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Clear eyes, full schedules, can’t lose

Posted in Boys Soccer, Boys Tennis, Cross Country, Football, Girls Soccer, Volleyball, tagged Boys Tennis, CHS Wolves, cross country, fall schedules, football, Soccer, volleyball on August 16, 2021| 2 Comments »

Gwen Gustafson and Co. have full schedules this year. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Wolf booters jump from a six-game schedule to a 16-game one.

The schedules are back to normal.

Or, at least a lot closer than they were a year ago.

While some restrictions — like spectators needing to wear masks — are still in place, high school sports schedules have largely reverted to pre-pandemic normalcy.

After playing out of order during the 2020-2021 school year, fall sports are back to the front of the pack, with winter, then spring competitions planned to follow.

Non-conference bouts are back in vogue, which means Coupeville returns to playing next-door rival South Whidbey.

Also, both the Bucket Game and Homecoming live again for football, and almost all CHS teams will play a double-digit number of games.

Hopefully.

As everyone who has lived through the Age of Coronavirus knows, nothing is set in stone. Things can, and may, still change.

But for now, here’s where we sit, sport by sport.

PS — An * indicates a league contest.

BOYS SOCCER:

It’s a 16-game schedule, eight at home, eight on the road, with every tilt a conference showdown.

While just five of seven Northwest 2B/1B League schools play boys soccer — Coupeville, La Conner, Orcas Island, Mount Vernon Christian, and Friday Harbor — they’re joined for this one sport by four other squads.

While Concrete and Darrington avoid the pitch, Grace Academy, Providence Classical Christian, Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood, and Lopez Island take their places.

Tues-Sept. 7 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (4:00) *
Fri-Sept. 10 — Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood — (6:00) *
Fri-Sept. 17 — Orcas Island — (4:00) *
Tues-Sept. 21 — Grace Academy — (6:00) *
Fri-Sept. 24 — @ Friday Harbor — (4:30) *
Tues-Sept. 28 — @ La Conner — (TBA) *
Fri-Oct. 1 — @ Grace Academy — (3:30) *
Tues-Oct. 5 — La Conner — (6:00) *
Thur-Oct. 7 — Mount Vernon Christian — (6:00) *
Sat-Oct. 9 — Providence Classical Christian — (1:00) *
Fri-Oct. 15 — @ Lopez Island — (TBA) *
Tues-Oct. 19 — Friday Harbor — (4:00) *
Thur-Oct. 21 — @ Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood — (4:00) *
Sat-Oct. 23 — Lopez Island — (12:30) * — SENIOR NIGHT
Tues-Oct. 26 — @ Orcas Island — (TBA) *
Thur-Oct. 28 — @ Providence Classical Christian — (TBA) *

BOYS TENNIS:

Only two NWL schools play boys tennis, which is why there was no season last year.

While Coupeville was ready and rarin’, Friday Harbor shut down all fall sports after Covid cases spiked in the San Juans.

Now, the Wolverines are back in action, and the two schools will link up, in some fashion, to play tennis against South Whidbey and its (mostly private school) rivals in the Emerald Sound League.

A schedule is still being worked out.

CROSS COUNTRY:

Coupeville, Orcas Island, and Mount Vernon Christian once again vie for NWL harrier supremacy, but this season schools also return to competing at invitationals.

The Wolves host one of three league meets, as well as the league championship races.

Sat-Sept. 11 — @ Sehome Invitational — (TBD)
Sat-Sept. 18 — @ Westling Invitational (South Whidbey) — (10:00)
Fri-Sept. 24 — HOME meet (Fort Casey) — (3:30) *
Sat-Sept. 25 — @ King’s Invite — (12:00)
Fri-Oct. 1 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (3:30) *
Fri-Oct. 8 — @ Orcas Island — (TBD) *
Sat-Oct. 9 — @ Hole in the Wall (Lakewood) — (9:00)
Thur-Oct. 21 — Northwest 2B/1B League Championships (Fort Casey) — (3:30)

FOOTBALL:

Homecoming is back, with the Eastern Washington opponent traveling 142 miles to face off with CHS, while the Bucket Game against South Whidbey goes down in Langley.

Other non-conference games, featuring Klahowya and East Jefferson, are against familiar foes from Coupeville’s time in the Olympic League.

And what is an East Jefferson, you ask?

