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Big heat, big records

May 9, 2019 by David Svien

After intensive work with the best throwing coach in the biz (that would be the shortie wearing the ribbon), Coupeville senior Emma Smith smashed her PR in the discus Thursday at districts. (Konni Smith photo)

Two Coupeville High School track records fell Thursday, while another one came dangerously close to finally being cracked after 33 years.

Toss in three titles and nine PR’s, and day one of the district meet was a roaring success for the Wolves.

Competing under the scorching sun at Lynden Christian High School, CHS senior Danny Conlisk and junior Maya Toomey-Stout both shattered school records in the 100.

Toomey-Stout, living up to her nickname of “The Gazelle,” got historical, running a 12.84 in her race.

Coupeville’s previous best was 12.89, set by legendary Wolf track star Janiece Jenkins back in 2005.

Conlisk was also on fire under the burning sun, winning the 100 and 400, plus running a leg on a triumphant 4 x 100 relay squad.

That unit, which included Tiger Johnson, Sean Toomey-Stout, and Jean Lund-Olsen, overcame a bad hand-off to blitz the field in 44.16 seconds, missing a school mark set in 1986 by just 0.02.

While they couldn’t get that mark (yet), BOTH Conlisk and Lund-Olsen took down Jacob Smith’s year-old school record in the 100.

Before graduating last year, Smith ran 11.12 in the event, erasing a mark which had stood since ’87.

This time around, Conlisk, a senior, out-leaned Lund-Olsen, a junior, nipping his running mate by the narrowest of margins at 11.04 to 11.06.

Both Wolves are assured of advancing to next week’s bi-district meet, the last stop before state, as the top four at districts move forward.

Though any CHS athletes outside the top four don’t need to despair just yet.

District 2, which is just the Emerald City League, gets three automatic qualifiers, which when added to the four from District 1 (Coupeville’s North Sound Conference and the Northwest League), gets us up to seven.

Every event at bi-districts, held May 16 and 18 at Coupeville, will go 16 deep, however, so entries 9-16 will be pulled from the best remaining performances from the two district meets.

The Wolves return to Lynden Saturday to wrap up districts, first, though, with most of the throwing events, a ton of relays, and an assortment of running races still to be determined.

At the mid-point, the Meridian boys and King’s girls are atop the team standings.

Coupeville sits 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the 10-team royal rumble, with the boys just 17 points off Meridan and the girls 26.5 points back of King’s.

 

Complete Thursday results:

 

GIRLS:

100 — Maya Toomey-Stout (3rd) 12.84 *PR* *SCHOOL RECORD*; Ja’Kenya Hoskins (6th) 13.73 *PR*

400 — Mallory Kortuem (3rd) 1:01.78

1600 — Lucy Sandahl (15th) 6:11.87

100 Hurdles — Lindsey Roberts (2nd) 15.50; Ja’Tarya Hoskins (6th) 17.93 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — M. Toomey-Stout, Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Kortuem, Roberts (2nd) 50.99

Discus — Emma Smith (5th) 93-01 *PR*

Pole Vault — Kortuem (4th) 8-06

 

BOYS:

100 — Danny Conlisk (1st) 11.04 *PR* *SCHOOL RECORD*; Jean Lund-Olsen (2nd) 11.06 *PR*; Sean Toomey-Stout (3rd) 11.48 *PR*

400 — Conlisk (1st) 51.18

110 Hurdles — Jakobi Baumann (8th) 18.14 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Conlisk, Tiger Johnson, S. Toomey-Stout, Lund-Olsen (1st) 44.16

Shot Put — Ryan Labrador (5th) 42-04.50; Keahi Sorrows (15th) 31-10

Javelin — Lucious Halstead (17th) 102-06

High Jump — Koa Davison (4th) 5-08

Long Jump — S. Toomey-Stout (2nd) 20-09.50 *PR*

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Safety, competitiveness fuel football changes

May 9, 2019 by David Svien

Sean Toomey-Stout and teammates will play an independent, non-league schedule this fall, one of several changes for the Coupeville High School and Middle School football programs. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

There are big changes coming to Coupeville’s high school and middle school football programs.

Wolf Athletic Director Willie Smith released the following letter Thursday to address the new direction, and he and the CHS coaching staff, led by Marcus Carr, will host a public meeting to follow up.

