500 Alaska students
test strength, skill in 2014 Native Youth Olympics
The entryway of the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center was
packed Thursday afternoon. More than 500 student athletes from across
Alaska had gathered, some dressed in matching T-shirts and colorful
kuspuks, to represent their heritage, communities, regions and schools
at the Native Youth Olympics.
Magdaline Kapatak stood in the middle of a group of her classmates
from Koliganek School in Dillingham, awaiting their turn to strut
their stuff in front of peers, parents and an audience of supporters.
Kapatak has been going to Anchorage to compete in the annual
spring games since the eighth grade. This year, she is competing
in multiple events, including the kneel jump, Alaska high kick,
seal hop and two-foot high kick.
'"I would have to say my favorite is the Alaska high kick,'"
said Kapatak, smiling. '"There is just something about it, and it's
a family thing. A lot of my family competed in it, like my brother
and my sister. They came here often and placed.'"
She said the trick to success is inner and mental strength,
along with a lot of hard work. '"For students competing for the
first time, there isn't pressure yet to win or place, just have
fun.'"
Before
long, the line full of students was moving. The audience cheered
as they were introduced. Some smiled, others blushed and a couple
of them raised their hands above their heads and hollered.
Hundreds of students from seventh to 12th grade sat on the floor
and waited for the long list of speeches to begin. Elders, Native
corporation leaders and sponsors worked to inspire and encourage
the young athletes by preaching a set of key core values: self-respect,
respect towards others, healthy choices and honoring traditions.
The 2014 Native Youth Olympics took place April 24-26, 2014, at
the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage.
Autumn Ridley left the three-day Native Youth Olympics with
plenty of hardware.
She finished first in four events and set two world records
and had a pair of third-place performances Thursday through
Saturday at the Dena'ina Center.
Ridley set world records in the Alaskan high kick (6 feet, 11
inches) on Thursday and the two-foot high kick (6 feet, 7 inches)
on Friday. She also won the one-foot high kick and tied for first
in the one-hand reach.
Ridley finished third in kneel jump and toe kick.
A boys world record was also set when Steven Ugale broke his
own record in the toe kick with a leap of 8 feet, 3 inches Friday.
Kneel jump
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Apaay Cambell, BSSD, 53.25" |
1) Dylan Magnusen, Unalaska, 66.5" |
2) Jordan Kashatok, LKSD, 50" |
2) Evan George, LKSD, 57.75" |
3) Autumn Ridley, ANC A, 49" |
3) Jose Casados III, West Valley, 56.5" |
4) Kendall Dray, Dillingham, 42.75" |
4) Forest Strick, Mat Su A, 56" |
5) Sophie Poe, Bethel, 42.25" |
5) Brandon Van Hatten, Lathrop, 53" |
Wrist carry
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Wynne Kaganak, LYSD, 298' 7.5" |
1) Joshua Hughes, Mat Su A 730' 6" (state
record) |
2) Shoney Ridderbush, Valdez, 293' 2.5" |
2) Jacob NcNaulty, Mat Su B, 581' 9" |
3) Keylene Cathy Esnardo, Unalaska, 276' 7.5" |
3) Sam Swenning, Nanwalek, 532' 8.5" |
