Starla and Wilfred Agoney were busy coaching the spirited Native Youth Olympics "Team Ketchikan" on the afternoon of Jan. 25 in the Houghtaling Elementary School gymnasium.
The Ketchikan Native Youth Olympics team has been growing.
When the team first formed in Ketchikan three years ago, only three students signed up. The next year, Ketchikan s NYO team grew to an estimated 10 or 13 participants.
And this year, the team has swelled to nearly 20 middle and high school students who are training to compete in a variety of traditional games at a regional competition set to be held in May in Ketchikan.
Ketchikan s NYO team head coach, Starla Agoney, recently spoke with the Daily News and explained the origin of the tradition. It just really encompasses cultural values with being able to respect each other, respect ourselves, (and) being able to change a mindset, like a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, Agoney explained.