Joey Klecka

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Corpus Christi pitcher Cy Sneed keeps time as he works with young baseball fans Saturday afternoon at the Kenai Boys & Girls Club.

Area baseball players get tips from a pro

Young baseball fans in Kenai and Soldotna got a rare opportunity this weekend to receive game advice and coaching from a pro player.Cy Sneed, an… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Corpus Christi pitcher Cy Sneed keeps time as he works with young baseball fans Saturday afternoon at the Kenai Boys & Girls Club.

Nikiski graduate Lincoln Johnson finishes college footbal career

Lincoln Johnson left the Nikiski football team four years ago in better shape than he found it, and now, the Greenville College senior is at… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion A cyclist makes his way up a hill on the Tsalteshi Trails during the Polar Vortex race Oct. 22 in Soldotna.

Waiting for the snow: Peninsula recreationists find other ways to get outside

During recent winters on the central Kenai Peninsula, ice has become the new snow. Following the trend of several consecutive abnormal winters that have left… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion A cyclist makes his way up a hill on the Tsalteshi Trails during the Polar Vortex race Oct. 22 in Soldotna.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seward libero Kimmie Hubbard (in pink) digs for a ball with teammate Tia Miranda, Friday against Monroe Catholic in the Class 3A state volleyball tournament held at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

Friday: Nikiski volleyball advances to state final

If there’s one thing opposing volleyball teams should never do, it is count out the Nikiski Bulldogs.Thanks to another five-set barnburner, Nikiski advanced to the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Seward libero Kimmie Hubbard (in pink) digs for a ball with teammate Tia Miranda, Friday against Monroe Catholic in the Class 3A state volleyball tournament held at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski's Emily Hensley (5) and Bethany Carstens team up for a block against Mt. Edgecumbe in Saturday's Class 3A state volleyball championship at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

Mt. Edgecumbe tops Nikiski for Class 3A title

The lights of the big stage shone brightly on the Nikiski volleyball team in Saturday’s Class 3A state championship. Perhaps a bit too bright.In their… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski's Emily Hensley (5) and Bethany Carstens team up for a block against Mt. Edgecumbe in Saturday's Class 3A state volleyball championship at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.
Friday state 3A volleyball: Nikiski advances to state title game

Friday state 3A volleyball: Nikiski advances to state title game

If there's one thing opposing volleyball teams should never do, it is never count out the Nikiski Bulldogs. Thanks to another five-set barnburner, Nikiski advanced… Continue reading

Friday state 3A volleyball: Nikiski advances to state title game
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski middle Bethany Carstens (7) blocks a shot from Monroe Catholic's Maija Hajdukovich (15) and Madlyn Leslie on Thursday morning at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.

Nikiski volleyball reaches semifinals at state tournament

The Nikiski volleyball team is making the most of its appearance at the Class 3A state tournament by going further than any Bulldogs team has… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski middle Bethany Carstens (7) blocks a shot from Monroe Catholic's Maija Hajdukovich (15) and Madlyn Leslie on Thursday morning at the Class 3A state volleyball tournament at the Alaska Airlines Arena in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Bulldogs senior Brianna Vollertsen gives the ball a tap Thursday, Oct. 13, against Houston at Nikiski High School.

Nikiski, Seward set for state tournament

A third state volleyball appearance in five years for Nikiski has brought with it new and different kinds of success ­— success that hasn’t been… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Bulldogs senior Brianna Vollertsen gives the ball a tap Thursday, Oct. 13, against Houston at Nikiski High School.
Kenai Central senior Jill Kindred receives a serve during a 3-0 loss to Wasilla Friday, the second day of the Northern Lights Conference Championships at Wasilla High School. Kenai upset Soldotna earlier in the day, but was eliminated with the loss to host Wasilla.

Kenai, SoHi volleyball teams fall out at NLC tourney

The Soldotna and Kenai Central volleyball teams came up short in their bids for a state berth this weekend at Wasilla High School. The Stars… Continue reading

Kenai Central senior Jill Kindred receives a serve during a 3-0 loss to Wasilla Friday, the second day of the Northern Lights Conference Championships at Wasilla High School. Kenai upset Soldotna earlier in the day, but was eliminated with the loss to host Wasilla.