It’s the name being used by Port Townsend and Chimacum, which combined for all sports after both schools struggled to field teams due to declining student counts.

With Friday Harbor football back in action, Coupeville plays four league games — two each against the Wolverines and La Conner, the only other 2B schools in the NWL.

Currently, there are eight games on the schedule, but the Wolves continue to look for a week six opponent.

Sat-Aug. 28 — @ Sultan Jamboree — (11:00)
Fri-Sept. 3 — Klahowya — (5:00)
Fri-Sept. 10 — @ South Whidbey — (7:00) — BUCKET GAME
Fri-Sept. 17 — @ East Jefferson — (6:00)
Fri-Sept. 24 — La Conner — (7:00) *
Fri-Oct. 1 — @ Friday Harbor — (6:00) *
Fri-Oct. 8 — ?
Fri-Oct. 15 — @ La Conner — (7:00) *
Fri-Oct. 22 — Cascade Leavenworth — (7:00) — HOMECOMING
Fri-Oct. 29 — Friday Harbor — (6:00) * — SENIOR NIGHT

GIRLS SOCCER:

Last year, Mount Vernon Christian, La Conner, and Coupeville played this sport, and now Friday Harbor rejoins the battle.

Unlike other sports, where CHS plays two league games against other schools, here it will play three.

Non-conference games against former league rivals Sultan and Granite Falls, and a home-and-away series with East Jefferson round out the schedule.

Sat-Sept. 4 — @ Oak Harbor Jamboree — (TBD)
Thur-Sept. 16 — La Conner — (6:00) *
Sat-Sept. 18 — @ East Jefferson — (1:00)
Tues-Sept. 21 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (4:00) *
Thur-Sept. 23 — Granite Falls — (6:00)
Tues-Sept. 28 — @ Friday Harbor — (4:00) *
Thur-Sept. 30 — @ La Conner — (TBA) *
Thur-Oct. 7 — Mount Vernon Christian — (4:00) *
Tues-Oct. 12 — Friday Harbor — (4:00) *
Thur-Oct. 14 — La Conner — (6:00) *
Sat-Oct. 16 — Sultan — (1:00)
Thur-Oct. 21 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (4:00) *
Sat-Oct. 23 — East Jefferson — (11:00) — SENIOR NIGHT
Tues-Oct 26 — @ Friday Harbor (4:00) *

VOLLEYBALL:

With Friday Harbor’s return, the only fall sport where all seven NWL schools face off.

A couple of tournaments, and a home-and-away with arch-rival South Whidbey highlight a very-full schedule.

Sat-Sept. 4 — @ Oak Harbor Jamboree — (TBD)
Thur-Sept. 9 — @ Concrete — (4:30/6:00) *
Tues-Sept. 14 — Mount Vernon Christian — (4:30/6:00) *
Thur-Sept. 16 — Orcas Island — (3:30/5:00) *
Mon-Sept. 20 — Cedar Park Christian-Bothell — (4:30/6:00)
Tues-Sept. 21 — @ Darrington — (4:30/6:00) *
Thur-Sept. 23 — @ La Conner — (4:30/6:00) *
Sat-Sept. 25 — @ Sultan Tournament (Varsity) — (TBD)
Sat-Sept. 25 — @ Oak Harbor Tournament (JV) — (TBD)
Mon-Sept. 27 — South Whidbey — (4:30/6:00)
Tues-Sept. 28 — @ Friday Harbor — (4:00/5:30) *
Tues-Oct. 5 — Concrete — (4:30/6:00) *
Thur-Oct. 7 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (4:30/6:00) *
Tues-Oct. 12 — @ Orcas Island — (TBA) *
Thur-Oct. 14 — Darrington — (4:30/6:00) *
Mon-Oct. 18 — @ South Whidbey — (5:15/7:00)
Tue-Oct. 19 — La Conner — (4:30/6:00) *
Thur-Oct. 21 — Friday Harbor — (3:30/5:00) * — SENIOR NIGHT
Sat-Oct. 23 — @ South Whidbey Tournament — (TBD)

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Get your (athletic) papers in order

Posted in Boys Tennis, Cross Country, Football, soccer, Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, cross country, football, paperwork, physicals, Soccer, tennis, volleyball on August 12, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Alita Blouin and Co. return to action later this month. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Get ahead of the paperwork curve.

Coupeville High School and Middle School athletes can get all their forms filled out and fees paid before practice begins at an athletic paperwork day Tuesday, August 17.