That meeting is 6:30 PM Wednesday, May 29 in the CHS Commons.

Smith’s letter:

I would like to take this opportunity to go over the state of our middle and high school football programs and hopefully, address some concerns and questions that our students and community may have.

Our middle school football program has ended; and while many may think that’s a bad thing, I actually see it as an opportunity.

More and more, the direction that youth football is moving is in a direction we’d like to pursue as a school.

The NFL, WIAA (governing body of interscholastic activities/athletics in Washington), and many current and former football players are all moving to a new youth program which we are excited to pursue: flag football.

The beauty of flag football is that we can get all kids out, regardless of size, ability or gender.

It takes away the stigma of contact and pigeon-holing kids into positions based on size or skill level.

Each kid gets an opportunity to play every position: quarterback, receiver, lineman, etc.

We want boys and girls playing and we are looking to start this program, grades 3-8 by next fall.

It is a great lead-up game to tackle football and kids get to learn football without worrying about getting tackled or put in a position just because they are big or small.

At Coupeville High School, we have seen a dramatic decline of participation over the past 7-8 years.

While some of this can be attributed to the concussion element, I believe it is also due to the lack of a consistent football coaching staff during that time.

The constant coming and goings of our head coaches has led to an uncertainty, apathy, and non-interest in the program.

However, I truly believe that our head coach, Marcus Carr, and his staff are committed to rebuilding our program and see it come back to the healthy, strong program it once was.

In part, this is why I’m writing this article: Coach Carr and I want our community to come to meet him and his staff, learn more about them as community members as well as learn about their commitment level, philosophies, and coaching methods.

We have taken two big steps, in our minds, to help address the safety concerns of our community.

First, I appealed to and was allowed by our current league, the North Sound Conference, to pursue an independent football schedule rather than participate in our league.

I did this based on the fact that we have low numbers and a young group of returning players.

As I stated earlier, the safety of our kids is paramount in our scheduling of games and Coach Carr and I truly believe that moving to an independent schedule was vital in beginning to revitalize our program.

I have been able to create a full schedule, weeks 1-9, with teams that are going through what we are, are smaller schools (or new programs), and will provide our kids with an opportunity to be successful each and every game.

It is not an easy schedule; we are not throwing in the towel on our kids or program, and it will require our kids to work in the off-season, and be committed just like any other season.

It is a great opportunity for our kids and community to feel success in a program that needs to feel success and in spite of our low numbers and youth, has a genuine chance at being a very good football team.

Secondly, we have purchased (thanks to a generous donation by the Coupeville Booster Club) an item that we believe, will add some safety and peace of mind for our program.

It is a product called Guardian Caps and is a shell that goes over the helmet and has shown to help in the reduction of concussions.

In researching this product, and I want be completely clear, it does not, nor can any product, guarantee 100% protection against concussions or head injuries.

It does, however, offer added protection to the head, especially when hitting the ground.

We will be using these during our practices, and in discussion with Bremerton High School who used them this past fall, it did help with kids’ confidence as the season progressed.

They have been shown to reduce the number of concussions in a season, which is what drew us to the product, and they are used by a number of colleges, high schools, and youth programs throughout the nation.

Coach Carr, his staff, and I would like to invite the community, parents, students, and any other interested parties to a meeting on Wednesday May 29 at 6:30 in the High School Commons.

You will get to ask questions of our football staff and myself, learn more about how our football staff instructs tackling and blocking, as well as learn about the training they receive in order to become a football coach.

 

2019 CHS football schedule:

Friday, Sept. 6 — Port Townsend (6 PM)
Friday, Sept. 13 — @ Vashon Island (6 PM)
Friday, Sept. 20 — @ Friday Harbor (6:30 PM)
Friday, Sept. 27 — La Conner (7 PM)
Saturday, Oct. 5 — @ Kittitas (3 PM)
Friday, Oct. 11 — @ Northwest Christian (Lacey) (7 PM)
Friday, Oct. 18 — South Whidbey (7 PM)
Friday, Oct. 25 — Anacortes (TBD)
Friday, Nov. 1 — @ Interlake (7 PM)

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Sun, fun, and a fast run

May 8, 2019 by David Svien

It was a lot warmer than this Wednesday as Ryanne Knoblich won three events during the final CMS home track meet of the season. (Photo courtesy Mariah Knoblich)

The sun came out, and so did the PR’s.