4) Morelle Kinne, Mat Su B, 250' 11.5" |
4) Danny Miller, Dillingham, 467' 7.75" |
5) Leah Dementieff, LKSD, 245' 11" |
5) Matthew Morgan, Aniak, 456' 9" |
Alaskan high kick
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Autumn Ridley, ANC A, 83" (world
record) |
1) Archie Andrews, Galena, 90" 0 misses |
2) Annmarie Paul, LKSD, 79" |
2) Scott Charlie LKSD, 87" 0 misses |
3) Jayde Stoffa, ANC B, 68" 0 misses |
3) Evan Dyment Bethel, 87" 1 miss |
4) Teyah Clark, Mat Su A, 68" 1 miss |
4) Nick Devans Valdez, 86" 0 misses |
5) Kendall Dray, Dillingham, 68" 2 misses |
4) Daniel Adams Mat Su A, 86" 0 misses |
Eskimo stick pull
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Sarah Schroeder, Dillingham |
1) Lloyd Letover, LPSD |
2) Cynthia Drayton, Unalaska |
2) Ravel Sanford, Effie Kokrine |
3) Ashley Hogland, Mat Su A |
3) Josh Russell, Aniak |
4) Taryn White, Mt. Edgecumbe |
4) Leonard Lampee Jr., Trapper School |
5) Kelsea Wasillie, LPSD |
5) Eric Hartman, at Su A |
Toe kick
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Jonisha Wilson, BSSD, 64" |
1) Steven Ugale, Unalaska, 99" (world
record) |
2) Sydney Dray, Dillingham, 60" 0 misses |
2) Cameron Okbaok, BSSD, 94" |
3) Autumn Ridley, ANC B, 60" 3 misses |
3) Kevin Horton, Mat Su A, 90" 0 misses |
4) Daisy Billy, LKSD, 58" 0 misses |
4) Makiyah Ivanoff, Mt Edgecumbe, 90" 1miss |
5) Hailey O'Brien, Bethel, 58" 0 misses |
5) Forest Strick, Mat Su B, 88" 2 misses |
One-hand reach
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Brittany Akaran, Mt. Edgecumbe, 58" 1 miss |
1) Ryan Baker, ANC B, 63" |
1) Autumn Ridley, ANC A, 58" 1 miss |
1) Timothy Ukatish, Nanwalek, 63" |
3) Cassie Katchatag, ANC B, 54" 0 misses |
3) Moses Peter, LKSD, 63" 1 miss |
3) Deenaalee Hogdon, West Valley, 54" 0 misses |
4) Daniel Adams, Mat Su A, 62" 1 miss/62" |
5) Tara Agwiak, Nenana, 54" 1 miss |
5) Alec Bonn, ANC A 62", 1 miss/58" |
Two-foot high kick
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Autumn Ridley, ANC A, 79" (world
record) |
1) Dylan Magnusen, Unalaska, 90" |
2) Madeline Ko, West Valley, 76" |
2) Ray Egoak, LKSD, 88" 1 miss |
3) Victoria Treder, ANC B, 70" 2 misses/68" |
3) Kristopher Kompkoff, Tatitlek, 88" 2 misses |
4) Sydney Dray, Dillingham, 70" 2 misses/66" |
4) Andrew Kashevarof A NC A, 88" 4 misses |
5) Shoney Ridderbush, Valdez, 68" |
5) Makiyan Ivanoff, Mt. Edgecumbe, 88' 5 misses |
Indian stick pull
Girls
|
Boys
|
1) Summer Ulroan, Chevak |
1) Charlie Ningeulook, BSSD |
2) Mercy Alsworth LPSD |
2) Jo Bukowski Chevak |
3) Tatiana Ticknor ANC A |
3) Forest Strick, Mat Su A |
4) Alita George Yupiit |
4) Dominic Greene, LYSD |
5) Debra Hersrud BSSD |
5) Kayne Hart, Andreafski |
One-foot high kick
Girls |
Boys |
1) Autumn Ridley, ANC A, 91' |
1) Makiyan Ivanoff, Mt. Edgecumbe 107" |
2) Madeline Ko, West Valley, 90" |
2) Steven Ugale, Unalaska 106" |
3) Drew Carlos, Dillingham, 82" 0 misses |
3) William Cholok, LYSD, 104" 2 misses/100" |
3) Julianne Wilson, Kenaitze, 82" 0 misses |
4) Cameron Okbaok, BSSD, 104" 3 misses/102" |
4) Lucy Post, LKSD, 82" 1 miss/82" |
5) Will Byrd, Mat Su A, 104" 3 misses/100" |
5) Samantha Ishnook, SWRSD, 82" 1 miss/78" |
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