Jeff Helminiak

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Bob Toski of the Kenai River Wolfpack sizes up a player on the Manu Bears on Saturday at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament in Kenai.

Dipnet Fest rugby event showcases spirit of the game

Upon landing in Anchorage on Monday, Xane Gerasimo, captain of a traveling rugby team based in Wisconsin, got quite the reception. “I got a car… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Bob Toski of the Kenai River Wolfpack sizes up a player on the Manu Bears on Saturday at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Austin Schrader, who had the top Wilks Coefficient, competes at the USA Powerlifting Justin Maile Classic on Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna.

SoHi celebrates offseason work with powerlifting competition

Every Monday through Thursday this summer, from 9 to 11 a.m., Soldotna High School has held weight lifting sessions for interested students.Saturday, those students got… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Austin Schrader, who had the top Wilks Coefficient, competes at the USA Powerlifting Justin Maile Classic on Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central's Matthew Zorbas practices blocking with ex-NFL player Tony Casillas at the Alaska All Star Football Camp on Friday at Kenai Central High School. In the background observing the drill is ex-NFL player Flozell Adams.

Dreams come true at camp for area players, ex-NFL stars

The Alaska All Star Football Camp, held Thursday through Saturday at Kenai Central High School, made dreams come true for campers and ex-NFL players alike.For… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central's Matthew Zorbas practices blocking with ex-NFL player Tony Casillas at the Alaska All Star Football Camp on Friday at Kenai Central High School. In the background observing the drill is ex-NFL player Flozell Adams.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Seward's Aubrey Smith summons a little energy before a seventh-place finish Monday in the women's Mount Marathon race in Seward.

Mount Marathon 2016: Alaska reclaims its mountain

A year after giving their iconic Mount Marathon to the world, Alaskans, and even runners from the host city of Seward, offered a vigorous defense… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Seward's Aubrey Smith summons a little energy before a seventh-place finish Monday in the women's Mount Marathon race in Seward.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Peninsula Oilers catcher Jordan Frese tags out Aaron Shackelford of the Chugiak Chinooks at home plate in the sixth inning Sunday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai to keep the score locked at 2-2.

Sunday: Spark, resilience from West Virginia University move Oilers past Chinooks

Spark and resilience from West Virginia University gave the Peninsula Oilers a 4-2 Alaska Baseball League victory over the Chugiak Chinooks on Sunday at Coral… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Peninsula Oilers catcher Jordan Frese tags out Aaron Shackelford of the Chugiak Chinooks at home plate in the sixth inning Sunday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai to keep the score locked at 2-2.

Blackburn disappointed in trials performance, but vows to learn from experience

The official results will show that 2008 Soldotna graduate Paige Blackburn missed making the finals at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Oilers third baseman Jeffrey Chapuran (center, hand on head) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off home run against the Chugiak Chinooks on Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Friday: Chapuran’s walk-off homer in the 9th sends Oilers past Chinooks

In losing three straight heading into Friday’s contest with the Chugiak Chinooks at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Oilers head coach Brian Daly said… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Oilers third baseman Jeffrey Chapuran (center, hand on head) is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off home run against the Chugiak Chinooks on Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion American Legion Twins shortstop Josh Darrow eats up a ground ball before throwing to first for an out Sunday against Kodiak at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

American Legion Twins sweep Kodiak

The American Legion Twins improved to 11-0 in the league and 14-1 overall with a sweep of Kodiak on Sunday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion American Legion Twins shortstop Josh Darrow eats up a ground ball before throwing to first for an out Sunday against Kodiak at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Twins pitcher Gavin Petterson delivers home in a passing shower Friday against the Wasilla Road Warriors at the Kenai Little League fields.

Twins topple Wasilla in battle of unbeatens

The Wasilla Road Warriors could not survive the one-two punch of the American Legion Twins on Friday in a battle of league unbeatens at the… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Twins pitcher Gavin Petterson delivers home in a passing shower Friday against the Wasilla Road Warriors at the Kenai Little League fields.
Photo provided by Karlee McQuillen Soldotna High School graduate Paige Blackburn practices the discus in Florida recently.

