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Wolf grad rules college classroom, soccer pitch

Posted in soccer, Wolves in college, tagged Carolyn Lhamon, CHS Wolves, Colorado School of Mines, season debut, Soccer on September 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Carolyn Lhamon, excelling in everything she does. (Photo courtesy Helene Lhamon)

Different state, different school, same great Carolyn Lhamon.

The Wolf grad, a three-sport star whose skills and leadership earned her great respect in the Coupeville community, is still scoring big-time in the classroom and on the field.

Lhamon, a freshman at the Colorado School of Mines, is playing club soccer while also finding some time to study Quantatative Biosciences and BioMed Engineering.

Her pitch squad is off to a 2-0 start after bouncing Colorado College and CU Boulder this past weekend.

Next up for Lhamon and Co. is a game against the US Air Force Academy Preparatory School, with an eight-game schedule playing out across September and October.

“She’s so happy and I’m so proud,” said mom Helene.

While finding the time to excel in multiple outlets is always a tricky balance, the former Wolf ace was a pro at doing just that in her time at CHS.

Lhamon, whose older sister Catherine was also a star student/athlete for the Wolves, played soccer, basketball, and track and field.

Carolyn earned All-Conference honors as a booter, anchored the Coupeville defense on the hardwood, and advanced to state in multiple throwing events.

She capped her senior season of track by claiming 4th place in the shot put at the state championships and was tabbed as the CHS Female Athlete of the Year as a junior.

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Wolf soccer teams unite

Posted in soccer, tagged CHS Wolves, co-ed, Kimberly Kisch, Northwest League, Robert Wood, Soccer on August 31, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville soccer fans like Madison McMillan (left) and Jada Heaton get a 2-for-1 deal, with Wolf booters joining together to form co-ed teams in 2023. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The tribes are merging.

In the wake of Coupeville High School cancelling its varsity girls’ soccer schedule due to a lack of players, those booters who did turn out will unite with their male counterparts to form a co-ed program.

The revamped Wolves will feature both varsity and JV teams, with player placement based on “game skill, determination, and leadership skills,” said girls’ coach Kimberly Kisch.

The set-up, which is only in place for the 2023 season at this point, will play against boys’ teams from the Northwest 2B/1B League.

Several of Coupeville’s rivals, such as Lopez Island, have fielded co-ed teams in previous seasons.

Schools at the 2B or 1B classification are allowed to use female players on male teams, if the school doesn’t have an active girls’ program in that sport.

For the Wolves, early practices drew 10 female players, while CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith stipulated the program needed 15 to be viable.

When it became apparent Coupeville couldn’t get to that number, the painful decision was made to cancel the varsity season for a girls’ program which has played 19 consecutive seasons since launching in 2004.

Smith and Kisch discussed other options, such as having the Wolves play a JV-only schedule, but that would likely require 7 v 7 games instead of the standard 11 v 11, with a very-limited set of opponents.

After consultation with CHS boys’ coach Robert Wood, the decision was handed to the players.

“After many discussions, team votes, and meetings, we decided we will merge our girls’ team with the boys,” Kisch said. “Ultimately we left the decision up to the team and they feel that this is the best option.”

Both coaches are intrigued by the possibilities of the new set-up, which will give Wolf girls a chance to keep their program alive, while adding a new wrinkle to the boys team.

“I truly believe that this will be a fantastic learning experience for all involved,” Kisch said. “Our coaching team is prepared to coordinate and organize a large team.

“We will have plenty of players for a first and second team, while also giving everyone plenty of field time.”

Wood, who has floated the idea of calling the unity team “CHS FC,” is raring to go with the Wolves set to open the season Sept. 12 at home against defending 2B/1B boys state champ Friday Harbor.

“One academy, with a first and second team,” he said. “Dreams do come true!”

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Soccer club needs coaches

Posted in soccer, tagged Central Whidbey Soccer Club, coaches, job openings, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola on August 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Fancy yourself the next Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp?

Coupeville might not be the soccer hotbed that Europe is, but you can get your start here, or take the next step on your path to being a true pitch guru.

The Central Whidbey Soccer Club, which is currently gearing up for its fall season, needs men and women willing to guide its young players through practices and games.

Coaches are needed for U8, U10, and U12 teams.

Prior experience is not required, just a passion for soccer, and an ability to be “patient and understanding, organized and efficient, and able to work with children of different ages and abilities.”

Central Whidbey Soccer will hold a coaches meeting Aug. 22 at 6:00 PM at the Penn Cove Taproom, which is located at 103 S. Main St.

Games begin Sept. 9, with practices starting a week or two before.

Those interested in coaching should contact the club at president@centralwhidbeysoccer.com or info@centralwhidbeysoccer.com.

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Chayse-ing that soccer life

Posted in soccer, tagged Chayse Van Velkinburgh, CHS Wolves, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Soccer on July 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Soccer sensation Chayse Van Velkinburgh, color coordinating his hair, shoes, and cast. (Photos courtesy Dustin Van Velkinburgh)

Injury? What injury?

Coupeville Middle School 7th grader Chayse Van Velkinburgh is scampering across soccer fields in California heat this week, taking part in a camp put on by Real Madrid.

He’s doing so while dealing with a fractured thumb suffered at a tournament last weekend, but didn’t want to miss a chance to shine in front of numerous scouts.

“Chayse said, ‘I’m not missing this,’ so he flew down and is working his tail off in 93-degree heat,” said dad Dustin.

“He is driven. I think he is beginning to see the results of all the hard work beginning to pay off.”

The younger Van Velkinburgh, who also made a strong debut for CMS basketball during the school year, generally plays up against older soccer players and has done so for some time.

Learning from the elite.

The Real Madrid camp focuses on “advanced individual training in technique, tactics, problem-solving, and decision-making on the pitch.”

Youth coaches also instill the soccer club’s values — “leadership, teamwork, respect for others, solidarity and effort.”

Show out at the US camp, and you can nab an invite to travel to Spain to train at Real Madrid’s state-of-the-art campus.

Such a journey would be a return trip for Van Velkinburgh, who is also scheduled to attend the Paris Saint-Germain Soccer Academy in France next summer.