Dalton Martin slices through the defense for a quick two. (Shelli Trumbull photos)
Anthony Bergeron
Wiley Hesselgrave floats in the paint.
Adapt. Adapt. Adapt.
Every sports season brings its challenges, its unexpected injuries, its comings and goings of players, and a good coach needs to roll with the punches.
As he enters his third season at the helm of the Coupeville High School boys’ basketball squad, Anthony Smith is already having to think quickly on his feet.
He lost just two seniors (Caleb Valko, Drew Chan) to graduation from last year’s team, but had two returning starters (Aaron Curtin, Ben Etzell) not turn out this year.
Then, toss in injuries to Gavin O’Keefe (fighting back after a second broken leg in as many years), Carson Risner (a question mark as he deals with a football injury) and Cole Payne (out for the season after surgery for a football injury.)
On the positive side, though, new players abound in the program, with Utah (junior Matt and freshman Brian Shank) and Oak Harbor (sophomores Dante and Deandre Mitchell) transplants now wearing the red and black.
Matt Shank, a six-foot-three rebounding machine from Moab, joins a solid group of returning Wolves to form the core of what should be the CHS varsity.
Senior big man Nick Streubel was Coupeville’s leading scorer last season, while seniors Anthony Bergeron and Morgan Payne will play bigger roles. Juniors Aaron Trumbull (a starter last season) and Joel Walstad and sophomores Wiley Hesselgrave and Dalton Martin round out the rotation.
O’Keefe, a senior, is expected back in January, while Risner, a junior, is day-to-day and hasn’t been able to practice much.
Younger players fighting for playing time include freshmen Gabe Wynn, Clay Reilly and Brian Shank, the Mitchell brothers and sophomore Jared Helmstadter.
However the minutes, and on-court combinations, play out, Smith will have a band of warriors at his disposal.
“We will be able to compete and get after them on the defensive side,” Smith said. “What’s great is we have all really good kids and they have the attitude to compete and get after it.
“We’re really working on playing a chaotic, helter-skelter, pressure the ball style, if that makes sense,” he added.
Most of the team played off-season Swish basketball together, helping build familiarity and confidence.
“They came out of the camps and league play with a whole new demeanor,” Smith said. “We have a bit of a chip on our shoulders and are not going to back down. Now we (the coaches) just need to give them the tools to succeed.”
Smith is joined by JV coach Dustin Van Velkinburgh and former Wolf star Jason Bagby, who, after playing college ball, is working with Coupeville’s big men on a volunteer basis.
While the Wolves will go after every team hard, their primary targets will be King’s and South Whidbey, the only two other 1A schools in the 1A/2A Cascade Conference.
Two of the three 1A schools will advance to the playoffs this season, as opposed to previous seasons, when all three got in.
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