The event runs from 12-5 PM at the CHS office.

Attendance is not mandatory, as athletes can also obtain paperwork by emailing Lisa Yoder (lyoder@coupeville.k12.wa.us) or Barbi Ford (bford@coupeville.k12.wa.us).

Forms to be completed, with student and parent signatures, include the Athletic/Activities form, Extra-Curricular/Athletic Participant Eligibility form, and the Free/Reduced lunch form.

All athletes need a sports physical as well.

Physicals cover two years, and you can check your status on the school’s Skyward site. It’s under the Health Info button on the left.

ASB and fall athletic fees, which need to be handled prior to the first game, can be paid during this event or online through the eFunds link on Skyward.

CHS plays volleyball, boys tennis, football, co-ed cross country, and boys and girls soccer in the fall, while CMS offers cross country, volleyball, and boys soccer.

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“I love the sense of competition”

Posted in Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged A League of Their Own, Basketball, Madison McMillan, Softball, volleyball on August 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Madison McMillan is a three-sport athlete with a very bright future. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Madison McMillan is in a unique position.

As she prepares to enter Coupeville High School as a freshman this fall, the three-sport star already knows what it’s like to be a high school athlete.

McMillan was one of seven 8th grade girls who played above their grade level last year, helping a CHS hoops program which struggled with low numbers.

Given an extra, early season of high school basketball, she tallied 33 points across five JV games in a pandemic-altered season, finishing second on her squad in scoring.

McMillan powers in for a bucket. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Not content to stop there, McMillan quickly moved to the softball diamond, capping her final season in little league by being a homerun-bashing supernova — first for Central Whidbey’s juniors squad, then for an All-Star team which finished fourth at the state tourney.

Along the way, she crushed an out-of-the-park dinger which brought back memories of previous Coupeville sluggers like Hailey Hammer and Veronica Crownover, who both went on to have legendary four-year runs on the high school diamond.

Toss in volleyball, and McMillan plans to be a busy bee during her high school days, playing year-round.

“As long as my grades are good!,” she said with a laugh.

McMillan is part of a tight-knit group of talented young Coupeville athletes who have grown up together, uniting as teammates and friends.

“My most favorite thing about being an athlete is playing the sport with friends and winning and losing as a team,” she said.

“I also love the sense of competition between teams, because both teams want to win.”

McMillan, who enjoys history and English classes when in school, tabs sports classics A League of Their Own and Miracle as her favorite films.

Ready to drop the hammer. (Jackie Saia photo)

Her love of sports has led her to embrace the idea of being a three-sport athlete, which is huge at a small school like Coupeville, which needs as many players as possible.

“My favorite sport really depends on the season,” McMillan said. “Like, if it was the fall, my favorite sport would most likely be volleyball.

“Or, if it was spring and summer then it would be softball, when winter would be basketball,” she added. “So I’m pretty fortunate to have a sport for each season.”

As she has grown as an athlete and young woman, McMillan has had many mentors, with her grandparents, Gordon and Nancy, standing out.

“My grandpa definitely had the greatest influence on not only my sports career, but my life as well,” McMillan said. “He coached the tee-ball team I was on, and rookies.

“And along with my grandma, he comes to cheer every single game, no matter what sport it is.

“And jokes if I play college sports he and my grandma will buy a trailer and drive to each game.”

McMillan and Teagan Calkins celebrate as they roll to another win. (Jackie Saia photo)

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9 for 9: Spikers own the court

Posted in Volleyball, tagged 9 for 9, CHS Wolves, Emma Smith, Maya Toomey-Stout, volleyball on August 2, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Maya Toomey-Stout opens a can of whup-ass. (Brian Vick photo)

This blog turns nine years old August 15, and to mark the occasion, I’m picking what I view as the best nine Wolf athletes from each active CHS sport.

To be eligible, you had to play for the Wolves between Aug. 2012-Aug. 2021, AKA the “Coupeville Sports” years.

So here we go. Each day between Aug. 2-15, a different sport and (probably) a different argument.

And this is already harder than I expected.

My first list had 33 volleyball players on it, and the cut-downs got increasingly brutal.

How do you decide between a young woman with superior skills, and one who played her heart out every step of the way? Both are valuable in their own way.

But cuts had to be made, and cuts were made.

