Y-K stars focused at NYO state meet

Bethel Warrior star Joeli Carlson looks up at the sealskin ball during her event - the 1-Hand Reach. Her won first place at a height of 58".

by Tommy Wells

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta’s athletes had a strong showing at the 2017 Native Youth Olympics championship this past weekend in Anchorage.

Especially in the One Hand Reach competition.

Just how dominant were the Y-K athletes in the boys’ and girls’ One-Hand Reach? Consider this, of the top 10 places in the boys’ and girls’ event, Y-K stars netted five spots, including first in each division.

Bethel’s Joeli Carlson highlighted a 1-2-3-4 finish by Y-K stars in the girls’ division. She posted a mark of 58 inches and edged out LKSD standout Chantal Snyder of Kwigillingok, who also reached 58. June Tuluk of Chevak and Lower Yukon School District star Tara Agwiak of Mountain Village placed third and fourth, respectively. Unalaska’s Kaye Gumera was fifth.

Aniak’s Braden Dallman won the boys’ One-Hand Reach with a height of 65. Unalaska’s Brian Conwell edged Anchorage’s Virgil Kapotak for second.

Kipnuk’s Jaden Anaver, Calvin Egoak, and Tara Agwiak also brought home gold medals to the Y-K. Anaver breezed to the Seal Hop championship by hopping to a distance of 156 feet 9 ½ inches. Anchorage’s Brandon Asicksik was a distant second at 117-6 ¾. Chevak standout Edward Atcherian was fourth in the Seal Hop standings at 99-8.

LKSD star Wilton Charles of Toksook Bay leaped a distance of 64 1/4” to win the gold in the boys’ Kneel Jump event. False Pass’ Regan Hoblet who has roots in the YK delta placed 5th for the girls with a leap of 43 ¾”.

For the girls Mt. Edgecumbe’s Adeline Dyment of Bethel took second in the Seal Hop with a final distance of 121’ 3 ¾”. LYSD’s Denise Uttereyuk placed fourth.

Egoak captured the Alaskan High Kick title with a mark of 86 inches.

Agwiak won the girls’ Alaskan High Kick competition. She posted a mark off 77 inches and edged out Bethel’s Ashley Mute by 4 inches. Mount Edgecumbe’s Jerilyn Alexie of Pitka’s Point was third at 72.

Agwiak also placed fifth in the 2-Foot High Kick along with Katelyn Paul of Kipnuk representing LKSD at 66”.

Clevon Constantine, Jaden Ulroan and Isaiah Charles also starred in the tournament, which was held Thursday through Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center. Constantine garnered second in the 1-Foot High Kick standings. He posted a kick of 104 inches. He finished 2 inches off the winning pace of Mat-Su standout Kaiden Jiminez. Charles, who claimed the boys’ Sportsmanship honors, was fourth. He also placed fourth in the 2-Foot High Kick with a final kick of 86”.

Jaden Ulroan of Chevak was fifth in the Indian Stick Pull.

Mt. Edgecumbe’s Catherine Sunny and LKSD’s Merlin White each took 5th  in the Scissor Broad Jump.

LYSD’s Jamal Alstrom of Alakanuk was fourth in the boys’ Eskimo Stick Pull.

2017 State NYO Championships Final Standings

1st Mat-Su

2nd Unalaska

3rd Anchorage A

4th LKSD

5th Mount Edgecumbe