2008 SoHi graduate Blackburn tries to make Olympics in discus

Steve Lemke, the associate head coach and throws coach at the University of Florida, has coached eight Olympians in a career spanning nearly 30 years.Lemke… Continue reading

Photo provided by Karlee McQuillen Soldotna High School graduate Paige Blackburn practices the discus in Florida recently.

Kenai’s Yamada commits to bowl for Lincoln Memorial

When he was just 18 months old, Mason Yamada pushed a bowling ball down the lane with the help of his father, Glenn.“It was a… Continue reading

Photo provided by Peninsula Shooting Stars At top, Brayden Gagnon, Bradley Phelps, Bailey Horne and Nick Edwards, and at bottom, Bradley Walters, Emily Books, Lance Kramer and James Lott show off their hardware from the Alaska Scholastic Clay Target Program - Youth Education in Shooting Sports State Championship last weekend at Birchwood Shooting Park.

Peninsula Shooting Stars excel at state meet

The Peninsula Shooting Stars brought quality, not quantity, to the Alaska Scholastic Clay Target Program - Youth Education in Shooting Sports State Championship last weekend… Continue reading

Photo provided by Peninsula Shooting Stars At top, Brayden Gagnon, Bradley Phelps, Bailey Horne and Nick Edwards, and at bottom, Bradley Walters, Emily Books, Lance Kramer and James Lott show off their hardware from the Alaska Scholastic Clay Target Program - Youth Education in Shooting Sports State Championship last weekend at Birchwood Shooting Park.

Riddall, Coburn leave head coaching positions at Nikiski

Nikiski boys football — whether it be the American or international kind — lost a bunch of experience when the school year came to a… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Sprint competitor Lee Frey of Soldotna competes in the 500-yard swim portion of Tri the Kenai on Sunday at Skyview Middle School.

Crawford rides home-course edge to Tri the Kenai victory

Running. Biking. Skiing. Organizing races. Serving on the board. Kenai’s Mike Crawford has seemingly done it all at Tsalteshi Trails.Now he can add winning a… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Sprint competitor Lee Frey of Soldotna competes in the 500-yard swim portion of Tri the Kenai on Sunday at Skyview Middle School.

Brown Bears coach Worlton excited by influx of talent from NAHL Draft

Kenai River Brown Bears coach Jeff Worlton said the team took a major step forward Tuesday with the North American Hockey League Draft. The Brown… Continue reading

American Legion Twins preview: The pieces are there, but they’re not in place yet

American Legion Post 20 Twins coach Robb Quelland has a bunch of puzzle pieces in front of him that he thinks will make a nice… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna pitcher Matthew Daugherty winds up for the pitch Wednesday against Kenai Central at the Kenai Little League Fields.

Stars head to state baseball tourney with confidence

The Soldotna baseball team has just two appearances at state, going two-and-out each time. Sitka, meanwhile, has four state championships since the tournament started in… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna pitcher Matthew Daugherty winds up for the pitch Wednesday against Kenai Central at the Kenai Little League Fields.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Connor Jones pitches to Soldotna on Saturday in the second-place game of the Southcentral Conference tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Southcentral baseball Saturday: Stars top Kardinals for second place and state berth

Soldotna defeated Kenai Central 17-2 in five innings Saturday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai to take second place and the final state berth… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Connor Jones pitches to Soldotna on Saturday in the second-place game of the Southcentral Conference tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Wasilla celebrates winning its third straight Southcentral Conference tournament title after topping Soldotna 5-0 on Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Friday Southcentral baseball: Warriors top Stars for crown

Co-division MVPs before the game. Harnessers of Soldotna’s bats and vaunted running attack during the game. Center of the celebratory mob after the game.Wasilla senior… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Wasilla celebrates winning its third straight Southcentral Conference tournament title after topping Soldotna 5-0 on Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai's Sam Combs is tagged out trying to steal third base in the second inning by Colony's Zachary Satterly on Thursday at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Wasilla, Soldotna to clash for Southcentral baseball crown

The top two seeds in the Southcentral Conference tournament will clash for the title at 7 p.m. tonight at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kenai's Sam Combs is tagged out trying to steal third base in the second inning by Colony's Zachary Satterly on Thursday at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.