Joey Klecka

Area swimmers set for state swim meet

A season’s worth of hard work will be put to the test this weekend as the top prep swimmers and divers will converge in Anchorage… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna High School's Cody Watkins swims during the 100-yard freestyle competition during the Region III swimming and diving meet Saturday November 1, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.

Kodiak dominates Region III swim meet

Saturday’s Region III swimming and diving championship meet was a fabulous one for the Kodiak Bears.Held at the Soldotna High School pool, both of Kodiak’s… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna High School's Cody Watkins swims during the 100-yard freestyle competition during the Region III swimming and diving meet Saturday November 1, 2014 in Soldotna, Alaska.
Phtoo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Nikiski's Rachel Thompson grins after a successful play during the team's game against Grace Christian on Friday October 31, 2014 in Nikiski, Alaska.

Friday: Nikiski, Grace clash on volleyball court

Grace Christian crashed the party on the Nikiski volleyball senior night, winning a 3-1 match with scores of 25-20, 21-25, 25-18 and 25-11 on Friday… Continue reading

Phtoo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion  Nikiski's Rachel Thompson grins after a successful play during the team's game against Grace Christian on Friday October 31, 2014 in Nikiski, Alaska.
Kodiak looks to extend region swimming dominance

Kodiak looks to extend region swimming dominance

The level of domination the Kodiak swimming and diving teams have exacted on Northern Lights Conference opponents in recent years can feel overwhelming at times.… Continue reading

Kodiak looks to extend region swimming dominance

Kenai, Nikiski netters go to 5 games on Dig Pink night

On a night that saw Cliff Massie court at Kenai Central High School temporarily turn pink in support of the “Dig Pink!” effort, the visiting… Continue reading

Saturday: Brown Bears bounce back against Wilderness

Twenty-four hours after being handed a 6-2 Friday loss by the Minnesota Wilderness, the Kenai River Brown Bears responded with an emphatic 5-1 win Saturday… Continue reading

Nikiski's Luke Johnson celebrates his 195-pound finals victory over Scott Carpenter of Bethel High School in the high school division 1-2-3A wrestling championships Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 in Anchorage, Alaska.  (AP Photo / Michael Dinneen)

Prep wrestling season receives a shakeup

For years, girls wanting to take in the sport of wrestling had a difficult route ahead. Competing with boys has been and will never be… Continue reading

Nikiski's Luke Johnson celebrates his 195-pound finals victory over Scott Carpenter of Bethel High School in the high school division 1-2-3A wrestling championships Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013 in Anchorage, Alaska.  (AP Photo / Michael Dinneen)
SoHi team members with the championship trophy.  Photo for the Clarion by Michael Dinneen

SoHi routs North Pole, pulls off 3-peat

The Soldotna Stars started fast and didn’t let up Saturday afternoon at Dimond’s Alumni Field in Anchorage, cruising to a 57-28 victory over North Pole… Continue reading

SoHi team members with the championship trophy.  Photo for the Clarion by Michael Dinneen
Nikiski's Chrisitan Riddall runs for the Bulldog's first touchdown.  Photo for the Clarion by Michael Dinneen

Eielson beats Nikiski for title in a thriller

The Nikiski and Eielson football teams added another incredible chapter to the intense rivalry that has sprouted between the two schools Saturday night at Dimond… Continue reading

Nikiski's Chrisitan Riddall runs for the Bulldog's first touchdown.  Photo for the Clarion by Michael Dinneen

SoHi netters come back to top ACS

Trailing by a set early in Friday night’s action, Soldotna volleyball coach Sheila Kupferschmid didn’t panic.She knew exactly who she was dealing with.The Stars rallied… Continue reading

Friday: SoHi netters rally back to top ACS

Trailing by a set early in Friday night's action, Soldotna volleyball coach Sheila Kupferschmid didn't panic. She knew exactly who she was dealing with. The… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Barrow Whaler David Elavgak is swept off his feet for a tackle during a game against the Nikiski Bulldogs Friday September 26, 2014 in Nikiski, Alaska.

Small-schools state preview: Bulldogs want revenge against Eielson

Since suffering a tough loss to Greatland Conference rival Eielson in early September, the Nikiski Bulldogs have had a lot of time to think about… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Barrow Whaler David Elavgak is swept off his feet for a tackle during a game against the Nikiski Bulldogs Friday September 26, 2014 in Nikiski, Alaska.
From left, Trevor Walden, Adrian Gomez-Dickson, Drew Fowler and Matt Trammell celebrate Fowler's interception and touchdown.  Photo by Michael Dinneen for the Clarion.

Medium-schools preview: SoHi, North Pole both claim underdog role

For a coach that has guided his football team to two straight state championships and 28 consecutive wins over the past two seasons, Galen Brantley… Continue reading

From left, Trevor Walden, Adrian Gomez-Dickson, Drew Fowler and Matt Trammell celebrate Fowler's interception and touchdown.  Photo by Michael Dinneen for the Clarion.
From left, Kenai's Jace Baker (12),and Kyle Hunter (61) team up to stop North Pole's Andrew Rogers.  Photo by Michael Dinneen for the Clarion.

North Pole gets past Kenai Central in football semis

One year after losing a state semifinal game against Soldotna, the North Pole Patriots are headed back to a rematch with the Stars in next… Continue reading

From left, Kenai's Jace Baker (12),and Kyle Hunter (61) team up to stop North Pole's Andrew Rogers.  Photo by Michael Dinneen for the Clarion.
SoHi defensive coordinator Eric Pomerlau is doused by happy Stars players, from left, Ty Fenont (7), Jared Chavez (8), Brenner Furlong (40) and Dalton Best (66).

Stars roll past Juneau and into state final

For a school that is known for its magic tricks on the football field, the Soldotna Stars proved that they can win games with sound… Continue reading

SoHi defensive coordinator Eric Pomerlau is doused by happy Stars players, from left, Ty Fenont (7), Jared Chavez (8), Brenner Furlong (40) and Dalton Best (66).

Nikiski routs Seward to gain 4th straight title game

The way the Nikiski Bulldogs celebrated their 48-0 state semifinal victory Friday night over Seward, you’d think they had just earned their first small-schools championship… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Soldotna High School's Bailey Blumentritt catches a pass, Saturday, August 30, 2014 during the varsity game against Thunder Mountain high school at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska.

Stars, Kards, Bulldogs set for playoff tests

Anyone holding the belief that a football team has a clear path to the state championship only needs to look at Saturday’s regular season finale… Continue reading

Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion Soldotna High School's Bailey Blumentritt catches a pass, Saturday, August 30, 2014 during the varsity game against Thunder Mountain high school at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska.

SoHi sweeps Nikiski netters

The Nikiski volleyball squad incurred a 3-set sweep at the hands of Soldotna — a school that is in a different conference and class —… Continue reading

Ostrander wraps up 3rd Class 4A title

Ostrander wraps up 3rd Class 4A title

Kenai Central senior Allie Ostrander crossed the finish line Saturday on the Bartlett High School running trails to claim the Class 4A girls state cross-country… Continue reading

Ostrander wraps up 3rd Class 4A title
Small-schools: Homer girls take state XC crown

Small-schools: Homer girls take state XC crown

Saturday saw a number of winning and losing streaks busted in the sports world. No, not college football. High school cross-country running. The Homer girls… Continue reading

Small-schools: Homer girls take state XC crown