Who was the last to fall, as I went from 10 to nine? I’m not saying, but I already want to say “sorry” to the player who fell last.

But I won’t, because then you start apologizing to #11 and #12 and on and on.

So, with that in mind, here are the nine girls I want on the floor, regardless of whether their positions fit together into a normal scheme.

One man’s opinion, and liable to change down the road, as younger players continue to develop. Never know.

And, yes, these lists are going to be in alphabetic order, and not ranked #1-#9, as I need to make at least one thing (slightly) easier on myself.

Payton Aparicio — a bright, shining star. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Payton Aparicio — A quiet assassin who could strike from any place on the floor, she morphed from a role player to a star, breaking records and winning MVP on a state-bound team.

Allie Hanigan — The epitome of grace, a tall (and lethal) weapon, who unleashed sizzling darts while stalking the net.

Hope Lodell — Perhaps the most-explosive server of the last decade, she bounded across the gym, firing off aces and ripping up chunks of the floor.

Katrina McGranahan — Big power, on her spikes and serves, and a leader by example. She was here to win, and she showed it on every point.

Chelsea Prescott — A prodigy, she was a star from day one, capable of controlling a match, or being the perfect complementary weapon.

Emma Smith — A big-hitting, big-game star who came up epic in crunch time, never more so than when she slayed the South Whidbey beast on her birthday.

Scout Smith — She had a feathery touch with her sets, and was one of the toughest athletes to wear the red and black, even playing through slamming her head off the floor, resulting in a black eye which covered half her face.

Maya Toomey-Stout — Seemingly everywhere at once, “The Gazelle” never met a volleyball she couldn’t mash the air out of, hanging in the air for an eternity before unleashing sweet Hell on her foes.

Valen Trujillo — No one sacrificed life and limb like she did, throwing her body in all directions and bouncing off the floor every other play, assuring no volleyball would get away from her.

Allie Hanigan, lethal weapon. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Next up: Baseball takes us to the diamond.

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“I want to keep getting better!”

Posted in Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged Basketball, CHS Wolves, freshman, Jada Heaton, Softball, volleyball, Whidbey Island Inferno on July 17, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Jada Heaton (left) and Mia Farris, ready to rock the softball diamond. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

“I have a great group of friends I play softball with. Every year we strive to be better.”

That’s working out quite nicely for Jada Heaton, as she and her playing companions have done exactly that — get progressively stronger and more-talented with each season.

The group has piled up wins, captured district titles, and made runs at the state tourney as little leaguers, capped by a recent fourth-place finish at the big dance in Vancouver while playing as the Whidbey Island All-Star juniors squad.

Along the way, a quick scan of photos shows Heaton almost always wearing a huge smile while in action, whether spraying hits at the plate or chasing down long bombs to the outfield.

“Get back here, you!” Heaton pulls off a Willie Mays-style catch near the outfield wall. (Jackie Saia photo)

The young star on the rise derives a great deal of joy from her time on the field, and her time spent with a close-knit group of friends.

“Softball is my favorite, because I’ve been playing since I was little,” Heaton said. “I like playing sports with my friends as a team. Win or lose. Trying to always get better.”

Now, with her little league days having come to an end after big wins at the state tourney over teams from Puyallup and Mukilteo, she’s on the path to beginning a new career as an athlete.

Heaton will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, and plans to play volleyball, basketball, and softball for the Wolves.

“I’m excited to play them all in high school,” she said. “I want to keep getting better; hopefully letter in all three of those sports.”

“Hand me my bat, ladies. Mama has to go wreck some fools!” (Jackie Saia photo)

Athletics keep Heaton hopping — “Not much time for anything besides sports,” she said with a laugh — but she did have a great time in one particular class.

“I enjoyed working on the middle school yearbook,” she said. “Hoping I will be on the yearbook staff for high school.”

In everything she does, Heaton leans on those close to her for positive reinforcement.

“My family is always supporting me,” she said. “I (also) have an amazing group of friends.

“Most of us have been together since preschool,” Heaton added. “I am thankful for their friendship.”

Regardless of which of her sports she’s playing at a given moment, she always tries to approach things with a can-do outlook.

“One of my strengths as an athlete would be my attitude,” Heaton said. “I try hard to encourage my teammates.

“I also listen to my coaches good and bad. Learn from what they are telling me,” she added. “I will work 110% and not give up. Working hard, but also having fun doing it.”