the meet. George, a Newtok standout, edged out Atmautluak’s Paul by just one second and grabbed seventh overall.
Nightmute’s Sipary George and Oscarville’s Kalila Berezkin rounded out the race’s top 10 spots, while Kongiganak’s Ellis Beaver and Brian Andrew and Nightmute’s Imen George rounded out the 13-man boys’ field.
David posted an easy win in the girls’ race, winning by 44 seconds over teammate Zoya Brown. David’s final time was 23:03, while Brown crossed the finish line at 23:47.
Atmautlak’s Freda Alexie, and Kongiganak’s Katy Miller and Gorgeous Shangin rounded out the girls’ top five spots.
Joining Brown, Miller and Shangin in the top 10 from Kongiganak was Mariel Otto (seventh). Asisalyn Jackson of Akiachak was sixth. Joining Atmautluak’s Alexie in the top 10 were Frankie Pavilla (eighth), Makenzie Fry (ninth) and Shannon Stone (10th).
Akula Junior High School Cross Country Meet Final Standings
Junior High Boys
1. Brandon Phillip (Kong.) 18:13
2. Orlando Daniel (Atmau.)18:27
3. Stacey Paul (Kong.) 19:17
4. Evan George (Newtok) 19:29
5. Moses Howard (Kwethluk) 19:42
6. Moses Jackson (Kwethluk) 19:50
7. Jordan George (Newtok) 20:01
8. Emmett Paul (Atmau.) 20:02
9. Sipary George (Nightmute) 20:08
10. Kalila Berezkin (Oscarville) 20:57
11. Ellis Beaver (Kong) 22:25
12. Brian Andrew (Kong.) 22:40
13. Imen George (Nightmute) 22:52
Junior High Girls
1. Jessica David (Kong) 23:03
2. Zoya Brown (Kong) 23:47
3. Freda Alexie (Atmau) 24:41
4. Katy Miller (Kong) 25:12
5. Gorgeous Shangin (Kong) 25:18
6. Asisalyn Jackson (AKK) 26:09
7. Mariel Otto (Kong) 27:52
8. Frankie Pavilla (Atmau) 29:57
9. Makenzie Fry (Atmau) 39:38
10. Shannon Stone (Atmau)
Paniyak, Comets place
second at Nome Invitational
by Tommy Wells
Harald Paniyak went into the Nome Invitational Cross Country Meet knowing he and his Chevak High School teammates would need a strong performance to finish high in the large-school dominated meet.
Neither Paniyak or the Comets disappointed anyone.
Paniyak raced to second place in the high school boys’ division and helped power Chevak to second place in the overall team standings. Paniyak and teammates Brian Andrew, Conor Ferguson and Nathaniel Friday all finished in the top 15 at the event.
Paniyak paced the Comets’ efforts at the meet, which was held Aug. 28 in Nome. He legged out a time of 17 minutes and 48 seconds in the 5-kilometer race. His final mark was just 18 seconds off the winning time posted by Nome’s Jeremy Head.
Andrew and Ferguson added to the Comets’ stellar effort by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Andrew completed the 3.2-mile course in a time of 18:51, while Ferguson finished at 19:18.
Friday was 13th overall at 21:34, while teammate Shane Lake was 16th at 21:34.
Unalakleet’s Dion Foote and Jonathan Hauson placed 25th and 27th, respectively.
Nome won the boys’ overall team crown by scoring just 25 points. Chevak netted 36, while Kotzebue finished third with 59.
The Chevak Lady Comets also posted an impressive effort. Competing with just three runners, the Lady Comets posted a 4-5-6 finish.
Chelsea Lake led Chevak’s effort by placing fourth with a time of 25:10. Margaret Anderson was fifth, finishing just five seconds later. Tess Hardiman-Agimuk was sixth at 25:16.
Nome’s AnnieKate Olson won the girls’ race with a time of 23:44. Unalakleet’s Willow Leedy and Jennie Katchatag took 16th and 20th.
Jackson adds to
dominance at Kwethluk meet
9-1-09
by Tommy Wells
Martin Jackson is about as close to a sure thing in Kwethluk as there is. Even more so that taxes. On Friday, August 28th, Jackson nailed yet another win at the Kwethluk Cross County Meet by sprinting to an easy win in front of his home crowd. Jackson has won the race four straight years, dating back to 2006.
Jackson didn’t just win the meet’s high school boys’ championship. He owned it. He cruised through the combination road and trail course and posted a time of 17 minutes and 52 seconds.
Jackson’s final time was almost two minutes ahead of his nearest competitor, teammate Kenneth Jackson, who checked in at 19:44. Joshua Sergie added to Kwethluk’s dominance. He placed fourth overall and gave the Kings three of the top five places.
Akiuk’s Manuel Seal was third in the high school boys’ division. He legged out a time of 20:09. Oscarville’s Nick Joekay was fifth.
While Jackson was etching his name into the Kwethluk history books, Carrie Beaver penciled her name in among the race’s female winners. The Akula runner won the high school girls’ division by outrunning Oscarville’s Chanice Egoak to the finish line. Beaver finished the race with a time of 26:58, well ahead of Egoak’s time of 28:49.
Oscarville’s Jackie Joekay edged out Akiachak’s Kristine Larson for third.
The closest race of the day came in the junior high boys’ division where three runners were separated by a total of two seconds. Oscarville’s Adolph Lincoln won the boys’ race with a time of 12:43. He edged out Akiachak’s Fritz Jackson by one second. Kwethluk’s Moses Jackson was third, finishing with a time of 12:45.
Akiachak’s Joseph Charles and Oscarville’s Henry Berezkin rounded out the junior high boys’ top five.
Nunapitchuk’s Destiny Sergie and Natalia Serradell finished first and second, respectively, in the junior high girls’ race. Sergie managed to win with a time of 15:07. Serradell checked in at 16:11.
Akiachak runner finishes
third at Humpy’s marathon
8-27-09
ANCHORAGE – Scott Kasayulie always knew his legs were going to take him places when he was growing up. And they did. As a youngster growing up in Akiachak, he ran to the village store and all around over the western Alaska community. When he was in high school, he ran as part of the Huskies’ cross country and basketball teams.
Now a 19-year-old student at the University of Alaska at Anchorage, Kasayulie’s legs carried him to what may well be his most impressive effort. Last Sunday, he finished third in his age division at the Humpy’s Marathon.
It was a dream come true for Kasayulie.
“I’ve always wanted to run a marathon,” he said. “I trained most of last summer for the marathon here in town (Anchorage). Since it was my first marathon, I didn’t have a specific time I was shooting for. I just wanted to run it the best that I could and I was pleased with the time I had.”
He finished 68th overall in the 26.2-mile race. His final time was 4 hours, 15.53 seconds.
Kasayulie spent much of the last year preparing for his marathon debut. To prepare his body for the rigors of long-distance running, he participated in four other races before entering the Humpy’s Marathon. Among the other events he raced in were the Heart Run, the Mayor’s Half Marathon, the Alaska Men’s Race and the Alaska 10K Classic.
“I signed up for the other races to help me build experience for these type of races,” he said.
Kasayulie’s final time was juts 33 minutes off the top finisher’s mark in his age division. Anchorage’s Andres Mallipudi won the division with a time of 3:42.48.
For Kasayulie, the appearance in the marathon highlighted a running career than began more than seven years ago when he lived in western Alaska. He began running seriously at the age of 12, and continued to train throughout high school while also competing in various other sports, including basketball and Native Youth Olympics.
Kasayulie wasn’t the only rural runner doing well at the race. Bethel marathoner Greg Lincoln finished 24th overall by turning in a time of 3 hours and 34 minutes.
Despite his effort, Lincoln said he was more impressed with Kasayulie’s effort.
“I can’t believe he did that and he’s only 19,” Lincoln said. “I hope he continues running in the future.”
Kasayulie said he had no intentions of quitting – and that he would like to see more rural Alaskans take up the sport.
“Running is a very big part of my life, and I will definitely be running in many more marathons and other long-distance (running) for many years to come.”
“It would definitely be a wonderful thing if more Native runners participated in any big running events,” he said. “It is something everyone should experience.”
The Next Generation
Mike Williams Jr. set to follow father’s trail on Iditarod
7-30-09
by Tommy Wells
AKIAK – There is an old saying among mushers that rings true for Mike Williams Sr. when he looks up and sees his son working endlessly with his team of dogs.
Truly, where Mike Williams Jr. is in his career, his father once was. And, where Mike Williams Sr. is, his son will one day be.
Where that is, is the honor of being an Idiatrod Trail Sled Dog Race veteran.
Mike Williams Jr. etched his name into Yukon-Kuskokwim history last week when he entered into the 2010 Iditarod race. The 25-year-old Iditarod rookie will become the second generation of Williamses to make the historic run this March.
“He has helped and earned the privilege of running the world-class races,” said Mike Williams Sr., himself a veteran of more than a dozen Iditarod races. “He wants to run (the race) after helping me run the Iditarod for years for the major cause of sobriety.”
“It has been a dream of mine to run the Iditarod,” said the younger Williams. “I have been running dogs since childhood and I have always loved to run and race sled dogs.”
Mike Williams Jr. has already qualified for the Iditarod, an 1,100-mile race from Anchorage to Nome. He turned in solid efforts in both of his two qualifying races earlier this year. He was eighth in the Kobuk 440 and then mushed his way to an eighth-place finish in the grueling Kuskokwim 300 in January.
In all, 61 mushers have registered for the 2010 Iditarod race, including Lance Mackey, Jeff King and former Bethel resident Dee Dee Jonrowe.
Williams said his son would be continuing another family tradition on the Iditarod trail: promoting healthy living.
“He is concerned for the health and well-being of our young people,” his father said. “Mike wants to help show them they can make the best of their lives by living educated, substance abuse-free lives.”
“He’s also helping to keep the dog mushing culture alive,” his father added.
Having already had his entry fee paid, the elder Williams said his son still needed sponsorship assistance in order to compete in the Last Great Race.
“It will help him with his transportation costs for the team and dogs, transportation of the commercial feed from Anchorage to Akiak, dog booties, vet care, handler help and other expenses associated with running the races,” he said.
Williams urged any area residents or businesses that would like to help to contact him via email at mwilliams19522004@yahoo.com or via phone at (907) 765-7426 or (907) 765-2061.
Williams said several sponsors have already come on board to help sponsor his son, including GCI, Inc., YKHC Diabetes Prevention Program, YKHC, Coastal Villages Region Fund, American Seafoods Company, Dr. Bob Sept DVM, Bob and Carol Hickel, Bill Eisenbart and Mary Whitaker, Akiak Native Community, Kokarmiut Corporation, City of Akiak, Lynden Air Cargo, Vern Cherneski, Raymie and Barb Redington, Best Storage, Arctic Transportation Services and Northern Air Cargo.
Will there be two Williamses on the trail in 2010?
Probably not, Mike Williams Sr. said. Financial concerns – which keep most rural mushers from entering the Iditarod – will likely prohibit the elder Williams from taking to the trail this coming year.
“I was hoping we could run together but it is a lack of funding that prevents us from doing so,” he said. “If good sponsorship comes around, then we will.”
With Williams’ entry into the race, western Alaska will now have two Native mushers in the field. Unalakleet’s Middy Johnson will also be competing in the race.
Kwethluk runners take on Mayor’s Marathon
7-9-09
by Aaron Kennedy
June 20th, two young men from Kwethluk - Joshua Sergie and Martin Jackson, ran and finished their first marathon - the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage.
They had trained hard since February after basketball season. Their training involved various workouts including: sprinting and longer and longer long runs. You may have even seen them running on the ice road before break up. They had run in cross country before, but a marathon is 26.2 miles. Much longer than the three miles in cross country.
After a lot of tiring workouts, race day came. Josh had race number 806 and Martin had race number 807. The race started at eight in the morning at Bartlett High School in Anchorage and finished at West High School. Martin finished the race in 3 hours and 35 minutes. Josh finished the race in 4 hours 39 minutes. I watched them both finish the race very strong. Their determination and hard work made them great representatives at the race for the village of Kwethluk. If you would like to know more about the marathon, visit http://www.mayorsmarathon.com.
Bethel Freestyle wrestlers
compete in Wasilla
5-14-09
by Darren Lieb
Thirty-five Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club wrestlers competed in the 2009 Alaska USA Wrestling State Freestyle & Greco Roman tournament which was held at the Wasilla Sports Complex in Wasilla May 1st and 2nd.
Friday’s All Girls Wrestling results:
Kayla Williams - 4th place Schoolgirl Div. 120 lbs.; Alison Oscar - 2nd place Schoolgirl div. 105 lbs.; Temyka Ayuluk - 1st place Novice 80 lbs.; Alexia Ayuluk also competed but did not place.
Friday’s Greco Roman Wrestling results:
Evan Dyment -1st place Schoolboy Div. 84 lbs.; Zach Pleasant - 1st place Cadet div. 112 lbs.; Mario Kuqo - 2nd place Cadet 119 lbs.; Brayton Lieb - 2nd place Cadet 130 lbs.; Martin Oulton - 2nd place Cadet 152 lbs.; Timothy Robb - 2nd place Cadet 215 lbs.; Randy Hanson - 2nd place Junior Div. 135 lbs.; Carl Fox - 2nd place Junior 140 lbs.; Nicholas Wasierski - 3rd place Junior 189 lbs.; Gilbert McIntyre - 1st place Open Div. 145.5 lbs.; Miri Pellumbi - Novice 85 did not place; Carlie McIntyre - Schoolboy 98 did not place; Steven Andrew - Schoolboy 105 did not place; Willem Chaliak - Schoolboy 120 did not place; Douglas Corp - Cadet 160 did not place.
Friday’s Freestyle Wrestling Results:
Diesel Geerdts - Bantam 50 lbs. did not place: 1 win - 2 losses; Hayden Lieb - Bantam 60 lbs. did not place: 1 win - 2 losses; Kaden Westlake - Bantam 75 + 1st place.
Friday’s team results had the Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club place 5th out of 26 Club teams in the Greco Roman tournament.
Saturday’s Freestyle Wrestling results:
Jayvin Williams - 4th place Intermediate Div. 87 lbs.; Thomas Dyment - 4th place Intermediate 55 lbs.; Chris Tom - 4th place Novice Div. 130 lbs.; Gage Hoffman - 4th place Novice 70 lbs.; Charles Guinn - 2nd place Novice 140 lbs.; Carlie McIntyre - 4th place Schoolboy Div. 98 lbs.; Scott Carpenter - 5th place Schoolboy 175 lbs.; Douglas Palacios - 3rd place Schoolboy 105 lbs.; Zach Pleasant - 1st place Cadet Div. 112 lbs.; Mario Kuqo - 3rd place Cadet 119 lbs.; Timothy Robb - 4th place Cadet 215 lbs.; Carl Fox - 3rd place Junior Div. 140 lbs.; Randy Hanson - 1st place Junior 135 lbs.; Nicholas Wasierski - 2nd place Junior 189 lbs.; Gilbert McIntyre - 1st place Open Div. 145.5 lbs.
Saturday’s team results had the Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club place 6th out of 27 Club teams.
Volunteer Coaches Courtney Geerdts and Darren Lieb would like to thank all of the parents who supported their kids during the short Freestyle season, especially Justin Lackey, Clara Tunuchuk and Jeremy Westlake who all filled in as coaches when we were on other mats. Jeremy also purchased a ticket for one of our wrestlers so he can participate. We would also like to thank all of the support from the people of Bethel who pledged our wrestlers in our Push-Up-A-Thon fundraiser, and to the Bethel Native Corporation who donated $500 towards the State expenses. Also, we would like to thank Thad and Valerie Schumacher for making the delicious spaghetti and garlic bread for the team’s lunch on Saturday and to Mersin Pellumbi for buying the pizzas that night, it was a big hit. Thank you all very much!
-Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club
Napakiak, Akula athletes shatter state records at Senior NYO meet
4-29-09
by Tommy Wells
When he was younger, Andrew White would follow his older brothers to Native Youth practice in his village of Akula and marvel at what they could do. Both became heroes to him as they made their way to the state NYO competition.
On Thursday, White found his two older brothers – and everyone else, for that matter – looking up to him as he etched his name into the record books at the Senior Native Youth Olympics in grand fashion. En route to winning the 2009 Alaskan High Kick title, the 19-year-old broke the state record with a kick of 93 inches in front of a large crowd in Anchorage’s Dena’ina Center.
“I was surprised when I found out I had broke it,” said White, who was making his final appearance in the meet. “It feels good to know I did it.”
With his kick – at better than 7-feet, seven inches, White eclipsed the previous NYO state record by one inch. The Alaskan High Kick record was previously held by Manuel Tumulak of Anchorage. Tumulak set the record in 2007. The record didn’t fall easy.
On his first attempt at the record-setting height, he missed the sealskin ball narrowly.
“I didn’t know if I was going to hit it,” he said. “My coaches told me I was getting close to it. I just tried again.”
The second try was a charm for the son of Cory and Alexandra White as he managed to hit the ball – a feat that brought the Lower Kuskokwim School District one of its four first-place finishes at the senior NYO meet.
While the record may have been a struggle to obtain, winning the SNYO Alaskan High Kick title was relatively easy. White won the event by 3 inches. Second-place finisher Mark Tubin of Anchorage managed just 90 inches. Chevak’s Kash Ferguson was fifth in the Alaskan High Kick standings with a height of 82.
Amanda Black and Daniel Andrew III added gold medals to the LKSD effort, as did Albert Tunuchuk.
Like White, Black won the Toe Kick crown in record-breaking fashion. The 18-year-old Napakiak standout set the new standard in the event – and became her village’s first-ever SYNO champion – with a leap of 53 inches. Bering Strait School District’s Beverly Nakarak also hit 53 in the competition, but finished second due to her number of attempts.
Black, who was coached at the games by legendary NYO coach Paul Paul, needed just three attempts to re-write the record book. Nakarak used six attempts.
“It was pretty cool,” said Black, who spent countless hours training for the event – including practicing during slow periods at her job by jumping down the aisles at Napakiak’s village store. “I’m really happy.”
The girls’ Toe Kick record had been held by Unalakleet’s Renae Ivanoff, who leaped 51 inches in 2007.
Although Andrew didn’t set a record, he picked up a memorable win in the boys’ Kneel Jump. Andrew posted a mark of 57 inches in the event, and narrowly edged out Bethel’s Shawn Paul for the top spot.
Paul also finished fourth in the boys’ wrist carry. BSSD’s Troy Lockwood won the event, while LYSD’s Fred Rivels placed third.
Lower Yukon School District standout Eric Aguchak was fourth in the kneel jump finals, finishing at 51 1/2”.
Tunuchuk added to LKSD’s accolades by giving the team a sweep of the Toe Kick competition. Tununchuk won the boys’ title by edging our Max Fancher, of the Bering Strait School District.
Both Tunuchuk and Fancher finished with marks of 82, but Tununchuk won the event based on a fewer number of attempts.
LYSD’s Donovan Phillips earned the boys’ Stick Pull crown. He beat Wasilla’s Jed Johnson in the finals.
LKSD’s Thomas Albert was fourth in the Stick Pull.
Bethel’s Stephanie Lupie also performed well at the meet. She narrowly missed winning the One Arm Reach by recording a height of 57 inches, one inch shy of the winning mark set by Alice Strick of Wasilla. Yako McCarr did well in the boys’ One Arm Reach event, tying for third.
Laura Therchik was fourth in the girls Kneel Jump, one place behind BSSD’s Darcie Kingeekuk.
While White and Black brought records home, the Y-K region saw one of its state marks fll at the four-day meet. Anchorage’s Jacqlyn Weston bested the record in the girls’ Alaskan High Kick by two inches. The previous record in the event was set last year by Tanya Slim. LYSD’s Magdeline Isadore and Bethel’s Christine McElwee finished fourth and fifth in the event, respectively.
In the girls’ seal hop, Mary Dyment of Bethel won the event, just 8 feet shy of Wanda Roland’s state record. Also from Bethel, Olivia Shields repeated her gold medal performance in the Indian Stick Pull, making this year her second consecutive year of winning the event.
Akula claims Anna Tunuchuk LKSD NYO crown
4-9-09
by Tommy Wells
Andrew White turned in a stellar effort in the Alaskan High Kick and Jamie Nicholas finished second in the Indian and Eskimo stick pulls this past weekend and led Akula to the top spot at the Anna Tunuchuk Lower Kuskokwim School District Native Youth Olympics meet.
Akula’s boys and girls combined to score 62 points, and edged out the Chefornak Shamans for the team championship by 22 points. Following Chefornak in the team standings were Mekoryuk, Toksook Bay and Kipnuk.
White earned the Alaskan High Kick crown with a narrow win over Chefornak’s Tim Kinegak. White and Kinegak both registered kicks of 91 inches, but White garnered the win via the number of kicks he used to reach the height.
Kipnuk’s Yako McCarr was third in the standings with a mark of 89 inches.
The Alaskan High Kick wasn’t the only event White stared in. Overall, he placed in five events, including third in the 1-Arm Reach, fourth in the Kneel Jump and Eskimo Stick Pull and fifth in the Wrist Carry.
Akula also picked up a solid effort from Daniel Andrew and Harry Tinker at the meet. Andrew competed in four events and rolled up 26 points with three second-place finishes and one fifth-place marker. He was second in the kneel jump, toe kick and 2-foot high kick competitions. He was fifth in the Alaskan high kick.
Tinker finished second to Tununak’s Thomas Albert in the Eskimo Stick Pull standings. Albert led Tununak to sixth in the final standings by placing in four events. In addition to wining the Eskimo Stick Pull, he was second in the 1-Foot High Kick and third in the 2-Foot High Kick. He also placed fourth in the Seal Hop.
Tununak also notched a gold medal effort from Frank Link, who won the Wrist Carry. He edged out Bethel’s Shawn Paul and Chefornak’s David Chagluak, respectively, for the top honors in the event.
