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Archive for the ‘Tennis’ Category

Tennis camp offers summer fun

Posted in Tennis, tagged , , , on June 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The courts will be abuzz with aces and backhands again this summer.

Coupeville High School tennis coaches Starla Seal and Tim Stelling are back to host a skills camp for young netters, with slots open to girls and boys entering grades 3-8.

The event plays out July 21-25 and a lot of the info you need can be found in the photo above.

Though, one update.

While that flier says the preregister deadline is June 14, it’s been pushed out to June 20.

So, get crackin’. To sign up your child, pop over to:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTL30yKAyv6s2PZQKOkj4Pavey_LH-tPeBqITPqL_Q9qaJUg/viewform?pli=1

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Play young, play now!

Posted in soccer, Tennis, tagged , , , , on August 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Adeline Maynes (left) and Mary Western were high school softball sensations while still attending middle school classes. (Bailey Thule photo)

Claim your destiny, young guns.

With the start of a new school year rumbling into sight, thoughts turn to the first days of practice for fall sports.

Coupeville High School offers volleyball, cross country, cheer, football, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and boys’ tennis — if enough athletes turn out.

In the case of soccer and tennis, participation numbers are a concern, and coaches and admins are pushing a push on getting enough players to be able to offer full programs.

Last year low numbers among female booters caused the school’s soccer programs to be compressed into one co-ed one, as the Northwest 2B/1B League allows girls to play on boys’ pitch teams if their school can’t field a full girls program.

That snapped a 20-year-plus run of Wolf girls’ soccer teams at CHS, and coach Kimberly Kisch and Athletic Director Brad Sherman are hopeful to revive the girls’ team as its own thing this time around.

Coupeville boys’ soccer coach Robert Wood is putting his own push on when it comes to building a solid roster and would be thrilled to see a packed field on day #1 of practice, which is set for August 26.

With boys’ tennis, low numbers put the program on hiatus several seasons back, but new coaches Tim Stelling and Starla Seal would like to revive the net squad.

With CHS boasting brand new tennis courts which were just finished, it would be a perfect way to kick things off without having to wait until the Wolf girls take the court next spring.

One thing to keep in mind is that Coupeville, as a 2B school, can use 8th graders on high school teams — varsity or JV — where there is a legitimate need.

So, while middle school students have their own volleyball and cross country programs — and the state doesn’t allow 8th graders to play high school football — you can attend CMS yet play soccer or tennis for CHS this fall.

Multiple Wolves have taken advantage of that recently in sports such as girls’ tennis, softball, baseball, and girls’ basketball.

That includes Tenley Stuurmans, who advanced to the state tourney in tennis this past spring as just an 8th grader.

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Tennis camp nets success

Posted in Tennis, tagged , , , , on July 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Young tennis players take a snack break during a recent skills camp. (Photos courtesy Starla Seal)

Tennis balls were flying, and water balloons as well.

Coupeville High School tennis coaches welcomed 22 young players to the courts recently for a summer skills camp, boding well for the future.

“It was a success!” said CHS net guru Starla Seal.

“I was impressed at how eager the kids were to learn the game; many of them couldn’t wait to show off their new skills and play with their families and friends.”

Seal and fellow CHS coach Tim Stelling led their young charges through fun sessions which covered topics such as hand/eye coordination, speed and agility, and the basic swings used by netters.

Capping things off, the young players learned the ins and outs of keeping score on the court, and proper tennis etiquette.

Plus, the aforementioned water balloon break, to help take the edge off of the hot-for-Whidbey weather.

Seal and Stelling, who recently completed their first season as CHS coaches, came away pleased with what they saw.

Building interest in tennis at a young age will likely pay off down the road, as the Wolves hope to see a steady turnout of players at the high school level.

But, even if these young athletes ultimately choose other sports later in life, the tennis coaches are happy to be part of the process.

“I am so proud of all the kids and the effort and attitude they brought to the court!” Seal said.

“It’s so nice to get these kids outside and play a good sport that will stay with them for a lifetime!

“I’m already looking forward to planning out our next skills camp!”


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Prairie welcomes new tennis courts

Posted in Tennis, tagged , , , , on June 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The weather improved, and Coupeville High School’s new tennis courts got finished. (Timothy Stelling photos)

They’re done, and they’re beautiful.

Lousy weather slowed things down, but just in time for the end of the school year, Coupeville High School has its new tennis courts in place.

The four playing surfaces, paid for by the district’s capital projects fund, are located between the CHS gym and the school’s softball fields.

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CES kids get into the swing of it

Posted in Tennis, tagged , , , , , on June 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The wall calls you. (Starla Seal photos)

If you build it, they will play.

At least that’s the plan, as Coupeville High School tennis coaches are reaching out to the next generation of racquet stars.

Wolf net guru Starla Seal got permission to transform two wooden walls at the elementary school into perfect training equipment for Cow Town’s future Iga Swiatek’s and Carlos Alcaraz’s.

Seal, who is a CES paraeducator, painted the walls, which are located on the playground, to make them perfect for simulating a tennis net.

She then collected some junior racquets, and kids have started pounding away.

“Wimbledon, here I come!”

“Our 3rd-5th graders are getting some tennis time in and loving it!” Seal said. “The goal was to make use of the equipment we have while incorporating tennis to our youth!”

And it’s not the only opportunity for Coupeville youngsters to get an appreciation for the sport.

Friday is the deadline to sign up for Coupeville’s first annual youth tennis camp, which goes down July 8-12.

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