Local elementary athletes win JYNO gold

WASILLA — Young Mat-Su athletes hauled nearly a dozen gold medals during the Junior Native Youth Olympics statewide games in Anchorage late last month.

Local athletes from area elementary schools combined to win 11 of the games’ 16 events. Machetanz Elementary’s Deshawn Campbell and Meadow Lakes Elementary’s Macy Buskirk each won a pair of events during the games.

Campbell finished first in both the boys’ kneel jump and the boys’ Eskimo stick pull. Buskirk held the top mark in the girls’ one foot high kick and scissor broad jump.

Machetanz led the Valley with five champions. Daylen Sandidge (boys’ arm pull), Josie Schachle (girls’ wrist carry), Kaden Ketchum (boys’ two foot high kick) and Hunter Hayes (boys’ Alaskan high kick) each represented Machetanz with a victory.

Meadow Lakes featured three individual champions. Abby Burke (girls’ two foot high kick) and Kaydence Rifredi (girls’ kneel jump) also finished first for Meadow Lakes.

Kasey Thompson led Fronteras with a victory in the girls’ Eskimo stick pull.

This was the final event of the JYNO season, but there are a handful of Native Youth Olympics events on the schedule.

The Valley’s district NYO meet is slated for March 23 at Colony Middle School, and the regional meet is April 12-13 at Houston Middle School.

The state competition is scheduled for Apri 25-27 at the Denaina Center in Anchorage.

Girls kneel jump:

1. K. Rifredit, ML 23.25; 2. M. Hausell, ANCCS 21.25; 3. U. Dale, McG 19.5; 4. C. Artola, ML 18.5; 5. E. Paulson, Bow 17.5.

Boys kneel jump:

1. D. Campbell, Mac 26.25; 2. J. Jackson, LO 21.25; 3. B. Wick, Rav 20.75; 4. R. Douthit, FL 19.5; 5. R. Bennett, Chu 16.75.

Girls Eskimo stick pull:

1. K. Thompson, Fro; 2. L. Graham, ML; 3. B. Tira, Mac; 4. M. Egenmayer, Oce; 5. B. Brubaker, Mac.

Boys Eskimo stick pull:

1. D. Campbell, Mac; 2. T. Ennes, ML; 3. T. Yingst, ML; 4. I. Lucas, ML; 5. K. McLaughlin, Mac.

Girls arm pull:

1. P. Matauta, Mul; 2. L. Hyce, Mac; 3. I. Tira, Mac; 4. C. Lahtz, Gir; 5. J. Davis, FL.

Boys arm pull:

1. D. Sandidge, Mac; 2. E. Murray, Rav; 3. T. Whithead, Mac; 4. L. Manogiamgav, Mul; 5. D. Ivanoff, CO.

Girls wrist carry:

1. J. Schachle, Mac 72-10.75; 2. M. Weiss, Mac 67-7.5; 3. S. Wilson, Ken 61-3; 4. K. Hurd, RC 56-7; 5. A. Marsh, Lar 25-6.

Boys wrist carry:

1. C. Bridges, Gir 96-10; 2. C. Schachle, Mac 50-2.75; 3. D. Borton, Birc 46-1; 4. E. Baker, Birch 37-5.75; 5. C. Hahn, Knik 35-10.

Girls two foot high kick:

1. A. Burke, ML 52; 2. A. Labrum, Alp 48; 3. K. Hurd, RC 48; 4. A. Adams, Mac 46; 5. I. Kell, Ya 42.

Boys two foot high kick:

1. K. Ketchum, Mac 59; 2. C. Schachle, Mac 58; 3. C. Gardner, Dill 56; 4. T. Cronin, Sew 52; 5. B. Whitehead, Mac 50.

Alaskan high kick:

1. H. Boor, Sew 58; 2. J. Kernak, Aya 56; 3. J. Stewart, GJ 56; 4. G. Johnson, GJ 54; 5. K. Good, Mac 53.

Boys Alaska high kick:

1. H. Hayes, Mac 59; 2. M. Coleman, RC 58; 3. L. Taylor, BL 56; 4. M. Rich, Ken 56; 5. J. Segura III, Ken 54.

Girls one foot high kick:

1. M. Buskirk, ML 77; 2. A. McEwen, Bow 69; 3. C. Dilley, Fro 69; 4. A. Ayagalria, Aya 68; 5. D. Jackson, Aya 68.

Boys one foot high kick:

1. R. Anderson, Nin 80; 2. J. Etienza, Alp 79; 3. M. Rich, Ken 78; 4. D. Brown, Gil 68; 5. B. Hudson, ML 68.

Girls scissor broad jump:

1. M. Buskirk, ML 22-7; 2. K. Spencer, Alp 22; 3. A. Taloff, Sew 21-11.25; 4. M. Bang, Fro 21-8.5; 5. J. Chanorto, CO 21-6.75.

Boys scissor broad jump:

1. J. Etienza, Alp 24-5; 2. M. Rich, Ken 23-8; 3. R. Anderson, Nin 23-0.25; 4. S. Wright, Mac 22-10; 5. N. Redmond, CO 22-6.