Kinegak led Chefornak’s scoring efforts at the meet. Kinegak won four events and, overall, placed in the top five in seven. The Chefornak standout won the Kneel Jump, 1-Foot and 2-Foot High Kicks and Seal Hop crowns, and was second in the Alaskan High Kick. He also claimed fifth in the 1-Arm Reach and the Toe Kick. The Shamans also collected a first-place finish from Albert Tunuchuk in the Toe Kick competition.
Mekoryuk’s teddy Whitman was without equal in the Indian Stick Pull competition. He bested Napakiak’s Andrew Steven in the finals to win the title. Akula’s Paul Twitchell was third.
Tuluksak’s Jessica Waska and Nightmute’s Rena Tony were two-time winners in the girls’ division. Waska highlighted a stellar effort with wins in the 1-Arm Reach and Alaskan High Kick events. She also finished fourth in the 2-Foot High Kick and fifth in the Eskimo Stick Pull. Tony won the Eskimo and Indian stick pull crowns.
Mekoryuk’s Delcie David also stared in the meet by finishing in the top three in five events. She won the girls’ 1-Foot High Kick competition with a kick of 78 inches – two inches better than runner-up Jessica Schneider of Akiachak. She also finished second in the Alaskan High Kick and Kneel Jump, and third in the Seal Hop and Wrist Carry.
Schneider – fresh off of her runner up performance at State basketball - collected a gold medal as well, winning the 2-Foot High Kick title.
Napakiak’s Amanda Black earned the top spot in the Toe Kick, while Toksook Bay’s Laura Therchik claimed the Kneel Jump honors.
Anna Tunuchuk Lower Kuskokwim School District Native Youth Olympics
Final Team Standings
1. Akula, 62; 2. Chefornak, 40; 3. Mekoryuk, 32; 4. Toksook Bay, 30; 5. Kipnuk, 20; 6. Tununak, 18; 7. Bethel, 17; 8. Akiachak, 16; 9. Tuluksak, 13; 10. Nightmute, 10; 11. Akiuk, 9; 11. Napaskiak, 9; 13. Napakiak, 7; 14. Goodnews Bay, 4; 14. Oscarvile, 4; 16. Kwethluk, 3; 16. Newtok, 3; 16. Akiuk, 3.
Kusaiak, Mark lead Chefornak
to junior high NYO title
by Tommy Wells
Derek Kusaiak and Theresa Mark both turned in outstanding performances this past weekend and led the Chefornak Shamans to the junior high title at the Anna Tunuchuk Lower Kuskokwim School District Native Youth Olympics meet.
Kusaiak placed in the top five in six events, while Mark finished among the meet’s top five on five occasions. Only two competitors managed to finish among the leaders in more events than Kusaiak and Mark. Napakiak standout Kristy Nick placed in eight events, while Kipnuk’s Kevin Brown etched his name in the top five a total of seven times.
Keyed by the efforts of Kusiak and Mark, Chefornak managed to score a total of 45 points, one better than Toksook Bay. Atmautluak finished a close third with 42 points. Napakiak and Bethel finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Kusaiak began turning heads early in the meet. The Chefornak standout won the 1-Foot and 2-Foot high kick competitions. He followed that up with a pair of second-place efforts in the Seal Hop and Kneel Jump. He also placed fourth in the Indian Stick Pull and fifth in the Toe Kick.
Noah Charles powered Toksook Bay’s run at the title. En route to placing in six events, he won the Alaskan High Kick, the Seal Hop and Wrist Carry events. He was second to Kusaiak in the 2-Foot High Kick, and third in the 1-Arm each. Charles was also fifth in the 1-Foot High Kick.
Napakiak’s Jeremy Jacob and Atmautluak’s Nicholas Nicholai also performed well in the boys’ division. Jacob won the Indian Stick Pull and finished in the top five in five other events. Nicholai was first in the Eskimo Stick Pull and Toe Kick standings, and second to Akula’s Manual Seal in the 1-Arm Reach. Nicholai also finished fifth in the 2-Foot High Kick and the Alaskan High Kick.
Despite failing to win any event, Brown was among the meet’s top performers. He finished second to Kusiak in the 1-Foot High Kick, while also placing third in the Kneel Jump, Toe Kick and 2-Foot High Kick. He was fourth in the 1-Arm Reach, Alaskan High Kick and Seal Hop.
Newtok’s Gilbert Charles won the Kneel Jump competition.
Mark led the Chefornak girls’ efforts. She was first in the 1-Arm Reach and second in the 2-Foot High Kick. She also placed third in the 1-Foot High Kick and Alaskan High Kick events, and fifth in the Eskimo Stick Pull.
Angeline Agimuk also did well for the Lady Comets, netting third in the 2-Foot High Kick and fourth in the Seal Hop and Kneel Jump.
No one dominated the event like Kristy Nick, however. She walked away with three gold medals – in the Kneel Jump, Alaskan High Kick and 2-Foot High Kick – and finished second in the Seal Hop. She also placed third in the 1-Arm Reach and Toe Kick, and finished fourth in the Wrist Carry and 1-Foot High Kick.
Although she didn’t place in as many events, Bethel’s Janlynn Jimmie joined Nick as a two-time winner. Jimmie won the Seal Hop with a mark of 119 feet, 10 inches. She came back later to win the Wrist Carry title.
Riana Joseph and Amber Shields also notched gold medals for Bethel. Joseph won the coveted 1-Foot High Kick title, while Shields garnered the Eskimo Stick Pull honors. Atmautluak’s Kayla Pavila also earned a first-place finish by winning the Toe Kick.
Anna Tunuchuk Lower Kuskokwim School District Native Youth Olympics Junior High Team Standings
1. Chefornak, 45; 2. Toksook Bay, 44; 3. Atmautluak, 42; 4. Napakiak, 36; 5. Bethel, 35; 6. Kipnuk, 21; 7. Napaskiak, 14; 8. Akula, 11; 9. Kongiganak, 9; 9. Newtok, 9; 11. Oscarville, 8; 12. Eek, 5; 13. Tuluksak, 4; 13. Tununak, 4.
Eek Pinirtaryaraq NYO Results
4-1-09
by Marlene Schmitt
Eek School held a NYO meet March 20-21, 2009. Forty-five athletes from nine schools – Atmautluak, Eek, Kasigluk-Akula, Kwigillingok, Napakiak, Newtok, Nightmute, Nunapitchuk & Oscarville – participated in the meet. The Overall Team Sportsmanship Award went to Kasigluk-Akula. For high school team standings, Kasigluk-Akula took 1st place, Oscarville took 2nd place, and Eek took 3rd place. The outstanding high school athletes, both of whom were from Kasigluk-Akula, were Daniel Andrew III with 70 individual points and Carrie Beaver with 68 individual points.
For HS Boys, first place finishes went to: Mark Kassaiuli of Newtok in Kneel Jump (52 1/2”) and Seal Hop (90’ 7 5/8”); Andrew White of Akula in Wrist Carry (31.29 seconds), Alaskan High Kick (90”), 1-Foot High Kick (93”), 1-Arm Reach (63”) and Eskimo Stick Pull; and Daniel Andrew III of Akula in 2-Foot High Kick (81”), Toe Kick (70”) and Indian Stick Pull. First place finishes for HS Girls went to: Carrie Beaver of Akula in Kneel Jump (31 7/8”) and in 1-Arm Reach (55”); Nicole Alexie of Atmautluak in Wrist Carry (9.99 seconds); Jackie Joekay of Oscarville in 2-Foot High Kick (61”) and in Seal Hop (101’ 1/8”); Amanda Black of Napakiak in Toe Kick (48”) and in 1-Foot High Kick (72”); Chinace Egoak of Oscarville in Alaskan High Kick (67”); and Rena Tony of Nightmute in Eskimo Stick Pull and in Indian Stick Pull.
For junior high school team standings, Atmautluak took 1st place, Newtok took 2nd place, and Napakiak took 3rd place. The outstanding junior high school athletes, both of whom were from Atmautluak, were Nicholas Nicholai with 74 individual points and Kayla Pavilla with 48 individual points. For JH Boys, first place finishes went to: Gilbert Charles of Newtok in Kneel Jump (43 1/4”), 2-Foot High Kick (62” no misses) and Alaskan High Kick (74”); Jack Tom of Newtok in Wrist Carry (15.55 seconds); Michael Charles of Newtok in Toe Kick (47”); Nicholas Nicholai of Atmautluak in 1-Foot High Kick (87”), in 1-Arm Reach (54”), Eskimo Stick Pull and Indian Stick Pull; and Jordan George of Newtok in Seal Hop. First place finishes for JH Girls went to: Kayla Pavilla of Atmautluak in Kneel Jump (29 5/8”), in Toe Kick (16”), in 1-Foot High Kick (70”), and in 1-Arm Reach (49”); Destiny Sergie of Nunapitchuk in Wrist Carry (13.25 seconds); Laura Nick of Napakiak in 2-Foot High Kick (51”); Mason Tikiun of Nunapitchuk in Alaskan High Kick (58”); Beverly Alexie of Eek in Eskimo Stick Pull; Megan Black of Napakiak in Seal Hop (85’ 8”); and Frankie Pavilla of Atmautluak in Indian Stick Pull.
Wil G-r-r-reat Grizzlies
Kalskag overcomes loss of home to win Class 1A state title
3-26-09
by Tommy Wells
The Kalskag High School Grizzlies are officially own an odd chapter in Alaskan history. The little team from western Alaska now has more state championship basketball trophies than it does gymnasiums.
Less than three months since their school burned to the ground, the Grizzlies rose from the ashes. On Wednesday, Kalskag nailed down its first-ever state basketball crown by defeating the Newhalen Malemutes, 71-57, in the Alaska School Activities Association’s Class 1A state championship game. The win capped a tough three-month span in which the Grizzlies were forced to deal with the loss of their school, their home gym and having to practice in the elementary school cafeteria.
Winning the state crown was anything but easy. Newhalen chipped away at the Grizzlies’ lead throughout the contest and looked as if it was poised to deal Kalskag its second straight loss in the state championship game.
Seniors Dennis Aloysius, D.J. Dorris and sophomore forward Wayne Holmberg had other plans, however. After Newhalen had rallied to take a 49-48 lead, Kalskag second-year head coach Severin Gardner decided to shift to a man-to-man, full court defense. It was a move that proved deadly to the Malemutes.
“I figured, ‘Let ‘em go all out, man-to-man,” Gardner said. “We just wanted to take them out of their offense.”
Dorris came up big for the Grizzlies moments after the defensive switch by stealing an inbounds pass and turning it into a layup and a 50-49 lead with 5:50 left to play. Holmberg then pushed in a pair of shots from the field and set the stage for Aloysius to drive the nail into the Malemutes. Aloysius knocked down back-to-back three-point bombs with less than three minutes left that staked Kalskag to an 11-point lead, at 61-50.
“We just kept piling it on, and when I looked up and it was over and we were up 14, I didn’t even realize it,” said Gardner, who guided the Grizzlies to the state finals a year ago before falling to Buckland.
Overall, Kalskag outscored Newhalen by a 24-9 clip in the final six minutes of the contest.
Dorris, Holmberg and Aloysius helped the Grizzlies get off to a quick start against Newhalen. The three combined to score all 18 of the Grizzlies’ first-quarter points and helped Kalskag run to an 18-10 lead.
Aloysius led the Kalskag run by throwing in nine of his game-high 27 points in the opening, including a three-point shot to close out the period.
Newhalen battled its way back into the affair in the second. The Malemutes picked up 10 second-period points from the 6’2” Robert Clay and reeled off an 18-12 run.
Kalskag held a slim 30-28 advantage at the start of the second half. Holmberg, who finished with 21 points, and Aloysius breathed new life into the Kalskag offense in the third. After Holmberg had opened the half with a pair of baskets, Aloysius heated up from the outside, hitting a pair of three-pointers in the final minutes that sent the Grizzlies into the fourth quarter with a 44-40 lead.
Overall, Aloysius hit eight of his 12 three-point attempts in the contest, including three in Kalskag’s fourth-quarter run. Dorris tallied nine of his 17 points in the fourth. Dorris and Holmberg also finished with 10 rebounds apiece.
Kalskag, which practiced four days in Aniak last week prior to the state tournament, had a little easier time getting into the finals. The Grizzlies picked up double-digit performances from Dorris, Aloysius and Holmberg – and a clutch fourth-quarter three-pointer from Carlton Evan – and rolled to a 68-58 win over Elim in the semifinals.
Kalskag shot 49 percent from the field in the contest, hitting on 24 of their 49 attempts. The Grizzlies opened with a bang against Elim. Kalskag sank seven of its first 14 shots in the first eight minutes and rolled to a 16-11 lead.
Elim didn’t roll over and die, however. After falling behind 42-31 at the half, the Eagles put together a 14-9 run in the third quarter and pulled to within 51-45. Elim cut the lead to two, at 53-51, early in the fourth.
Kalskag caught fire from there. After Dorris had halted a 6-0 Elim run with a basket, Evan delivered a three-point bomb that took the air out of the Eagles’ sails. Dorris finished the game as Kalskag’s top scorer, netting 26 points. Holmberg and Aloysius finished with 19 and 14, respectively.
The Grizzlies’ toughest challenge at the state tournament may well have come in the first round against Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta rival Napaskiak. The Grizzlies hammered out a 17-10 run in the second quarter on Monday and then held off a furious Napaskiak rally to claim 69-67 win. Holmberg led all Kalskag scorers with 26 points against Napaskiak. Dorris and Aloysius added 18 and 17, respectively.
The Hawks, who outscored Kalskag by a 37-31 clip in the second half, were led by Travis Andrew’s team-high 22 points. John Maxie and Joachim Maxie also hit double figures for Napaskiak. John Maxie tallied 18, while Joachim added 12 more.
Napaskiak was the victim of a second-half rally in its second-round game on Tuesday. The Andreafski Eagles posted a 33-22 run in the second half and claimed a 53-50 win on consolation action. Napaskiak had owned the first half, outscoring Andreafski by a 28-20 clip. Joachim Maxie led all ZJWHS scorers in the contest with 20 points. Daniel Joekay added 12, while John Maxie and Travis Andrew chipped in eight and six, respectively.
DJ Dorris, Wayne Holmberg, Travis Andrew, Joachim Maxie, and Gus Paukan of Andreafski were named to the 2009 1A All Star Team.
Hooper Bay Jr. high hoops
Congratulations to the Hooper Bay Jr. High girls and boys basketball teams for a successful season. The boys won the upriver/downriver championship this past Friday in Hooper Bay. The girls placed 2nd in the downriver tournament at Nunam Iqua. For their teamwork on and off the court, they also received the Sportsmanship award. We would like to thank the following for their support: Caleb Funk, Edward Hoelscher & City League for the jerseys; AC Native Store for the snacks, and Teresa Hoelscher and the Student Council.
Akiachak claims
state runner-up honors
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – The Akiachak Lady Huskies went into the Class A girls’ state basketball tournament looking to improve on last year’s third-place finish. They did just that.
The Lady Huskies posted a 2-1 record at the tournament and finished the 2008-09 season as the Class A girls’ state runner-up following a loss to Alak (Wainwright) in the state finals on Wednesday. Alak spoiled Akiachak’s bid for the Yukon-Kuskokwim’s second state title by taking a tough 47-33 decision.
Akiachak held its own early in the contest against Alak. Lucienne Jackson and Katelyn Kinegak both knocked down clutch shots in the first period and helped the Lady Huskies fight to within 12-9 at the end of the first eight minutes of the game.
Jolene James came up big for Akiachak from there. She pushed in a pair of shots in the second and played a key role in the Lady Huskies ability to open the frame on a 6-2 run. Akiachak held a 15-14 advantage early in the second.
Alak answered right back, however. Alak reeled off a 12-2 run in the final six minutes of the frame and built a 26-17 lead going into the half. Alak managed to keep the pressure on in the third. The team outscored Akiachak by a 9-8 margin in the frame and took a 35-25 cushion into the closing minutes.
Jessica Schneider and Kinegak carried the brunt of the Akiachak offensive load in the third. Both pushed home three points. Michelle Nose added the other basket. Alak closed out the win with a 10-6 run in the fourth.
Akiachak, which struggled from the field throughout the contest, hitting just 13 of their 49 shots, was led offensively by Jackson’s 11 points. Kinegak and Nose tallied seven and six, respectively.
Stephanie Aguviuk led all Alak scorers with 12.
The Lady Huskies’ emotions were anything but tearful a day earlier following their 44-33 win over the Golovin Lynx in the state semifinals. Despite shooting just 25 percent from the floor, Akiachak swamped Golovin early and never looked back.
The Lady Huskies all put sealed the win with a 15-2 run in the first eight minutes of the game. Golovin, which was forced into 34 turnovers by a swarming Akiachak defense, never recovered from the Lady Huskies’ quick start.
James and Schneider led Akiachak offensively by scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jackson added nine more while Kinegak threw in seven. Schneider also had a team-high seven rebounds.
Akiachak opened the state tournament on Monday with a 52-27 win over rival Napaskiak. In their win over the Lady Hawks, Akiachak outscored Napaskiak in every quarter, including a 13-4 mark in the first period.
Jackson finished the contest as the Lady Huskies’ top scorer, finishing with 14. Schneider and Kinegak also hit double figures, tallying 12 and 10, respectively.
Jaclyn Nelson led Napaskiak with seven. Paula Evan and Rebecca Larson added five apiece.
Following its loss to Akiachak in the tournament-opener, the Lady Hawks rebounded nicely in the consolation semifinals by downing Andreafski, 44-38.
In that game, Nelson pumped in a team-high 14 points for the Lady Hawks. Ashley Evan and Francine Larson added 13 and 12, respectively.
Despite 12 points from Evan, the Lady Hawks’ tournament game came to an end with a 45-30 loss to Huslia on Wednesday in the fourth-place game.
Francine Larsen of Napaskiak and Jessica Schneidler of Akiachak were named to the Girls 1A All Star Team. liams and
Alexie
complete 1,100 mile Iditarod race
by Tommy Wells
Akiachak musher Mike Williams added another feather to his mushing legacy Saturday afternoon when he guided his team of dogs down Front Street and under the famed burled arch in Nome.
Williams, who competes in the event to raise awareness for sobriety, completed the 1,100-mile race in 13 days and 17 and one-half minutes. His time was good enough to place him 42nd in the final standings.
Another musher from the YK Delta, Harry Alexie of Kwethluk, completed the race in 37th place with a time of 12 Days, 14 hours and 40 minutes. Alexie, a rookie this year in the Iditarod, ran a team belonging to 2009 Iditarod champion Lance Mackey. He ran the race as an ambassador for the Alaska Army National Guard.
Lance Mackey won the race, becoming only the third three-time winner of the event. For his win, Mackey earned $69,000 in prize money. Mackey joins Doug Swingley and Susan Butcher as the only three mushers to win the Iditarod race three times.
Kotzebue’s John Baker was third overall, while former Kuskokwim 300 champion Mitch Seavey was fourth. Former Nome resident Aaron Burmeister was seventh.
Despite losses, Comets
honor former coach/teacher
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – The Chevak Comets didn’t win the Class 2A state basketball tournament this past week. They did something more important to them. They honored longtime coach/teacher and mom Lena Ferguson with their play at the Class 2A state basketball tournament.
Ferguson, the mother of Chevak head coach Ulric Ulroan and players Kash and Conor, passed away on March 3 prior to the regional basketball tournament. Her final wish was to see the Chevak boys’ and girls’ basketball teams play in the state tournament.
“Mom was the godmother of all of our basketball programs,” said Ulroan, who uses his mother’s maiden name and serves as the village’s mayor.
The Comets boys team gave everyone reason to smile with a gutsy effort in their state tournament-opener on Monday against Point Hope. Chevak raced to an early lead in the contest before dropping a tough 75-53 decision.
Point Hope went on to defeat Noorvik for the Class 2A state crown on Wednesday evening.
Chevak dominated the Harpooners early. The Comets hit on 73 percent of their shots in the first eight minutes and grabbed a 17-16 lead. Point Hope found its groove from there, though. The Harpooners pounded out a 27-11 run in the second and went into the half holding a 43-28 lead.
Kash Ferguson led all Chevak scorers in the contest with 14 points. Cody Pequeno added 11 more, while Cameron Olson and Conor Ferguson chipped in nine each.
With the loss to Point Hope, the Comets fell into a consolation semifinal showdown with Yakutat. Yakutat, sparked by a 23-9 run in the first quarter, claimed a 69-46 win.
Despite the loss, Kash Ferguson turned in a stellar effort, scoring 20 points and grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds. Pequeno also finished in double figures with 11.
Fourth-quarter surge lifts Lady
Comets to fourth at state tournament
by Tommy Wells
Led by Mary Olson, Chelsea Lake and Misty Olson, the Chevak Lady Comets pounded out a 17-13 run in the final eight minutes on Wednesday and rolled to a 43-39 win over the Noorvik Lady Bears and claimed fourth at the 2009 Alaska School Activities Associations’ state basketball tournament.
Lake and the Olsons all finished with double-digit performances for the Lady Comets, who posted a 2-1 record at the three-day event.
Chevak, which had suffered a tough 65-52 setback to Point Hope in the first round of the tournament on Monday, didn’t waste any time in flexing its offensive muscle against Noorvik. The Lady Comets knocked down five of their first 10 shots – including two three-pointers – and streaked to a 14-7 first-quarter advantage.
Noorvik rallied back from there. The Lady Bears outscored Chevak by a 19-12 clip over the next two periods of play and sent the game into the fourth quarter with the score knotted at 26-26.
Chevak came alive in the final stanza. The Lady Comets picked up clutch shots from Lake and the Olsons in the fourth that put an end to Noorvik’s season.
Mary Olson led Chevak to the win with a solid effort on both ends of the floor. In addition to throwing in a team-high 13 points, she also collected 12 rebounds. Lake and Misty Olson tallied 12 and 10 points in the game, while Martha Miles added six points and eight boards.
The Lady Comets, who dedicated their appearance in the tournament to the memory of longtime Chevak coach/teacher Lena Ferguson, earned a berth in the fourth-place game by routing one of the state’s top programs in the consolation semifinals. Chevak ousted Ninilchik from the tournament with a 61-40 win.