Competing under summer-like conditions Wednesday, the Coupeville Middle School track and field squad arrived in full force for its final home meet of the season.

The Wolves still have two more road rumbles on the schedule, then the league meet, but the roster will take a hit on competition days, as 6th graders are allowed to compete only in home meets this season.

So it was especially nice that Wednesday’s three-team event, which brought Lakewood and Sultan to town, played out under blue skies, blazing sun, and not a whisper of wind.

“It almost felt like summer,” said CMS coach Jon Gabelein. “Sunglasses, bucket hats, and shorts were out in force.

“The only thing that was probably lacking was the sunscreen.”

His fellow coach, Elizabeth Bitting, agreed.

“It WAS a beautiful day for some great running, throwing, and jumping!” she said.

“These athletes keep amazing us every week! Could not be any prouder of them … that is until next week, when they shine once more!!”

While numerous Wolves hit PR’s in front of the home fans, there were a couple who captured an especially big share of the spotlight.

Coupeville 8th grader Ryanne Knoblich smashed her PR in the high jump by an astonishing six inches, then rode the wave of excitement through the long jump, where she also shattered her previous best mark.

“Ryanne credited her amazing jump in elevation to approaching from the left instead of the right for the first time,” Gabelein said.

Not surprisingly, Knoblich won both of those events, while adding another victory in the 4 x 200 relay, where she teamed with Claire Mayne, Carolyn Lhamon, and Katie Buskala.

Lhamon switched up events in an effort to take mercy on some shin splints she’s been battling, avoiding her normal distances races while winning the 800 and making her debut in the shot put.

New events or not, she brought her usual blistering intensity to everything she did.

“This focus was clear,” Gabelein said. “During her two trips around the track it was as if she was trying to cram four laps of effort and determination into just the two laps allowed within (the 800).”

On the boys side, Alex Murdy equaled Knoblich’s work, winning both the high jump and long jump, while running a leg on a winning relay team.

This time, it was the 4 x 100, where Dominic Coffman, Joven Light and Reiley Aracely joined in the fun.

While the Wolf athletes were hitting career-best times, an invaluable part of making the day a success came from volunteers, who stepped up to help Gabelein and fellow CMS coach Elizabeth Bitting.

On a day when high school track and field athletes were unavailable, thanks to preparing for Thursday’s district meet, the call went out and was answered.

“We want to send a huge “thank you” to all of the Coupeville School District staff and parents who stepped up to manage each of the field events,” Gabelein said.

“The logistics of hosting a track meet requires nearly 20 volunteers and their time and energy out there made it a successful meet for everyone to enjoy!”

 

Complete Wednesday results:

 

GIRLS:

100 — Savina Wells (5th) 15.24 *PR*; Lyla Stuurmans (7th) 15.28 *PR*; Mia Farris (9th) 15.33; Taygin Jump (11th) 15.49; Trinity McGee (14th) 15.79; Abigail Ramirez (16th) 15:92; Chloe Marzocca (22nd) 16.67; Brielle Armstrong (26th) 17.32 *PR*; Brionna Blouin (27th) 17.51 *PR*; Mary Kate Place (31st) 19.00 *PR*

200 — Stuurmans (3rd) 32.42; Jump (4th) 33.08 *PR; A. Ramirez (5th) 33.50 *PR*; Marzocca (7th) 35.14 *PR*; Camryn Clark (11th) 40.66; Place (12th) 43.58 *PR*

400 — Farris (2nd) 1:15.27 *PR*; Katie Marti (6th) 1:28.71

800 — Carolyn Lhamon (1st) 3:01.72; Helen Strelow (2nd) 3:03.01 *PR*

100 Hurdles — Stuurmans (7th) 20.63 *PR*; Wells (8th) 20.81 *PR*; Claire Mayne (9th) 21.08; Ryanne Knoblich (13th) 21.70 *PR*; C. Clark (25th) 25.53 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Stuurmans, Farris, Marzocca, Wells (3rd) 1:00.95; Desi Ramirez, Erica McGrath, Isabella Schooley, Armstrong (5th) 1:07.61

