Makana Stone, collecting medals all year long. (John Fisken photos)
Aaron Curtin (left) poses with proud coach Ken Stange. (Judi Curtin photo)
Three-quarters of the fastest 4 x 200 girls relay team in CHS history — Lauren Grove (glasses), Marisa Etzell (top) and Sylvia Hurlburt. (Fisken photo)
Whidbey representing.
The final day of the spring high school sports season is awash in big-time performances from athletes who call The Rock home.
For Cow Town fans, the biggest news is Coupeville’s 4 x 200 girls’ relay team, which smashed the school record and claimed 3rd at the 1A state track meet in Cheney.
With sophomore Lauren Grove, senior Marisa Etzell and juniors Sylvia Hurlburt and Makana Stone running as one smoothly-oiled machine, the Wolves held off King’s at the end, coming in right on the heels of Meridian and Hoquiam.
Coupeville hit the tape at 1:46.64, while Meridian won in 1:45.95.
“It was so great!!!,” said a jubilant Hurlburt as she and teammates celebrated.
Stone then returned to solo action and finished fourth in the 400.
Her time of 59.01 trailed repeat champ Maya Jackson of Northwest (57.37) Janessa Murphy of Meridian (58.32) and Morgan Schepke of Cascade Christian (58.57).
Stone now has four state meet medals in three years, having finished 2nd in the 400 as a sophomore and 5th in the 4 x 200 as a freshman.
That unit included Hurlburt and then-seniors Madison Tisa McPhee and Jai’Lysa Hoskins.
Around the same time the relay squad went to its starting blocks, CHS netter Aaron Curtin took the court in Yakima for his fourth and final match at the 1A state boys’ tennis tourney.
After playing three intensive matches Friday, he fell 6-1, 6-3 to Mark Hay of St. George’s and claimed 8th place.
It was an impressive feat for a player from the smallest 1A school in the state who spent his spring playing baseball, then bounced back to tennis at the last second to face private school players who train year-round.
A look at the other medalists reveals school names like University Prep, Seattle Academy and Charles Wright Academy.
Then, boom, baby! Cow Town crashes the posh party.
Well played, Mr. Curtin, well played.
And, before we go, let’s take a moment to honor our brethren to the North.
Oak Harbor senior Dejon Devroe, a superb football player for the Wildcats, is also now the 3A state champ in the 800.
After finishing second in the prelims, he kicked it into gear in the main event, winning with a time of 1:52.61.