Ferguson, the mother of Chevak head coach Ulric Ulroan and players Kash and Conor Ferguson, died of cancer at the age of 55 on March 3 – about two weeks prior to the state tournament.
Against Ninilchik, the Olsons and Lake came up big. Mary and Misty Olson both pushed in 17 points in the game, while Lake contributed 14. Miles added eight points and seven rebounds. Lake had 19 points in the Lady Comets’ tournament-opening loss to Point Hope. Mary Olson – who was chosen for the 2009 All Tournament Team - added 18.
Elia Sallafie Memorial Sled Dog Race Results
3-18-09
The Elia Sallafie Memorial Sled Dog Race was held on March 13, 14,15, 2009 with the highest payout in sprint racing – a $21,000 purse. The race started at 1:00 p.m. each day. Johnny Evan won the event with a total time of 4:37:05.
Williams returns to
Trail with message of sobriety
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – Mike Williams will never rest. His past won’t let him.
After skipping last year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the Akiak musher felt he needed to return to the sled dog mushing scene in a major way this year. The message he has been touting for years still needs to be told.
People can still benefit from his story and message of how alcohol has torn his family apart, and left him with a desire to show people sobriety is something they can live with.
“I have been racing the Iditarod for sobriety,” said Williams, who is one of only a handful of Alaska Natives to have become a regular on the Iditarod circuit. “I want people to promote sobriety.”
Williams is well on his way to accomplishing his sobriety awareness march across the state for the 14th time. Through the first week of the grueling 1,100-mile ride across the state, he is 45th in the overall standings. On Sunday morning at 1:32 a.m., he slid into the Yukon River checkpoint at Grayling. He was of 15 mushers to arrive at the village of 148 people.
After leaving Grayling, Williams was slated to mush his team of 12 dogs more than 10 miles up the Yukon to the village of Kaltag before turning east toward Norton Sound and the village of Unalakleet.
Unlike his first 13 trips up the historic trail, Williams is carrying a bit extra this season. He set out from the start of the race in Willow carrying several items belonging to former Anchorage Dr. Roger Gollub. Williams is taking the items to help pay homage to the longtime physicians who was killed in a collision with a snowmachine last November while mushing a team of doctors near Kotzebue.
The man driving the snowmachine, Patrick Tickett, has been charged with drinking and doing drugs on the day of the accident.
It’s just another reason to take up the sobriety mantle he has carried for more than two decades.
“All six of my brothers died because of alcohol,” said Williams, who still resides in the village where he was born. “I’m the only one left. It’s up to me to tell their story. This is my way to do that and to deal with it.”
Several other faces familiar to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta are also making their presence felt on the Iditarod Trail, including two-time defending Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race champion Mitch Seavey.
Seavey, a former Iditarod champion, was fourth in the race standings as of Sunday afternoon, just hours behind defending champion Lance Mackey.
K300 legend Jeff King also was doing well. The 8-time Kuskokwim 300 winner was third in the overall standings as he mushed out of Kaltag toward Unalakleet.
Mackey, Sebastian Schnuelle and King all went into the final stretch of the race with 15 dogs in harness.
Another familiar face still in the running for the Iditarod title is former Nome resident Aaron Burmeister. A regular competitor in the Kuskokwim 300, Burmeister was seventh overall on Sunday, nine places ahead of former Bethel resident DeeDee Jonrowe, who was 16th out of the Eagle Island checkpoint.
Mushers race the Aniak 150
The Aniak 150 Sled Dog Race began in Aniak on Friday, March 6, 2009, which was revived this year after several years with no race. Checkpoints were Aniak, Napaimute, Crooked Creek, Georgetown, and then back to Crooked Creek, Napaimute, and Aniak.
Dean Painter of Nulato won the first place. He covered the course approximately 1/2 hour faster than Pete Kaiser of Bethel. Nathan Underwood of Aniak took third. The race actually covered 180 miles from Aniak to Georgetown and back, with a layover of 6 hours. Painter earned $2300 for his victory. More details of the race can be seen at www.kuspuk.org/aniak150.
Awards
Dean Painter – 1st Place - $2300
Pete Kaiser – 2nd Place - $1400
Nathan Underwood – 3rd place - $1000
Casie Stockdale – 4th place - $900
Richie Diehl – 5th place - $800
Ronald Underwood – 6th place - $700
Bethel Shotokan Karate Club
to compete in tournament
Mr. Anthony Nakazawa (Alaska Regional Director, Anchorage) invites the public to the annual statewide Alaska Shotokan Karate tournament, to be held in Anchorage on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Spenard Recreation Center. This tournament is the qualifier for the International Shotokan Karate Federation National tournament to be held in New Jersey in November 2009. Participants come from across the State to compete (Anchorage, Palmer, Eagle River, Homer, Bethel, and Fairbanks). The tournament is open to all ages and all ranks, competitors ranged from Pee Wee’s (age 6 years) to seniors (over 45 years). Included in the competition are contestants from University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The public is invited to watch the tournament at no cost. Come and cheer for the contestants. The tournament is cosponsored by the Spenard Recreation Center.
Lady Hawks upend Kwethluk, return to state tournament
3-11-09
by Tommy Wells
Ashley Evan went into the 2008-09 basketball season knowing one thing for certain: It was a final chance for herself and the Napaskiak Lady Hawks to make it make to the state tournament and erase the sour memories of the past.
Evan and the Lady Hawks accomplished their goal of returning to the Class 1A state tournament for the first time since 2006 on Saturday afternoon by winning the Alaska Coastal Conference championship. Napaskiak defeated rival Kwethuk, 50-38, in front of a large crowd in the Bethel Regional High School WarriorDome and netted the conference’s berth into the upcoming state tournament.
With the win, Napaskiak will advance to face Greater Kuskokwim Conference champion Akiachak in the first round of the state tournament, which will begin March 16 in Anchorage.
Evan, who was a freshman on the Lady Hawks’ team that finished seventh at state three years ago, did everything but drive the bus for Napaskiak. She probably would have done that, to, if the school had a bus.
Evan pumped in 11 of her game-high 21 points in the final 16 minutes of the contest and helped the Lady Hawks withstand a late run by the Lady Kings.
Kwethluk managed to stay close early in the contest. The Lady Kings, behind a solid effort from Charlamagne Olick, knocked down several clutch shots in the first quarter and trailed by only two, at 8-6, heading into the second.
Evan and Nelson hit stride in the second. The two combined for 15 points in the period and helped the Lady Hawks break the game open.
Nelson led the Lady Hawks’s second-quarter run by throwing in eight of her 13. Evan added seven, including a three-point bomb that took the wind out of Kwethluk’s sails.
Napaskiak outscored Kwethluk by a 17-3 margin in the second and took a comfortable 25-9 lead into the half.
The Lady Hawks defense continued to dominate the game in the third. Napakiak held Kwethluk to just five points in the first eight minutes of the second half.
The Napaskiak offense was anything but quiet. The Lady Hawks pounded out 14 points in the period and stretched their lead to 39-14 heading into the final frame.
The Lady Kings, who posted an impressive 34-31 win over Chefornak in the semifinals, didn’t go down silently. Kwethluk hammered out a 24-11 run in the final eight minutes to pull to within 12 at the final buzzer.
Kelly Ayapan sparked the Lady Kings’ fourth-quarter surge by scoring nine of her 11 points. Jacqueline Alexie and Elena Phillips added six and four, respectively. Ingrid Nicholai added a three, while teammate Josephine George chipped in two.
Napaskiak didn’t have as easy a time getting to the finals. The Lady Hawks needed a strong second-half performance to net a 41-32 victory over Kwigillingok.
The Chefornak Lady Comets rebounded from their semifinal loss to Kwethluk in fine fashion. The Lady Comets posted a 34-32 win over Kwigillingolk in the third-place game.
Kasigluk defeated Quinhagak in the fifth-place game, 42-28.
Andrew helps Hawks soar past Akiuk in ACC title game
Hawks to face Kalskag in first round of state tournament
by Tommy Wells
Travis Andrew scored 24 points and Tim Nick added 12 more Sunday and helped the Napaskiak Hawks nail down the 2009 Alaska Coastal Conference championship with a 72-50 romp over the Akiuk in front of a large crowd in the Bethel Regional High School WarriorDome
Even more importantly, the win also gave Napaskiak a berth in the upcoming Class 1A state basketball tournament, which begins March 16 in Anchorage.
The Hawks, who averaged just under 70 points a game in their three games in the ACC tournament, flexed their offensive muscle early against Akiuk. Napaskiak picked up 14 first-quarter points from Andrew and rolled to a stunning 22-point effort in the initial eight minutes of the contest.
The Hawks needed every one of the points, however. Sparked by three-point bombs by Michael Andrew and Harry Berlin, Akiuk kept pace in the first by throwing in 19 points.
Napaskiak got a balanced scoring attack in the second, and rode it to a 4-point halftime lead. The Hawks picked up points from Joachim Maxie, Nick, Andrew, John Maxie and Randall Nicholai in the stanza and held a 34-30 lead at the break.
Michael Martin Jr. tallied six of his 10 points in the second to lead Akiuk.
The Hawks took complete control of the game in the third. Napaskiak got seven points from John Maxie in the third and rode it to an impressive 20-5 run. Napaskiak took a 54-35 lead into the fourth quarter.
Napaskiak, which had advanced to the ACC finals with an easy 71-50 win over Kwigillingok, closed out the win by posting an 18-15 run in the closing minutes.
Maxie was among three ZJWHS players who just missed hitting double figures in the game. He tallied nine, while Joachim Maxie, Daniel Joekay and Francis Nicholai added eight apiece.
Michael Andrew led all Akiuk scorers with 16 points - six of which came in the fourth quarter. Berlin finished with 13.
The Hawks toughest game of the tournament came in the first round when they survived a 67-62 scare from the Eek Cougars.
Akiuk had earned its spot in the finals via a thrilling 73-71 win over Tuntutuliak in the semifinals.
With the win over Akiuk in the Alaska Coastal Conference championship game, the Hawks earned the right to face Kalskag in the first round of the state tournament.
Bethel JV splits
two games with Napaskiak
3-6-09
by Tommy Wells
Piiyuuk Shields pumped in 19 points and Jeanette Lieb added nine more Saturday and helped the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors’ junior varsity claim a 46-37 win over the Napaskiak Lady Hawks in the 2008-09 season finale.
The win also enabled Bethel to salvage the final game of a two-game series with Napaskiak. The Lady Hawks had won the opener on Friday, 43-28.
Shields, a 5-foot-5 freshman, was unstoppable in the second half on Saturday. She poured in 14 points in the final two quarters of play, including eight in the final stanza alone.
Bethel used a balanced scoring attack to grab the early lead. The BRHS girls picked up first-quarter buckets from Amy Mute, Danielle Stanley, Lieb, Ashepak and Shields in the initial stanza and gave Bethel an 11-6 lead.
Lieb scored four points in the second and led the Lady Warriors to a 22-14 halftime cushion.
Napaskiak, which had 13 points from Francine Larson and 11 from Rebecca Larson, rallied back in the third. The Lady Hawks outscored Bethel by a 17-10 ledger in the third and pulled to within one, at 32-31, heading into the fourth quarter.
Shields put the game away from there.
Bethel didn’t have an answer for Jaclyn Nelson in the series’ opener. She poured in 21 points and led Napaskiak to a 43-28 win.
Ashepak and Lauren Forbes both tallied eight to lead Bethel.
Nick’s FTs lift
Hawks past Bethel JV
by Tommy Wells
Tim Nick pushed home two free throws late in the fourth quarter Saturday and lifted the Napaskiak Hawks to a 60-59 win over the Bethel Regional High School Warriors’ junior varsity in the regular season finale.
Nick’s free throw enabled Napaskiak to hold of a furious second-half charge by the Warriors. Bethel outscored Napaskiak by a 35-33 mark in the final two quarters.
Napaskiak rode Nick’s hot hand early and often in the first half. The ZJWHS standout pumped in four shots from the floor in the first period and led the Hawks to a 15-11 lead at the start of the second.
Francis Nicholai took over from there. He tallied six of his eight points in the second and led Napaskiak to a 27-24 halftime cushion.
Brodie Smith didn’t let the Warriors’ fade away, however. The BRHS standout answered the buzzer for the third quarter on a tear, reeling off three three-point shots and a pair of free throws in the frame. Led by Smith’s 13 third-quarter points, Bethel snared a 43-42 lead and the end of the third.
Travis Andrew helped Napaskiak survive the threat. He scored seven of his team-high 15 points in the fourth.
Smith was the game’s top scorer, netting 25. Bethel’s Randy Hanson and Mike Polk both contributed nine.
BRHS girls roll past Su Valley
by Tommy Wells
Sherilyn Soots found the perfect way to celebrate the final home game of the year last Saturday. She led the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors to a 55-11 non-conference rout of the Su-Valley Lady Vikings in front of a large crowd in the BRHS WarriorDome.
The win highlighted a two-game sweep of Su-Valley in the final weekend of the 2008-09 regular season. Bethel is scheduled to tip off play in the Western Conference tournament on March 4 in Nome.
A 5-foot-3 senior, Soots was a one-woman scoring machine for the Lady Warriors in the finale. She connected on eight shots from the field in the matchup and finished with a team-high 17 points.
Soots was hardly the only source of offense for Bethel. Lady Warriors’ head coach Danielle Dizon picked up offensive numbers from all 10 members of her varsity roster in the win. Soots, however, was the spark early. She scored eight points in the first quarter and powered Bethel to a 13-4 lead.
The BRHS defense took over from there. Bethel held Su-Valley scoreless over the ensuing eight minutes of the game and all but clinched the victory.
While Su-Valley was having trouble finding its offense, Soots and the Lady Warriors were scoring almost at will. Seven BRHS players scored in an 18-0 run in the second quarter.
Soots and Olivia Shields both tallied four in the second. Emerie Fairbanks, Charmae Chavez, Jenny Klejka, Florence Ashepak and Morgan Charlton also contributed points.
Bethel took a 31-4 lead into the half. The Lady Warriors stretched their lead to 40-9 in the third with a 9-5 spree.
Leary and Kira Polk led BRHS’ third-quarter run by throwing in four points apiece. Chavez accounted for the other with a free throw. The Lady Warriors closed out the win with a 15-2 run in the fourth.
Fairbanks was Bethel’s second-leading scorer in the game, netting eight points. Shields added six, while Polk, Klejka and Charlton all pitched in four.
Bethel opened the series with a 43-16 win on Friday.
In that game, Leary led all BRHS scorers with 10 points. Soots and Fairbanks added six apiece.
The Lady Warriors put Su Valley on its heels early. Bethel; reeled off 10 points in each of the first two quarters and raced to a 20-8 halftime cushion.
Sparked by 10 second-half points from Leary, Bethel closed out the contest with a 23-8 second-half spree.
Warriors head into regional
tournament with rout of Su-Valley
by Tommy Wells
Bethel Regional High School Warriors’ head coach Norm Boerger wanted his team to head into the Western Conference Basketball Tournament this weekend with a bit of momentum.
He got his wish this past weekend as the Warriors rolled to a pair of easy regular season-ending wins over Su-Valley in front of large crowds in the WarriorDome. Bethel swept both games from Su-Valley, winning the opener on Friday by a 73-36 margin, and then rolling to a 52-46 victory the following day.
With the two wins, the Warriors closed out the 2008-09 regular season with a 12-8 record. More importantly, however, Bethel rolls into the Western Conference tournament as the No. 3 seed. The conference tournament is scheduled to tip off Wednesday in Nome.
The Warriors dominated Su-Valley in the opener of their two-game series. Bethel knocked 30 shots from the field – including eight from behind the three-point line – and rolled to an easy 37-point win.
Christian Osentoski and Nick Wasierski gave Bethel plenty of firepower early in the contest. After Wasierski and Nicholas Sharp had pushed in the Warriors’ first three shots, Osentoski rocked the Vikings’ defense by putting on an outside shooting clinic. He sank three three-point shots in the final five minutes of the first quarter and led Bethel to a 22-9 first-quarter lead.
The Warriors were far from through, however. Sharp and Nathan Wade combined for three more treys in the second to spearhead a 27-8 spree.
Michael Polk also provided a boost to the Warriors offense in the second. He tallied six of his eight points in the frame.
Wade continued to wield the hot hand in the third. He scored six points in the first eight minutes of the second half and helped the Warriors extend their lead to 40, at 66-26, heading into the fourth quarter.
Osentoski finished the contest as Bethel’s top scorer with 16 points. Sharp and Brodie Smith both tallied 12, while Wade chipped in nine.
Randy Hanson helped the Warriors get off to a hot start against Su Valley on Saturday. The BRHS standout hit twice from behind the three-point line in the first quarter and powered Bethel to a 17-5 first-period advantage. Osentoski and Wasierski each added four in the frame.
Osentoski, the third-leading scorer in the Western Conference this season, heated up in the second. He pushed in six of his 12 points in the stanza and helped Bethel sprint to a 31-16 halftime lead.
The Vikings rallied back in the third. Led by six points from Marc Bartel, Su Valley pounded out a 13-6 run in the frame and pulled to within eight, at 37-29, heading into the final quarter.
Wasierski helped the Warriors weather the Vikings’ late push. He pushed in six of his 12 points in the fourth. Hanson and Patrick Hopstad each finished the contest with six for Bethel. Chuckie Herman added four.
Lady Nanooks scratch out Western Conference wins over Bethel
2-24-09
by Tommy Wells
The Nome-Beltz Lady Nanooks rolled into this past weekend’s Western Conference showdown with the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors with plenty of momentum. Nome has won seven of its first 10 games and was sitting comfortably in second in the conference standings.
They probably didn’t leave the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta with as much swagger.
The Lady Nanooks were forced to sweat out a furious fourth-quarter run by the Kira Polk and the Lady Warriors on Saturday before claiming a narrow 39-35 victory. The win gave Nome a shaky two-game sweep of Bethel.
It also proved the Lady Warriors can compete with the conference’s top squads.
Bethel grabbed the upper hand early in the series’ finale. Morgan Charlton pushed in a shot late in the first quarter that enabled the BRHS girls to snare an 8-7 lead.
Charmae Chavez ignited the Lady Warriors’ first-quarter heroics with a pair of free throws. Moments later Charlton notched the first of her two first-quarter buckets. From there, Polk cut Nome’s lead to one, at 7-6, with a basket and set the stage for Charlton’s late field goal.
The Lady Nanooks, now 9-3 overall, roared back in the second. Keyed by three three-point bombs, Nome posted a 16-4 run in the frame and took a 23-12 lead into the half.
Bethel showed it could rally, as well, in the third, Polk and Charlton both scored five points in the first eight minutes of the second half and keyed a 12-11 run that pulled the Lady Warriors to within 10, at 34-24, heading into the final frame.
Bethel continued to apply the pressure in the fourth. The BRHS offense – sparked by Polk’s second three-point shot of the second half, notched an 11-5 run in the final stanza.
Polk finished as the Lady Warriors’ top scorer, netting 14 points. Charlton also hit double figures with 11. Charmae Chavez contributed six more, while Audrey Leary and Sherilyn Soots added two apiece.
Iris Wieler was the Lady Nanooks’ leader with 11.
Nome struggled to get by Bethel in the opener, too. The Lady Nanooks needed a 33-25 run in the second half on Friday to net a 47-36 win.
The BRHS defense kept the Lady Warriors within striking distance throughout the first half. Nome scored just seven times from the field in the first two periods of play and held a slim 14-11 advantage.
After battling to a 4-4 tie in the first, the Lady Nanooks rode eight second quarter points from Vanessa Tahbone to a 10-7 effort in the second.
Soots, Chavez and Florence Ashepak combined to account for Bethel’s seven second-period points. Polk found her game in the third. The BRHS standout erupted for eight points in the third.
Nome held a 28-22 lead heading into the final frame.
The Lady Warriors threatened to rally in the closing eight minutes. Bethel made eight of its 13 free throw opportunities in the fourth and notched 14 points. Leary led the Bethel’s late charge. She pumped in seven of her eight points in the stanza. Polk led al Bethel scorers with 10 points. Charlton also finished with eight.
Nome-Beltz grabs
two wins from Warriors
by Tommy Wells
The Nome-Beltz High School Nanooks continued to make a push for the No. 1 seed at the upcoming Western Conference Basketball Tournament this past weekend by grinding out a pair of key wins over the Bethel Regional High School Warriors.
Nome won the series finale on Saturday by a 65-47 clip. They opened the two-game matchup the day before with a 6-43 decision.
With the wins, Nome improved to 16-4 for the year and to 5-1 in conference play. The Warriors slipped to 10-9 overall and to 4-5 against Western Conference foes.
Bethel, led by the play of Nicholas Sharp and Charles Herman, got off to a quick start against Nome. The Warriors outscored the Nanooks by a 17-4 clip in the first eight minutes.
Nome, which closes out its regular season this weekend in Kotzebue, roared back. The Nanooks reeled off a 14-8 run in the second and took a slim 28-25 lead into the half.
The wheels came off the BRHS wagon in the third. Nome pounded out a 23-8 run in the third and upped its lead to 18, at 51-33, heading into the final; eight minutes of the contest. Bethel managed to right its ship in the fourth. The Warriors matched the Nanooks point-for-point in the closing minutes, with each scoring 14.
Sharp and Herman led the Warriors’ offense, scoring 11 apiece. Christian Osentoski and John Street added six, while Patrick Hopstad contributed five.
On Friday, the Nanooks used a 34-23 run in the second half to overcome a 16-point performance by Osentoski. Nome controlled the game from the start. Bethel was outscored by a 19-6 margin in the first quarter and went into the half down 32-20. The Warriors’ hopes were damaged severely in the third as the Nanooks went on a 17-7 run.
Osentoski finished the contest as Bethel’s top weapon, netting 16 points. Herman just missed double digits, finishing with nine, while Sharp and Street each pumped in six.
Bethel is scheduled to close out its regular season this weekend with a pair of non-conference games against Sustina Valley.
