Of thirteen titles awarded Tuesday in Individual Freestyle Wrestling, Team Alaska took 11 Golds and 2 Silvers. See photos below the Alaska singlets feature two large brown bears wresting on the front.  They were designed by coach Steven Wolfe of Homer and are highly sought after by the other athletes.

For complete event results click here

The Alaska J3 (Midget in AWG parlance) skiers took five of six available medals and led a strong Alaska showing on the sprint course.  Thomas O'hara of Anchorage won the the Gold Ulu (his second gold in tow days) in the 500m.  Alaska teamates Jake Bassett took the Bronze Ulu and Michael Wise finished fifth.

Thomas O'Hara said this was his first time competing outside of Alaska.  "The Arctic Winter Games are really fun.  Its nice to meet people from other countries.  Its a great experience."

Alaska's Midget Women owned the podium in their 500m Sprint.  Lydia Blanchet won the Gold Ulu while teamates Janey Hoefler took the Silver, and Sarrisa Lammers captured the Bronze.

Cross country sprints make for an exciting day of racing and this short 500m course and fast, icy conditions added to the speed.  The 500m course had a tricky 180 corner about 150m into the course, but our athletes negotiated this fast, tricky corner smoothly.

Junior Skier Jasmine Clock of Soldotna said the Wapiti Nordic Ski Trails, "Are nice and (while it has tricky corners and is icy, its) not as scary as Homer."  Kimberley Del Frate of Palmer added, "We saw a deer out on the trail - that was cool."

See photos below

For complete Event Results see the Arctic Winter Games Host Society web site

Anchorage's MacKenzie "Sparky" Rae Kesler of Anchorage, tricked her way to a Gold Ulu in the Juvenile Womens' Slope Style event Monday at the Nitehawk Downhill venue.  Raven Malone threw a sweet Nose Grab in her final run for fourth place.

Ski Biathlon

Ray Wonders of Anchorage captures the Gold Ulu in the Junior Mens' 7.5km Individual Ski Biathlon competition.  Wonder says he was "Really pleased with his performance.  I had heard the Russians were very good and tough to beat."  The Russians proved excellent competitors, but Wonders came out on top. Wonder's sister Mackenzie won a Silver in the Snowshoe Biathlon and his brother Hunter won a Bronze in the Snowshoe Biathlon (see below) - for three Ulus for this family of skilled marksmen today!

Competitors skied five laps of the course for a total of 7.5km.  Between each 1.5km lap they shot targets in the range alternating prone and standing positions.  Team Alaska's Emerson Congers of Nome took forth place.