Coupeville Sports

No ball left behind. (John Fisken photos)

We are … Coupeville!!

Run to daylight. Sweet, sweet daylight.

Oh, were you going to try and catch that? Nope, didn’t think so…

And where do we think we’re going?!?!?!

They got two wins for the price of one.

On the field, the Coupeville Middle School football squad drilled host Langley 12-6 Wednesday for its first win of the season.

Off the field came the announcement that the Wolves would get a home game after all this year, with the rematch against the Cougars set for Wednesday. Oct. 9 at Mickey Clark Field.

Prior to the announcement, CMS (1-1) had a schedule made up of entirely road games.

Facing off with their Island rivals, the Wolves found pay-dirt twice.

Hunter Downes and Cameron Toomey-Stout hooked up on a 20-yard pass play for Coupeville’s first touchdown, before Ty Eck broke off a 60-yard punt return that finished with the ball being set down in the end zone.

Despite missing several players to illness, the Wolves put up a strong defensive effort, as well. Christian King paced CMS with nine solo tackles, while Eck flew all over the field, disrupting plays every where he went and Teo Keilwitz recovered a fumble.

“Our line did a good job both offensively and defensively and have come a long way since bringing on assistant coaches Ron Wright and Caleb Valko,” said Wolf head coach Bob Martin. “They’re doing a great job and I appreciate all of their contributions!”

With a very young squad, Martin is thrilled to see the progress his team is making.

“We have a lot of inexperience; each of these kids have come far, most of which are playing their first year of football, they’ve put in the work and are progressing,” Martin said. “I’m very pleased at their efforts both on and off the field, in the community, and in school. They know they are held to a higher standard and seem to appreciate that.”

**To see (and purchase) other photo of this game, check out http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/gallery.jsp?gid=768a5498ce7f9fa94dd2.

Read Full Post »

Gabe Eck, during his youth football days in Oak Harbor. (John Fisken photo)

James Vidoni

The season is officially kicked off, and with it arrives the first new stars.

James Vidoni and Gabe Eck were selected as Coupeville Middle School’s football players of the week by Wolf coach Bob Martin Wednesday after CMS traveled to Granite Falls for its season opener.

The thin, relatively inexperienced Wolves hung close with their hosts before falling 12-0.

“I am very proud of each of you,” Martin said on the team’s Facebook page. “First game jitters for most of you out of the way!”

Coupeville, which is facing a road-heavy schedule in 2013 (it’s still trying to lock down at least one home game) travels to Langley Wednesday, Sept. 25 for its next game.

Martin, who has been building the Wolf program, has more support than normal this season with a three-man staff.

After getting approval to hire an assistant coach, the Wolves added Ron Wright to head up their offensive and defensive lines. Caleb Valko and Scott Losey are also working with the squad as volunteers.

Read Full Post »

Raechel Kundert

Raechel Kundert is a young woman of many passions.

The Coupeville Middle School eighth grader loves walruses, Fall Out Boy, the splendid zombie romantic comedy “Warm Bodies” and playing percussion in the school band.

Oh, and smacking people on the football field.

Standing out from the crowd, Kundert straps on a helmet and pads and lines up at right tackle each day for the Wolves. Not quite a week into her first year on the gridiron, the converted volleyball player is already looking forward to stepping up when the team starts to practice defense.

“I started playing football because I thought it looked fun,” Kundert said. “I’m looking forward to when we start tackling.”

She’s following in the footsteps of Mary Massengale, a 2013 grad who played on the line for the Coupeville High School gridiron gang. And while some opposing players may be surprised to see a girl line up opposite them this season, Kundert says her new team has welcomed her presence.

“My teammates, friends, and family have all been really supportive,” Kundert said. “My mom really didn’t want me to play at first, but because she played football in the 8th grade, too, I was able to convince her to let me play.”

A brown belt in karate, Kundert has the strength to work the line (“I think I’m pretty strong physically”), but wants to get quicker (“I’d like to work on my speed”). In the end, though, her goals are simple and straight forward — “To have fun and to help my team win.”

Away from the field, she credits her family with always providing support (“My parents, my grandparents, and my best friends, here and in Okanogan, have all had a big impact on me”) and has a wide variety of interests.

Musically, she bounces from deadmau5 to Fall Out Boy, with stops along the way for Colton Dixon, Stellar Kart and Alan Jackson. A fan of video games, reading and art, she enjoyed the summer movie “Pacific Rim” and is a dedicated friend to animals of all stripes.

“I love animals, especially walruses, which prompted me to become a vegetarian halfway through my 2nd grade year,” Kundert said.

She did take one small step back, though, when changing her diet, admitting she couldn’t go all the way and commit to a totally hard-core existence.

“I love cheese too much to be vegan!” she said with a laugh.

Read Full Post »

   Ty Eck nails the ball carrier while playing youth football for the Oak Harbor Pumas. (John Fisken photos)

Gabe Eck heads for daylight and the promise of a long run.

The future of Coupeville football is here.

Nineteen players, including one girl in Raechel Kundert, have turned out for Coupeville Middle School football so far, and they enter their fifth day of practice Monday. The season-opening jamboree in Sultan kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5.

“We have a great team this year, not a lot of returning experience, but the kids are focused and ready to work,” said coach Bob Martin. “This is Raechel’s first year and she’s doing great, looks like she’s comfortable playing on the line and has been practicing in the tackle position.”

The roster:

Alex Beech
Luke Carlson
Hunter Downes
Gabe Eck
Ty Eck
Wyatt Hampton
Matt Hilborn
Teo Keilwitz
Christian King
Raechel Kundert
Shane Losey
Luke Martin
Jake Pease
JT Quinn
Brian Roberts
Cameron Toomey-Stout
Alex Turner
James Vidoni
JoJo Welling

Read Full Post »