The Western Conference Basketball Tournament is scheduled to tip off on March 5 in Nome. The top two teams in the tournament will advance to the state basketball tournament on March 16 in Anchorage.
Koester, JH
Warriors skin Nanooks
by Tommy Wells
Kyle Koester, Ito Naneng and J. Bruce Crow scored almost at will this past weekend and led the Bethel Regional Junior High School Warriors to an impressive two-game sweep of a weekend series with rival Nome-Beltz in the WarriorDome. Bethel outscored Nome by a cumulative mark of 119-86 in the two outings.
The Warriors didn’t waste any time in flexing their muscle in the series’ opener on Friday. The Warriors picked up offensive points from seven different players in the first half of the Western Conference showdown and streaked to a commanding 35-19 cushion.
Naneng led the BRJHS first-quarter onslaught. He knocked down four shots from the field and finished with 10 of his 14 points in the initial two stanzas.
Koester and Crow pitched in eight and six, respectively. Carlie Romer, Charles Strickland, Elliott Hoffman and Kenny Owens also scored in the Warriors’ run.
Bethel added to its lead in the third. Sparked by two buckets from Koester, the BRJHS squad pounded out a 15-3 stretch and pushed its advantage to 50-22. Bethel, which had three players finish in double figures offensively, closed out the contest with a 13-12 spree in the final period.
Koester led the BRJHS offense with 16 points, Naneng and Crow added 14 and 10. Romer just missed double digits, netting eight.
Bethel had a little tougher time in the finale of the series. The Warriors needed a 20-9 run in the third quarter to nail down a 58-52 win on Saturday. Nome, which benefited from 19 points from John Smith and 18 from Chris Harvey, grabbed the upper hand early. Smith scored seven of his team-high total in the first quarter and led the Nanooks to a 13-10 lead.
Despite a solid effort from Koester and Naneng in the second, the Nanooks posted a 15-14 run in the second and took a 28-24 cushion into the half. Koester and Naneng kept Bethel close in the second by combing for 12 points. Owens added BRJHS’ other basket.
The Warriors, behind eight points from Koester and four points apiece from Hoffman and Naneng, hit stride in the third. Bethel sank 10 shots from the field in the frame and raced to a 44-37 lead heading into the final period of play.
Koester finished the contest as the game’s leading scorer, netting 24. Naneng added 14, while Hoffman and Owens added eight and six, respectively.
Dillingham takes pair from Bethel girls
2-19-09
by Tommy Wells
Virginia Bobbitt erupted for 15 points in the third quarter Saturday evening and helped the Dillingham Lady Wolverines blow open a close game and rolled to a 54-29 win over the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors in the WarriorDome.
With the win, Dillingham capped a two-game sweep of Bethel. The Lady Wolverines had opened the Region I rivalry series with a 49-25 win the night before.
Dillingham brought out the big guns early and often en route to taking control of the game early. The Lady Wolverines picked up three three-point shots in the first quarter from Elena Bartman/Wallman and Bobbitt and streaked to a 19-5 lead.
The Lady Warriors managed just two shots from the field in the first quarter, netting five points via a three-pointer from Florence Ashepak and a field goal from Audrey Leary.
Bethel scratched its way back into the game with a gutsy second-quarter performance. The BRHS girls outscored Dillingham by a 7-2 clip in the frame and went into the half trailing by nine, at 21-12.
Morgan Charlton led the Lady Warriors’ second-quarter efforts by scoring four points, Kira Polk added three more.
Bethel had no answer for Bobbitt in the third quarter. The DHS standout knocked down a pair of threes and two field goals in the stanza and spearheaded a 23-6 spree. Dillingham held a 44-18 advantage heading into the final frame.
Polk, who led all Bethel scorers, helped the Lady Warriors rally back a bit in the fourth. She pushed in five of her team-high 14 points in the frame and led an 11-10 run.
Charlton and Lauren Forbes both finished with four for the BRHS girls. Ashepak added three.
Bobbitt was equally as impressive in the first game, scoring 18 points in the Lady Wolverines’ 24-point win. Dillingham put Bethel on its heels in the first quarter. The Lady Wolverines reeled off a 13-0 start and never looked back.
Polk and Charlton both led Bethel with five points. Leary, Charmae Chavez and Olivia Shields all added four, while Forbes contributed three.
Nelson, Bavilla lifts Lady Hawks past BRHS
by Tommy Wells
Jonilyn Bavilla and Jaclyn Nelson couldn’t have found a better way to celebrate the Valentine’s Day weekend than the way they did. They got plenty of love Friday and Saturday from the fans in the WarriorDome while leading the Lady Hawks to a two-game sweep of the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors’ junior varsity.
Bavilla and Nelson both turned in stellar outings in the wins.
Bavilla was almost unstoppable on Valentine’s Day. She reeled off 22 points in the game and led Napaskiak to a 58-26 win over Bethel.
She also had plenty of help from Rebecca Larson, who finished with 10 points.
Larson provided the electricity for the Lady Hawks in the first. After Napaskiak had battled its way to a 9-4 lead in the opening frame., the ZJWHS standout buried a three-pointer late to spur the Lady Hawks to a 12-4 lead.
Bavilla took over from there, scoring five times in the second en route to helping Napaskiak up its lead to 21, at 30-9, at the half.
Napaskiak, despite a strong third-quarter effort from Bethel’s Julia Mochin, all but iced the game in the first eight minutes of the second. Napaskiak got points from Francine Larson, Paula Evan, Rebecca Larson, Kimberly Nicolai, Bavilla and Emily Maxie in the third and rolled to an 18-10 advantage.
Napaskiak held a 48-22 lead at the start of the final stanza.
Mochin led all BRHS scorers in the contest with seven points. Danielle Stanley and Jalene Herron added six apiece.
Nelson powered the Lady Hawks to a 47-24 win in the opener of the series on Friday by scoring a game-high 19 points. Ashley Evan also played well in the win, scoring eight points.
Amy Mute was Bethel’s top scorer with 10 points. Erin Fox chipped in six.
Maxie helps Hawks soar to wins over Bethel
by Tommy Wells
John Maxie pumped in 13 points and Daniel Joekay added 10 more Saturday and helped spur the Napaskiak Hawks to a nail-biting 53-49 win over the Bethel Regional High School Warriors’ junior varsity. The win capped a stunning two-game sweep by Napaskiak.
Napaskiak standout Travis Andrew carried the hot hand for the Hawks early in the contest. He buried a shot from the field and tacked on three free throw points in the initial eight minutes of the game and led the Hawks to an 11-6 lead.
Maxie, Francis Nicholai and Willie Steven also posted points for Napaskiak in the first quarter.
The Warriors, who were held to just one field goal in the first eight minutes, caught fire in the second. Sparked by four points from Mike Polk, Jermaine Saddler and Joey Glasheen and a clutch three-pointer from Randy Hanson, Bethel reeled off 19 points in the second and raced to a 25-21 lead at the half. John Olson and Seth O’Brien contributed to the Warriors’ second-quarter run with baskets.
Napaskiak answered back, however. The Hawks picked up a timely three-point shot from Maxie in the third and sprinted to an 11-2 advantage in the frame.
Bethel trailed by a 32-27 margin heading into the final stanza.
Glasheen attempted to help carry Bethel back with a stellar fourth-quarter effort. He netted 13 of his team-high 17 points in the final frame. Led by Glasheen, the Warriors outscored Napaskiak by a 24-21 ledger in the fourth.
Maxie and Nicholai led Napaskiak’s fourth-quarter heroics. Maxie registered six of his final points in the frame. Nicholai netted five of nine points in the fourth.
Saddler finished the game in double figures for Bethel, picking up 13 points.
Napaskiak rode double-digit performances from Nicholai, Maxie and Randall Nicholai to a 58-35 win over Bethel in the series opener on Friday.
Francis Nicholai scored 12 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to lead the Hawks to the win. Maxie and Randall Nicholai finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Andrew just missed double figures, tallying nine. Polk led all BRHS scorers in Game 1, finishing with 10.
Delta Junction rallies to earn
split with Lady Warriors
2-12-09
by Tommy Wells
The Delta Junction Lady Huskies took advantage of a short-handed Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors on Saturday to claim a 49-24 win in the final game of a their two-game series in Bethel.
With the win, the Lady Huskies managed to split their two game series with Bethel.
The Lady Warriors, playing without Sherilyn Soots, struggled to get their offense untracked in the finale. Bethel managed just one shot – a basket by Kira Polk – from the field in the first eight minutes and found themselves looking up at a huge deficit. Delta Junction outscored Bethel by a 16-2 clip in the first quarter.
The offense didn’t get much better for the Lady Warriors in the second. Bethel collected second-period baskets from Polk and Charmae Chavez and entered the half down by 15, at 21-6.
Bethel finally got its offense going in the third. Polk pushed in three shots from the floor and Morgan Charlton, Florence Ashepak and Audrey Leary all chipped in points to key a 12-point spree.
Unfortunately for the BRHS girls, Delta Junction was even more proficient offensively. The Lady Huskies outpointed Bethel by a 15-12 margin in the third and took a 36-18 lead into the fourth.
Olivia Shields highlighted the Lady Warriors’ fourth-quarter efforts by scoring eight points.
Delta Junction’s Danielle Bungelmeier led the Lady Huskies with 13 points.
Polk was Bethel’s top scorer with 10 points. Shields added eight, while Charlton, Ashepak, Leary, Jenny Klejka and Chavez all finished with two apiece.
Herman, Sharp help Warriors earn split with Delta Junction
by Tommy Wells
Chuckie Herman came up big for the Bethel Regional High School Warriors when he needed to most. The BRHS standout pumped in 22 points Saturday and helped the Warriors salvage the final game of a two-game series with Class 3A Delta Junction with a 53-45 victory in front of a large crowd in the WarriorDome.
With the split, the Warriors improved to 3-1 in their last four games at home, and to 5-4 overall.
Herman, thanks in part to the play of point guard Nicholas Sharp, took Delta Junction to school early in the contest. Herman pushed in three shots from the floor in the first quarter and led the Warriors to a slim 16-15 lead.
Eric Pavil aided Bethel’s first-quarter efforts with four points. Christian Osentoski, Sharp and Jared Boerger also punched out shots in the first period.
Bethel padded its lead a bit in the second. The Warriors rode the hot hand of Herman and Brodie Smith to a 12-8 run in the frame and took a 28-23 lead into the half. Smith netted half of his eight points in the second.
Herman took complete control of the non-conference showdown from there. He pushed in 12 of the Warriors’ first 14 points in the second half and helped Bethel weather a solid third-quarter run by Delta.
The Warriors held a slim 42-35 cushion heading into the fourth quarter. Bethel picked up clutch shots from Osentoski, Smith and Nicholas Wasierski in the fourth to seal the win. Wasierski finished the game with seven points, while Osentoski chipped in six.
Despite a last-second three-point attempt, Bethel came up short in the opener of the weekend series, falling 53-50.
The Warriors jumped on top early, outscoring Delta Junction by an 11-10 margin in the first.
The Huskies answered back, however. Led by 11 second-quarter points from Aundrey Kolesnik, Delta Junction managed to put together a 15-8 run in the frame and took a 25-19 lead into the half.
Sharp helped the Warriors take a huge bite out of Delta Junction’s lead in the third. He knocked down two three-point shots late in the third quarter and keyed a 17-12 run. Bethel trailed by just one, at 37-36, heading into the final frame.
Delta Junction’s Tim Helkenn allowed the Huskies to survive the Warriors’ second-half rally. He pushed in 12 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter and led a 16-14 run in the closing minutes.
Sharp led all BRHS scorers in the contest with 13 points. Wasierski added 12, while John Street and Osentoski contributed seven and six, respectively.
Kalskag vs. Aniak basketball results
The Kalskag Grizzly boys basketball team met with the Aniak Halfbreeds on January 5, 2009. Here are the quarter by quarter results.
Aniak 4 9 16 10 39
Kalskag 15 37 11 12 85
For Kalskag, Wayne Holmberg had 30, Dj Dorris scored 21, and Ludwig White had 8. Aniak player Bruce Morgan scored 19 and Wayne Morgan had 6.
Lady Warriors roll to Bethel Basketball Classic crown
2-4-09
by Tommy Wells
Florence Ashepak scored six points and Morgan Charlton added five more in the third quarter Saturday afternoon and powered the Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors to a thrilling 47-34 come-from-behind victory over the Unalaska Lady Raiders in the final game of the 2009 Bethel Basketball Classic.
Ashepak and Charlton powered a 15-11 run in the third quarter than enabled the Lady Warriors to erase a 17-15 halftime deficit.
After Bethel’s third-quarter run, Kira Polk and Sherilyn Soots made sure Unalaska wouldn’t enjoy a comeback of their own. Polk pumped in seven of her team-high 15 points in the final eight minutes to spearhead a 17-6 spree that cemented the win. Soots aided the BRHS’ fourth-quarter run by throwing in five points, including a three-point shot that all but took the wind out of the Lady Raiders’ sails.
With the win, Bethel capped a 3-0 run in the round-robin tournament. Togiak finished second in the overall team standings, finishing just ahead of Unalaska and Bristol Bay. Unalaska, thanks to a late three-pointer from Meta Mendenhall, grabbed the early lead. The Lady Raiders outscored Bethel by a slim 9-8 clip in the first eight minutes. Mendenhall led Unalaska with 19 points.
Polk led the Lady Warriors’ efforts in the opening moments. She scored six of Bethel’s first eight points.
The Lady Raiders didn’t let up in the second. Spurred on by two shots from Chelsea Karvia, Unalaska posted an 8-7 run in the second and took a slim two-point lead, at 17-15, at the half.
Ashepak and Charlton made sure the Lady Raiders didn’t pull off the upset with a lights-out effort in the third quarter. Ashepak, who finished the game with 10 points, knocked down three shots from the field and then looked on as Charlton pushed in another and hit three of her four chances from the free throw line.
Lauren Forbes and Soots also registered points in the Lady Warriors’ third-quarter surge. Polk, the tournament MVP, keyed a 17-6 run in the final minutes to seal the win.
The Lady Warriors’ second-round win wasn’t as trying. Bethel put on a stifling defensive performance in the first half and rolled to a 38-28 win over Togiak.
The Lady Warriors, thanks to a pair of baskets from Soots and shots from Audrey Leary and Polk, outscored Togiak by an 8-2 margin in the first eight minutes of the game.
The Lady Huskies’ lone basket of the first quarter came via a shot from Virginia Gusok.
Polk exploded offensively in the second quarter. She pushed in eight of her game-high 20 points in the frame and led Bethel to a 20-14 halftime cushion.
Togiak proved it could play defense, too, in the third. The Lady Huskies held Bethel to just one shot from the field in the frame. Unfortunately for Togiak, the Lady Warriors’ defense was just as imposing, holding the Lady Huskies to a single shot as well. Bethel salted away the win with a 16-12 spree in the fourth.
Soots, who joined Polk on the BBC all-tournament squad, was BRHS’ second-leading scorer in the game, netting 10. Bethel, which was also named the BBC Sportsmanship award winner, opened the tournament with a thrilling 58-51 win over the Bristol Bay Angels.
Soots paced the BRHS offense in the opening round by throwing in 19 points. Polk added 16. In all, Bethel had points from eight of his players against Bristol Bay, including Charlton, Ashepak, Forbes, Leary, Jenny Klejka and Charmae Chavez.
Chavez earned the girls’ division Free Champion honors, while Togiak’s Ellen Gusok took the Hot Shot title.
Osentoski, Sharp leads
Warriors to Classic crown
by Tommy Wells
Christian Osentoski and Nicholas Sharp both scored into double figures Saturday and powered the Bethel Regional High School Warriors a 48-30 victory over the Unalaska Raiders in the finals of the 2009 Bethel Basketball Classic. With the win, Bethel completed the three-day round-robin tournament with a 3-0 record. Scammon Bay, Unalaska and Bristol Bay also competed in the event.
Bethel didn’t waste any time in getting its offense cranked up in the finals. After Johnny Street had opened the Warriors’ scoring, Osentoski put the BRHS Offense on his shoulders. He pumped in three straight shots from the field early in the frame and helped the Warriors sprint to a 15-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Unalaska’s Adrian DeRosario provided the bulk of the Raiders’ first-quarter points, netting the team’s only two field goals in the initial eight minutes. Unalaska’s Cameron Lynch registered the team’s other two points from the free throw line.
Sharp sparked Bethel’s onslaught in the second. He knocked down a clutch three-point shot midway through the second that propelled the Warriors to a 25-13 halftime advantage. Nicholas Wasierski, Brodie Smith, Osentoski and Randy Hanson also tallied points in the second.
Sharp didn’t ease up in the third. He pushed in eight of his 11 points in the frame and led Bethel to a 37-22 third-quarter lead. Bethel outscored Unalaska by a 12-9 margin in the third.
Osentoski helped Bethel slam the door shut in the closing minutes. He powered an 11-8 spree in the final eight minutes by throwing in six points. Osentoski, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, finished the game with 16 points. Smith and Wasierski both netted six in the win. Lynch led all Unalaska scorers with 13 points.
Bethel earned its way into the finals with a gutsy 59-48 come-from-behind win over Scammon Bay. Scammon Bay, under the tutelage of head coach Josh Akerelrea, flexed its muscle early against Bethel. The Eagles rode the hot hand of Wybon Rivers and Bajon Hunter in the first quarter to a stunning 16-11 lead. Rivers pushed in two shots from the floor in the first and also added three points from the free throw line. Hunter tallied five in the frame, including a three-point bomb midway through the first quarter.
Osentoski and Eric Pavil helped the Warriors stay close. The two combined to score four points in the closing moments of the period, cutting Scammon Bay’s lead to four. The Warriors stormed back in the second using a balanced scoring attack. Bethel picked up points from Osentoski, Sharp, Patrick Hopstad, Nathan Wade, Smith, Wasierski, Street and Chuckie Herman in the second and rolled to a 16-11 advantage.
The Warriors went into the half with the score knotted at 27-27. After battling to a 37-36 lead through three, Bethel hit stride in the fourth quarter. The Warriors, spearheaded by a 14-of-17 effort from the free throw line, pounded out a 22-12 run in the final minutes to close out the game.
Sharp, who finished the game with 10 points, hit six of his eight free throw attempts in the fourth quarter. Wasierski also finished the game with 10 points, eight of which came in the final frame. Osentoski led all BRHS scorers with 16.
Rivers led Scammon Bay’s offensive effort with 21 points. Hunter and Powsy Aguchak added 11 and 12, respectively.
The Warriors didn’t have any trouble in opening the tournament on Thursday. Bethel crushed Bristol Bay in the first round, winning 73-34. The Warriors, who had five players reach double digits in scoring, outscored Bristol Bay by a staggering 43-17 margin in the second and third quarters. Osentoski and Smith both tallied 12 in the win, while Street knocked down a team-high 14. Sharp and Hopstad both added 10.
The Angels finished the tournament with a 1-2 record, with their lone win coming via a nail-biting 76-74 win over Scammon Bay. Despite the loss, Rivers starred for Keggatmiut School, throwing in a tournament-high 30 points in the second-round setback. He later joined Osentoski, Unalaska’s Michael Fernandez, Bristol Bay’s Brycin Pacheco, Sharp and Lynch on the all-tournament squad.
Scammon Bay, despite 12 points from Matt Chandler, dropped its only other game by a 53-39 clip to Unalaska. Chandler later was crowned the 209 Bethel Basketball Classic’s Hot Shot champion.
Island League basketball results
The Chefornak Shamans hosted the Island League games for the varsity girls, and Toksook Bay hosted the boys’ games during last weekend – January 30-31, 2009.
Girls Game 1 Toksook Bay 35 - Kwig 34: The Islanders led by 13 at the start of the 4th quarter and held off a furious rally by the Eagles. Cynthia Asuluk of Toksook Bay and Megan Snyder of Kwigillingok both scored 12 points; Girls Game 2 Chefornak 40 - Newtok 30: Andrea Tunuchuk of Chefornak scored 16 and Shelley Carl of Newtok had 13. Girls Game 3 Toksook Bay 43 – Newtok 26: Georgie Asuluk of Toksook scored 11 points, and Vanessa George of Newtok had 16. Girls Game 4 Chefornak 44 – Kwigillingok 43: Andrea Tunuchuk made one of two freethrows with 1.5 seconds left to break the tie. Kwig called timeout and had a great inbounds play, open look from 15 ft. rimmed the basket but did not fall as time expired. Very exciting. Kwig led by 8 in the 3rd quarter. Allison Lewis scored 17 points, and Megan Snyder of Kwig had 21; Girls Game 5 Kwig 53 - Newtok 33: Clarrisa Mancuaq and Vanessa George of Newtok each scored 15. Girls Game 6 Chefornak 30 - Toksook Bay 17: Andrea Tunuchuk of Chefornak had 13 points; Jackie Lincoln and Cynthia Asuluk each had 6.
Boys Game 1 Toksook Bay 86 - Tununak 31: Joey Lincoln of OOK had lead score with 19 points. Moses Charles also of Toksook had 18; Boys Game 2 Newtok 43 - Chefornak 61: Tim Kinegak of Chefornak led scorers with 18 points. Boys Game 3: Tununak 66 - Newtok 68: Tight game all the way. Tununak would fall behind by about ten then come back; Boys Game 4 Chefornak 46 - Toksook Bay 55: Tie game going into the fourth quarter. Toksook’s bench helped the Islanders stay strong in the end with 12 of the Islander’s 15 fourth quarter points; Boys Game 5 Chefornak 80 - Tununak 52: Thomas Albert of Tununak scored 32 as did Chris Panruk of Chefornak; Boys Game 6 Toksook Bay 82 - Newtok 48: Bosco John of Newtok led scorers with 25 points in a losing effort to the Islanders.
