Coupeville Sports

   Sylvia and Garrett Arnold wait to go on the field with their son Brett. (Photos courtesy Courtney Arnold)

Big sis Courtney Arnold gets mushy with lil’ bro Brett.

JT (Jake Tumblin) and the Old Man (dad Chris Tumblin). (Shannon Tumblin photo)

The opening ceremony could have taken longer than the game.

Coupeville High School paid tribute to 23 seniors — 12 football players and 11 cheerleaders — before Friday night’s game against Sultan.

But with announcer Randy King keeping things moving briskly, the mix of tributes, tears and moms squeezing their son’s heads off went smoothly.

The honorees (with selected passages from their thank you’s):

Cheer:

Sydney Aparicio (Tami and Mitch Aparicio) — “I’d like to thank my mom and dad for always coming to the games to support me.”

Mekare Bowen (Dea and Kit Bowen) — “I want to thank my parents and sister for being my strength and guiding me.”

Emilee Crichton (Vicki and Boyd Wells) — “Thank you mom and dad for supporting me through the four years of cold football games, Oreo cake and glitter.”

Julia Felici (Monica and Rick Felici) — “Thank you for supporting and putting up with me through the years. You’re amazing and I love you!”

Shelby Hall (Ruby and Reed Hall) — “Mom, thanks for sitting through all the cold football games. Dad, thanks for standing behind me and making fun of me while I was practicing at home. You guys are the best! I love you so much!”

Joye Jackson (Line Goulet and Alex Jackson) — “Thank you mom and dad for letting me join cheer this year!”

Sophia Jebrail (host parents Christine and Christopher Rische) — “Mom and dad, thank you for having me as part of your family. You are the most amazing parents I could have ever wished for!”

Kenzie Kooch (Melanie and Greg Kooch) — “Thank you mom and dad for always coming to every game no matter what. And thank you Madison and Michael for always coming as well.”

Breeanna Messner (Aimee and Robert Bishop) — “Mom and dad, thank you so much for always watching me cheer and cheering on your cheerleader.”

Briess Potter (Carrie and Lloyd Potter) — “Thank you for all the unconditional love and support you have given me throughout my life, and know that the lessons you have taught me will stay with me in college and beyond!”

Madeline Roberts (Lisa and Luke Edlin; Jennifer and Jay Roberts) — “I love my family, even though my parents ditched me to go to Mexico. I’d ditch me for Mexico, too. Stay CLASSY Coupeville!”

Football:

Brett Arnold (Sylvia and Garrett Arnold) — “Thank you for all the support over the last six years of playing football, for always being there and being my biggest fans.”

Raymond Beiriger (Sue and Randy Goss; Krys) — “Football has been a great learning experience. My mom, my grandma and my grandpa have joked about me being in and playing football, saying “get this kid a sandwich” and that I’m too small, but I’d like to thank them for giving me a reason to show them I can. And have.”

Anthony Bergeron (Avis and Donald Mitchell) — “I would like to thank my parents for supporting me throughout my high school career.”

Xavier Clark (Raina Girton) — “I wanna say thank you to all of Coupeville for welcoming me into Coupeville. You guys found a place in my heart. I will always remember this.”

Jared Dickson (Lisa and Randy Dickson) — “Whether I believed in myself or not, I know my parents have. From going to every game they could, to picking me up at 1 AM in the morning, my parents have been there to cheer me on every step of the way.”

Joey Edwards (Chris Edwards) — “I want to thank my parents and grandparents for always being there to support me throughout my high school sports career, especially in football.”

Ben Haight (Solea Kennedy) — “I would like to thank my mother, for supporting me through 11 years of football, helping me recover from injuries and always supporting my desire to play.”

Nick Johnson (Tammy and Leif Johnson) — “Thank you, mom and dad!”

Gunnar Langvold (Beverly Cramer and Bord Langvold) — “I would like to give thanks to my mother and my father for supporting me through seasons of football, starting in 7th grade up to my senior year. You have been by my side every step of the way.”

Wade Schaef (Justine and Kevin McGranahan) — “I want to thank my parents for being there for me, and putting up with my weirdness and for preparing me for life after school. I couldn’t ask for better parents and wouldn’t trade my life for anything because of them.”

Nick Streubel (Nanette and David Streubel) — “I want to thank my parents; they’ve supported me throughout these four years and pushing me to do the best at whatever I do. I love you guys and you’re the greatest parents I could ever ask for.”

Jake Tumblin (Shannon and Chris Tumblin; Lori Burke) — “Most of all I would like to thank my family for all the support and love they have given me in my life. I’m very thankful to have all of you in my life and am proud to be a Coupeville Wolf!”