Coupeville Sports

No retreat. No surrender.

There has been a lot of discussion in the past months about whether Coupeville High School can be competitive in the Cascade Conference.

Every sport is different, and it’s certainly true that a football team can take far more physical punishment when an undermanned team comprised largely of freshmen and sophomores finds itself facing large squads dominated by juniors and seniors who have been hitting the weight room for several years. Injuries happen, and, as we saw last season, a chain reaction can be set off with no end in sight.

Taking that into consideration, I still see no reason why Coupeville can’t be competitive in ANY sport it plays. We have had a state champion little league team come from this town recently and the Wolves have a long tradition of success, even if it’s not always as openly celebrated as what you see at other schools.

Natasha Bamberger and the King boys (Kyle and Tyler) won multiple state titles as runners. There was a time period when the Wolf girls’ basketball team went to state every year behind the play of players such as Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby, Tina Lyness, Brianne King and the Black ‘n Blue sisters (Lexie and Brittany Black).

What did those athletes share in common? They didn’t back down, regardless of the competition.

Every athlete and coach in town should listen to the words of CHS volleyball coach Toni Crebbin. Her teams are consistent, they are competitive, they are successful and they represent the red and black as well as any squad.

It’s true. I was baiting her a bit when I asked her why her teams succeeded year-in and year-out against the cream of the conference seemingly against the odds. As usual, though, she was too smart for me, and declined to say anything juicy and controversial that I could have turned into a mini-scandal.

She’s very good at her job, and the reasons are reflected in what she had to say.

A big help would definitely have to be consistency in coaches and expectations. I am going into my 20th year of coaching volleyball here at CHS, so being consistent in my expectations and in treating athletes with respect year after year, the girls come in knowing to bring their best every day.

The older students really do a great job at holding the younger students accountable, and are great at modeling “team.”

For example, just today we were doing a conditioning drill that some of the younger students were struggling with accomplishing. Instead of watching them struggle and/or standing around talking to teammates who were finished, the older girls ran over to encourage their teammates, and even finished the drill a second time so that the other kids don’t feel alone.

Did I tell them to do that? No, but they know my expectations of everyone finishing strong, and the team only being as strong as the weakest player. I love seeing the girls living this out!

We always strive to better ourselves, which every player can do, no matter what their skill level is. We don’t back down to being challenged, and believe that every night we play, no matter win or lose, we can have a successful night.