Machetanz wins Junior NYO meet

WASILLA — Five different athletes notched first-place finishes to help Machetanz Elementary win the Mat-Su Junior Native Youth Olympics Regional Meet Saturday at Houston Middle School.

Caila Thompson captured gold in a pair of events to help Machetanz finish with a meet-high 40 points in the team standings. Thompson was first in both the girls’ 1 foot high kick and scissor broad jump. Hayden Pead (boys’ 2 foot high kick), Emily Meicha (girls’ arm pull), Ashylnn Seryko (girls’ wrist carry) and Doug Ezell (boys’ wrist carry) also won events for Machetanz.

Hunter Belliston finished first in both the boys’ kneel jump and seal hop to help Larson Elementary finish second overall. Teeland Middle’s Deshawn Campbell led all athletes with three wins, finishing first in the boys’ Alaska high kick, 1 foot high kick and scissor broad jump.

A total of 350 athletes from across the Mat-Su Borough School District competed in the event, according to event director Jared Barrett. He said there has been significant growth since Barrett and his fellow organizers began hosting the meet four years ago. In the first year there were about 100 athletes in the competition.

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

Mat-Su JNYO Regional Meet

Saturday, Houston Middle School

Team scores:

1. Machetanz Elementary 40; 2. Larson Elementary 23; 3. Fronteras 14; 4. Teeland Middle 10; 5. Tanaina Elementary 6; 5. (tie) Meadown Lakes 6; 7. Wasilla Middle 5; 8. Knik Elementary 2; 8. (tie) Pioneer Peak Elementary 2; 8. (tie) Colony Middle 2; 11. Palmer Junior 1.

Individual results:

Boys’ Alaska High kick — 1. Deshawn Campbell, Teeland, 68 inches; 2. Xander Backus, Fronteras, 60; 3. Nolan Gallagher, Machetanz, 58.

Girls Alaska High kick — 1. Elaina Anwrok, Wasilla Middle, 56 inches; 2. Caila Thompson, Machetanz, 52; 3. Jessica Anvil, Palmer Junior, 52.

Boys kneel jump — 1. Hunter Bellison, Larson, 21.75 inches; 2. Carl Van Blarcom, Larson, 21.5; 3. Traeton Adams, Machetanz, 19.

Girls kneel jump — 1. Kailey Dixon, Larson, 20.5 inches; 2. Claire Wallstrom, Machetanz, 19.5; 3. Makena Sonnets, Fronteras, 17.5.

Boys’ 2 foot high kick — 1. Hayden Pead, Machetanz, 55 inches; 2. Roanin Wear, Fronteras, 51; 3. Eli Engle, Machetanz, 50.

Girls’ 2 foot high kick — 1. Athena Johnson, Tanaina, 59 inches; 2. Nia Wesley, Machetanz, 51; 3. Daisy Vanblarcom, Larsson, 44.

Boys’ Eskimo stick pull — 1. Trenton Matthew, Larson; 2. Tyler Nielson, Fronteras; 3. Brayden Sparrs, Machetanz.

Girls’ Eskimo stick pull — 1. Rianna Rowe, Fronteras; 2. Bristol Murri, Machetanz; 3. Hailey Larson, Machetanz.

Boys’ wrist carry — 1. Doug Ezell, Machetanz, 34.21; 2. Hayden Pead, Machetanz, 30.20; 3. Caleb Doerr, Machetanz, 26.83.

Girls’ wrist carry — 1. Ashlynn Seryko, Machetanz, 42.81; 2. Brooklyn Mocan, Knik, 27.59; 3. Maci Mills, Machetanz, 23.59.

Boys’ 1 foot high kick — 1. Deshawn, Campbell, Teeland Middle, 83 inches; 2. Jaivali Burphy, Wasilla Middle, 73; 3. Myles Campbell, Pioneer Peak, 72.

Girls’ 1 foot high kick — 1. Caila Thompson, Machetanz, 78 inches; 2. Briana Tira, Colony Middle; 3. Mya Campbell, Pioneer Peak, 68.

Boys’ scissor broad jump — 1. Deshawn Campbell, Teeland Middle, 24 feet, 8 inches; 2. Logan Parker, Larson, 24-6; 3. Jade Rice, Teeland Middle; 22-5.

Girls’ scissor broad jump — 1. Calia Thompson, Machetanz, 23 feet, 5 inches; 2. Hana Miles, Fronteras, 22-7; 3. Sydney Davis, Fronteras, 22.

Boys’ arm pull — 1. Jimmy Lachey, Meadow Lakes; 2. Noah Daughtry, Meadow Lakes; 3. Ryan Mikkelson, Meadown Lakes.

Girls’ arm pull — 1. Emily Meicha, Machetanz; 2. Aayden Caldera, Machetanz; 3. Layla Hayes, Larson.

Boys’ seal hop — 1. Hunter Bellaston, Larson, 106 feet, 8 inches; 2. Brayden Sparrs, Machetanz, 69-10; 3. Jospeh Losik, Fronteras, 66.

Girls seal hop — 1. Kayden Malcomson, Larson, 63-11; 2. Kailey Dixon, Larson, 62-5; 3. Claire Wallstrom, Machetanz, 54-9.