Joey Klecka

Soldotna running back Brenner Furlong (center) receives congratulations from teammates Zach Hanson (left) and Aaron Faletoi (right) after scoring a touchdown Sept. 16 at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Week 8 football preview: SoHi brings The Streak to Kenai

A lot got accomplished last week as prep football teams took care of business on the turf. The clinch game was in full effect as… Continue reading

Soldotna running back Brenner Furlong (center) receives congratulations from teammates Zach Hanson (left) and Aaron Faletoi (right) after scoring a touchdown Sept. 16 at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna setter Shaylynn Zener sets up a pass for teammate Ella Stenga Tuesday night against Seward at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi volleyball sweeps Seward

The Soldotna Stars protected home court spectacularly Tuesday night with a three-set sweep of Seward, winning with scores of 25-13, 25-15 and 25-20. Led by… Continue reading

Soldotna setter Shaylynn Zener sets up a pass for teammate Ella Stenga Tuesday night against Seward at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Palmer football coach Rod Christianson celebrates his 151st career coaching win with the Moose, Saturday at Ed Hollier field in Kenai. The milestone victory placed Christianson atop the all-time Alaska football coaching win list. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Christianson gets record win No. 151 as Palmer eliminates Kenai from playoffs

The most telling moment after Saturday’s 35-8 win over Kenai Central that provided insight into what has made Rod Christiansen — now Alaska’s winningest ever… Continue reading

Palmer football coach Rod Christianson celebrates his 151st career coaching win with the Moose, Saturday at Ed Hollier field in Kenai. The milestone victory placed Christianson atop the all-time Alaska football coaching win list. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Eielson junior Jaydenn Manibusan attempts to shed Nikiski tackler Tyler Olson Friday evening at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Division III football roundup: Nikiski falls short to Eielson

A botched punt by the opposition. A field goal miss doinking off the goal post on a short kick. An untimely sack with time running… Continue reading

Eielson junior Jaydenn Manibusan attempts to shed Nikiski tackler Tyler Olson Friday evening at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Denali Lockwood gets her fingers on a ball while teammate Sam Kompkoff (14) watches Thursday against Kodiak at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Kodiak volleyball prevails in four games over Kenai

The Kenai Central volleyball squad took another loss to a Northern Lights Conference opponent Thursday night at Cliff Massie Court, but the program took another… Continue reading

Kenai Central’s Denali Lockwood gets her fingers on a ball while teammate Sam Kompkoff (14) watches Thursday against Kodiak at Kenai Central High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Week 7 prep football preview: Playoff clinching scenarios

The stretch run of the prep football season will receive a serious dose of reality this weekend, and the consequences are dire for most teams.… Continue reading

Homer sophomore Marina Carroll watches as teammate Kelli Bishop sends the ball into Nikiski’s court Tuesday night at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski sweeps Homer volleyball

Having shaken off early season injury problems, the Nikiski and Homer volleyball squads met on the court Tuesday night with fully healthy squads, and Nikiski… Continue reading

Homer sophomore Marina Carroll watches as teammate Kelli Bishop sends the ball into Nikiski’s court Tuesday night at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Prep football roundup: Homer blanks Nikiski, Monroe shuts out Seward

The Homer Mariners staked their claim as the leaders of the Peninsula Conference with a emphatic 38-0 win Saturday over Nikiski at Homer High School.… Continue reading

Soldotna defensive back Sam McElroy wraps up Kodiak running back Kaleb Finley Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Stars roll through Kodiak on homecoming weekend

Even as the Kodiak Bears showed some moxie against the now 6-0 Soldotna Stars Saturday afternoon by moving the ball with efficiency, SoHi showed it… Continue reading

Soldotna defensive back Sam McElroy wraps up Kodiak running back Kaleb Finley Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Rain putting a damper on summer, fall activities

If it seems like the fall season in Alaska is upon us, you’d be wrong. Technically. Technically, autumn does not begin for another week, Sept.… Continue reading

