Joey Klecka

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk senior guard Megan Hickman drives to the rim against Buckland defender Rosaline Hadley Thursday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Nikolaevsk’s Hickman commits to UAF women’s basketball

Another collegiate hoops team is getting a Warrior. Megan Hickman, a five-year starter for the Class 1A Nikolaevsk girls, put pen to paper Wednesday in… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikolaevsk senior guard Megan Hickman drives to the rim against Buckland defender Rosaline Hadley Thursday at the Class 1A March Madness state tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Timmy Smithwick protects the ball from Kenai Central's Max Dye on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Soldotna High School.

Kenai soccer squad sweep SoHi

The superlative start to Kenai Central junior Tristan Landry’s career as starting varsity goaltender is no head scratcher once it’s revealed his father David Landry… Continue reading

Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Timmy Smithwick protects the ball from Kenai Central's Max Dye on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Soldotna High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kara (upper left) and Zach Johnston (lower right) of Soldotna descend the upper slopes of snowy Skyline peak on April 8.

Skyline Trail offers early season challenge

A view from the well-traveled Skyline trail on a clear day can be a rewarding sight of the Kenai Peninsula mountains any time of the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Kara (upper left) and Zach Johnston (lower right) of Soldotna descend the upper slopes of snowy Skyline peak on April 8.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Sarah Federle (left) battles for the ball against Nikiski's Molly Cason Tuesday at Soldotna High School.

SoHi soccer teams sweep Nikiski

After a mental breakdown last Friday nearly cost the Soldotna boys soccer team in a 2-1 win over East Anchorage, head coach Darryl Byerley made… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna's Sarah Federle (left) battles for the ball against Nikiski's Molly Cason Tuesday at Soldotna High School.

Baxter steps down, Kennedy steps up into Oilers GM position

Mike Baxter is stepping down as general manager of baseball operations for the Peninsula Oilers, and the organization has found a familiar replacement.Former Oilers player… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna senior Reagan Schoessler looks for the ball against the Colony Knights at last year's state soccer tournament in Anchorage.

Girls soccer season preview: Peninsula looking red and blue

The colors blue and red have taken over the nation in this election year, as the Democratic and Republican candidates fight for America’s vote for… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna senior Reagan Schoessler looks for the ball against the Colony Knights at last year's state soccer tournament in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer goalkeeper Sam Draves stretches out for the save in a regular season matchup Wednesday evening against Kenai Central.

Kenai Central soccer sweeps Homer

Sam Draves was making the saves Wednesday evening at Kenai Central High School. Unfortunately, Draves — the Homer girls soccer goalkeeper — could only keep… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer goalkeeper Sam Draves stretches out for the save in a regular season matchup Wednesday evening against Kenai Central.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna junior Daisy Nelson (728) hands off to Stars teammate Olivia Hutchings (719) in the girls 3,200-meter relay at the Class 4A state meet May 30, 2015. Hutchings and Nelson were joined by seniors Sadie Fox and Dani McCormick to set a new state record in the event.

Season track & field preview: How to restock the talent pool

After nine Alaska high school track and field records were set at the season-ending state meet last May, much of the top talent has been… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Soldotna junior Daisy Nelson (728) hands off to Stars teammate Olivia Hutchings (719) in the girls 3,200-meter relay at the Class 4A state meet May 30, 2015. Hutchings and Nelson were joined by seniors Sadie Fox and Dani McCormick to set a new state record in the event.

Football coach Marquez departs Kenai

With 20 years of coaching experience under his belt, John Marquez has just one championship ring, but it’s a reminder of the team with which… Continue reading

Brown Bears lose in OT to Ice Dogs

Points may not mean anything to the Kenai River Brown Bears as far as the North American Hockey League playoff picture is concerned, but as… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior Hunter Holloway moves in for a layup against Delta Junction in Friday's Class 3A boys state tournament consolation semifinal contest at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Nikiski boys fall to Bethel in 4th-place game

The Nikiski boys basketball team ended their state tournament run about the same their predecessors did. In their first state appearance in 14 years, the… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior Hunter Holloway moves in for a layup against Delta Junction in Friday's Class 3A boys state tournament consolation semifinal contest at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer senior Aurora Waclawski dribbles around Mt. Edgecumbe defender Julie Amaktoolik in Friday's Class 3A girls state semifinal at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Homer girls reach Class 3A championship

