Jeff Helminiak

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna hitter Judah Aley, now a senior, spikes the ball at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament Nov. 13, 2015, in Anchorage.

Volleyball preview 2016: Coaches wait and see how chemistry takes shape

Soldotna volleyball coach Sheila Kupferschmid has been coaching the sport for 33 years.In the Alaska portion of that career, she’s brought teams to state seven… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna hitter Judah Aley, now a senior, spikes the ball at the Class 4A state volleyball tournament Nov. 13, 2015, in Anchorage.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kodiak's Honey Rose Macatuno wins the junior-senior girls race Monday at the Nikiski Class Races at Nikiski High School.

Homer, Kodiak split team titles at Nikiski Class Races

The Kodiak and Homer cross-country teams split the team titles at the Nikiski Class Races on Monday at Nikiski High School.The Mariners won the freshmen-sophomore… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Kodiak's Honey Rose Macatuno wins the junior-senior girls race Monday at the Nikiski Class Races at Nikiski High School.

Morin wins 3rd-straight Donald R. Morgan Memorial Club Championship

In the door-prize drawing following the two-day Donald R. Morgan Memorial Club Championship at the Kenai Golf Course on Sunday, Homer’s Chris Morin won a… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion The field of Class 4A runners takes off on the Bartlett High School trails Oct. 3, 2015. Leading the way is Kenai Central's Jaycie Calvert (577) and Riana Boonstra (576). West Anchorage runner Molly Gellert (783) won the race.

Cross-country preview: Peninsula runners set to shine at state level again

After having a major impact on the statewide prep cross-country scene last year, the Kenai Peninsula stands poised to repeat the feat again in 2016.The… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion The field of Class 4A runners takes off on the Bartlett High School trails Oct. 3, 2015. Leading the way is Kenai Central's Jaycie Calvert (577) and Riana Boonstra (576). West Anchorage runner Molly Gellert (783) won the race.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Oilers starter and winner Billy Oxford delivers in the first inning of Friday's Top of the World Series semifinal at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Oilers topple Pilots in Top of World Series semifinal

Fans showing up at game time Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai were treated to the sandal-clad and barefooted Oilers hooting and hollering… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Oilers starter and winner Billy Oxford delivers in the first inning of Friday's Top of the World Series semifinal at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
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.

Oilers ready to take on Pilots

As a general rule, baseball people aren’t big fans of the rain.But Peninsula Oilers head coach Brian Daly will be the first to admit he… 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 Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Twins center fielder Paul Steffensen takes a pitch Friday against Juneau at the American Legion Alaska State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. Steffensen was named MVP of the tournament.

Twins start play at Northwest Regionals on Wednesday

Two and a barbecue.According to Lance Coz, the general manager of the American Legion Twins for 44 years now, that is what most people expect… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Twins center fielder Paul Steffensen takes a pitch Friday against Juneau at the American Legion Alaska State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. Steffensen was named MVP of the tournament.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Oilers starter Justin Montgomery pitches against the Anchorage Bucs on Wednesday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

On the rise: Oilers starter Montgomery hits his stride in Alaska

Earlier this summer, Peninsula Oilers pitcher Justin Montgomery tackled Skyline Trail, climbing about 2,700 feet in two miles to a commanding view of the central… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Oilers starter Justin Montgomery pitches against the Anchorage Bucs on Wednesday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Jack Newell of Eagle River hits into the 13th green Tuesday during the Birch Ridge Jr Masters at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna.

Area golfers take 4 of 7 age groups at Birch Ridge Jr Masters

Sullivan Menard, a sophomore at Colony High School, had been on Birch Ridge Golf Course for over two hours Tuesday when he found himself eight… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Jack Newell of Eagle River hits into the 13th green Tuesday during the Birch Ridge Jr Masters at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna.
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