Skiing phenomenon Graham Nishikawa earned another gold medal at the Northwestel Western Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships at Mount McIntyre on Tuesday morning.
It was a tight finish, but Nishikawa came out on top after completing the 15-kilometre race under a sunny sky and balmy temperatures. He won his first gold on Sunday and was competing with the national team.
His younger sister, Emily, collected gold in the junior girls sprint races on Monday.
Team Yukon’s Nansen Murray and Logan Potter battled it out for silver and bronze respectively in a dramatic finish in the Juvenile Boys 7.5-kilometre freestyle.
The women’s races had not finished by press time. Below are the results from Monday’s sprint races.
Junior boys
Gold: Ray Sabo – YT
Silver: Thomsen D’Hont – NWT
Bronze: Georg Jalkotzy – AB
Junior girls
Gold: Emily Nishikawa – YT
Silver: Bryn Knight – YT
Bronz: Amy Glen – AK
Juvenile boys
Gold: David Norris – AK
Silver: Stephen Morson – BC
Bronze: Tristan Flock – BC
Juvenile girls
Gold: Janelle Greer – YT
Silver: Megan Ryan – AK
Bronze: Caitlin Patterson – AK
Midget boys
Gold: Eric Ryan – AK
Silver: Jens Herzog – AB
Bronze: Jeff Wood – YT
Midget girls
Gold: Megan Hall – AB
Silver: Dahria Beatty – YT
Bronze: Samantha Reid – AB
Open men
Gold: Eric Strabel – AK
Silver: Drew Goldsack – AB
Bronze: Ian Murray – NS
Open women
Gold: Perianne Jones – ON
Silver: Tara Witten – AB
Bronze: Sarah Daitch – NWT
Masters men
Gold: Bobby Burton – BC
Silver: Roderick Leighton – BC
Bronze: Scott Fraser – YT
Gymnastics
Eleven Yukon athletes from the Polarettes Gymnastics Club competed in the Twisters Gymnastics Invitational in Abbotsford, BC, over the weekend.
Meghan Rodger earned a bronze medal on the vault and placed fourth all-around in the provincial 3 open category, while Anna Rivard took silver on the bars and finished 8th all-around in the provincial 3 novice category.
Basketball
The Basketball Yukon Championships for Grade 8 and Grade 9/10 were held last weekend.
In the Grade 8 girls, Vanier Catholic Secondary School barely edged FH Collins 26-25 to earn gold. Sheena Greenlaw was top scorer for Vanier with 16 points, while Rachel Tredger had eight points for the losing side. Porter Creek Secondary School took the bronze.
Vanier Catholic took the gold with their 39-35 victory over Porter Creek in the Grade 8 boys final. Logan led Vanier with his 14 points and Tyler Milligan had 11 points for Porter Creek. The Porter Creek black team settled for the bronze.
In the gold medal game for the Grade 9/10 girls, FH Collins took down Vanier Catholic 34-30. Noria Deacon was a powerhouse with her 16 points for the winning side. Porter Creek Rams finished with the bronze.
In the Grade 9/10 boys, FH Collins No. 1 downed Porter Creek 59-53 in the gold-medal game. Dennis Singh proved 21 points for the victorious team. Vanier Catholic No. 1 settled for the bronze.
Soccer
Under 9
(Monday)
Yukon Outfitters 9
Sale Salvage 8
Chris Torgerson scored a hat trick, including the game winner for the outfitters. Brett Nichols was a force to reckon with after netting four goals. Nicholas Dobush and Aidan Uiterwall each booted in a single marker.
David Grove found the back of the net three times for the losing side with Amy Kemshead adding her two. Karn Seaman, Hailey Paterson and Gowan McLean each scored once.
Under 16
(Monday)
Pepsi 10
Alcan 2
Cory Birckel, David Hemmings and Michael Hemmings combined their talents to score two apiece. Paul Profeit, Jessica Williams, Devin Armstrong and Adrian Wheeler each had single goals.
Daniel Staley and Sam Kumar scored for Alcan.
Dave’s Cleaning 10
Pristine Autocare 10
For the cleaning crew, Graeden Ferguson was busy with his five goals, while Tanner Coyne added his hat trick. Kurtis MacKenzie and Katie Pope had singles.
Autocare’s Ester Worthington and Jeremy Johnson both had hat tricks, while Kyle Levia and Courtney Grant added doubles.
Snowboarding
Come out and take advantage of the warm, spring weather during the Yukon Snowboard Championships at Mount Sima on March 25 and 26.
It is open to all athletes age 10 and up.
On Saturday the slope-style event will begin at 1 p.m., while the giant slalom and the half pipe will be held on Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. respectively.
Shrimp off-limits
The Alaska department of Fish and Game has closed sport fishing for shrimp in the Lynn Canal, north of the latitude of Seduction Point until June 30.
The closure affects all non-resident anglers fishing in the Taiya, Lutak, Chilkoot and Chilkat Inlets. The Taiya and Lutak inlets are closed for the rest of the year, while Alaska residents can continue in these areas under subsistence provisions.
Data collected indicates that shrimp stocks in northern Lynn Canal have been in decline for the last four years. These closures are necessary to allow stocks to rebuild.