Coupeville Sports

   Ariah Bepler (right) heads off to track practice with partner in crime Hunter Downes. (John Fisken photo)

Ariah Bepler is Wolf Nation royalty.

His parents (Mark and Kim (Stuurmans) Bepler) were both strong athletes during their time at Coupeville High School, and you spread out from there.

Uncles, brothers of uncles, aunts, cousins, all the way to grandpa Cec Stuurmans, who is one of the best-regarded coaches in school history, and it’s obvious athletic success is in the bloodlines.

Which was why it was so nice to see Ariah and his family return to Whidbey Island before the start of this school year, allowing the ever-growing sophomore to rejoin the family business.

He’s made an immediate impact this year, playing basketball in the winter and competing in track and field this spring.

Bepler has taken full advantage of the freedom track offers, trying nine events this year, with his best work in the 300 meter hurdles.

“This was my year to try out all the events I think I might like,” he said. “I like the freedom of choices, and the giant group of friends working together as a team.”

“I haven’t honed in on anything in particular this year. Just feeling like a jack of all trades right now,” Bepler added. “I’ll know more about my strengths and specialize more next year.

“I’d like to find the event that suits me best so I can focus more attention on that for the upcoming years.”

Bepler first picked up the sport as a seventh grader in Oregon, where he was lured in by getting to spend time with classmates.

“It was a huge team and I wanted to compete with a fun group of friends.”

The move back to his parents old stomping grounds has reunited him with much of his sprawling family, while offering Bepler the chance to shine in a more intimate arena.

“Being in Coupeville offers me more choices than the bigger schools I have attended previously,” he said. “It makes school so much more fun to be able to participate.”

Bepler greatly enjoyed his time on the hard-court, as well (“I played basketball this year and love that sport”) and is considering picking up a fall sport for his junior year.

Regardless of which sports he ends up in, he’s guaranteed a large fan base, for which he is appreciative.

“All my family has played sports in Coupeville, but my parents have had the biggest impact encouraging me,” Bepler said.

Away from the games, he enjoys action/adventure movies (“in particular well-choreographed fight scenes”), hanging out with friends and his engineering class, where he gets to apply his design and architecture skills.

He also has a lesser-known talent of which he is justifiably proud.

“I love to make up and draw animated characters and story lines.”