Kalskag boys basketball on the road
On January 27, 2009 the Kalskag Grizzly Boys beat the Soldotna High JV team 71-55. Wayne Holmberg had 27. On Jan. 28th, Kalskag defeated Nikovealsk 70-33. Nikolaevsk is located on the Kenai Peninsula 20 miles north of Homer and has approximately 500 residents. Wayne Holmberg 38, Dj Dorris had 16, Dennis Aloysius scored 7, and Carlton Evan 6. Jorah Yakunin had 14 for the Warriors. On Jan. 29th, the Kalskag Grizzlies beat Ninilchik 59-39. Wayne Holmberg had 37 for the Grizzlies, Dj Dorris chipped in 10. For Ninilchik, Sutherland had 16 and Presley had 14.
Kalskag hosts basketball weekend
1-21-09
by Severin Gardner
Kalskag hosted Russian Mission last Friday and Saturday. Russian Mission braved the wind, rain and the wet ride to travel to Kalskag. All the players and coaches showed up soaked from head to toe from the standing water on the frozen lakes caused from the 3 previous days of rain.
Friday’s Game Results:
First Game Girls
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kalskag 9 12 12 13 46
RM 20 13 15 17 65
Kalskag - Ariel Ramadanovic put home 16 points for the Lady Grizzlies. Raven Levi and Evonda Williams both chipped in with 9.
RM - Sharlyn Polty burned Kalskag for 25 with 10 of those point coming in the first quarter. Denise K. was the second highest scorer for Russian Mission with 15.
Second Game Boys
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kalskag 20 16 15 20 71
RM 26 9 14 9 58
Russian Mission jumped out to an 11 point led early in the first quarter. Kalskag cut that lead to 6 going in to the second quarter and lead by 1 at half time.
Kalskag - DJ Dorris torched the Raiders for 29 leading all scorers in the game. Wayne Holmberg grinded out 22 point for the Grizzlies.
Russian Mission - Kyle Nikolia had a team high 18 and Jaren Kameroff scored 14.
Saturday Girls Game:
Russian Mission, 60; Kalskag, 49
Kalskag had a 9 point lead at half time. Russian Mission came back to win the game by 11. The Russian Mission Raiders high scorers were Kim Minok with 20 and Denise K. with 16. Kalskag high scorer was Raven Levi with 12. Ariel Ramadanovic had 11 and Josepine Nook had 10.
Boys Game:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kalskag 20 18 12 21 72
RM 6 12 13 22 53
Kalskag jumped out to a 20-6 lead and never looked back. Wayne Holmberg put down 32 points in the game. Dj Dorris had 12. Jeff Hetherington had 11 and Carlton Evan had 10.
Russian Mission was led by David Kameroff who had 17. Travis Housler had 12. Kyle Nikolai and Jarin Kameroff each had 10.
Hanson, Wasierski etch names into Warrior wrestling history
1-9-09
by Tommy Wells
Should the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ever find themselves needing a few new faces for their posters and ads, few would be better than Bethel Regional High School’s Randy Hanson and Nicholas Wasierski.
Neither wind, bad weather nor a loaded field could stop the two from delivering the goods last month.
Hanson and Wasierski etched their names deep into the Warriors’ rich wrestling history in December. Both wrestled their way to eighth in the final standings in their respective weight divisions at the Reno Tournament of Champions event, which was held Dec. 19-20 in Nevada.
“It went pretty well for us,” said Hanson. “The tournament is considered one of the toughest in the nation, which makes it special for us because we were the first wrestlers from Bethel to place.”
As a team, Hanson and Wasierski did Bethel proud. The two combined for 18 points in the tournament and finished 72nd in the final team standings – seven places higher than Region I rival Dillingham.
For Hanson, finishing eighth in the 112-pound classification was extra special. The BRHS junior celebrated his 17th birthday by muscling his way through three matches in a 150-minutes span on the final day of the tournament en route to advancing to the seventh-place championship bout against Sean Vandyke, of Grundy, Va.
In the seventh-place bout, Vandyke took advantage of Hanson’s marathon route through the consolation bracket by recording a 12-0 majority decision.
The defending Class 1-2-3A 119-pound champion, Hanson lost seven pounds prior to the tournament in an attempt to compete in the 112-pound division.
The move had its drawbacks.
“I started off feeling pretty good, but as the tournament went along I think it kind of hindered me. I felt kind of tired and slow,” said Hanson, who was seeded fourth overall. Hanson got off to a tough start in the tournament. He dropped a controversial 1-0 decision to Jake Damon of Temecula, Calif.
Damon, who rode his win over Hanson to the quarterfinals, scored on an escape in the final minutes of the match to collect the victory. Hanson, said the loss to Damon was a tough blow.
“My goal in going there was to place,” said Hanson, who put together a 36-1 record this past season under BRHS head coach Darren Lieb. “After I lost that first one, I didn’t think I would have that chance. I just went out and wrestled from there. After I won my last match to advance to the seventh-place bout I was relieved.”
With the loss to Damon, Hanson fell into a consolation bracket matchup with Brian Crutchmer, of Union, California. Crutchmer had entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed but had suffered a stunning 6-0 loss in the second round.
Hanson added to Crutchmer’s disappointment in his second match, claiming a hard-fought 3-2 victory in triple overtime.
He hit stride from there, claiming easy wins over Aydin Erlich of Kotzebue and Sal Rangel of Redwood, Calif. He claimed a 6-3 victory over Erlich and took a commanding 6-0 win over Rangel. Hanson advanced to the consolation quarterfinals with his win over Rangel.
In the quarterfinals, he suffered an 8-4 loss to Beau Roberts of Mountain View, Nev., and fell into the seventh-place match against Vandyke, the tournament’s top seed. Hanson finished the tournament with a 5-3 record.
Wasierski was just as impressive in his second appearance at the national tournament. He posted a 3-3 record in the bruising 189-pound classification and wrestled his way into the seventh-place match. Among his wins was a 10-4 victory over Kotzebue’s Aaron Phillips. Phillips edged out Wasierski for the 189-pound state title in March.
“I feel like I did pretty well,” said the Bethel senior. “I think I could have done better, but it was nice to beat the kid that I had lost to at state.”
Wasierski opened the tournament with a dominating effort. After drawing a bye in the first round, he manhandled Lehi’s Taylor Savio in his first bout. He won by a 10-5 margin to earn the right to face Phillips in the third round. Phillips had advanced via easy wins over a wrestler from South Dakota and Wasilla’s Chris Crane.
Wasierski didn’t waste any time in avenging his loss to Phillips. He hammered out a 10-4 win in the match and earned a spot in the quarterfinals against Taylor Mobley of Turlock, Calif. Mobley escaped with a controversial 10-8 win on overtime.
“I think I should have won,” he said. “I didn’t get a call to go my way earlier in the match. In the third period, I thought I had scored on him, but I didn’t get the point. Sometimes that is what happens.”
Wasierski came back from the loss with a vengeance. He dominated Chase Eskam of Carlsbad, New Mexico, in his first bout in the consolation bracket, winning by a 12-1 score. The win over Eskam pushed Wasierski into the consolation quarterfinals and guaranteed him at least eighth in the final standings.
In the quarterfials, he suffered a narrow 7-4 setback to Derrio Mobley of Crater, Calif., and fell into the seventh-place match against Jared Crouse of Phillipsburg, Va.
Crouse claimed a tough 4-3 win in the seventh-place bout.
Returning to Bethel may have been the hardest part of the trip for Hanson and Wasierski. Following the completion of the tournament on Dec. 20, poor weather conditions delayed their return to western Alaska for four days, stranding them in Seattle and Anchorage.
Warriors, Lady Warriors
go 1-3 at ACS tournament
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – The new year didn’t get started anything close to the way the Bethel Regional High School basketball teams had hoped this past weekend at the Speedy Glass/Pepsi Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The Bethel boys, despite a solid effort from Christian Osentoski, Nick Sharp and John Street, went 1-2 in the annual 16-team event held at Anchorage Christian. The BRHS girls also went 1-2.
Bethel opened the tournament with a tough loss to Region I rival Barrow, falling 54-36. Osentoski and Sharp paced the BRHS offense against the Whalers. Osentoski finished with a team-high 10 points. Sharp added eight.
With the loss, Bethel advanced into a consolation showdown against the Valdez Buccaneers, a first-round loser to Nome. Valdez defeated Bethel by a 43-34 clip. Bethel closed out the tournament on a high note, defeating Kotzebue by a 44-28 clip.
Street led all Warriors with 12 points.
The Lady Warriors, despite outstanding performances from Audrey Leary, Sherilyn Soots and Kira Polk, struggled to find the win column as well. Bethel opened the girls’ tournament with on a sour note, dropping a 59-43 decision to Barrow.
Leary led all Bethel scorers with 16 points.
The Lady Warriors luck didn’t get any better in Friday’s consolation round, falling to Point Hope, 41-40. Bethel posted a solid showing in its final game, downing the Houston Lady Hawks, 44-28.
Polk powered the Lady Warriors’ offense with 15 points. Polk and Soots were both named to the ACS girls’ all-tournament squad.
Warriors, Lady Warriors
go 1-3 at ACS tournament
by Tommy Wells
ANCHORAGE – The new year didn’t get started anything close to the way the Bethel Regional High School basketball teams had hoped this past weekend at the Speedy Glass/Pepsi Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The Bethel boys, despite a solid effort from Christian Osentoski, Nick Sharp and John Street, went 1-2 in the annual 16-team event held at Anchorage Christian. The BRHS girls also went 1-2.
Bethel opened the tournament with a tough loss to Region I rival Barrow, falling 54-36. Osentoski and Sharp paced the BRHS offense against the Whalers. Osentoski finished with a team-high 10 points. Sharp added eight.
With the loss, Bethel advanced into a consolation showdown against the Valdez Buccaneers, a first-round loser to Nome. Valdez defeated Bethel by a 43-34 clip. Bethel closed out the tournament on a high note, defeating Kotzebue by a 44-28 clip.
Street led all Warriors with 12 points.
The Lady Warriors, despite outstanding performances from Audrey Leary, Sherilyn Soots and Kira Polk, struggled to find the win column as well. Bethel opened the girls’ tournament with on a sour note, dropping a 59-43 decision to Barrow.
Leary led all Bethel scorers with 16 points.
The Lady Warriors luck didn’t get any better in Friday’s consolation round, falling to Point Hope, 41-40. Bethel posted a solid showing in its final game, downing the Houston Lady Hawks, 44-28.
Polk powered the Lady Warriors’ offense with 15 points. Polk and Soots were both named to the ACS girls’ all-tournament squad.
K300 entrants up to 18
Eighteen teams are signed up for the 30th running of the Kuskokwim 300. The list of entrants includes former champions Ed Iten, Mitch Seavey, Jeff King, and Martin Buser, and last year’s 150 Bogus Creek winner Pete Kaiser of Bethel.
Two teams have entered the Bogus Creek 150. Johnny Evan, who won the recent Holiday Classic was the first entrant followed by Joe Ekamrak. The following is a full list of Kuskokwim 300 mushers entered in order of sign up:
Ron Underwood
Mike Williams, Jr.
DeeDee Jonrowe
Jeff King
Dave DeCaro
Hugh Neff
Sebastian Schnuelle
Martin Buser
Richie Diehl
Mitch Seavey
Dallas Seavey
Quinn Iten
Ed Iten
Aaron Burmeister
Pete Kaiser
Jackie Larson
John Baker
Ken Anderson
BRHS grapplers claim
second at state tournament
12-22-08
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Warriors went into the final match of the Class 1-2-3A state wrestling championships on Saturday holding a 5-point lead over the Petersburg Vikings.
The Warriors’ were within moments of walking away with another state crown.
Bethel’s hopes of winning its second crown in the past five years were pinned – literally – less than a minute into the final match. Petersburg’s Billy Craig recorded a win over Sitka’s Zhenya Kisarauskas just 56 seconds into the first period, giving the Vikings a six-point win and the 2008 state championship.
Craig’s win gave Petersburg a total of 176 points – one better than Bethel. Craig’s victory hardly dimmed a stellar effort by the Warriors at the three-day tournament, which was held at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.
Bethel garnered state title performances from Corbin LePore and Randy Hanson and had four other grapplers finish in the top four in their respective weight classifications.
LePore was without equal in the 112-pound classification, going 4-0 in the tournament.
LePore opened the tournament with an easy victory over Anchorage Christian’s Dan Gilroy. From there, he scored a technical win over Houston’s Steevie Heath and defeated Aydin Erlich of Kotzebue, 9-2, to gain a spot in the finals against Mount Edgecumbe’s Jesse Rogers. LePore wrestled his way to a 3-1 win in the championship round.
Bethel teammate Chris Jerry finished fourth in the 112-pound standings, going 3-2 overall. Jerry, who advanced to the semifinals before falling to Rogers by a slim 6-5 margin, suffered a loss to Erlich in the third-place bout.
Like LePore, Hanson had little trouble in writing his name into the Alaska wrestling history books. He posted a 4-0 record in the 119-pound classification, including an easy 13-0 win over rival Craig Schlosser of Dillingham in the title match. Hanson opened the tournament by making quick work of Kyle Milke of Houston, winning at the 1:15 mark of the first period.
In the second round, he starred again, grinding out an impressive win over Hoonah’s Timmy Coultee in just 1:58. He followed that up with a 9-0 win over Matt Parker of Nikiski in the semifinals.
Mario Kuqo was fifth in the 119-pound bracket. He edged out Mount Edgecumbe’s Matthew Rogers in the fifth-place bout.
Ryan Chavez and Nick Wasierski also turned in solid efforts at the tournament. Both finished second in their weight divisions. Chavez, who wrestled his way to a 3-1 record, suffered a tough 5-2 loss to Anchorage Christian Daniel Brandon in the finals of the 130-pound division. Brandon scored an escape and a takedown in the final minute to claim the win.
Wasierski was second to Kotzebue’s Aaron Phillips in the 189-pound bracket. Phillips won the title bout by a slim 5-3 margin.
Nicholas Sharp was fifth in the 130-pound bracket. He bested Wrangell’s David McHolland, 3-1, in his final match.
In all, Bethel had 14 wrestlers compete in the state tournament.
Chevak’s Conor Ferguson was among the Yukon-Kuskokwim-area’s top performers. He was fifth in the 135-pound classification. After a stunning loss to Sitka’s Max Hanson in the first round, The No. 4 seed managed to rebound and wrestled his way past Zachary Ivanoff of Mount Edgecumbe in the fifth-place bout.
ASAA/First National Bank AlaskaClass 1-2-3A State Wrestling Championships
Championship Matches
103 -- Jared Miller, Dillingham, p. Gabe Cabrera, Nome. 112 -- Corbin Lepore, Bethel, d. Jesse Roger, Mt. Edgecombe, 3-1. 119 -- Randy Hanson, Bethel, d. Craig Schlosser, Dillingham, 13-0. 125 -- Rolland Wimberley, Wrangell, d. Lonnie Booshu, Nome, 12-4. 130 -- Daniel Brandon, ACS, d. Ryan Chavez, Bethel, 5-2. 135 -- Brandon Reich, Kotzebue, d. Bret Lopez, Petersburg, 9-6. 140 -- Tim Erickson, Petersburg, d. Reed Tennyson, Dillingham, 12-7. 145 -- Kyle Mundy, Cordova, d. Steven Roberts, Klawock, 9-7. 152 -- J.J. Larson, Dillingham, d. Alberto Cabrera, Nome, 6-4. 160 -- Tim Field, Noorvik, d. Ryder Torgeson, Sitka, 7-5. 171 -- Jared Miller, Kotzebue, t.f. Kaddy Egen, Petersburg, 16-1. 189 -- Aaron Phillips, Kotzebue, d. Nick Wasierski, Bethel, 5-2. 215 -- Ethan Pempek, Wrangell, d. Geagel, Seldovia, 6-1. Hwt -- Billy Craig, Petersburg, p. Zhenya Kisarauskas, Sitka, :56.
Third-place Matches
103 - Zach Pleasant, p. Doug O’Hara, Kotzebue, 5:21. 112 - Avdin Erlich, Kotzebue, p. Chris Jerry, Bethel, 2:41. 119 - Ryan Baxter, Craig, d. Matt Parker, Nik, 11-8. 125 - Luke Charters, ACS, d. Cory Hill, Hoonah, 6-5. 130 - James Valentine, Petersburg, d. Shane Douglas, 11-10. 135 - Terry Rogers, Mt. Edgecumbe, m.d. Matt Baker, ACS, 13-3. 140 - Kaden Spurgeon, Nik, won by forfeit. 145 - Max Peeler, Petersburg, d. Jake Houston, Sitka, 4-2. 152 - Ike McMurren, Petersburg, d. Dylan Castle, Craig, 4-3. 160 - Dylan Beck, Seward, d. Justin Allen, Valdez, 8-6. 171 - Davey Brown, Wrangell, p. Tyler Thain, 3:48. 189 - Thomas Alley, Grace, p. Quenton Backford, Dillingham, 4:18. 215 - Ian Filbert, Seward, d. Patrick Quigley, Craig, 4-2 (OT). Hwt -- Keifer Kanayaruk, Barrow, p. Darrell Tilden, Dillingham, 4:25.
Russian Mission finishes fifth
at Mixed Six state tournament
by Tommy Wells
The Russian Mission Raiders turned in a solid effort this past weekend at the Mixed-Six State Volleyball Tournament, placing fifth in the final team standings.
The 2007 state Mixed-Six champion, the Raiders rebounded from a tough loss to eventual champion Point Hope in the first round to advance to the fourth-place game.
The 2008 Yukon River Conference champion, Russian Mission dropped its opening game, falling to the Unalakleet Wolfpack in three games, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20.
The Raiders stormed back in the second round. Russian Mission rode a solid performance from Nadia Duffy to a 25-19, 26-14, 21-25, 25-17 win over Y-K rival Akiuk.
Akiuk, which went 0-2 in the tournament, was keyed by a stellar outing by Harry Berlin.
With the win over Akiuk, the Raiders advanced to the fourth-place game to face Noorvik.
Despite a solid game from David Kozevnikoff, Noorvik won the bout in four games.
Noorvik had advanced to the fourth-place game via a 25-19, 25-23, 23-25, 25-13 win over Mountain Village in the second round.
Mountain Village, which picked up an excellent effort from Robert DelaRosa, had dropped its opener to Golovin.
The Point Hope Harpooners won the 2008 Mixed-Six crown. The Harpooners defeated Golovin in the finals, 25-15, 25-20, 25-18.
The Barrow Lady Whalers won the Class 1-2-3A West state volleyball crown. The Bethel Regional High School Lady Warriors’ rival defeated Klawock in the championship game by a 23-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-12 margin.
Dillingham was third.
Bethel won the 2007 1-2-3A West state crown.
Warriors finish second in Great Alaska Conference Championships
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Warriors proved themselves as one of the top wrestling programs in western Alaska last week by finishing second in the Great Alaska Conference Championships, which were held in Dillingham.
Bethel, which had 14 wrestlers finish in the top three in their respective weight classifications, finished just behind Dillingham in the team standings. New Stuyahok edged Chevak for third.
Corbin LePore and Randy Hanson highlighted the Warriors’ efforts. LePore won the 112-pound division, edging teammate Chris Jerry in the finals. Hanson bested teammate Mario Kuqo in the 119-pound bracket.
Nicholas Wasierski also emerged a big winner at the tournament, which featured 119 wrestlers from 15 western Alaska schools. He won the 189-pound division.
Chevak claimed several key honors at the meet, including having Conor Ferguson advance to the state tournament by winning the 135-pound bracket.
Comets head coach Matt Good was named the GAC Coach of the Year, while his team also garnered the Academic Award.
Below are the top three finishers in each weight division. The top three in each classification advanced to the state tournament, which was held this past weekend in Anchorage.
Great Alaska Conference Championships Final results (Top 3 only)
103: 1st Jared Miller – Dlg, 2nd Zach Pleasant – Bet, 3rd Dennis Wilson – Dlg; 112: 1st Corbin LePore – Bet, 2nd Chris Jerry – Bet, 3rd Mike Wassilly – Dlg; 119: 1st Randy Hanson – Bet, 2nd Mario Kuqo – Bet, 3rd Craig Schlosser – Dlg; 125: 1st Matthew Johnson – Dlg, 2nd Warren Ulroan – Che, 3rd Seth O’Brien – Bet; 130: 1st Cody Miller – Dlg, 2nd Ryan Chavez – Bet, 3rd Nicholas Sharp – Bet; 135: 1st Conor Ferguson – Che, 2nd Kyle Gregory – Dlg, 3rd Simeon Blunka - New Stu; 140: 1st Reed Tennyson – Dlg, 2nd Nicholas Petla - New Stu, 3rd Randall Nicholai - Napaskiak; 145: 1st Colin Nicoli – Koliganek, 2nd Brad Bond - New Stu, 3rd Delwen Samuelson – Bet; 152: 1st Charles Smeaton – Dlg, 2nd JJ Larson – Dlg, 3rd Trevor Henderson – Bet; 160: 1st Jerry Hulsing – Dlg, 2nd Blake Olsen – Dlg, 3rd Fred Neketa - New Stu; 171: 1st Joe Kazimirowicz – Koliganek, 2nd Thomas Clark – Dlg; 3rd Evan Brandon – Dlg; 189: 1st Nicholas Wasierski – Bet, 2nd Quinton Backford – Dlg, 3rd Miles Walker - King Cove; 215: 1st Cameron Lynch – Unalaska, 2nd Timothy Robb – Bet, 3rd Tyler Shade – Dlg; 285: 1st Darrell Tilden – Dlg, 2nd Ben Polk – Bet, 3rd Caleb Sleppy – Bet, 4th Joe Charles -Aniak (qualified due to the North Region only having 2 wrestlers at this weight)
Exciting volleyball games ignite wild crowd
during the 2008 Region 1A Mixed Six Volleyball Tournament Yukon River Conference
12-11-08
by Russell Clark
November 20, 21, and 22 the Ignatius Beans Sr. Memorial School Complex hosted the 2008 Lower Yukon School Districts Region 1A Mixed Six Volleyball Tournament Yukon River Conference. Those who purchased tickets to go to the games definitely got their money’s worth at this tournament.
