Defending world champ scores 4 titles at Mat-Su NYO meet

WASILLA — Four Valley athletes defended their region title, but a newcomer to the meet stole the show.

Palmer High School senior Madi Ko, a defending world champion, captured four titles and helped the Moose earn the team title during the Mat-Su Regionals Native Youth Olympics meet April 14 at Houston Middle School.

Ko — who shattered the NYO state and world record in the scissor broad jump during the state games last year — finished first in the Alaska High kick, 2 foot high kick, 1 foot high kick and scissor broad jump at the Mat-Su region meet. The first-year Palmer High athlete competed in the meet for the first time. Last year, Ko was with the Fairbanks-based Tanana Chiefs.

“She’s a tremendous athlete,” Mat-Su NYO coordinator Jared Barrett said. “He’s an incredible addition to the team. “

Ko is one of nearly 50 Mat-Su athletes who will make the trip with Barrett , Mat-Su’s A and B team head coach, to the NYO State Games, slated for April 27-29 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Ko earned four spots on Mat-Su’s A team, with her four wins. The runner-up in each event also qualifed as a member of the Mat-Su B team. Barrett said the Knik Tribal Council is once again sponsoring a team, and will include about 18 athletes. Ko is the defending state champion in the one foot high kick, two foot high kick and scissor broad jump. Ko hit a mark of 29 feet, 6.25 inches in the scissor broad jump last year to break the state and world record. The prior mark of 28-9.25 was set by Anjelica Whitley in 2005.

Houston High School’s Ashley Hoglund will also enter the games as a defending state champ. She won the state title in the Eskimo stick pull last year. Hoglund is also one of four Valley athletes who earned a region title in an event for the second straight year. Burchell’s Sean Stikagyugak (boys’ seal hop), Colony’s Kaiden Jimenez (boys’ one foot high kick) and Palmer’s Tim Meyer (boys’ kneel jump) also scored repeat victories.

Palmer edged Wasilla by just a point in the team standings, finishing with 34 overall. Ko was one of a pair of Moose athletes to win multiple events. Jenni Klebesadel finished first in both the girls’ one hand reach and seal hop. Matt Grother, a runner-up last year, finished first in the boys’ Eskimo stick pull.

Runner-up Wasilla crowned four champs, and finished with 33 total points in the standings. Jake Smith was a multiple winner, finishing first in both the boys’ one hand reach and Alaska high kick. Noah Brown (boys’ two foot high kick), Mark Donton (boys’ wrist carry) and Samantha Derr (girls’ Indian stick pull) all recorded first-place finishes.

Jimenez led Colony with two wins. In addition to his repeat in the one foot high kick, he also finished first in the scissor broad jump. Mia Weill led Colony middle with a win in the wrist carry. Alex Clark scored a victory in the Indian stick pull for Mat-Su Career and Technical School.

Barrett said he continues to see solid growth in the interest in NYO and success among local athletes. He said federal programs help ensure the ability to continue to maintain NYO in the Valley. Barrett estimates about 600 local students currently active in NYO when students at the elementary, middle and high school levels are taken into account.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

2017 Mat-Su Regionals

April 14, Houston High School

Team results:

1. Palmer 34; 2. Wasilla 33; 3. Colony 30.

Boys’ individual results:

1 hand reach — 1. Jake Smith, Was, 62 inches; 2. Tim Meyer, Pal, 58 (0 misses); 3. S. Sikavayugak, Was 58 (2 misses); Alaska high kick — 1. Jake Smith, Was 84; 2. Kaiden Jimenez, Col 74 (2 misses); 3. Russell Carlson, Col 74 (3 misses); Kneel jump — 1. Tim Meyer, Pal 51.25; 2. Zachary Groshong, Bur 47.25; 3. Ruzzell Carlson, Col 46.25; 2 foot high kick — 1. Noah Brown, Was 90; 2. Kaiden Jimenez, Col 86 3. Jake Smith, Was 82; Wrist carry — 1. Mark Donton, Was 489-3.5; 2. Raymond Lamont, Was 384-4.5; 3. Noah Brown, Was 349-0.5; Scissor broad jump — 1. Kaiden Jimenez, Col 34-3.5; 2. Jacob Smith, Was 29-2; 3. Nathan Shanigan, Was 28; Eskimo stick pull — 1. Matt Grother, Pal; 2. TJ Laumatia, Red; 3. Alex Clark, CT; Indian stick pull — 1. Alex Clark, CT; 2. Illire Demientieff, Pal; 3. Nathan Shanigan, Was; 1 foot high kick — 1. Kaiden Kiminez, Col 106; 2. Jacob Smith, Was 102; 3. Noah Brown, Was 96; Seal hop — 1. Sean Sikagyugak, Bur 88-7.5; 2. Illire Demientieff, Pal 84; 3. Anthony Wikkhelm, Col 78-3;

Girls’ individual results:

1 hand reach — 1. Jenni Kibesadel, Pal 51 (1 miss); 2. Jessica Lindsey, Was 51 (2 misses); 3. Camille Bernard, Col 50; Alaska high kick — 1 Madi Ko, Pal 65; 2. Camille Bernard, Col 64; 3. Aislyn Tira, Col 60; Kneel jump — 1. Camille Bernard, Col 26.5; 2. Jasmine Nichols, Hou 36.15; 3. Tezlyn Kellone, WMS 33.5; 2 foot high kick — 1. Madi Ko, Pla 70; 2. Andrea Apthorp, Hou 66; 3. Jenni Kiebesadel, Pal 62; Wrist carry — 1. Mia Weiss, CMS 290-11.5; 2. Jenni Klebesadel, Pal 232-7; 3. Erin Staricha, Pal 208; Scissor broad jump — 1. Madi Ko, Pal 28-5; 2. Aislyn Tira, Col 26.25; 3. Lacey Holmes, Hou 24-9; Eskimo stick pull — 1. Ashley Hoglund, Hou; 2. Madison Ortega, Col; 3. Cloi Shira, TMS: Indian stick pull — 1. Sam Derr, Was; 2. Mikayla Peterson, VPS; 3. Tezlyn Kerrone, WMS; 1 foot high kick — 1. Madi Ko, Pal 85; 2. Andrea Apthorp, HMS 80; 2. Camille Bernard, Col; Seal hop — 1 Jenni Klebesadel, Pal 112-1.75; 2. Lacey Holmes, Hou 88-4.5; 3. Samantha Derr, Was 85-9.25.