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Archive for the ‘Swim’ Category

Coupeville Middle School volleyball star Maddie Vondrak. (Submitted photo)

The future is now. Stop by Coupeville Middle School and meet the next generation of Wolf stars before they make the jump to high school.

Maddie Vondrak is deeply committed.

As she wraps up her final days of middle school, the CMS 8th grader looks into the future and sees her love affair with volleyball going on for quite some time.

“I will be sticking with volleyball my whole high school career,” Vondrak said. “It’s my favorite sport because I love the feeling you get just whenever you are on the court.

“Being able to bond with the team and the passion that everyone has is so embracing and intimate; it’s just all around hands-down amazing.”

Vondrak, whose older sister Peytin is a sophomore at CHS, also enjoys swimming and hanging out with best friend Morgan Pease, a fellow volleyball spiker.

“Whenever we are together we always know how to make it fun and have a good time and how to make the best of memories,” Vondrak said.

Spending time with fellow athletes, both on and off the court, is special to the rising star.

“I enjoy being physically active,” Vondrak said. “And being able to have fun with a team you love and the sport you love.”

She draws inspiration from her family (“we always have the best times with each other and always know how to make each other laugh at all times”), and gives a big shout-out to parents David and Terri.

“My dad has always helped me learn new things and taught me to never give up on myself,” Vondrak said. “Whenever a door closes there’s always another one that opens up.

“My mom has taught me to always keep myself going,” she added. “Whenever I’m stuck with something, she always knows how to answer it and help me out with whatever it is.”

As she prepares for the jump to high school play, Vondrak is excited to “work on learning new things involving volleyball.”

She will do so already having strong core principals in place to help guide her.

“I think my strengths are, as an athlete, being able to keep my confidence, keep myself going, being able to lift others up, and never giving up on myself.”

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Cole Weinstein

He went out with a splash.

Coupeville High School grad Cole Weinstein wrapped up a very-successful college swim career this weekend with an appearance at the NCAA D-III Swim and Dive Championships in Shenandoah, Texas.

A three-time First-Team All-League Pick during his run at Whitman College, Weinstein swam in three events at the national meet.

He finished 18th in the 400 IM in a time of 4:02.20, while also claiming 24th in the 200 breaststroke (2:06.44) and 28th in the 500 free (4:35.66).

Weinstein’s time in the 500 free was a PR, while he missed making the final in the 400 IM by less than a second.

Whitman sent four swimmers to nationals this year, the most in one season in school history.

Weinstein, who also swam at nationals as a junior, was joined this time around by Mara Selznick, Tai Hallstein and Clark Sun.

A senior at Whitman, Weinstein is majoring in film and media studies.

Before heading to Whitman, he had a very successful run with the North Whidbey Aquatic Club and competed in the pool for Oak Harbor High School, like older sister Rachel, since Coupeville doesn’t have a facility or team.

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   Ethan Tack (back row, right, in red) celebrates with his title-winning teammates. (Photo courtesy Tom Tack)

From Whidbey’s swimming pools to New York’s, the Tack family has always been one stroke ahead of the competition.

And nothing has changed.

Former Coupeville residents Ethan and Lucas Tack are continuing the family tradition, with Ethan helping his teammates repeat as public school state champions.

Two of former Coupeville Town Councilman Tom Tack’s four sons, Ethan and Lucas attend Half Hollow Hills.

Ethan, a junior, swam on 200 medley and 200 free relay squads that shattered state records.

He was joined by teammates Daniel Lee, Dylan Chan and Alex Park, winning the medley in 1:33.42 and the freestyle in 1:25.27.

Ethan also finished third in the 200 IM and 5th in the 100 fly.

Lucas is a freshman, and like his brothers, first got into swimming with the Aquajet program at Oak Harbor’s John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool.

The Tack brothers are rounded out by older siblings Spencer, a First-Team All-League soccer player during his Coupeville High School days, and Harrison.

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Cole Weinstein

Cole Weinstein

Makana Stone is not the only former Coupeville standout tearing up things at Whitman College these days.

Wolf grad Cole Weinstein is busy rewriting the school’s record books and was tabbed as Co-Swimmer of the Year by the Northwest Conference.

He claimed three first-places finishes at the conference meet in mid-Feb., winning the 400 individual medley and 1,650 free while swimming a leg on a triumphant 400 free relay unit.

Weinstein’s time in the 400 IM (3:58.64) broke the school and league record.

In addition to his three firsts, he racked up a second-place finish in the 500 free and a third in the 800 free relay, helping Whitman cruise to the conference title.

Now a three-time, First-Team All-League pick, Weinstein is off to the NCAA D-III championships in Texas Mar. 15-18.

While there he’s scheduled to compete in the 400 IM, 500 free and 200 breaststroke.

It will be his second appearance at the national championships.

A senior at Whitman, Weinstein is majoring in film and media studies.

Before heading to Whitman, he had a very successful run with the North Whidbey Aquatic Club and competed in the pool for Oak Harbor High School, like older sister Rachel, since Coupeville doesn’t have a facility or team.

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Three of the brave souls who took on Whidbey's waters Jan. 1. (John Fisken photos)

Three of the brave souls who took on Whidbey’s waters in Oak Harbor Jan. 1. (John Fisken photos)

"It's kind of balmy out here ... and I can't feel my legs now."

“It’s kind of balmy out here … and I can’t feel my legs now.”

That moment before hypothermia.

That moment before hypothermia.

Wolf track stars Sylvia (left) and Larry Hurlburt (far right) and frinds after taking the plunge on the South End. (Kristin Hurlburt photo)

   Wolf track stars Sylvia (left) and Larry Hurlburt (far right) and friends after taking the plunge on the South End. (Kristin Hurlburt photo)

The one-timers got their feet wet.

Hey, I give them credit. Going into the waters of Whidbey on Jan. 1 is not for the faint-hearted.

And, having just pulled out of a two-week battle with the flu (you notice I only get sick when I’m NOT swimming in Penn Cove), I was not among those who made a Polar Bear Plunge to start the new year.

But, as someone who has braved Penn Cove (in just a swimsuit) more than 1,000 times over the last four years, as early as March and as late as December, let me be the first to say “Hey, where did everyone go on Jan. 2?”

And then they can eyeball me and say, “Where were YOU on Jan. 1?”

Nicely played.

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