Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director Willie Smith (middle) and CHS Principal Duane Baumann (right) in happier times. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Washington is the 14th state to shut down in-person learning for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
That decision ends any hope of spring sports being played.
Coupeville Athletic Director Willie Smith issued the following statement:
Wow, I don’t even know how to address the news that Governor Inslee just gave: the closing of our school year…
It goes without saying, and I’m actually entirely tired of saying or hearing this, that these are unprecedented times that we are living in right now.
My greatest concern, once school first got cancelled was would we come back, and if so, would we get to have any type of an athletic season.
And yes, I am a teacher and before any of you think why those would be my first thoughts, it’s because athletics is, and always has been part of my education.
It is a massive tool that teaches our students a myriad of lessons and I’m extremely proud to be an advocate of athletics and the role that athletics plays in our educational system.
Our league Athletic Directors, both at the middle and high school levels, began working on alternative seasons in case we came back and the WIAA was going to continue to try and have state championships.
As the second extension came out from Governor Inslee, we quickly moved to playing just within our league and not even considering the state-level competitions as time became our biggest obstacle.
And then today happened.
We had nearly 150 students out for high school spring sports and another 40-50 middle school students that were ready to begin track.
We were, literally, days away from our first contests when COVID-19 necessitated the closure of our schools.
I can’t even begin to express my sadness, disappointment, disbelief, and yes, anger at what has transpired.
Do I disagree with any of the closures? No, I do not.
It was the right thing to do and I think we are fortunate in our state to have a process in place that is forward looking and proactive rather than reactive.
But does it suck? Yes, yes it does, completely and without question.
To the underclassmen: you still have opportunities ahead of you.
Continue to work hard, stay active, get focused on what you can prepare for and not what you didn’t get to have this spring.
To the seniors: there’s nothing I can say that will make you feel good about any of this.
However, I do want to let you know that you have been one of my favorite classes of young men and women in my 25 years in Coupeville.
You are driven, funny, down to earth, high achievers, great friends to each other, and have represented our school in the highest manner.
I have no doubt about the successes you will have because I’ve witnessed the successes you’ve already had; this pandemic may have taken your spring seasons away, but it can’t take away your contributions to our athletic programs and our school culture.
It has truly been my pleasure and my honor to have been a small part of your school lives and I wish nothing but the greatest to all of you.
Mr. Willie Smith
Athletic Director, Coupeville Middle & High School
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