Homer beats Kenai in OT, SoHi blanks Houston at Ice Challenge

Tyler Gilliland slotted in the gamewinning goal three minutes into overtime to fuel the Homer Mariners to a wild 8-7 victory over Kenai Central Thursday… Continue reading

Nikiski volleyball beats Grace for Southcentral Conference title

It seems the demise of championship droughts have been all the rage this week. The Nikiski Bulldogs snapped an 11-year skid of Southcentral Conference volleyball… Continue reading

SoHi holds off Kenai to win Ice Challenge tourney

The Soldotna hockey team controlled the opening 15 minutes Saturday against Kenai Central at the Peninsula Ice Challenge, but things soon took a turn. After… Continue reading

State swimming preview: Can SoHi end its state title drought?

Soldotna swimming and diving coach Lucas Petersen’s strategy for his girls team may seem a bit presumptive at first, but after seeing it come to… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer forward Dimitry Kuzmin (12) carries the puck up the ice with Kenai Central defenseman Alyssa Stanton in tow Thursday evening at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

Hockey season preview: Peninsula squads want change to be order of the day

This year’s prep hockey season will see a welcome change in venue for the Kenai Kardinals, a change in coach for the Homer Mariners, and,… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer forward Dimitry Kuzmin (12) carries the puck up the ice with Kenai Central defenseman Alyssa Stanton in tow Thursday evening at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski outside hitter Jamie Yerkes (9) is met by a fierce block by Soldotna's Ituau Tuisaula (13) and Drewe Zeek Saturday afternoon at Soldotna High School.

SoHi netters take down Nikiski on senior night

Two volleyball teams that finished No. 2 in their respective conferences put an end to successful regular seasons Saturday at Soldotna High School, when the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski outside hitter Jamie Yerkes (9) is met by a fierce block by Soldotna's Ituau Tuisaula (13) and Drewe Zeek Saturday afternoon at Soldotna High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Jacob Creglow of Soldotna awaits the starting gun in the boys backstroke event at the SoHi Pentathlon Sept. 23 at the Soldotna High School pool. Creglow is one of several SoHi boys swimmers that could qualify to state this weekend at the Region III meet in Kodiak.

SoHi girls swimmers have battle on their hands to retain Region III title

Last year’s Region III streak-snapping swimming championship by the Soldotna girls proved that the Kodiak Bears are indeed human.This year, the Stars are looking to… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Jacob Creglow of Soldotna awaits the starting gun in the boys backstroke event at the SoHi Pentathlon Sept. 23 at the Soldotna High School pool. Creglow is one of several SoHi boys swimmers that could qualify to state this weekend at the Region III meet in Kodiak.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Tyle Owens (394) leads Jacque Drumm (396) and Nathan Kincaid over a hill midway through the course Saturday afternoon at the Tsalteshi Trails.

Cyclists take on Polar Vortex

Why do they call it a polar vortex? Cyclists were trying to figure that mystery out while spinning round and round Saturday afternoon at Tsalteshi… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Tyle Owens (394) leads Jacque Drumm (396) and Nathan Kincaid over a hill midway through the course Saturday afternoon at the Tsalteshi Trails.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Talon Musgrave works on Homer's Timmy Woo on Saturday at the Luke Spruill Memorial Tournament at Kenai Central High School. Woo notched a 12-5 victory in the 160-pound match.

Season preview: Local wrestlers ready to tackle season

The middle of October can be an interesting time at Nikiski High School, and not because of the impending frights of Halloween.From 2011 to 2015,… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Talon Musgrave works on Homer's Timmy Woo on Saturday at the Luke Spruill Memorial Tournament at Kenai Central High School. Woo notched a 12-5 victory in the 160-pound match.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna senior Annie Quinn makes her mark in the vertical challenge Wednesday night at Kenai Central High School.

Local SST program attracts Outside attention

The rising success of the Speed and Strength Training program among the local Kenai Peninsula high schools has begun to grow and attract Outside attention… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna senior Annie Quinn makes her mark in the vertical challenge Wednesday night at Kenai Central High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna head coach Galen Brantley Jr. (center with dark jacket) celebrates with his players after winning a school-record fifth straight state football championship Saturday at Palmer High School. The Stars defeated the Palmer Moose 49-13.

Drive for five: SoHi’s state title is a 49th straight win in the 49th state

The trees are bare, the air is cold, and once again, the Soldotna Stars are state football champions. A week after surviving a tense semifinal… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna head coach Galen Brantley Jr. (center with dark jacket) celebrates with his players after winning a school-record fifth straight state football championship Saturday at Palmer High School. The Stars defeated the Palmer Moose 49-13.