Region V tournament brought out the best of student athletes and musicians
- Klas Stolpe
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Photo gallery: 185 images from a packed gym at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
It was a mouthful…the 2026 Alaska Airlines Region V 2A/3A/4A Basketball, Cheer, Dance and Pep Band Tournament. But there was a lot going on, and a mouthful was just a taste of all the goodness that excited fans of, well, basketball, cheer, dance and pep band.
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Activities Director Julie Herman offered a multitude of shoutouts for the four-day tournament that ended Saturday. They included Andrea Petrie (accounting) and Toni DeSanto (activities/attendance) for helping keep the kids in line; Lisa Baker (administrative assistant), Paula Casperson (principal), Nate Creel (principal assistant) and Kelly Stewart (principal assistant) as on-site administrators that helped the tournament run smoothly; and a huge shout out to all the athletic directors and administrators that came from other communities to help the event run smoothly. Included are: Jaime Cabral (Petersburg) for helping with dance adjudication/cheer; Kelly Smith (Ketchikan), Rich Krupa (Sitka), Melissa Ganey (Haines), Ryan Gluth (Mt. Edgecumbe) and Dylan Stemp (Metlakatla). Also noted is JDHS pep band director Brian Van Kirk, who helped coordinate the pep bands.
An estimated 1,200-plus fans attended one or more days of the tournament. That does not include each attending school’s participants, coaches, directors and administrators.
“And a complete, huge shout out to our maintenance and janitorial staff,” Herman said. “They helped keep our facilities up and running and clean throughout, despite the heavy snow. And our coaches and our players who also helped keep the tournament running. And just every JDHS staff member who allowed their classrooms to be used and their facilities and spaces... Just so grateful. This doesn’t work without all the pieces.”
Two special shoutouts were announced during the awards presentations Saturday.
There was a JDHS junior who was speedy as a player and had as much stamina as a cheerleader or dance team member.
JDHS junior Jethro Cano pushed a “broom” at every game, keeping the floor clean and dry, and was a fan favorite. So much so that a new award was presented on Saturday, the “All-In” award that recognizes selfless service and dedication to the region. Cano did that by keeping the athletes safe and the floors clear.
“I am very shocked,” Cano said. “You usually don’t get an award for this or a shoutout from events I help out with…but this was really nice to get noticed for what it said. I like that, but I just love helping my fellow students.”
Also recognized was Sitka Activities Director Rich Krupa for his 25-plus years of school and community service, 33 years in the district, 28 of which are teaching. He is retiring this year.
He has been a substitute, paraprofessional and teacher as well as a coach and official. He has coached high school boys C team and JV, girls JV and varsity basketball, middle school boys seventh and eighth grade basketball, girls sixth grade basketball and middle school softball, and youth basketball and softball. He has officiated basketball, high school soccer and volleyball.
“It was very nice and unexpected,” Krupa said of the recognition. “It has been a lot of fun. The kids keep you young and energized. I had a lot of great teachers as a kid that impacted my life and I was hoping to do the same thing. Life is too short and you never want to grow up too fast. Being around kids helps with that. I have a lot of great memories and made a lot of great friends that I will cherish forever.”
In addition to Krupa, officials at the tournament included Michael Fehr, Mike Ganey, Troy Wingard, Kendrick Payton, Thomas Montgomery, Riley Gass, Matt Jones and Shane Martinez.
The Crimson Bears won the region titles and will be heading to the March Madness Alaska ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Basketball State Championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center on March 18-21.
Joining JDHS will be the Mt. Edgecumbe Braves and Lady Braves, who defeated the Sitka Wolves and Lady Wolves for the Region V 3A titles. Their state tournament runs at the same time and same location as the 4A. And one day earlier — March 17 — the JDHS cheer team and others from around the state will compete at the same venue.
The Haines Glacier Bears won the 2A boys title and the Craig Lady Panthers the 2A girls title. Their state championships begin Wednesday, along with 1A. The Metlakatla Chiefs and Miss Chiefs will also be traveling to the show as the second seed from Southeast.
Following are the upcoming championships at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center:
March 11-14: ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 1A/2A Basketball Championships.
March 17 — ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Cheer State Championship Competition.
March 18-21 — ASAA/First National Bank Alaska 3A/4A Basketball Championships.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
