Booters net big-time awards!!

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Booters net big-time awards!!

May 24, 2018 by David Svien

After scoring 24 goals, CHS sophomore Derek Leyva was named the Olympic League boys soccer MVP. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Their final season in the Olympic League was a major success.

After three years of garnering third-place finishes, the Coupeville High School boys soccer squad surged to second-place in 2018, then made its longest playoff run in a decade.

CHS bounced five-time state champ Bellevue Christian from the postseason, then pushed Vashon Island and Klahowya hard in playoff losses.

With a solid core of young players (its top two scorers are only sophomores), the Wolves are primed for future success as they head to the new North Sound Conference next year.

And one of those sophomores, Derek Leyva, is still making headlines after being selected Olympic League MVP.

It’s the first time a non-Klahowya player was honored as the top boys soccer player in the four years of the conference.

Making his debut in 2018 with CHS, Leyva scorched the nets for 24 goals, a single-season record for the Wolf boys program.

He shattered the previous mark of 20, set by cousin Abraham Leyva in 2016.

Also pulling down big honors from league coaches were senior William Nelson and sophomore Aram Leyva, who were tabbed as First-Team All-Conference players.

It was Nelson’s fourth time to receive the honor.

Those awards, and team honors, letters and certificates, were handed out Thursday night as the booters kicked off Coupeville’s spring sports banquet circuit.

Derek Leyva was also named the team’s Player of the Year, while Uriah Kastner (Most Improved), Nelson (Most Inspirational) and Sam Wynn (Rookie of the Year) received varsity awards.

JV players Dawson Houston (Most Inspirational) and Ben Smith (Most Improved) were honored, as well.

“This was a great season for us with plenty of records and firsts in quite a few years,” said Coupeville coach Kyle Nelson.

Varsity letter-winners:

Chris Cernick
Dewitt Cole
Hunter Downes
Sage Downes
Pedro Gamarra
Uriah Kastner
Teo Keilwitz
Aram Leyva
Derek Leyva
William Nelson (4-year letter winner)
Axel Partida
Josh Robinson
Ethan Spark (4-year letter winner)
James Wood
Sam Wynn