Nicholas, David lead Kongiganak to JH NYO title

by Tommy Wells

Kalila Brink of Kwigillingok connecting with the ball in the junior high boys event.

Jason Nicholas and Lauren David combined to win 10 gold medals this past weekend and powered the Kongiganak Wolverines to the District NYO Junior High Championship. Kongiganek rolled up a meet-high 206 points and easily edged out Kwigillingok and Chefornak, respectively.

Nicholas dominated the junior high boys’ competition like few before. He rolled up 80 points by himself by winning eight of the 10 events. The Kong standout won the Kneel Jump, Scissors Broad Jump, Alaskan High Kick, 1-Arm Reach, Seal Hop, Indian Stick Pull and the 2-Foot and 1-Foot high kicks.

Chefornak’s Clayton Panruk and Henry Kanuk were the only other male athletes to win titles at the meet, which was held in the Chefornak High School gym. Panruk, who placed second to Nicholas in the Scissors and Alaskan High Kick, won the boys’ Wrist Carry title.

Kanuk won the boys’ Eskimo Stick Pull honors.

David was the only two-time medalist in the girls’ division. The top female scorer with 44 points, she won the Kneel jump and Eskimo Stick Pull. She was also second in the 1-Foot High Kick and third in the Scissors and Wrist Carry events.

Teammate Cassandra Brown also did well, winning the girls’ 1-Arm Reach competition and placing 2nd in the Indian Stick Pull.

Atmautlak’s Marthamae Alexie and Kipnuk’s Rose Paul also claimed golds. Alexie won the Seal Hop, while Paul won the Alaskan High Kick, as well as placing third in the 1-Foot standings.

Newtok’s Tracy Fairbanks and Charlotte Charles both starred for the Jaegers. Fairbanks won the Wrist Carry event with a time of 14.56 seconds. She was also third in the Kneel Jump and fourth in the 1-Foot. Charles was first in the Indian Stick Pull.

Kwigillingok’s Layla Kashatok and Kyra John also pocketed wins. Kashatok won the Scissors, took 5th in the Kneel Jump, 1 and 2-Foot, and 3rd in the Alaskan High Kick. John was first in the 1-Foot. She also took 2nd in the Kneel Jump and 2-Foot, and the Alaskan High Kick, 4th in the Scissor Broad Jump, and 5th in the Seal Hop.

District NYO Junior High Championships

Final Results

(Top 3 teams only)

1. Kongiganak 206

2. Kwigillingok 98

3. Chefornak 92