The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District sent 20 students between two teams to the Senior Native Youth Olympics (NYO), hosted by the Cook Inlet Tribal Council in Anchorage from April 24-26.
The Interior A team was made up of athletes who placed first in their events at the regional meet, and the Interior B team was made up of second-place athletes. The Interior A team had six athletes earn medals between eight events, which is the highest number of medal winners that Interior teams have had in one year. There were over 450 athletes from 54 communities across the state competing in the 11 NYO events and at least 50 for most events.
Hutchison senior Lily Ann Reece earned the Louise Leonard Healthy Athlete Award, which was established in 2023 to honor the legacy of Louise Leonard, whose dedication to first aid and the health and well-being of athletes has been an inspiring beacon in the NYO Games community.
Listed below are the Interior athletes who earned top-five placements.
MyricaGale Meierotto (11th grade): 5th Place Toe Kick — 50 inches
Isabel Dosch (9th grade) and her carriers Camylle Hull (9th grade) and Calli Bundschuh (9th grade): 3rd Place Wrist Carry — 202 feet, 3 inches
Devin Cooper-Jackson (12th grade): 2nd Place Scissor Broad Jump — 36 feet, 1.5 inches; 3rd Place (tie) One-Foot High Kick — 106 inches
Davin Malzahn (11th Grade): 5th Place Boys Kneel Jump — 56.5 inches
Caden Dixon (11th Grade): 5th Place Scissor Broad Jump — 33 feet, 11.75 inches; 5th Place Toe Kick — 60 inches
Andre Eustache (11th Grade): 4th Place Seal Hop — 94 feet
Wayne Horine is the head coach for Native Youth Olympics at Effie Kokrine Charter School. You can contact him at wayne.horine@k12northstar.org.
