Jeff Helminiak

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski’s Kaitlyn Johnson (8) jumps up in excitement along with the Nikiski bench Nov. 11, 2016, at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

2017 season volleyball preview: Nikiski, Seward hungry for more at state

Experience and success are often closely linked in a sport like volleyball, where the delicate, quick-trigger oneness of a team is molded by years of… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski’s Kaitlyn Johnson (8) jumps up in excitement along with the Nikiski bench Nov. 11, 2016, at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

Brown Bears start training camp

The Kenai River Brown Bears opened up training camp Monday at the Kenai Multi-Purpose Facility, preparing for their season opener Sept. 20 in Minnesota against… Continue reading

Chris Morin putts for birdie on the 18th green Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, at the Kenai Golf Course during the Kenai Open. Morin’s putt came up short and the three-time defending champ lost by one stroke to Max Dye. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Dye holds off Morin, Eskelin for Kenai Open title

Bobby Jones famously said, “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half inch course … the space between your ears.” That statement was cast in… Continue reading

Chris Morin putts for birdie on the 18th green Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, at the Kenai Golf Course during the Kenai Open. Morin’s putt came up short and the three-time defending champ lost by one stroke to Max Dye. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Beliefs, perceptions and the summits of Cooper Landing

I send photos from my hikes to family members, and this summer, my 3-year-old nephew had seen enough. He complained the images were useless to… Continue reading

West’s Declan Dammeyer and Ethan Davis fail to catch Dimond’s Santiago Prosser in the final steps of the boys race Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at the Tsalteshi Invitational. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Gibson, Kenai girls win Tsalteshi Invite

#EndOnEmpty is off to a good start. Led by an individual championship from Addison Gibson, the Kenai Central girls, spurred on by this year’s team… Continue reading

West’s Declan Dammeyer and Ethan Davis fail to catch Dimond’s Santiago Prosser in the final steps of the boys race Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, at the Tsalteshi Invitational. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Jordan Beachy finishes off a fifth place finish at the Region III Championships at Tsalteshi Trails in September 2016. Beachy led the Mariners to a Class 3A title that day and returns this season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Cross-country preview 2017: Peninsula squads will hunt state glory again

If the Kenai Central girls cross-country team is going to reclaim the Class 4A state title, they are going to have to rely on familiar… Continue reading

Jordan Beachy finishes off a fifth place finish at the Region III Championships at Tsalteshi Trails in September 2016. Beachy led the Mariners to a Class 3A title that day and returns this season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer’s Brooke Miller puts the finishing touches on her victory in the freshmen-sophomore girls race Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at the Nikiski Class Races at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Gibson puts last year behind her with win at Nikiski Class Races

A senior’s desire and a skier’s aerobic engine has Kenai Central’s Addison Gibson ready to put her junior season of cross-country behind her. As a… Continue reading

Homer’s Brooke Miller puts the finishing touches on her victory in the freshmen-sophomore girls race Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, at the Nikiski Class Races at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Gordon Griffin putts on the 17th green Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, at the Donald R. Morgan Memorial Club Championship at Kenai Golf Course in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Dye, Jackson win Donald R. Morgan Memorial Club Championship

Sunday, Max Dye will fly to Wisconsin to start his freshman year at Marian Univeristy in Fond du Lac and play Division III golf for… Continue reading

Gordon Griffin putts on the 17th green Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, at the Donald R. Morgan Memorial Club Championship at Kenai Golf Course in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Pietro reflects on AMA Amateur Nationals experience

Soldotna’s Ryder Pietro, 17, got a taste of the big time from Aug. 1 to 5 at the 36th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur… Continue reading

Kenai Central’s Logan Baker stuffs Nikiski’s Jim Lamping for a loss Friday, July 11, 2017, during a scrimmage at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kards, Bulldogs take positives from scrimmage

In leading Nikiski to small-schools state football titles in 2011 and 2013, then-Nikiski coach Ted Riddall gained a reputation as a coach concerned more with… Continue reading

Kenai Central’s Logan Baker stuffs Nikiski’s Jim Lamping for a loss Friday, July 11, 2017, during a scrimmage at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Bergholtz, Fellman take titles at Run for Women

Bergholtz, Fellman take titles at Run for Women

Anniversaries are a great chance to reflect on how far one has come and where one wants to end up. Alex Bergholtz used the 30th… Continue reading

Bergholtz, Fellman take titles at Run for Women

Reimer sets course record to lead strong Peninsula effort in Soggy Bottom

The Kenai Peninsula had a big day Saturday at the 15th Soggy Bottom Challenge, a 109-mile mountain bike race held on the Resurrection Pass Trail… Continue reading

Rosemary Dura and Nathan Nelson compete during the kids race at the Soldotna Cycle Series on Thursday at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Mountain bike racing grows exponentially at Tsalteshi

Flash back to Sept. 8, 2012. The Tsalteshi Trails Association and the now-defunct Kenai Peninsula Cycle and Ski Club are teaming up to host a… Continue reading

Rosemary Dura and Nathan Nelson compete during the kids race at the Soldotna Cycle Series on Thursday at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Area motocross rider to compete at AMA Amateur Nationals

When Ryder Pietro, now 17, was born, his dad, motocross enthusiast Brad, wanted to name him Toby. His mother, Denise, wanted Ryder. Not only did… Continue reading

Crawford, Kiviat, Showalter rule at Soldotna Cycle Series

For the fifth time in five Soldotna Cycle Series races, Mike Crawford finished first Thursday at Tsalteshi Trails. The race was 10 kilometers total, with… Continue reading

Young Twins ready to mount state title defense

Last year, the Post 20 Twins were Post 25 Juneau. This year, they’re playing them. The Twins, the No. 8 seed, will open up the… Continue reading

Trent Buning of Kenai River Wolfpack tries to escape the grasp of Samuel Warner of the Fairbanks Sun Dawgs on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament in Kenai. Danny Autrey Jr. of the Woldpack looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Dipnet Fest rugby tourney continues growth

The Alaska Mountain Rugby Grounds is a field of dreams for the game in Anchorage, complete with a manicured pitch, mountain backdrop, ornate clubhouse and… Continue reading

Trent Buning of Kenai River Wolfpack tries to escape the grasp of Samuel Warner of the Fairbanks Sun Dawgs on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament in Kenai. Danny Autrey Jr. of the Woldpack looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Lance Chilton leads the pack in the five-kilometer Salmon Run Series race up Angle Hill on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna. Chilton would hold on to take the victory. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Smolts strengthen Salmon Run Series

Time flies when you’re running around and having fun. The Salmon Run Series, a five-race set held every Wednesday starting the first Wednesday of July… Continue reading

Lance Chilton leads the pack in the five-kilometer Salmon Run Series race up Angle Hill on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna. Chilton would hold on to take the victory. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Evan Butcher moves the puck at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex last season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Butcher joins other Brown Bears at UW-Stout

Anchorage’s Evan Butcher took his time and came to the same conclusion as three of his teammates with the Kenai River Brown Bears. He was… Continue reading

Evan Butcher moves the puck at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex last season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Richie Lundahl III chips to the eighth green Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Birch Ridge Junior Masters at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Junior Masters showcases Birch Ridge’s advanced juniors program

The Birch Ridge Junior Masters annually serves as one of the four majors for the Alaska Junior Golf Association. It also serves as a showcase… Continue reading

Richie Lundahl III chips to the eighth green Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Birch Ridge Junior Masters at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)