Joey Klecka

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior guard Sam Tauriainen looks for a teammate to pass to while being guarded by Bethel sophomore Clevon Constantine (33) Saturday at the Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Bethel 64-54 to win the championship.

Nikiski Tip-Off roundup

Strong. Fast. Clutch. All those descriptions fit the Nikiski boys basketball team at their home tournament. The Bulldogs captured the 27th annual Nikiski Tip Off… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior guard Sam Tauriainen looks for a teammate to pass to while being guarded by Bethel sophomore Clevon Constantine (33) Saturday at the Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Bethel 64-54 to win the championship.

Friday: West holds on to beat Kenai girls

The Kenai Central girls showed up to face a perennial powerhouse West Anchorage team Friday night on Cliff Massie Court and gave the Eagles all… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kodiak's Rica Gongora dribbles against Nikiski's Kelsey Clark on Thursday at Nikiski High School.

Thursday hoops roundup

The 27th annual Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament began about as good as the host team could have hoped. The Nikiski girls opened their weekend with a… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kodiak's Rica Gongora dribbles against Nikiski's Kelsey Clark on Thursday at Nikiski High School.

SoHi boys escape with win over Bethel

The Soldotna boys escaped with a 46-40 win over Bethel Wednesday night at Soldotna High School, in a nonconference clash that featured teams from two… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Abby Kruse tries to keep the ball inbounds while Kenai Central's Alli Steinbeck defends Tuesday at Kenai Central High School.

SoHi, Kenai hoops teams split conference games

It has been so long since the Kenai Central girls basketball team defeated their local rivals Soldotna that none of the current players were in… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Abby Kruse tries to keep the ball inbounds while Kenai Central's Alli Steinbeck defends Tuesday at Kenai Central High School.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion West High School playerConnor Bateman guards Kenai Central High School's goal - as the team's own goalie was injured - during their game on Friday Jan. 8, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska.

SoHi, Kenai hockey lose to Anchorage squads

West Anchorage goaltender Connor Batman suited up Friday evening for a nonconference prep hockey matchup on ice against the Kenai Kardinals. All game long, however,… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion West High School playerConnor Bateman guards Kenai Central High School's goal - as the team's own goalie was injured - during their game on Friday Jan. 8, 2016 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski's Hallie Riddall dodges around a Mt. Edgecumbe player during their game on Saturday Jan. 9, 2015 in Nikiski, Alaska. Nikiski lost the game 63-24.

Mt. Edgecumbe girls basketball routs Nikiski

In all previous basketball seasons, Saturday’s nonconference matchup between the Nikiski and Mt. Edgecumbe girls would simply be a battle for pride.This year, however, there… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski's Hallie Riddall dodges around a Mt. Edgecumbe player during their game on Saturday Jan. 9, 2015 in Nikiski, Alaska. Nikiski lost the game 63-24.

Oilers tab Daly as next head coach

Returning for a second year on the Peninsula Oilers staff, last year’s pitching coach Brian Daly will be getting an upgrade.Daly has been named head… Continue reading

Kenai boys, Homer girls notch victories on hardwood

A slow start did not faze the Kenai Central boys basketball team Tuesday night in their own gym. The Kardinals tallied 26 points in the… Continue reading

2016 no help in ending Brown Bears losing skid

The prospect of a new year was not enough to lift the Kenai River Brown Bears from the doldrums of a franchise-record losing skid.The Brown… Continue reading

Theisen rolls through special XC season at BHSU

When Kenai distance running ace Jonah Theisen made his commitment to run cross-country for Black Hills State University last April, he had never heard of… Continue reading

Brown Bears end 2015 with loss

The 2015 calendar year ended with one more loss for the Kenai River Brown Bears. 2016 could not come soon enough. The Brown Bears lost… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski's Corin Cooper gets depantsed by Eielson's Tobias Dobashi-Noa during their small schools state championship game on Saturday Oct. 17, 2015 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Eielson tops Nikiski to repeat as small-schools champions

It may be labeled as small-schools football, but there was nothing small about Saturday’s matchup between the two teams fighting for the third-tier division of… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski's Corin Cooper gets depantsed by Eielson's Tobias Dobashi-Noa during their small schools state championship game on Saturday Oct. 17, 2015 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Drew Gibbs brings the trophy to his teammmates.  Photo for the Clarion by Michael Dinneen

Stars top Kards for 4th straight medium-schools title

Saturday’s thrilling title clash between Soldotna and Kenai Central for the Alaska medium-schools football crown featured big plays, crushing hits, dramatic moments and spirited performances.… Continue reading

Drew Gibbs brings the trophy to his teammmates.  Photo for the Clarion by Michael Dinneen
Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School basketball player Hannah Drury keeps the ball from South Anchorage's Kelsey Sweetsir during a game on Friday, Dec. 18 in Kenai.

Northern Lights Conference basketball preview: Kenai, Soldotna renew chase for state berths

Another year of Class 4A hoops, another power struggle between the Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna valleys teams. With local squads Kenai Central and Soldotna competing… Continue reading

Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion Kenai Central High School basketball player Hannah Drury keeps the ball from South Anchorage's Kelsey Sweetsir during a game on Friday, Dec. 18 in Kenai.
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Nikiski Bulldog Arianne Parrish makes sure she is accessible to her team mate during the game against the Houton High School Hawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska.

Southcentral Conference preview: WPI takes a state berth away from conference

With such close parity in competition in the Class 3A Southcentral Conference, basketball teams on the Kenai Peninsula will be facing a long road full… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Nikiski Bulldog Arianne Parrish makes sure she is accessible to her team mate during the game against the Houton High School Hawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska.

Web extra: Homer wins 1-2-3A state wrestling title

Saturday night inside the packed Bartlett High gym, the Homer wrestling team celebrated an occasion almost 30 years in the making. The Mariners captured the… Continue reading

Web extra: Hutchison’s 4th state wrestling title highlights 4A action

Soldotna High senior Seth Hutchison was eight years old the night elder brother Eli won his fourth Alaska state wrestling championship in February 2006. He… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka Nikiski senior Luke Johnson looks for his next move against Barrow's Tua Mila in the 285-pound championship at the Class 1-2-3A state wrestling tournament at Bartlett High. The win was Johnson's third state crown.

Hutchison takes 4th state title; Homer boys capture team title

With one mighty attack, Soldotna senior Seth Hutchison entered the record books at the Class 4A state wrestling championships Saturday night at Bartlett High in… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka Nikiski senior Luke Johnson looks for his next move against Barrow's Tua Mila in the 285-pound championship at the Class 1-2-3A state wrestling tournament at Bartlett High. The win was Johnson's third state crown.
Mikaela Salzeti finishes second in the women's race with a time of 15:39 during the Candy Cane Scramble on the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.

Boonstra, Butler win Candy Cane 5K

Kenai Central nordic skier Riana Boonstra wielded a bandaged club and a dominant authority over the Tsalteshi Trails Thursday afternoon. After missing the opening two… Continue reading

Mikaela Salzeti finishes second in the women's race with a time of 15:39 during the Candy Cane Scramble on the Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna, Alaska.