“The tournament held some of the greatest games I’ve ever witnessed,” said Mountain Village senior and captain Alex Beans.
In all nine teams from the Lower Yukon School district and the St. Mary’s team competed in the tournament hosted in Mountain Village. Every game counted, each volley important in achieving the goal of being one of two teams going to state.
“The Scammon Bay game was awesome. We thought we were going to lose. The score was 3 to 9 in the 5th match. Then #21 senior Robert DelaRosa got to the line. His serves brought us back. Scammon Bay couldn’t handle his serves…” said Junior Leo Aguchak #12.
“The Game against Mountain was the best volleyball game ever,” said Scammon Bay Senior Bajon Hunter.
The Championship game was held early Saturday evening between Russian Mission and Mountain Village and may have been the most exciting game ever held in Mountain Village.
“Every time we spiked it the crowd would go wild,” said Janelle Amos, a sophmore from Mountain Village.
“The crowd was going crazy from the adrenaline rush. It gave me an adrenaline rush,” said Cindy Lawrence, a Mountain Village sophmore.
The games were high scoring and close. The second games score went as high as 32 to 34 finally tipping in Russian Mission’s favor. If you didn’t see the championship games you missed a sublime volleyball experience.
“The game was so close I was jumping out of my seat. That was the most I’ve ever yelled in my life,” said Senior Manuel Hess #35.
The Strivers did their best to send the Raider volleyball team into hibernation but the Raiders weren’t yet ready.
“Every time I served they had to call a time out…laugh…because I score too much points. They couldn’t stop the ball,” said Senior Tiara Sage #15.
Russian Mission, the favorite and this year’s champions, came very close to losing to Mountain Village after a five game series.
“Victory is getting that close to beating Russian Mission,” says Alex Beans.
“They are a good team. They have their spikes and sets but at state we are going to beat them…(pause)…I hope,” says Mountain Village sophmore Janelle Amos.
Both teams will get to travel to the state meet in Anchorage for another chance at victory December 11, 12, and 13.
“We pulled together as a team right before the tournament started… The more games we played the closer we became as friends. Every game counted and brought us closer together… through all the hard times we had. The memory of this year’s volleyball is set in stone,” concludes Alex Beans.
Region 1 A Mixed Six Volley ball Yukon River Conference results:
1st place - Russian Mission Raiders
2nd place - Mountain Village Strivers
3rd place - Scammon Bay Eagles
4th place – Marshall Mustangs
Sportsmanship Trophy
Nunam Iqua Foxes
All Tournament Team
Kyle Nicholai – Russian Mission Raider
Nadia Duffy – Russian Mission Raider
Alex Beans – Mountain Village Striver
Valerie Uiwsok – Kotlik Falcon
Desiree Coffee – Marshall Mustang
Brianna Joe – St. Mary’s Eagle
Danielle Green – Pilot Station King
Maggie Isadore – Alakanuk Brave
Gregory Strongheart – Nunam Iqua Fox
Stacey Kaganak – Scammon Bay Eagle
Most Valuable Players
Kyle Nicholai – Russian Mission Raider
Hazel Andrews – Mountain Village Striver
Bethel Invitational
Wrestling Results
Team Places:
1st Bethel Junior High
2nd Dillingham
3rd Kilbuck Elementary
Individual Places:
65 –
1st Gage Hoffman – KIL
2nd Ezekiel Angaiak - Nunap
3rd Lars Ponsness – KIL
4th Zoey McCallson – KIL
70-
1st Brandon Evans – Kil
2nd Domnick Lang – Aniak
3rd David Mochin –KIL
4th Paul Hunter KIL
75-
1st Kenny Savo – DLG
2nd Moses Jackson – Kwethluk
3rd Jeremy Roberts – Quinhagak
4th Theodore Sundown –Scammon Bay
80-
1st Bryce Backer – KOT
2nd Nevada Ahlo – KIL
3rd Tyler Rivers – Kwethluk
4th Jacer Aguchak – Scammon Bay
85-
1st Evan Dyment – BET
2nd Abe Bobbit – DLG
3rd Shawn Gardner – DLG
4th Shandon Rivers – Scammon Bay
90-
1st Brettlyn Reich – KOT
2nd Alex Gregory – KIL
3rd Cole Schlager – DLG
4th Christopher Pleasant – Nunap
95-
1st Carlie McIntryre – BET
2nd Carlie Romer – BET
3rd Tyler Eide – NOM
4t Brian Aukon – NOM
100-
1st Jerek Pete – BET
2nd Joseph Friday – Chevak
3rd Tony White – Nunap
4th Paul Mark – Quinhagak
105 –
1st Cade Schlagel – DLG
2nd Juynor Erikson – NOM
3rd Ito Naneng – BET
4th Scott Hanson - KOT
112-
1st Patrick Jones – Quinhagak
2nd Dylan Wassily – DLG
3rd David Olin – NOM
4th Corby Kassayulie – BET
119-
1st Chessman Samson – BET
2nd Jeremy Olsen – DLG
3rd Avery Coplin – BET
4th Logan Hunt – DLG
126-
1st Brayton Lieb – BET
2nd Clayton Rolf – DLG
3rd Austin Miller – BET
4th Jessie Alexie – Nunap
135 –
1st Charlie Mincher – DLG
2nd Domnick Hall – NOM
3rd John Oulton – BET
4th Jonathan Kameroff – Emmonak
145 –
1st Trevour Chavez – BET
2nd Vernon Lauckhurst – DLG
3rd Jay Alexie, Jr. – Nunap
4th Brandon Johnson – Emmonak
167-
1st Hayden Johanson – DLG
2nd JBruce Crow – BET
3rd Jonathan Tretikoff – New Halen
4th Anderson Kvamme – Aniak
Bethel grapplers nail
down ACS championship
by Tommy Wells
Corbin LePore and Randy Hanson both earned first-place finishes last week and helped carry the Bethel Regional High School Warriors to the top spot at the Anchorage Christian Invitational.
Bethel, which had seven wrestlers finish in the top five in their respective weight divisions, rolled up 195 points in the 40-team tournament. Petersburg finished second at 187.5, while Dillingham, Kotzebue and Wrangell rounded out the top five.
LePore was part of a stellar effort by the Warriors in the 112-pound classification. LePore and teammate Chris Jerry both wrestled their way into the finals in the division.
LePore, with a win over Herry in the championship round, finished the tournament with a 4-0 record. Jerry finished at 3-1.
Hanson dominated the 119-pound bracket, posting a 4-0 record, including a win over a Craig wrestler in the finals. The Craig wrestler is the son of former Bethel Regional High School standout Brant Baxter.
Ryan Chavez and Zach Pleasant finished second in their divisions. Chavez, who went 4-1 in the tournament, suffered a narrow 10-8 loss in the finals of the 130-pound division. Pleasant lost in the finals of the 103-pound bracket.
Nicholas Wasierski went 5-1 in the tournament and finished third in the 189-pound division. Teammate Trevor Henderson was 4-2 and fourth in the 152-pound classification.
Bethel also picked up solid outings from Marjo Kuqo, Seth O’Brien, Nicholas Sharp, Carl Fox III, Delwen Samuelson, Lawson Kalistook, Joseph Liu, Timothy Robb and Ben Polk. Overall, BRHS wrestlers won 42 of their 63 bouts in the tournament.
Henderson leads Warriors
to win at Bethel Invitational
11-29-08
by Tommy Wells
Heading into the 2008 Bethel Invitational Wrestling Tournament, Trevor Henderson felt he was among the top 152-pound wrestlers in the state. Few may want to argue the fact now.
Henderson posted a dominating performance on Friday and Saturday and easily rolled to the championship in his weight classification. In route to a perfect 4-0 record, he outpointed his opponents by a 52-5, including a stunning 15-0 win in the finals.
Led by Henderson’s win, the Bethel Regional High School Warriors rolled up 222.5 points and claimed the team crown. Kotzebue edged out Dillingham and Nome for second.
Henderson didn’t waste any time in setting the scoreboard afire on Friday. The BRHS standout defeated teammate Douglas Corp by a 12-3 mark in the first round. He followed that win with a 13-2 win over Crissy Elliott before turning in a stellar effort against Kotzebue’s Carl Sours in the semifinals. He defeated Sours by a 12-1 margin.
Henderson easily won the championship, downing Newhalen’s Tyler Anelon in the finals by a 15-0 score. Henderson’s win was one of five first-place finishes recorded by the Warriors in the tournament.
Nicholas Wasierski picked up top honors in the 189-pound bracket, going 3-0 Wasierski defeated Aaron Phillips of Kotzebue by a 4-2 score to cap his efforts. Prior to facing Phillips, Wasierski claimed wins over Derek Nelson of Bethel and Larry Carl of Hooper Bay.
Aniak’s Jonathan Wilson was fourth in the 189-pound division with a 2-2 record.
Randy Hanson and Ryan Chavez also notched wins. Hanson went 3-0 in the 119-pound bracket. He defeated Kotzebue’s Matthew Rae in the finals, while Chavez netted the 130-pound crown with a 4-0 record that included a 7-3 win over Nome’s Zachary Bourdon in the final bout.
Corbin LePore also collected a win, taking the 112-pound division with a 4-0 record. He defeated teammate Chris Jerry in the finals to finish unbeaten.
The Warriors almost netted eight gold medals. Zach Pleasant, Ben Polk, Carl Fox III and Delwen Samuelson each earned second-place finishes in their respective classifications.
Chevak’s Conor Ferguson won the 140-pound division, going 3-0. He defeated Bethel’s Carl Fox III in the championship bout.
Junior high grapplers
roll to Bethel Invite crown
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional Junior High School Warriors took top honors in six weight classifications Saturday and cruised to a team win at the annual Bethel Junior High School Invitational.
The Warriors, keyed by wins from Evan Dyment, Carlie McIntyre, Jerek Pete, Chessmen Samson, Trevour Chavez and Brayton Lieb, rolled up 214 points in the tournament. Dillingham edged out Kilbuck for second.
Few, if any, divisions captured the hearts of fans in the WarriorDome as the 95-pound classification. Carlie McIntyre earned the gold medal in the division by outwrestling BRJHS standout Carlie Romer in the finals.
McIntyre, who finished 4-0, defeated wrestlers from Quinhagak, Bethel and Nome en route to earning a spot in the finals again Romer, who had rolled into the championship match with three straight wins.
Dyment won top honors in the 85-pound division by grinding out a 3-0 record. He defeated Abe Bobitt of Dillingham in the finals.
Samson owned the 119-pound division by winning all three of his bouts. Teammate Avery Coplin was third.
Jerek Pete and Trevour Chavez emerged as the top wrestlers in the 100- and 145-pound brackets, respectively. Pete went 3-0 in his division, while Chavez went 3-0, including a win over Dillingham’s Vernon Luackhurst in the finals.
Lieb went 3-0 en route to winning the 126-pound division. He defeated Clayton Rolf of Dillingham in the championship match. BRHS teammate Austin Miller was third.
The Warriors’ JBruce Crow finished second in the 167-pound bracket. He suffered a tough loss to Hayden Johanson in the finals.
Bethels John Oulton and Ito Naneng were third in the respective brackets.
Kwethluk’s Moses Jackson turned in another solid outing. He was second in the 75-pound division.
Kwethluk Wrestling
Tournament Results
The Kwethluk Kings hosted a wrestling tournament on Nov. 14th and 15th, 2008. Here are the results for the top 4 finishers in each weight class for the Kwethluk wrestling tournament. KIL = Kilbuck, BET = Bethel, KWT = Kwethluk, NAP = Napaskiak.
Team Places
1st Bethel Jr. High
2nd Kilbuck
3rd Kwethluk
Sportsmanship Award: Napaskiak
65 lbs
1 Gage Hoffman (KIL)
2 Brandon Evans (KIL)
3 Lars Ponsness (KIL)
4 Paul Hunter (KIL)
70 lbs
1 Moses Jackson (KWT)
2 Justin Nicolai (NAP)
3 David Mochin (KIL)
4 Jayvin Williams (KIL)
80 lbs
1 Evan Dyment (BET)
2 Aaron Olsen (KIL)
3 Moses Howard (KWT)
4 Ashley Mute (KIL)
85 lbs
1 Alex Gregory (KIL)
2 Carlin Lupie (BET)
3 Huey Samuelson (BET)
4 Kane Gillilan (KIL)
95 lbs
1 Carlie McIntyre (BET)
2 Steven Andrew (KIL)
3 Lorenzo Chavez (KIL)
4 Mattius Hautala (KWT)
100 lbs
1 Ito Naneng (BET)
2 Douglas Palacios (KIL)
3 Corby Kasayulie (BET)
4 Kayla White (BET)
110 lbs
1 Avery Coplin (BET)
2 Emmit Nicori (KWT)
3 Kaylee Dementieff (KIL)
4 Kayla Williams (BET)
130 lbs
1 Trevour Chavez (BET)
2 Chessmen Samson (BET)
3 Scott Carpenter (BET)
4 Eric Nicolai (KWT)
FIRST WRESTLING MEET IN MOUNTAIN VILLAGE creates
a niche for some students
by Russell Clark
On November fourteenth and fifteenth Mountain Village hosted its first wrestling meet in a generation or more. Nerves were jittery as many of the Mountain Wrestlers were wrestling for the first time in front of their home crowd.
Wrestling creates a niche’ for those students who may not be interested in volleyball, who want to get in shape for basketball, or students who prefer individual sports. It is a way for those students to get involved in their schools extra-curricular activities.
“It’s a good program… to get my mind off stress,” said Travis Seton, a Hooper Bay Senior.
“It’s a hard sport you have to use all of your muscles from head to toe. You try not to make a wrong move or you might get pinned,” said Hank Uttereyuk, a Scammon Bay Junior.
Wrestling is a sport that emphasizes the skill, strength and training of the individual athlete. LYSD’s wrestling program isn’t just for the boys, it is also for the girls. This is a significant change from a generation ago.
“At first I was thinking I was doing it to get ready for basketball but now I like wrestling better than basketball. It’s more difficult and you can make more progress,” said Mountain Village Freshman Tamara Johnson.
“It’s fun learning new moves and skills. You will get really good if you keep going to wrestling. You will get better and better and meet new people,” said Darrel Waska, a Freshman from Emmonak.
The wrestling meet held in Mountain Village gave students an opportunity to test themselves against other wrestlers.
“Sometimes we win or lose. If you lose it will just make you stronger. If you keep wrestling you will get better,” said Darrel Waska.
“Right now I am not thinking about winning. I am thinking about the basics. I am going to practice and trying to learn the moves quickly and then try them out on my opponents,” said Hank Uttereyuk.
The sport is making a comeback in the district after having been absent for thirty years. Last year Hooper Bay started the program and began competing. This year three other schools have joined the program: Mountain Village, Emmonak, and Scammon Bay.
“If we get wrestling going in LYSD we can do a lot of wrestling in district,” states coach Chuck Matoush from Hooper Bay. “Larry Carl went to state last year and that was the break through for the activities committee to authorize the other schools…it was like Wow! We can do this.”
Getting money and equipment for the start up program is often a challenge. This year Emmonak is struggling with their own mat issues.
“I never wrestle in Emmo, we don’t have a mat. Our coaches are trying to order us one,” said Darrel Waska.
“The only way to get better is to wrestle… I can’t teach them to wrestle aggressively without a mat. I’ve exhausted all of my resources,” says coach Kevin Ley from Emmonak.
“We are looking for sponsorship from anyone. They can put their logo on the mat,” said Chuck Matoush.
Lack of mats and gear has not dampened the spirits of this generation of LYSD wrestlers.
“Community interest is high…this little ole Grandma in Emmo wants to know when we are going to have a wrestling match. The first thing she ever saw in the gym was a wrestling match and she wants to see it come back,” says Kevin Ley. “Right now we are road warriors, even though we don’t have a mat we are having fun wrestling.”
Safety is a top concern of the program and the coaches. Concerns over safety might be the reason the program was shut down over thirty years ago. Earlier in the fall Hooper Bay sponsored a clinic for coaches and referees. This concern for safety is perhaps felt most by the parents themselves.
“Susie was really excited to join wrestling…but when I saw Susie wrestling with that boy I got nervous…in the end, she looked like she was having fun. Me and her dad are going to support her one hundred percent,” says Mountain Village parent Tanya Lawrence.
“I’ve seen wrestling do a lot of good for kids… Wrestling has turned around some of our students lives,” said Chuck Matoush.
The future of LYSD’s wrestling program is uncertain. What is certain is the enthusiasm and pride of this new generation of wrestlers.
“You can’t win unless you wrestle,” says Mountain Village team captain and Senior Jordan Queenie, wanting to compete in more matches. For some students this year’s season will be much too short.
Islanders cool off opponents
at Toksook Bay NYO meet
11-20-08
by Tommy Wells
High winds and cool temperatures prevented several teams from participating in the Toksook Bay Native Youth Olympics meet this past weekend. It didn’t, however, prevent Jason Tulik and Laura Therchik from helping the Islanders put on an NYO scoring clinic.
Tulik won six events and Therchik placed in eight more and led Toksook Bay to an amazing 330 points and the overall team crown. Mekoryuk finished a distant second with 114 points, while Newtok and Goodnews Bay placed third and fourth, respectively.
George John, Jefferson Lincoln and Cynthia Asuluk also turned in stellar efforts for the Islanders.
Tulik was a one-man scoring machine for Toksook Bay. The NIHS standout reeled off wins in the Kneel Jump, Two-Foot High Kick, Alaskan High Kick, One-Foot High Kick, the Eskimo Stick Pull and the Seal Hop. He was third in the Toe Kick and One-Arm Reach standings, and finished with a total of 72 points.
Therchik was equally impressive in the girls’ division. She won the Two-Foot High Kick, Toe Kick and One-Arm Reach titles while also placing in the top four in five other events. Overall. Therchik amassed 58 points.
Asuluk emerged as a two-time winner at the meet as well, winning the Alaskan High Kick and the Kneel Jump. She placed second the Two-Foot and One-Foot high kick events, and third in the Toe.
John and Lincoln helped Tulik power the Toksook boys’ team. In route to scoring 38 points, John won the Wrist Carry and One-Arm Reach honors and finished second in the Eskimo Stick Pull event. Lincoln rolled up 28 points while placing second in the Toe, One-Foot High Kick and One-Arm Reach competitions. He was also fourth in the Alaskan High Kick.
Mekoryuk was led by solid performances from Delcie Davis, Jeremy Oscar and Teddie Whitman. Davis scored 42 points in the meet – 10 of which came while winning the girls’ One-Foot High Kick event – the highlight of the NYO games.
Davis registered an astounding 78 inches in the One-Foot High Kick and edged out Cynthia Asuluk and Megan Friday by 8 inches. Asuluk took second based on the number of misses. Davis finished second to Asuluk in the Alaskan High Kick, and second to Friday in the Seal Hop.
Whitman was Mekoryuk’s top male scorer, finishing with 30 points. He beat Newtok’s Bosco Waska to win the Indian Stick Pull, and finished second in the Alaskan High Kick and Wrist Carry.
Oscar tallied 16 points in the meet, including six via a third-place mark in the Eskimo Stick Pull.
Brendalee Merritt led Goodnews Bay to third in the final team standings with a solid effort in Toksook Bay. The Goodnews Bay standout won the Indian Stick Pull crown and finished second to Toksook Bay’s Alicia Chagluak in the Eskimo Stick Pull.
Jaegers roll to JV NYO title in Toksook Bay
by Tommy Wells
Gilbert Charles and Katie Waska combined to win six events this past weekend and led the Newtok Jaegers to the junior varsity team championship at the Toksook Bay Native Youth Olympics Meet. The Jaegers won 13 of the 20 events and rolled up a meet-high 296 points.
The Toksook Bay Islanders finished second in the final standings, scoring 206 points. Mekoryuk and Goodnews Bay finished third and fourth, respectively.
Charles won four events in the boys’ division, including the Kneel Jump, Two-Foot High Kick, Alaskan High Kick and the One-Foot High Kick.
Newtok’s Roderick Stewart also starred for the Jaegers’ boys’ team, winning three events and finishing second in three others. He won the Wrist Carry, Eskimo Stick Pull and Indian Stick Pull honors, while finishing second in the Two-Foot High Kick, One-Foot High Kick and the Seal Hop.
Katie Waska led Newtok’s girls’ team by scoring 48 points in the meet. Waska won the Wrist Carry and Seal Hop events. She placed second in the Kneel Jump and took third in three other events.
Toksook Bay’s Mary Julius was among the meet’s top individual performers. She completed the meet with 56 points – 50 of which came via wins in the Two-Foot High Kick, Toe Kick, Alaskan High Kick, One-Arm Reach and Indian Stick Pull.
Dallas Williams led Mekoryuk’s girls’ team by tallying all 26 of the Herders’ points. She won the One-Foot High Kick and took second in the Eskimo Stick Pull. She was also third in the Kneel Jump and fifth in the Indian Stick Pull.
Emma Julius scored all of Goodnews Bays’ 10 points.
Toksook Bay NYO Meet Final JV standings
1) Newtok 296, 2) Toksook Bay 206, 3) Mekoryuk 26, 4) Goodnews Bay 10.
Seahawks host volleyball meet
11-12-08
by Michael W. Smith
Hey! Did you know that we had a Volleyball meet here in Quinhagak? Well, we did have one and it was on October 24 and 25, 2008. The teams that came here were: Tuntutuliak Blue Jays, Akiuk Grizzlies, Kwethluk Kings, and Goodnews Bay Bears. So there were five teams including us, Quinhagak Seahawks, for the meet.
Just about all the games were really close. From my point-of-view, I’d say all teams were number one.
The matches started on Friday, October 24 around 3:00 P.M. The first match was between the Goodnews Bay Bears and the Quinhagak Seahawks. The Seahawks won the match. The next match was between Akiuk and Tuntutuliak. The games in that match were really close. The first game, Akiuk won, Tuntutuliak won the second game, and Akiuk won the final game and the match. The last game in that match was only up to 15 since they already had two games up to 25.
