Coupeville Sports

Hayley Newman and older brother Riley.

Newman (35) applies defensive pressure on Wolf Lauren Escalle earlier this season. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Things just got potentially easier for the Coupeville High School girls’ basketball squad.

Looking ahead at next week’s district playoffs, it’s quite likely the Wolves will meet their Island rivals from Langley at some point, and South Whidbey has just taken an epic hit.

Hayley Newman, the top Falcon and the number three scorer in the Cascade Conference (13.5 points per game) walked away from her team after a game against Lakewood, and will not return this season.

The five-foot-11 senior, younger sister of former Falcon star Riley Newman, had hit for double figures in 12 games, with highs of 25 against King’s and 21 against Concrete.

Newman scored 14 in her team’s first game against Coupeville (a 39-24 loss), then went for 17 at home in a 49-25 win in the two team’s second meeting.

South Whidbey lost 56-19 to Archbishop Thomas Murphy Tuesday in its first game without its top scorer, and wraps its regular season against Granite Falls Friday.

Newman sent the following letter to league coaches, which she is allowing us to reprint:

Dear Coaches:

I’m writing you because I know you’ll hear the news that I have quit the South Whidbey basketball team, and I wanted you to hear the truth from me instead of what might get said from others.

I love the game of basketball, which is why I have spent the last 10+ years playing, but the present staff and conditions (being yelled at, told not to shoot, and being humiliated and embarrassed in front of friends and family) have killed my love of the game and I no longer am going to put myself through this misery.

I’m sad that my senior year of basketball has ended this way, and upset that this might affect my future college playing plans, but I don’t see the situation improving since these same problems have been an ongoing issue since the new coach took over my sophomore year.

Thanks for your time and good luck to you and your teams the rest of the season.

Sincerely, Hayley Newman #35

South Whidbey coaches did not respond to email requests for comment.

Newman, who is a top tennis player and hopes to advance to state for the third time in the spring, also had the following to say:

I have played several sports for many different coaches and have never quit before, but this was the worst experience I have ever had.

I come from a large, athletic family where teamwork and competition is a way of life and basketball has always been a favorite for all of us. So it was especially hard to end my high school career this way.

Good luck to the Coupeville girls’ basketball team in districts. My best wishes go out to them as they compete to make it to state.