Utah State University hired a new women’s basketball coach in Jerry Finkbeiner and it didn’t take long for him to recognize the player that provides the team with hustle and muscle. It’s Wasilla’s Jenna Johnson. “He called me the Enforcer,” she told the Herald Journal newspaper. Johnson, a former Alaska player of the year, is… Read more »

If there’s one thing that separates Alaska’s Janay DeLoach from other long jumpers in the world it is her versatility. It started at Eielson High School, where she won a combined seven state titles in the long jump and 100 meters. It continued at Colorado State University, where she earned was an All-American in the… Read more »

Anchorage’s Tabtip Louhabanjong helped the Indiana University of Pennsylvania advance to the second day of the Atlantic Regional opening round of the NCAA D2 Women’s Tennis Championships. IUP beat West Liberty 5-0 in a mercy rule-induced victory. Louhabanjong, of West High fame, teamed with Katie Eaton to net an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles.

For the last 118 years the famed Penn Relays in Philadelphia have spotlighted some of the best runners in the country. Maybe it’s time to add Kodiak’s Trevor Dunbar’s name. The University of Oregon standout turned into a strong third leg in the men’s 4-mile championship relay, giving the Ducks the lead before Princeton rallied… Read more »

Already having qualified for the Big Sky Championships in the two events, Anchorage’s Jacob Kirk today added to the list. The Montana State University sophomore made his mark in the men’s 1,500 meters after a second-place finish in 3:56.41, nearly two seconds faster than his seed time. He helped Montana State beat arch rival Montana… Read more »

Armed with a 96 mph fastball and a wicked breaking ball, Juneau’s Dylan Baker has been nearly unhittable this year. Opposing hitters are batting just .117 against the sophomore righty at Western Nevada College, where he continues to impress head coach DJ Whittemore. Whittemore has had a front-row seat to Baker’s sensational season – 10-0,… Read more »

UFC fighter Cody McKenzie of Cordova is climbing back into the octagon. McKenzie will face UFC newcomer Marcus LeVesseur in Fairfax, Va., on May 12, his first fight in eight months. LeVesseur is 21-5 is his professional MMA career, although this will be his UFC debut. McKenzie, on the other hand, is 12-2 as a… Read more »

With his team facing a must-win situation to keep alive its title hopes in the Italian League, Doron Perkins of Anchorage delivered another strong performance. The starting point guard scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a 76-66 victory over Cimberio Varese. He added 2 assists and 2 steals. Bennet Cantu has gone 8-2… Read more »

Wasilla’s Jenna Johnson, shown here holding Diarra, daughter of Utah State University teammate Banna Diop Guisse, took time away from basketball to give back to her community in the Relay For Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Alaska’s Paige Blackburn continues to climb the Air Force Academy’s all-time list among the school’s greatest discus throwers. The senior tossed a career-best 174 feet, 8 inches at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., to finish seventh among collegiate throwers. She improved her previous PR by more than five feet. Blackburn, of Soldotna… Read more »