The third match for that day was between Tunt and Kwethluk. Again, this match was close but Tunt won the match. This match had three games like on match two since both teams won once.
After Tunt and Kwethluk played, Goodnews played against Akiuk. For this match, Akiuk made it fair by having their team an all-girls team too. But even though it was evened out, Akiuk still won.
The next match was Quinhagak against Kwethluk. In this match, the first game and the third game were close but Quinhagak won. The second game in this match didn’t look real good for the Quinhagak Seahawks. Akiuk won the second game but Quinhagak won the match!!!
The last match for that evening was between Tunt and Goodnews. Unlike some of the matches, this went by right away. This match only had two games and Tunt won both games and the match.
The next morning, they started the matches around 9:00 A.M. The first match was between Kwethluk and Goodnews. The first game was close but Kwethluk won and the second game, not so good. It was a good match but Kwethluk won the match.
The next match after Kwethluk and Goodnews was between Kwethluk and Akiuk. This match had a total of three games, the first of which went very long. Tunt had to win by two so they played a long game. Then, Akiuk won the other two games and won the match.
After the match between Kwethluk and Akiuk, it was Quinhagak against Tuntutuliak. Sadly, Quinhagak lost, but the games were close. This match wasn’t the best match for Quinhagak but it was still fun.
The last match for the weekend was between Quinhagak and Akiuk. The games in this match were really close. Quinhagak won the first game but lost the other two. This match was just about the closest for Quinhagak.
Well, that wraps up the volleyball meet in Quinhagak. The volleyball team is hoping to do better the next time they play. The team really did improve a whole lot since last year. If you missed the meet, then you missed a whole lot of excitement.
Islanders edge Chefornak for Akula NYO title
by Tommy Wells
The Toksook Bay Islanders proved beyond a doubt that they are still one of the top NYO teams in the YK Delta.
Despite winning just one event, the Islanders rode the strong efforts of Jason Tulik, Jefferson Lincoln, Alicia Chagluak, Cynthia Asuluk, Laura Therchik and George John to the top spot at the Akula Native Youth Olympics meet Saturday. Toksook Bay amassed 146 points in the meet and edged out Chefornak by 18.
Tulik and Lincoln helped the Islanders dominate the scoring in the high school boys’ division. Either Tulik or Lincoln placed in eight of the 11 events and combined to reel off 48 points. John added 18 points, including 10 from a first-place finish in the boys’ One-Arm Reach competition.
Keyed by Chagluak, Asuluk and Therchik, the Toksook Bay girls were even more impressive in the meet. The NIHS girls reeled off four first-place finishes and scored 70 of the team’s 146 points.
Chagluak netted a gold medal in the Eskimo Stick Pull, while Asuluk won the Two-Foot High Kick, and placed second in the Kneel Jump and Alaska High Kick. She was also third in the Toe Kick.
Asuluk was the second-highest scoring girl in the event, totaling 32 points.
Therchik earned two gold medals, winning the Kneel Jump with 36.25” and Toe Kick with 68”.
Megan Friday also did well for Toksook Bay. She was second to Charlie Phillips of Kwethluk in the Seal Hop and fourth in the Toe Kick.
Phillips, the girls’ MVP, led Kwethluk to third in the team standings, scoring 36 of the Kings’ 52 points. She posted a pair of wins in the meet, topping the charts in the One-Arm Reach with 58” and Seal Hop 107’.
Chefornak’s Tim Kinegak was the main source of fireworks in the boys’ division. He won four events – the One-Foot High Kick, the Two-Foot High Kick, the Wrist Carry and the Seal Hop - and placed second in two more, including the Alaska High Kick and the Kneel Jump.
As an individual, Kinegak was a one-man scoring machine, racking up 68 of his team’s 128 points.
Chefornak’s Derek Kusaiak and Theresa Mark led the Shaman junior high squad to the team title. The two combined to win nine gold medals and tally 124 of Chefornak’s 204 points.
Kusaiak finished with 64 points by winning the Toe Kick, Two-Foot High Kick, One-Foot High Kick and the Seal Hop. He was second in the Kneel Jump and Indian Stick Pull.
Mark won the Two-Foot High Kick, Alaskan High Kick, One-Foot High Kick, One-Arm Reach and Seal Hop.
Mekoryuk Herders star Delcie Davis won the high school girls 1-foot high kick event with 77”. She also placed 3rd in the Kneel Jump and Seal Hop, 5th in the Wrist Carry, 4th in the Alaskan High Kick.
Akula NYO Standings High School Division
1. Toksook Bay 146; 2. Chefornak 118; 3. Kwethluk 52; 4. Mekoryuk 48; 5. Napakiak 30; 6. Oscarville 28; 7. Kongiganak 16; 8. Platinum 12; 9. Atmautluak 12; 10. Eek 10
Junior High Division
1. Chefornak 204; 2. Atmautlak 86; 3. Akula 82; 4. Akiuk 54; 5. Napakiak 8; 6. Mekoryuk 4; 7. Kongiganak 2
Bethel grapplers shine in Kodiak
by Tommy Wells
If the Bethel Regional High School Warriors had wanted to send a message to the state’s wrestling powerhouses at the Kodiak Invitational, they more than succeeded.
The Warriors won three dual matches and then rolled to a second-place finish at the Kodiak.
“We certainly turned some heads as we had seven kids in the finals,” said Bethel wrestling coach Darren Lieb. “There’s no doubt about it, if we had one or two more wrestlers with us, we probably would have came home in first place. But (that’s) coulda, shoulda, woulda.”
The Warriors did in their three dual matches prior to the Kodiak tournament. The Warriors posted Impressive back-to-back-to-back wins over Kodiak, West Valley and Houston on Thursday and Friday.
Against Kodiak in the first dual bout, the short-handed Warriors claimed a 36-34 win. The final score, however, made the match much closer than it really was – as the Warriors gave 24 points to Kodiak via four forfeits.
Bethel competed with just nine wrestlers in the duals.
Zach Pleasant, Randy Hanson, Nicholas Sharp, Ryan Chavez and Nicholas Wasierski all starred in their dual bouts, walking away with wins by fall. Pleasant won his 103-pound bout with Kodiak’s Justin Goff at the 1:15 mark.
Hanson bested Shane Trout at the 1:16 mark in his 112-pound bout, while Sharp defeated Kevin Browning at the 5:24 mark of his 130-pound matchup. Chavez downed Robert Nelson at the 2:38 mark of his 135-pound bout, while Wasierski took a win at the 5:38 mark of his 215-pound matchup with Charles Martin.
Corbin LePore and Seth O’Brien nailed down wins, also. LePore won his 112-pound bout by taking a 6-0 win over Chloe Ivanoff, while O’Brien beat Alex Lounsberry by an 11-5 margin in the 125-pound weight class.
Despite a 36-36 tie at the end of competition, Bethel defeated West Valley in a tie-breaker. The Warriors held the advantage in the number of falls.
Pleasant, LePore, O’Brien, Trevour Henderson and Wasierski all won by fall, while Hanson earned a win via forfeit.
The Warriors hit on all cylinders in their dual match with Houston. Bethel outscored Houston by a staggering 46-18 clip, and did not allow Houston to win a single match.
In the Kodiak tournament, the Warriors netted four gold medals, including first-place finishes by Pleasant (in the 103-pound division), LePore (112-pound), Hanson (119-pound) and Wasierski (189-pound).
O’Brien, Chavez and Henderson all finished second, while Sharp and Michael Thomas finished third and fourth, respectively, in their respective divisions.
Kodiak claimed the overall team title in the tournament by scoring 190 points – 12 more than Bethel, which entered just seven wrestlers in the event.
West Valley finished third with 147.5 points.
Bethel’s next challenge will be the Anchorage Christian School Invitational on Nov. 14-15. The Warriors will also dual Anchorage Christian in Bethel on Thursday, Nov. 20. That dual will followed by the Bethel Invitational on the Nov. 21-22.
Warriors land three titles at North-South tournament
11-5-08
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional High School Warriors proved quality is far better than quantity this past weekend at the annual North-South Wrestling Tournament in Soldotna. Placing just five wrestlers, the Warriors rolled up 105.5 points and took third in the overall team standings.
Wasilla earned the North-South team crown easily. The Warriors amassed 193 points – 74 points more that runner-up Seward. In all, 12 teams competed in the event, which was held Friday at Soldotna High School.
Randy Hanson had no trouble etching his name into the tournament history books. The BRHS standout wrestled his way to a first-place finish in the 112-pound classification.
Hanson won his weight class in grand style, defeating the defending Class 4A state champion in the tournament finals by a 7-4 margin.
For the year, Hanson has posted an impressive 17-1 record.
Zach Pleasant and Nicholas Wasierski were just as impressive as Hanson on the mat. Pleasant won the 103-pound division, while Wasierski claimed the top spot in the 189-pound bracket.
Pleasant, now 13-2 for the year, outwrestled the state’s top-ranked wrestler in Class 4A for the title. He won by a 7-4 score.
Wasierski took a win at the 4:40 mark over the state’s No. 1-ranked wrestler in the 4A division.
With the win, Wasierski improved to 10-2 for the year.
Trevour Chavez also emerged from the North-South tournament with a win. The BRHS star placed third in the 130-pound bracket. Now 10-4 for the year, he dropped a tough 8-4 decision to John Hughes of Kenai in the semifinals.
Hughes later won the 130-pound division.
Trevor Henderson also did well, placing fifth in the 152-pound class. Henderson went 4-2 in the tournament and improved his season record to 5-8.
Nine Bethel wrestlers will travel to Kodiak this weekend to compete in the 31st Annual Robin Hervey Wrestling Tournament. Other teams set to compete in the tournament include Kodiak, Homer, West Valley. Duals will be held on Friday, with an individual tournament beginning on Saturday.
North-South At Soldotna High School
Friday Championship matches
103 -- Pleasant, Bet, dec. Fox, Was, 7-4; 112 -- Hanson, Bet, dec. Malnoske, East, 7-4; 119 -- Moore, East, p. Whorton, Chu, 1:55; 125 -- Brown, Was, m.d. Sullivan, Chu, 10-2; 130 -- J. Hughes, Ken, dec. Sutter, Gra, 14-13; 140 -- Hoffer, East, m.d. Daigle, Hom, 8-0; 145 -- Sullivan, Chu, dec. Brymer, Hom, 9-5; 152 -- Williams, ER, p. Wyatt, Hom, 5:37; 160 -- Beck, Sew, dec. Price, Sol, 16-11; 171 -- Katchinska, Was, p. Markowitz, Sew, :39; 189 -- Wasierski, Bet, p. Crane, Was, 4:40; 215 -- Filbert, Sew, p. Pomrenke, Was, :58; HVY -- Strieby, Sol, p. Holm, Sol, 2:57.
Third-place
103 -- Miller, Was, dec. M. Hughes, Ken, 9-7; 112 -- Wilson, Sky, dec. Spano, Was, 10-6; 119 -- Fuxa-Koch, Sol, m.d. Stangel, Nik; 125 -- Osbekoff, Ken, m.d. George, Was, 12-4; 130 -- Chavez, Bet, p. Douglas, Sew, :53; 140 -- Ross, Chu, dec. Tennis, Sky, 4-1; 145 -- Pempek, Was, p. Zweifel, Sew, 1:17; 152 -- Henry, Chu, dec. Thomas, Sky, 14-7; 160 -- Buccholz, Nik, p. White, Was, :26; 171 -- Weinfurter, Hom, dec. Pollard, Sky, 11-5; 189 -- Mahan, p. Rogers, Ken, 3:58; 215 -- Byrne, Sky, dec. Chumley, Sol, 5-2; HVY -- Johnson, Was, p. VanBruggen, Sky, 2:00.
Fifth-place
103 -- Brown, Sky, p. Miracle, Chu, 4:51; 112 -- Hutchison, Sky, p. Hanley, Sol, 1:45; 119 -- Hem, Was, dec. Nelson, Was, 3-1; 125 -- Maciariello, Sky, p. Parker, Nik, 2:50; 130 -- George, Was, p. Agosti, Ken, 4:56; 140 -- Gross, Was, m.d. Reierson, Sew, 12-0; 145 -- Peek, Nik, m.d. Kent, ER, 14-1; 152 -- Henderson, Bet, p. Link, Sol, 2:54; 160 -- Carlson, Sol, p. Yang, Gra, 1:59; 171 -- Nyholm, Sew, forfeit, Ballard, Hom; 189 -- Dormady, Ken, dec. Alley, Gra, 13-7; 215 -- Brown, Sol, won by forfeit; HVY -- Taplin, Ken, p. Zimmerman, Sew, :58.
Napaskiak Jr High/High School Wrestling Tournament
10-29-08
The Napaskiak Hawks hosted their Jr. High and High School Wrestling Tournament on October 24 and 25.
Jr. High Tournament Results
70 lbs: 1st Gage Hoffman (KIL), 2nd Lars Ponsness (KIL), 3rd David Mochin (KIL) 75 lbs: 1st Moses Jackson (KWE), 2nd Steven Glasheen (KIL), 3rd Jeremy Roberts (QUIN) 85 lbs: 1st Scott Williams (PKA), 2nd Cory LePore (KIL), 3rd Aaron Olsen (KIL) 95 lbs: 1st Carlie McIntyre (BET), 2nd Alison Oscar (BET), 3rd Jerome Williams (PKA) 105 lbs: 1st Jerek Pete (BET), 2nd Nick Small (QUIN), 3rd Kayla White (BET) 115 lbs: 1st Avery Coplin (BET), 2nd Kenny Jackson (KWE), 3rd Amy Mute (PKA) 135 lbs: 1st Trevour Chavez (BET), 2nd Jeremy Jacob (PKA), 3rd Brayton Leib (BET)
High School Groups
135 lbs: 1st Brian Ahlo (BET), 2nd Jeremiah Jackson (KWE), 3rd Dalton Beaver (BET) 145 lbs: 1st Travis Andrew (PKA), 2nd Randall Nicholai (PKA), 3rd Mitchell Pete (BET) 152 lbs: 1st John Maxie (PKA), 2nd Tim Nick (PKA), 3rd Martin Oulton (BET)
160 lbs: 1st Zach Joekay (PKA), 2nd James Williams (BET), 3rd Alyssa Williams (PKA)
Team Awards: 1st – BRHS, 2nd – Napaskiak, 3rd – Kilbuck, Sportsmanship - Quinhagak
Warriors win BRJHS
Wrestling Tournament title
10-21-08
by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Regional Junior High School Warriors took home gold medals in five weight divisions Saturday and edged out Kilbuck for the team championship at the 2008 Bethel Regional Junior High School Wrestling Tournament. Bethel won five gold and five silver medals and three bronzes.
Kilbuck finished second, taking first in three weight classes. Quinhagak finished third, while Kwethluk was fourth.
Brandon Evans began the Warriors’ gold-medal run early. The BRJHS grappler claimed top honors in the 70-pound division by posting a 3-0 record. Evans edged Ezekiel Angaiak of Nunapitchuk in the championship match.
Akiachak’s Nelson Philip was third in the division.
Carlie McIntyre and Avery Coplin also earned golds in the tournament. McIntyre went 4-0 in the 90-pound bracket, including a win over Christopher Pleasant of Nunapitchuk in the finals. Coplin defeated Quinhagak’s Patric Jones in the finals of the 112-pound classification.
Coplin posted a 4-0 record in the tournament.
Bethel also picked up a pair of gold medals from Brayton Lieb and Trevour Chavez. Lieb went 2-0 in the 126-pound bracket, including a win over teammate Christof Swope in the championship round. Chavez went 2-0 in the 135-pound division, beating teammate Jesse Klejka for the top spot.
Gage Hoffman highlighted Kilbuck’s effort at the tournament. Hoffman posted a 2-0 record in the 65-pound bracket and edged out teammates Lars Ponsness and Zoey McCallson, respectively, in the standings.
Steven Glasheen and Cory LePore also took first-place honors. Glasheen edged out Kwethluk’s Moses Jackson in the championship match of the 75-pound bracket. LePore edged teammate Taylor Hoffman in the title match of the 85-pound division.
Quinhagak’s Paul Mark and Alexie Galila also emerged as big winners. Mark posted a 4-0 record in the 95-pound division. In the finals, he bested Carlie Romer of Bethel.
Galila beat Kayla White of Bethel for the 100-pound classification crown.
Kenny Jackson claimed Kwethluk’s only first-place finish, winning the 105-pound division with a 4-0 mark. Jackson edged out Jerek Pete of Bethel in the title round.
Bethel Junior High School Wrestling Tournament
Final Standings (Top 3 only)
65-Pound Division 1. Gage Hoffman, Kilbuck; 2. Lars Ponsness, Kilbuck; 3. Zoey McCallson, Kilbuck. 70-Pound 1. Brandon Evans, Bethel; 2. Ezekiel Angaiak, Nunapitchuk; 3. Nelson Philip, Akiachak. 75-Pound 1. Steven Glasheen; 2. Moses Jackson, Kwethluk; 3. Jayvin Williams, Kilbuck. 85-Pound 1. Cory LePore, Kilbuck; 2. Taylor Hoffman, Kilbuck; 3. Aaron Oleson, Kilbuck
90-Pound 1. Carlie McIntyre, Bethel; 2. Christopher Pleasant, Nunapitchuk; 3. Joseph H. Charles, Akiachak 95-Pound 1. Paul Mark, Quinhagak; 2. Carlie Romer, Bethel; 3. Carlin Lupie, Bethel. 100-Pound 1. Alexie Gallila, Quinhagak; 2. Kayla White, Bethel; 3. Mattias Hautala, Kwethluk. 105-Pound 1. Kenny Jackson, Kwethluk; 2. Jerek Pete, Bethel; 3. Brandon Oulton, Bethel. 112-Pound 1. Avery Coplin, Bethel; 2. Patric Jones, Quinhagak; 3. Robert Charles, Akiachak. 126-Pound 1. Brayton Lieb, Bethel; 2. Christof Swope, Bethel; 3. Austin Miller, Bethel. 135-Pound 1. Trevor Chavez, Bethel; 2. Jesse Klejka, Bethel; 3. Howard Nicolai, Napaskiak.
Chefornak hosts
NYO Tournament
The Chefornak Shamans hosted their fall NYO event last Friday and Saturday. Teams from Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Kipnuk, Kongiganak, Newtok, Oscarville, Toksook Bay, Tununak, and Chefornak participated. Congratulations to the athletes.
High School Team Results
1st Chefornak 139.5 pts
2nd Akula 103
3rd Toksook Bay 101
Junior High Team Result
1st Chefornak 203.5
2nd Tununak 94
3rd Akula 80
Best High School Boy
(CYF) Tim Kinegak 74 pts
Best High School Girl
(OOK) Laura Therchik 40
Best Junior High Boy
(CYF) Derek Kusaiak 44
Best Junior High Girl
(CYF) Theresa Mark 69.5
BRHS Wrestlers compete at Peninsula Duals
by Darren Lieb
Twelve Bethel Warrior wrestlers traveled to Nikiski to participate in the annual Peninsula Duals. The Bethel Warrior Wrestling team squared off against the Homer Mariners, Colony Knights (Varsity) and the Nikiski Bulldogs on Friday, Oct. 17. Results: Homer 33/Bethel 42; Colony 60/Bethel 12; Nikiski 21/Bethel 47.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, teams were placed and seeded in a 16 team bracket. Based on Friday’s results, Bethel was seeded 3rd. Our first dual was against Sitka. Score: Sitka 5/Bethel 63. Our next opponent was the Homer Mariners again. Score: Homer 33/Bethel 43. In the semi-finals against the Kotzebue Huskies, which we lost to last week, saw the Warrior Wrestlers win, score: Kotzebue 30/Bethel 41.
In the championship dual against the defending two-time 4A State Champions, Colony Knights, the Warrior Wrestlers fared a little better, score: Colony 52 (1st place)/Bethel 15 (2nd place).
The difference in this dual was 125 lb. Seth O’Brien (Bethel), beat the same kid he lost to the day before, 3-1 on a last second takedown. His opponent was a 3 time Tanana State Champion. And Junior Randy Hanson (Bethel) finally beat his Colony opponent in double overtime. He lost to the same wrestler the day before in overtime on a questionable takedown, and also had lost to this same opponent 4 times last season in either overtime or double overtime.
The following Bethel Wrestlers were voted by all coaches as Outstanding Wrestlers in their respective weight classes: Sophomore Zach Pleasant 103 lbs., Sophomore Seth O’Brien 125 lbs., Junior Randy Hanson 119 lbs., and Senior Nicholas Wasierski 189 lbs.
Bethel Warrior Wrestlers individual results: 103 - Zach Pleasant (7-0), 112 - Corbin LePore (5-2), 119 - Randy Hanson (6-1), 125 - Seth O’Brien ( 6-1), 130 - Nicholas Sharp (5-2), 135 - Ryan Chavez (5-2), 140 - Joey Glasheen (2-5), 145 - Carl Fox ( 1-6), 152 - Delwen Samuelson (3-4), 160 - Trevour Henderson (1-6), 189 - Nicholas Wasierski (7-0), and 285 - Ben Polk ( 3-4).
The Warriors will travel up to Kotzebue next weekend for their annual “Bush Brawl”.