Week 6 prep football preview: Another round of pivotal games

The first full week of conference battles on the gridiron helped clear up the playoff picture, and some teams made big moves with the postseason… Continue reading

Homer sophomores Marina Caroll (21) and Kitri Classen (8) block a shot by Soldotna senior Ella Stenga Tuesday night at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi volleyball sweeps weakened Homer squad

Even before the opening whistle got things rolling in Tuesday’s nonconference match, Homer volleyball coach Erin Brege was already dealing with a problem. The loss… Continue reading

Homer sophomores Marina Caroll (21) and Kitri Classen (8) block a shot by Soldotna senior Ella Stenga Tuesday night at Soldotna High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski’s Rylee Jackson (10) attempts to corral a loose ball Thursday night against Grace Christian at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski volleyball escapes with 5-set win over Grace

Thanks to the experience gained from a deep state run last fall, the Nikiski volleyball team walked off their home court Thursday night with a… Continue reading

Nikiski’s Rylee Jackson (10) attempts to corral a loose ball Thursday night against Grace Christian at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Week 5 football preview: What we’ve learned thus far

The Alaska prep football season enters its second half of an eight-week season tonight with a slew of conference clashes between Kenai Peninsula rivals. As… Continue reading

Austin Strattman wrestles a steer to the ground in a chute dogging display June 25, 2016, at the Soldotna rodeo grounds. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Weekend 9-11 rodeo to pay tribute to veterans, police, servicemen

With the 16th anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11 approaching, the men and women who commit their lives to protect their community and… Continue reading

Austin Strattman wrestles a steer to the ground in a chute dogging display June 25, 2016, at the Soldotna rodeo grounds. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Aaron Faletoi runs for yards Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at Del Norte High School in Crescent City, California. The Stars defeated Crater High School of Oregon 20-7 in the game. (Photo by Michael Zogg/Del Norte Triplicate)

SoHi football evades smoke, Comets to keep winning streak going

Wildfire smoke blew the Soldotna Stars out of Oregon on Thursday, but the Stars were California dreaming Friday. Soldotna controlled the proceedings in a 20-7… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Aaron Faletoi runs for yards Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at Del Norte High School in Crescent City, California. The Stars defeated Crater High School of Oregon 20-7 in the game. (Photo by Michael Zogg/Del Norte Triplicate)

Week 4 football preview: Stars make change of plans down south

In the world of Soldotna football, things move fast. That includes travel plans, which were changed at the last minute Thursday. The Stars were scheduled… Continue reading

Juneau running back Liam Van Sickle gets tackled by several Kenai defenders, including James Siamani (25) and John Grossl (65) Saturday afternoon at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Improved Kenai shuts out Juneau on gridiron

Snap, run, score, repeat. A tough week of repetition will cure any football team of mistakes and errors, and after a brutal loss to North… Continue reading

Juneau running back Liam Van Sickle gets tackled by several Kenai defenders, including James Siamani (25) and John Grossl (65) Saturday afternoon at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna head football coach Galen Brantley Jr. hugs senior quarterback Brandon Crowder after Friday night’s 52-7 win over South Anchorage at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. The win was the 100th in Brantley Jr.’s coaching career. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Stars get 52nd win of streak, Brantley gets 100th of coaching career

While the Soldotna Stars football team isn’t known for excessive frivolity in regular season games — they like to save that for the season-ending championship.… Continue reading

Soldotna head football coach Galen Brantley Jr. hugs senior quarterback Brandon Crowder after Friday night’s 52-7 win over South Anchorage at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. The win was the 100th in Brantley Jr.’s coaching career. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna lineman Wendell Tuisuala wraps up Dimond running back Ryan Beach, Aug. 18 at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Week 3 football preview: Brantley on doorstep of win No. 100 with SoHi

The list of the all-time winningest football coaches in Alaska is one steeped in history and hard work. A quick look at the Alaska High… Continue reading

Soldotna lineman Wendell Tuisuala wraps up Dimond running back Ryan Beach, Aug. 18 at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)