Coupeville Sports

Wolf lineman Oscar Liquidano works the street alongside Coach V’s son.

The kind of green you only get in Washington.

Cole Payne (in green) goes into the danger zone.

Left to right, Woody Liquidano, Ramon Booker and Tyree Booker work the line while brush-wielding coach Brett Smedley keeps a watchful eye out for laggers.

The cars were dirty and the suds were flowing.

Members of the Coupeville High School football team, from coaches to players down to lil’ future players, were out in force Saturday for a car wash fundraiser in front of Whidbey Island Bank.

If the Wolves play as well as they put a shine on the town’s automobiles, they should go undefeated this fall.

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      The mere thought you wouldn’t get your car washed Saturday is enough to set Tony Maggio off.

You, and you alone, have the ability to make Tony Maggio happy.

And by you, I mean you, and you and you over there in the corner and you trying to ignore me and you sneaking out the back door while I’m talking. All the you’s!

What the Coupeville High School football guru wants is a little bit of love, and a lot of dirty cars, to help his guys raise funds for attending summer football camps.

The place: Whidbey Island Bank in Coupeville.

The time: Saturday, May 18 starting at 10 AM.

The reason: an epic car wash staffed by Wolf players and coaches.

Your reasons for not showing up: not valid.

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Brett Arnold (right) contemplates his football future.

Tony Maggio is a busy, busy man.

The Coupeville High School football coach has a repeatedly buzzing phone these days, as college coaches and scouts begin to seriously inquire about the future services of many of his seniors-to-be.

Lineman Nick Streubel and running back Jake Tumblin have developed strong followings and now fullback Brett Arnold, who combines a bruising running style, strong blocking skills and near-impeccable classroom performance (he boasts a 3.98 GPA) is drawing interest.

The University of Puget Sound, the alma mater of longtime former Wolf gridiron guru Ron Bagby (who still holds school records for kickoff returns three decades later) expressed interest in Arnold, and a second unnamed school has been buzzing about lately, as well.

The second school, which will be revealed later (being of a gossipy nature, I must know, and yet am denied for just that reason!!) could be anyone from defending national champion Alabama on down.

I’m just saying, if I’m not told, I can make my own wild guesses, so there you go. Roll Tide!

Stay tuned, as the Days of Our High School Football Lives plays out.

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Caleb Valko lookin’ all GQ (Photo by Jose Garcia/Fountain of Youth Photography)

The Page Hit King is staying home.

Coupeville High School senior football stud Caleb Valko has decided to forgo a scholarship to Northwestern College in Iowa and walk on at Central Washington University this fall.

Valko will try to make the NCAA Division II team, which is coming off its seventh league title in 10 seasons, as a middle linebacker. The leader of the Wolf defense last season, he may red-shirt his first season to give him time to learn the defense and work in the weight room.

“The coach likes my size and from film, the speed and explosiveness too,” Valko said.

Staying in-state will save him and his family a considerable chunk of money, while allowing him to see his tightly-knit family on a more regular basis.

Ellensburg sits 159 miles from Coupeville, while Orange City, Iowa is 1,656 miles away.

“It’s much more close to home and there are cool things to do, such as ski, hike and rafting,” Valko said. “I also like that the campus has many new things being installed such as dorms, lifting rooms and more.”

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Jake Tumblin (left) and Nick Streubel (right) pose with Meridian stud Spencer Blackburn at the Barton/NEI combine. (Nanette Streubel photos)

Proud dad David Streubel and “Tiny.”

Lineman drills, or interpretive dance. You decide.

Coupeville High School football is getting noticed.

As recruiting interest in both steadily picks up, Wolf juniors Nick “The Big Hurt” Streubel and Jake “Born to Run” Tumblin wowed folks at the Barton/NEI combine in Bellingham Sunday.

Six-foot-four lineman Streubel weighed in at a muscular 299 pounds, while retaining the nimble feet honed by his early days as a competitive swimmer. Tumblin is rumored to have run so fast, he broke the stopwatches in use.

Only 116 days until the first game of their season season kicks off.

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