By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Mt. Edgecumbe High has qualified 16 athletes for the 2019 Native Youth Olympic Games at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center on April 25-27.
The team started practices on March 13 and held tryouts over four days, April 2-5, according to coach Archie Young. They had close to 50 athletes trying out.
“Having tryouts the first week of April gave us two-and-a-half weeks to prepare for the State competition,” Young said. “They have been doing a really good job improving over the last week and a half. As an example, Jack Younger has already improved his Scisor Broad Jump by two-feet four-inches in 10 days. That is phenomenal.”
Mt. Edgecumbe High School’s qualifiers for the Native Youth Olympic Games are, Front Row left-to-right, Ajey Moses (Chevak), and Galen Gologergen (Nome); Middle L-R, Shelby Samuel (Platinum), Brystel Charlie (Kwethluk), Maggie Miller (Nome), Catherine Sunny (Nightmute), Kevyan Greenley (Anchorage), Adeline Dyment (Bethel), Joeli Carlson (Bethel),
and Regan Hoblet (False Pass). Back L-R, Loren Kashotak (Newtok), Jack Youngers (Eagle River), Haley Osborne (Nome), Kaden Gibbens (McGrath), Richard Oxereok (Koyuk), and Murphy Charles (Newtok). The team will compete at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center on April 25-26.(Sentinel Photos by Klas Stolpe)
Among the qualifiers is junior Haley Pisrik William Osborne (Nome), who will compete in the Eskimo Stick Pull. Osborne placed second at the NYO Games in that event as a freshman and took first last year.
Joeli Elise Carlson (Bethel), a junior, will compete in the One Hand Reach. Carlson placed second in that event last season at the NYO Games.
Adeline Louise Dyment (Bethel), a junior, will compete in the Wrist Carry and Seal Hop. Dyment is a returning NYO participant in those events.
Catherine Nancy Sunny (Nightmute), a senior, will compete in the Alaskan High Kick, the Scissor Broad Jump, and the One Foot High Kick. Sunny did not compete at the NYO last year but did as a sophomore.
Regan Jade Hoblet (False Pass), a sophomore, will compete in the Kneel Jump. He is a returning NYO participant in that event.
Shelby Scott Samuel (Platinum), a senior, will compete in the One Hand Reach. Samuel placed fifth in that event at NYO last year.
Kaden Gene Gibbens (McGrath), a senior, will compete in the Indian Stick Pull. Gibbens competed at the NYO two years ago.
Murphy Daniel Charles (Newtok), a junior, will compete in the Kneel Jump and Alaskan High Kick.
Maggie Mae Miller (Nome), a junior, will compete in the Eskimo Stick Pull.
Hugh John Youngers (Eagle River), a freshman, will compete in the Scissor Broad Jump.
Brystel Anesia Charlie (Kwethluk), a senior, will compete in the Two Foot High Kick.
Galen Todd Gologergen (Nome), a junior, will compete in the One Foot High Kick and the Two Foot High Kick.
Matt Justin Hunt (Kotlik), a junior, qualified in the Wrist Carry but is unable to compete.
Richard Oxereok (Koyuk), a junior, will replace Matt Hunt and compete in the Wrist Carry.
Kevyan Anne Greenley (Anchorage), a junior, will compete in the Indian Stick Pull.
Ajey Derek Lee Moses (Chevak), a junior, will compete in the Seal Hop.
Loren Kashotak (Newtok), a sophomore, continues to participate in practice with the team but did not qualify for the games this year.
“NYO is an amazing sport to be a part of,” Young said. “Each event is unique in and of itself. It is a lot of fun to see the athletes competing versus each other and at the same time giving advice or helpful hints to their opponents. NYO competition is the epitome of one athlete trying to best themselves. In the end they would all love to win, or place, but they are all out there trying to set a new personal record. The team has good positive energy everyday, we are really looking forward to seeing how we do next week at State.”
