Coupeville Sports

Chili was cooked, football was played and pictures were taken.

I was out of the loop around Thanksgiving time, eating pie with the three nephews in Maple Valley (AKA using a large stick to beat them off my pie), but those who stayed on Whidbey had several community sporting options.

The Tom Roehl Turkey Bowl brought back Coupeville High School alumni for the annual football extravaganza/fundraiser to honor a former Wolf coach. From all accounts, the affair was a success, though no photos have surfaced … yet.

“Great event! Thank you for everyone that showed up,” said CHS Class of 2000 grad Jason Joiner on the event’s Facebook page. “Right now I am wishing I had a hot tub. I think Tom would be proud of us all. I know I left it all out there … breakfast, that is!”

The Coupeville Living Hope Foursquare church put on its own event around the same time, a mix of gridiron action and hot beans.

Much thanks to photographer Sherry Roberts, who took us inside the 2012 Chili Bowl, an event which pitted the Young Bucks (led by current Wolf stars such as Brett Arnold and Aaron Wright) versus the Bald Eagles.

Led by the touchdown-flingin’ arm of Jerry Helm, the elder statesmen downed their younger compatriots, while Roberts snagged the chili cook-off contest when she wasn’t clicking her camera.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about that first photo? Ray Shelley is still hale and hearty and alive — he just learned to stay away from the elbows of Mitch “Wild Thing” Aparicio.