Valley athletes strike gold at state NYO junior games

WASILLA — Fifty-seven medals. Fourteen gold.

Not a bad weekend for the Mat-Su Valley during the Native Youth Olympics Junior Games last weekend at the Wells Fargo Center in Anchorage.

“It was great. The Mat-Su represented really well,” Mat-Su NYO Coordinator Jared Barrett said earlier this week.

About 200 young athletes, grades first through sixth, from a dozen different schools across the Valley competed at the three-day meet in Anchorage.

Machetanz Elementary led the Valley with 18 medals and three first-place finishes.

“Machatanz has one of the biggest groups in the state. Christa Hayes does a great job,” Barrett said of the Machetanz program and physical education teacher.

Hayden Caldera (arm pull), Doug Ezell (wrist carry) and Ashlyn Sereyko (wrist carry) each finished first for Machetanz.

Larson Elementary boasted 11 medals and three first-place finishes. Kayden Markamson and Hunter Belliston both finished first in the seal hop, and Daisy VanBlarcom was first in the two foot high kick.

Teeland Middle School’s Deshawn Campbell led the Valley with a trio of first-place finishes. Campbell struck gold in the Alaska high kick, one foot high kick and scissor broad jump.

Meadow Lakes’ Jimmy Lackey (arm pull), Goose Bay’s Ella Richardson (kneel jump), Big Lake’s Noah Whitted (two foot high kick), Fronteras Charter’s Joseph Losik (kneel jump) and Wasilla Middle’s Elain Anawrok (Alaska high kick) all finished first.

Barrett said he continues to see great participation in NYO throughout the Valley.

“It’s the support of the (school) district,” Barrett said. “More people are supporting it across the district. A lot of elementary teachers are putting it in the curriculum.”

Barrett said the time and effort put in by NYO coaches across the Valley has also been key.

“I’m really proud of the coaches, how hard the coaches work,” Barrett said.

Barrett and Valley NYO organizers are now looking ahead to the senior level, which includes the high school age group. The senior regional meet is slated for April 14-15 at Houston Middle School and the state meet is April 27-29 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

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

Native Youth Olympics Junior Games

Feb. 24-26, Anchorage

Valley results

Big Lake Elementary:

Two foot high kick — Noah Whitted, first.

Colony Middle School:

Sixth grade one foot high kick — Brianna Tira, third.

Fronteras Charter:

One foot high kick — Xander Backus, fifth; Alaskan high kick — Xander Backus, second; Scissor kick — Hanna Miles, third; Arm pull — Audrie Fisher, fourth; Stick pull — Rianna Rowe, fifth; Seal hop — Joseph Losik, fourth; Triton Fisher, fifth; Kneel jump — Joseph Losik, first.

Goose Bay Elementary:

Kneel jump — Ella Richardson, first; Kneel jump — Landon Livingston, second; Eskimo stick pull — Kaesen Gauthier, fifth; Seal hop — Leland McAuliff, second.

Houston Middle School:

Fourth grade Alaskan high kick — Eli Caulkins, fourth.

Knik Elementary:

Wrist carry — Brooklyn Mocan, third; Arm pull — Madison Conn, fifth; Two foot high kick — Anareese Carroll, fifth.

Larson Elementary:

Scissor broad jump — Logan Parker, third; Arm pull — Layla Hays, second; Two foot high kick — Daisy VanBlarcom, first; Asthena Johnson, second; Kneel jump — Kailey Dixon, third; John Bennis, third; Hunter Belliston, fifth; Eskimo stick pull — Trenton Matthews, second; Seal hop — Kayden Makamson, first; Kailey Dixon, third; John Bennis, third.

Machetanz Elementary:

Alaska high kick — Caila Thompson, second; Nolan Gallagher, third; One foot high kick — Caila Thompson, second; Scissor broad jump — Caila Thompson, second; Two foot high kick — Hayden Pead, second; Nia Wesley, third; Arm pull — Hayden Caldera, first; Wrist carry — Ashlyn Sereyko, first; Doug Ezell, first; Caleb Doerr, second; Ocelia Bell, second; Hayden Pead, third; Maci Blackman, fourth; Kneel jump — Keilee Gresham, second; Claire Wallstrom, fourth; Stick pull — Hailey Larson, fourth; Seal hop — Claire Wallstrom, second; Katelynn Santiago, fifth.

Meadow Lakes Elementary:

Fourth grade arm pull — Jimmy Lackey, first.

Pioneer Peak Elementary:

One foot high kick — Mya Campbell, fifth; Wrist carry — Kent Rhinehard, fifth.

Teeland Middle School:

Alaska high kick — Deshawn Campbell, first; One foot high kick — Deshawn Campbell, first; Scissor broad jump — Deshawn Campbell, first; Jayden Rice, fifth.

Wasilla Middle School:

Alaskan high kick — Elaina Anawrok, first.