Bethel JNYO Meet
10-15-08
The Bethel Junior NYO team hosted a meet last weekend for NYO athletes in 6th-8th grade at the Armory gym. Teams from Atmautluak, Nunapitchuk, Kongiganak, Eek, and Bethel participated in the event. See results below:
AK High Kick-Girls
Kristy Nick, WNA 59”
Rhebekkah Dennis, BET 56”
Laura Nick, WNA 52” 0-m
Catherine Alexie, ATT 52” 1-m
Jessica David, KKH 52” 1-m (lower miss)
AK High Kick-Boys
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 61”
Brandon Phillip, KKH 58”
Evon White Jr., EEK 50”
Harold Cleveland Jr. EEK 44” 0-m
Derrick Black, WNA 44” 0-m(lower)
One Ft. High Kick-Girls
Kristy Nick, WNA 65”
Catherine Alexie, ATT 64”
Kayla Pavilla, ATT 63”
Davida Nicholai, ATT
Felicity Dennis, BET 56” tie
Jessica David, KKH 56” 1-m
One Ft. High Kick-Boys
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 74” 1-m
Brandon Phillip, KKH 74” 5-m
Aaron Active, ATT 70”
Derrick Black, WNA 60” 0-m
Evon White Jr., EEK 60” 3-m
Scissor Broad Jump-Girls
Laura Nick, WNA 20’ 4 5/8”
Felicity Dennis, BET 20’ 4”
Kristy Nick, WNA 20’
Rhebekkah Dennis, BET 19’ 11 1/2”
Catherine Alexie, ATT 19’ 11 14”
Scissors Broad Jump-Boys
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 25’ 6 1/4”
Aaron Active, ATT 23’ 9 5/8”
Harold Cleveland Jr., EEK 21’ 8 3/8”
Evon White Jr., EEK 21’ 5 1/2”
Derrick Black, WNA 19’ 5 1/4”
2 Ft. High Kick-Girls
Kristy Nick, WNA 55”
Laura Nick, WNA 50” 0-m
Felicity Dennis, BET 50” 2-m
Catherine Alexie, ATT 46” 1-m
Davida Nicholai, ATT 46’ 2-m
2 Ft. High Kick-Boys
Brandon Phillip, KKH 60”
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 52”
Aaron Active, ATT 50”
Evon White Jr. EEK 44”
Derrick Black, WNA 40”
Toe Kick-Girls
Davida Nicholai, ATT 38”
Kristy Nick, WNA 36”
Laura Nick, WNA 30”
Kneel Jump-Girls
Laura Nick, WNA 30 1/2”
Catherine Alexie, ATT 27 3/4”
Kristy Nick, WNA 27 5/8”
Kayla Pavilla, ATT 20 1/4”
Melissa Andrew, WNA 15 1/2”
Kneel Jump-Boys
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 37 5/8”
Aaron Active, ATT 31 1/4”
Brandon Phillip, KKH 26 3/8”
Derrick Black, WNA 24 1/8”
Frank Carter, EEK 20 7/8”
Wrist Carry-Girls
Kristy Nick, WNA 14.90 sec
Ashleigh Chaney, BET 8.78
Laura Nick, WNA 8.16
Davida Nicholai, ATT 6.25
Teddi Jones, BET 6.19
Wrist Carry-Boys
Evon White, EEK 24.03 sec
Derrick Black, EEK 18.13
Byron Nicholai, ATT 13.63
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 12.75
Brandon Phillip, KKH 11.78
One Arm Reach-Girls
Kristy Nick, WNA 51”
Laura Nick, WNA 44”
Davida Nicholai, ATT 42”
Catherine Alexie, ATT 38”
Helen John, BET 26”
One Arm Reach-Boys
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 39”
Derrick Black, WNA 33”
Evon White Jr., EEK 30”
Eskimo Stick Pull-Girls
Jamie Jacob, ATT 1st
Frankie Pavilla, ATT 2nd
Florencia Barrera, BET 3rd
Jessica Mute, BET 4th
Evelyn Nick, ATT 5th
Eskimo Stick Pull-Boys
Brandon Phillip, KKH 1st
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 2nd
Evon White Jr., EEK 3rd
Frank Carter, EEK 4th
Harold Cleveland Jr., EEK 5th
Seal Hop-Girls
Kristy Nick, WNA 98’ 3”
Laura Nick, WNA 92’ 11 1/2”
Davida Nicholai, ATT 66’ 10 1/2”
Catherine Alexie, ATT 66’ 6 3/4”
Melissa Andrew, WNA 58’ 8 5/8”
Seal Hop-Boys
Evon White Jr., EEK 47’ 4 1/4”
Harold Cleveland Jr., EEK 46’ 1/8”
Brandon Phillip, KKH 44’ 8”
Frank Carter, EEK 26’ 1/4”
Derrick Black, WNA 23’ 7 1/4”
Indian Stick Pull-Girls
Jamie Jacobs, ATT 1st
Nancy Pavilla, ATT 2n
Chelsea Andrew, KKH 3rd
Angela Thomas, BET 4th
Frankie Pavilla, ATT 5th
Indian Stick Pull-Boys
Evon White, EEK 1st
Brandon Phillip, KKH 2nd
Harold Cleveland Jr., EEK 3rd
Frank Carter, EEK 4th
Nicholas Nicholai, ATT 5th
Region 1 South
Cross Country Results
10-1-08
The Bethel Warriors hosted the Region I South Cross Country Meet on Saturday at the sand pit. Runners from Akiachak, Bethel, Chevak, Dillingham, Emmonak, False Pass, Hooper Bay, King Cove, Koliganek, Kotlik, Kwethluk, Marshall, Mt. Village, New Stuyahok, Newtok, Port Lions, Russian Mission, Sand Point, Scammon Bay, St. Mary’s, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tuluksak, Unalaska, The top ten girls and boys winners as well as the top boys and girls teams will head to State to compete at the Janecek Trails at Palmer High School on October 4, 2008.
High School Girls Results
1) 23.07 Jaclyn Hunter, Scammon Bay 2) 23.12 Katie Strong, Port Lions 3) 23.55 Jordan Lisac, Dillingham 4) 24.45 Jessica Schneider, Akiachak 5) 24.52 Jennifer Klejka, Bethel 6) 25.09 Carla Uttereyuk, Scammon Bay 7) 25.17 Eniana Pellumbi, Bethel 8) 25.24 Tiffany Agwiak, Mt. Village 9) 25.32 Crysta Nash, Chevak 10) 25.38 Amanda McGill, Dillingham 11) 25.52 Jblynn Magpantay, Unalaska 12) 26.11 Whitney Carlos, Togiak 13) 26.12 Marissa Mack, King Cove 14) 26.13 Ingrid Nicolai, Kwethluk 15) 26.18 Marissa Tomaganuk, Hooper Bay. 16) 26.19 Cierra Robustellini, Port Lions 17) 26.22 Madison Strong, Port Lions 18) 26.36 Chelsey Beans-Polk, Bethel 19) 26.45 Chelsea Lake, Chevak 20) 26.55 Misti Moses, Mt. Village 21) 26.58 Elena Rivers, Kwethluk 22) 26.59 Danneille Karlsen, Sand Point 23) 26.59 Charmae Chavez, Bethel 24) 27.19 Hannah Hoelscher, Hooper Bay 25) 27.31 Lauren Forbes, Bethel 26) 27.35 Margaret Anderson, Chevak 27) 27.36 Bethany Hladick, Unalaska 28) 27.51 Christina McElwee, Bethel 29) 28.14 Iftekia Gumlickpuk, Koliganek 30) 28.17 Stacey Kaganak, Scammon B. 31) 28.39 Charlene Murran, Hooper B. 32) 28.59 Ellen Gosuk, Togiak 33) 29.17 Shannon Alexie, Mt. Village 34) 29.18 Sharon Alexie, Mt. Village 35) 30.03 Loretta Agwiak, Mt. Village 36) 30.05 Wendy Chandler, Scammon B. 37) 30.10 Jolene Kopanuk, Hooper B. 38) 30.46 Trish Tuluk, Chevak 39) 31.30 Madi Reichard, Bethel 40) 31.48 Noel Lake-Dieterich, Akiachak 41) 32.15 Ida Nash, Chevak 42) 32.39 Elizabeth Kozevnikoff, Russian Mission 43) 33.27 Lynette Strongheart, Scammon Bay 44) 33.37 Karen Hanson, Koliganek 45) 33.48 Maggie Beans, St. Mary’s 46) 36.36 Sandra Larson, Koliganek.
High School Boys Results
1) 19.19 Harold Paniyak, Chevak 2) 19.44 Corbin Lapore, Bethel 3) 19.56 Blake Olson, Dillingham 4) 20.00 Brian Andrews, Chevak 5) 20.06 Randy Hanson, Bethel 6) 20.07 Jeremy Hunter, Scammon Bay 7) 20.17 Conor Ferguson, Chevak 8) 20.22 Reed Tennyson, Dillingham 9) 20.31 Ryan Chavez, Bethel 10) 20.34 Martin Jackson, Kwethluk 11) 20.38 Joseph Swope, Bethel 12) 20.52 Joseph Henning, Unalaska 13) 20.55 Trevor Akaran, Kotlik 14) 20.58 Thurl Matchian, Chevak 15) 21.00 Jeremiah Klejka, Bethel 16) 21.03 Matthew Chandler, Scammon Bay 17) 21.17 Jarin Kameroff, Russian Mission 18) 21.20 Travis Hunter, Scammon Bay 19) 21.21 Lawrence Matchian, Chevak 20) 21.29 Warren Ulroan, Chevak 21) 21.38 Kyle Haskins, Unalaska 22) 21.39 Brandon Okitkun, Kotlik 23) 21.40 Ryan Haskins, Unalaska 24) 21.55 Oscar Olsen, Koliganek 25) 21.59 Travis Boyscout, Chevak 26) 21.59 Bajon Hunter, Scammon Bay 27) 22.05 Travis Housler, Russian Mission 28) 22.06 Wybon Sundown, Scammon Bay 29) 22.07 George John, Toksook Bay 30) 22.21 Jalen Paukan, St. Mary’s 31) 22.34 Jared Miller, Dillingham 32) 22.51 Nicholas Petla, N. Stuyahok 33) 23.01 Wassilly Changsak, Russian Mission 34) 23.05 Leroy Napoka, Tuluksak 35) 23.08 Seth O’Brien, Bethel 36) 23.10 Makhayl Sundown, Scammon Bay 37) 23.13 Delwen Samuleson, Bethel 38) 23.17 Johnny Samuelson, King Cove 39) 23.17 Carl Chikigak, Alakanuk 40) 23.19 Evan Terada, Unalaska 41) 23.28 Derrick Fitka, Marshall 42) 23.29 Jefferson Lincoln, Toksook Bay 43) 23.43 Wayne Beans, St. Mary’s 44) 23.44 Joshua Sergie, Kwethluk 45) 23.53 Joseph Peter, Tuluksak 46) 24.00 Jeremiah Jackson, Kwethluk 47) 24.06 Deven Goodwin, False Pass 48) 24.11 Bradley Bond, N. Stuyahok 49) 24.13 Henry Nicholai, Tuluksak 50) 24.30 Miles Walker, King Cove 51) 24.30 Chadwick Kapotak, N. Stuyahok 52) 24.31 Crim Alexie, Tuluksak 53) 24.40 Jayden Andrews, Emmonak 54) 25.21 Eric Nicolai, Kwethluk 55) 25.43 Mike VanDeventer, Dillingham 56) 25.49 Pete Alstrom, St. Mary’s 57) 27.04 Justin Andrew, Kwethluk 58) 27.10 Travis Kassaiuli, Newtok 59) 27.32 Brandon Andrew, Tuluksak 60) 28.20 Stanton George, Akiachak 61) 29.30 John VanDeventer, Dillingham 62) 30.42 Mark Kassaiuli, Newtok 63) 30.47 Ian Elachik, Newtok.
Bethel Cross Country Invitational Meet Results
9-24-08
The Bethel Warriors hosted their Cross Country Invitational Meet last Saturday, which turned out to be the biggest cross country meet in the history of Bethel. A total of approximately 179 athletes participated - 23 JH Girls, 47 JH Boys, 41 HS Girls, 68 HS Boys, surpassing last year’s record of 165. Teams participating were Akiachak, Akiuk, Akula, Atmautluak, BRHS, Chevak, Dillingham, Goodnews Bay, Kwethluk, Kwigillingok, Nikolai, Nome, Nunapitchuk, Quinhagak, Takotna, Toksook Bay, Tuluksak, and Tununak. BRHS has 46 runners.
Jr. High Girls top 10:
1 Tessi Hardiman-Agimuk - Chevak
2 Molly Graham - BRHS
3 Erica Tom - Newtok
4 Christina John - BRHS
5 Charlissa Phillip - Tuluksak
6 Marina Crow - BRHS
7 Jasmine Andrew - Quinhagak
8 Carmen Rivers - Kwethluk
9 Marilyn Tikiun - Tuluksak
10 Desiree Cleveland – Quinhagak
Jr. High Boys top 10:
1 Adrian Alexie - Tuluksak
2 Elliott Hoffman - BRHS
3 Jo Bukowski - Chevak
4 Jesse Klejka - BRHS
5 Trevour Chavez - BRHS
6 Solomon Olick - Kwethluk
7 Kenneth Jackson - Kwethluk
8 Bruno Chakuchin - Toksook Bay
9 John Waska - Newtok
10 Willis Small - Quinhagak
Boys HS Results 1) 18.51 Harold Paniyak – Chevak; 2) 18.52 Jeremy Head – Nome; 3) 19.34 Conor Ferguson – Chevak; 4) 19.59 Brian Andrews – Chevak; 5) 20.09 Blake Olson – Dillingham; 6) 20.16 Randy Hanson – BRHS; 7) 20.34 Corbin LePore – BRHS; 8) 20.39 Emerson Conger – Nome; 9) 20.41 Thurl Matchian – Chevak; 10) 20.45 Reed Tennyson – Dillingham; 11) 20.50 Martin Jackson – Kwethluk; 12) 20.50 Ryan Chavez – BRHS; 13) 21.08 Mikey Wongittilin – Nome; 14) 21.12 Jeremiah Klejka – BRHS; 15) 21.19 George John – Toksook; 16) 21.29 Warren Ulroan – Chevak; 17) 21.30 Joseph Swope – BRHS; 18) 21.33 Tim Sullivan - Nome; 19) 21.54 Travis Boyscout – Chevak; 20) 22.09 Jon Wongittilin – Nome; 21) 22.20 Lawrance Matchian – Chevak; 22) 22.26 Nathan Blandford – Chevak; 24) 22.44 Lonny Booshu – Nome; 25) 22.45 Seth O’Brien – BRHS; 26) 23.03 Kash Ferguson – Chevak; 27) 23.05 Delwen Samuelson - BRHS; 28) 23.06 Brendan Wehde - Nome; 29) 23.19 Jared Miller - Dillingham; 30) 23.23 Chuckie Herman - BRHS; 31) 23.28 Jeremiah Jackson – Kwethluk; 32) 23.35 Joseph Peter – Tuluksak; 33) 23.35 George Issac – Akula; 34) 23.50 Jefferson Lincoln – Toksook; 35) 23.53 Joshua Sergie – Kwethluk; 36) 24.13 Walter Galia – Quinhagak; 37) 24.24 Martin Olton – BRHS; 38) 24.49 Lonny Struck – Quinhagak; 39) 24.50 Eric Nicolai – Kwethluk; 40) 24.53 Jared Boerger – BRHS; 41) 24.54 Albert Bukowski – BRHS; 42) 25.28 Mike Vadevender – Dillingham; 43) 25.34 Douglas Corp – BRHS; 44) 25.35 Colin Atti – Kwigillingok; 45) 26.17 Bradley Boerger – BRHS; 46) 26.18 Byron Chaliak – Nunapitchuk; 47) 26.31 Michael Thomas – BRHS; 48) 27.00 Travis Kassaiuli – Newtok; 49) 27.11 Thomas Albert – Tununak; 50) 27.11 Jamie Nick – Quinhagak; 51) 27.23 Harry Albert – Tununak; 52) 27.26 Stanton George – Akiachak; 53) 27.58 Michael Albert – Tununak; 54) 28.09 Michael White – BRHS; 55) 28.15 Ian Elachik – Newtok; 56) 28.30 Patrick Morgan – Aniak; 57) 29.34 Alexie Brown – Atmautluak; 58) 29.50 Mark Kassaiuli – Newtok; 59) 30.05 Harvey Hoffman – Aniak; 60) 30.11 Baxter Bond - Tununak
Girls HS Results 1) 24.09 Jorden Lisac – Dillingham; 2) 24.59 Jessica Schneider – Akiachak; 3) 25.06 Thresia Mocan – Nome; 4) 25.20 Jennifer Klejka – BRHS; 5) 26.00 Amanda McGill – Dillingham; 6) 26.07 Eniana Pellumbi – BRHS; 7) 26.08 AnnaKate Olson – Nome; 8) 26.30 Liz Lue – Nome; 9) 26.44 Margaret Anderson – Chevak; 10) 26.51 Crysta Nash – Chevak; 11) 26.52 Rene Lammer – Nome; 12) 27.01 Maddy Alvanna-Stimpfe – Nome; 13) 27.04 Richelle Homer – Nome; 14) 27.07 Chelsey Beans-Polk – BRHS; 15) 28.18 Chelsea Lake – Chevak; 16) 28.37 Christina McElwee – BRHS; 17) 28.44 Lauren Forbes – BRHS; 18) 29.39 Elena Rivers – Kwethluk; 19) 30.07 Billie Cosca – Nome; 20) 30.11 Noel Lake-Dieterich – Akiachak; 21) 30.28 Sharon Merritt – Goodnews; 22) 33.56 Miranda Mochin – Atmautluak; 23) 35.22 Adriana Betz – Kwigillingok; 24) 39.27 Kira Wilkinson - Kwigillingok
Bethel Warriors run at Seward and Anchorage
Seward 5K Invitational Cross Country meet held at Seward High School: The Varsity Warrior women ran on a wet and muddy racecourse in Seward Alaska… Jennifer Klejka was the first Warrior to cross the line and finished in 16th place overall with a time of 23:07 followed by teammates Eniana Pellumbi 23:37, Charmae Chavez 24:24, Chelsey Beans-Polk 25:06, Lauren Forbes 25:36, Christina McElwee 25:39, and Tanya Chavez 35: 04.
The Varsity Warrior men were next on the muddy trail. Randy Hanson was the first Warrior to cross the line and finished 9th overall and three seconds later Corbin LePore finished in 10th place overall. They had great times for such a wet and sloppy course of 18:50 and 18:53. Joseph Swope crossed the line next with a time of 19:22 followed by teammates Ryan Chavez with a time of 19:56, Jeremiah Klejka, Seth O’Brien and Delwin Samuelson with times of 20:15, 21:02 and 22:16.
Lynx 5K Invitational Cross Country meet was sponsored by Dimond High School held at Kincaid Park in Anchorage. It was a cold, windy day. As the wind picked up and the temperature dropped, Randy Hanson was the first to cross finish line for the Warriors with a time of 18:06 followed by Corbin LePore. Joe Swope had a time of 18:50, Ryan Chavez 19:12, Jeremiah Klejka 19:35, Seth O’Brien 20:31 and Delwin Smuelson finished out the Warrior team 21:21.
The Warrior men finished 17th place overall and both the men and the women Warriors took 3rd place in the 123A division.
Jenny Klajka’s time was 22:29 and Eniana Pellumbi followed with 23:11, Christina McElwee finished in 23:50 Charmae Chavez crossed the line in 23:56, and finishing up for the Warriors was Chelsey Beans-Polk in 25 minutes and 10 seconds. Lauren Forbes and Tanya Chavez were on the injured reserve list.
Akula Cross Country
Meet Results
9-17-08
The Akula Tundra Wolves of Kasiguk hosted their cross country meet on Friday, September 12, 2008. Teams from Akiuk, Atmautluak, Bethel, Kwethluk, and Nunapitchuk participated. The junior high course was approximately 2 miles, and the high school course was approximately 3 miles.
Junior High Girls Results
1st 20:32 Molly Graham, BRHS
2nd 21:47 Carrie Beaver, Akula
3rd 24:27 Christine John, BRHS
4th 24:27 Marina Crow, BRHS
5th 27:39 Freda Alexie, BRHS
6th 27:40 Kayla Pavilla, BRHS
7th 27:41 Emma Reichard, BRHS
8th 27:44 Antonia Tikiun, BRHS
Junior High Boys Results
1st 16:42:30 Trevour Chavez, BRHS
2nd 16.42.6 Elliot Hoffman, BRHS
3rd 17:26 Jesse Klejka, BRHS
4th 19:15 Mack Lincoln, BRHS
5th 19:16 Moses Jackson, Kwethluk
6th 20:13 Nicholas Nicholai, Atmautluak
7th 20:26 John Oulton, BRHS
8th 21:14 Brandon Oulton, BRHS
9th 21:22 Aaron Active, Atmautluak
10th 21:41 Atan Howard, Kwethluk
11th 24:25 Evan Dyment, BRHS
12th 26:24 Misha Angaiak, Nunapitchuk
High School Girls Results
1st 31:30 Ingrid Nicolai, Kwethluk
2nd 33:57:00 Jamie Nicolas, Akula
3rd 35:29:00 Marie Seal, Akula
4th 37:07 Kimberly Hoover, Akula
5th 37:28 Caroline Hoover, Akula
6th 37:47 Miranda Mochin, Atmautluak
7th 38:04 Renae Keene, Akiuk
8th 40:16 Anastasia Brink, Akiuk
9th 41:55 Nicole Twitchell, Akiuk
High School Boys Results
1st 23:54 Martin Jackson, Kwethluk
2nd 25:22 Jeremiah Jackson, Kwethluk
3rd 25:52 Harry Berlin, Akiuk
4th 28:14 Byron Chaliak, Nunapitchuk
5th 29:19 Andrew White, Akula
Bethel Cross Country Invitational
The Bethel Warriors will be hosting the Bethel Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at the Sand Pit. The course is extremely difficult with loose sand, rolling terrain with up/down hills. The start is slightly uphill and the finish slightly downhill. Medals will be awarded to the top 5 high school runners and ribbons for places 6th-10th. For the Junior High, medals will be given to the top boy and girl finishers and ribbons for places 2nd-10th. The Junior High Boys and Girls race will begin at 10:30am. The varsity girls will run at 11:15am and the varsity boys at 12:00pm. Awards will be given out at 12:30pm. Good luck!
When the final buzzer sounded last Saturday in the Great Kuskokwim Conference Tournament, Marie Dorris let the emotions of the game and a turbulent season overwhelm her. Tears began rolling down her face with the fact she and her Kalskag Lady Grizzly teammates had done just what they had wanted to do.
They proved they were among the best high school basketball teams in their school’s history.
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