The Homer Mariners haven’t seen a girls basketball squad play in a state championship game since 1991, when the Mariners pulled off a three-year string… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer senior Aurora Waclawski dribbles around Mt. Edgecumbe defender Julie Amaktoolik in Friday's Class 3A girls state semifinal at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer sophomore Alissa Cole and senior Aurora Waclawski trap Barrow's Kuutuuq Danner in Saturday's Class 3A state championship final at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Barrow girls top Homer in 3A title game

It had been 25 years since the Homer Mariners had a girls basketball team appear in a state championship game, and a semifinal win Friday… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer sophomore Alissa Cole and senior Aurora Waclawski trap Barrow's Kuutuuq Danner in Saturday's Class 3A state championship final at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Homer senior Aurora Waclawski dribbles around Mt. Edgecumbe defender Julie Amaktoolik in Friday's Class 3A girls state semifinal at the Alaska Airlines

Homer girls stifle Mt. Edgecumbe to earn 3A state final

The Homer Mariners haven't seen a girls basketball squad play in a state championship game since 1991, when the Mariners pulled off a three-year string… Continue reading

Homer senior Aurora Waclawski dribbles around Mt. Edgecumbe defender Julie Amaktoolik in Friday's Class 3A girls state semifinal at the Alaska Airlines
Nikiski senior guard Nathan Carstens drives to the paint against Delta Junction defenders Martese Blankenship (2) and Jean Gonzalez (20) Friday in the Class 3A boys state consolation semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Friday: Nikiski boys beat Delta to advance to 4th-place game

Against a top-seeded state powerhouse Barrow Whalers team on Thursday, the Nikiski boys did everything they could but failed to get what they wanted. Friday… Continue reading

Nikiski senior guard Nathan Carstens drives to the paint against Delta Junction defenders Martese Blankenship (2) and Jean Gonzalez (20) Friday in the Class 3A boys state consolation semifinals at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior Nathan Carstens drives along the baseline against Barrow defender Kekoa Ahgeak in Thursday's Class 3A boys state quarterfinal at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Barrow boys overcome Nikiski’s tough defense

The Nikiski boys pulled out all the stops Thursday in a Class 3A state tournament quarterfinal, but the powerful Barrow Whalers proved to be too… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior Nathan Carstens drives along the baseline against Barrow defender Kekoa Ahgeak in Thursday's Class 3A boys state quarterfinal at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer senior Madison Akers shoots a 3-pointer over Grace Christian defender Hayley Hagen (10) in Thursday's Class 3A girls state tournament quarterfinal round at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Homer girls hold off Grace on 1st day at state

The Homer girls were able to breathe a sigh of relief Thursday at the Alaska Airlines Center following a 45-42 quarterfinal victory over conference rivals… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer senior Madison Akers shoots a 3-pointer over Grace Christian defender Hayley Hagen (10) in Thursday's Class 3A girls state tournament quarterfinal round at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior guard Sam Tauriainen looks for a teammate to pass to while being guarded by Bethel sophomore Clevon Constantine (33) Saturday at the Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament.

Nikiski boys return to March Madness after 14-year hiatus

The last time the Nikiski boys high school basketball team appeared at the Class 3A state tournament, the class of 2016 was in preschool.Hunter Holloway,… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski senior guard Sam Tauriainen looks for a teammate to pass to while being guarded by Bethel sophomore Clevon Constantine (33) Saturday at the Nikiski Tip-Off Tournament.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer senior forward Madison Akers tracks the ball while defending Houston forward Aspen Ruth in Friday's semifinal game at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High School.

Homer girls meet Grace again at 3A state tourney

The same two basketball teams that met in the girls championship game at the Southcentral Conference tournament 12 days ago are ready to do battle… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Homer senior forward Madison Akers tracks the ball while defending Houston forward Aspen Ruth in Friday's semifinal game at the Southcentral Conference tournament at Grace Christian High School.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion The Ninilchik boys celebrate winning the Class 1A state tournament championship Saturday over Nikolaevsk. The title is the first for the Ninilchik boys in school history.

Ninilchik boys top Nikolaevsk for Class 1A state title

Every one of the eight state championship basketball banners that hang in the Ninilchik School gymnasium were earned by the school’s girls squads.Scooch over a… Continue reading

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion The Ninilchik boys celebrate winning the Class 1A state tournament championship Saturday over Nikolaevsk. The title is the first for the Ninilchik boys in school history.