9 for 9: Hardwood heroes hailed

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9 for 9: Hardwood heroes hailed

August 8, 2021 by David Svien

CHS hoops hotshot Anthony Bergeron eyeballs mom Avis Mitchell. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

This blog turns nine years old August 15, and to mark the occasion, I’m picking what I view as the best nine Wolf athletes from each active CHS sport.

To be eligible, you had to play for the Wolves between Aug. 2012-Aug. 2021, AKA the “Coupeville Sports” years.

So here we go. Each day between Aug. 1-15, a different sport and (probably) a different argument.

Yes, I’m biased, and yes, basketball is the best sport.

It’s also one of the longest-running at Coupeville High School, with the boys program having put in 104 seasons and counting.

When I carved the rosters of the last nine campaigns down into one nine-man squad, more than one talented player got left behind.

But, as I assembled my roster, I went with a mix of big-time scorers and “hustle guys,” — players who won the day with steals, rebounds, charges taken, and a burning desire to do whatever was necessary to make the team better.

With this unit we can run, we can play in the paint, and we can beat the crud out of anyone who gets mouthy.

I like to call that well-rounded.

Nick Streubel, a force on both ends of the floor.

Anthony Bergeron — The feel-good success story, a young man who went from a shy role player to throwing down dunks and leading the Wolves in scoring his senior season. You love to see it.

Jordan Ford — Coupeville only had him for a single season, but he revived memories of dad David and uncle Tony. A perfect role player who led the squad in rebounding and was #2 in scoring, picking up most of his points off of put-backs and hustle plays.

Wiley Hesselgrave — Tough as they come, a four-year warrior who scored far more points than you remember, while rattling the teeth of everyone he guarded. Never one to toot his own horn, he came to the court ready to work, every day.

Risen Johnson — The man who brought style back to the floor for the Wolves, bobbing and weaving, flicking runners over outstretched hands or zipping flawless set-up passes to teammates. If you had to pay to watch, he was always worth the price of admission by himself.

Xavier Murdy — The glue, willing (and able) to fill whatever role is asked of him. Can pop the three-ball, but also a ferocious rebounder, a solid passer, and a hyper-intense defender. Always seem to play for the W, not the stats.

Hunter Smith — Finished as the #12 scorer across 104 seasons of Wolf hoops action, and would have been higher if injuries didn’t chip away at his floor time. Back-to-back 300+ point seasons, and a highly-revered athlete among coaches, fans, and his own teammates.

Nick Streubel — Even with refs often saddling him with atrocious fouls, based on his being the largest man on the floor, “The Big Hurt” was a rare bright spot during a tough stretch of time for the Wolf hoops program. The last man rivals wanted to see waiting for them in the paint, and a surprisingly nimble offensive threat.

Sean Toomey-Stout — Like Ford and Murdy, always played for the W over worrying about personal stats. Springy, with a motor which never stops, and a player who has all the intangibles which make coaches sleep easier at night.

Hawthorne Wolfe — Even with a pandemic cutting his junior season in half, is set to make a run at the program’s all-time scoring record. Can knife you with a three-ball from Damian Lillard distance, is a relentless gym rat, and is just flat-out entertaining to watch in action. Our version of Pistol Pete.