4 x 200 Relay — Mayne, Lhamon, Katie Buskala, Knoblich (1st) 2:10.09

Shot Put — Blouin (2nd) 20-09.25 *PR*; Jordyn Rogers (7th) 19-00.75; Lhamon (8th) 18-09.75 *PR*; Schooley (10th) 17-11.75; Allison Nastali (11th) 17-10.50; Merces Kalwies-Anderson (11th) 17-10.50; Marti (14th) 16-09.50; D. Ramirez (15th) 16-07.25

Discus — Marti (2nd) 59-06.50 *PR*; C. McGrath (3rd) 57-02 *PR*; Strelow (6th) 54-03; Blouin (7th) 50-06 *PR*; D. Ramirez (11th) 43-02.50 *PR*; E. McGrath (12th) 41-10.50 *PR*; Nastali (13th) 41-01 *PR*; Armstrong (16th) 38-03; C. Clark (22nd) 34-00

High Jump — Knoblich (1st) 4-06 *PR*; Kalwies-Anderson (3rd) 4-02; Wells (6th) 3-10; Rogers (6th) 3-10; McGee (10th) 3-08; Jump (10th) 3-08

Long Jump — Knoblich (1st) 13-07 *PR*; C. McGrath (3rd) 12-09 *PR*; Strelow (5th) 12-03; Mayne (8th) 12-00.50 *PR*; E. McGrath (9th) 11-11.50 *PR*; Marzocca (13th) 11-05.25 *PR*; D. Ramirez (22nd) 10-01.50 *PR*; Nastali (23rd) 9-09.75; Place (24th) 9-08.50 *PR*; Farris (25th) 9-08; Rogers (27th) 9-06.75; Blouin (28th) 9-06.25 *PR*; Kalwies-Anderson (29th) 9-05.25

 

BOYS:

100 — Reiley Araceley (2nd) 13.03 *PR*; Alex Murdy (3rd) 13.10 *PR*; Joven Light (6th) 13.72; Coen Killian (8th) 13.80; Dominic Coffman (12th) 14.17; Logan Downes (14th) 14.71; Nick Guay (16th) 14.86 *PR*; Timothy Nitta (18th) 15.36; Jacob Mathusek (19th) 15.48; Landon Roberts (20th) 15.97 *PR*; Tripp Radford (22nd) 16.49; Alex Clark (27th) 17.47 *PR*

200 — N. Guay (3rd) 30.14; Nitta (8th) 32.17; Josh Upchurch (9th) 33.81 *PR*; A. Clark (12th) 37.19

400 — Light (3rd) 1:04.29 *PR*; Josh Guay (6th) 1:10.56 *PR*; Upchurch (8th) 1:13.57

800 — Aiden Anderson (3rd) 2:49.94; Cole White (4th) 2:52.16 *PR*; Radford (5th) 2:52.28 *PR*; Hank Milnes (8th) 2:56.05; Tate Wyman (16th) 3:18.38

1600 — White (3rd) 5:55.44 *PR*; Anderson (6th) 6:07.01; Milnes (7th) 6:07.89; Mikey Robinett (10th) 6:19.12 *PR*; Roberts (11th) 6:21.30; Wyman (13th) 6:39.47

110 Hurdles — Roberts (7th) 21.01 *PR*; Radford (13th) 23.14; A. Clark (22nd) 28.59

4 x 100 Relay — Araceley, Coffman, Light, Murdy (1st) 52.18; Nitta, Robinett, N. Guay, Downes (5th) 58.08; White, Zane Oldenstadt, Ryan Blouin, Milnes (6th) 1:01.00

4 x 200 Relay — J. Guay, Araceley, Wyman, Mathusek (3rd) 2:04.29

Shot Put — Upchurch (5th) 28-00 *PR*; Oldenstadt (6th) 26-00.75 *PR*; William Davidson (10th) 24-08.25 *PR*; Blouin (19th) 18-04.25 *PR*

Discus — Oldenstadt (5th) 71-01.25 *PR*; Upchurch (7th) 64-09; Anderson (8th) 64-06 *PR*; Mathusek (19th) 50-10.50 *PR*; Davidson (20th) 50-04 *PR*; J. Guay (23rd) 44-10.50

High Jump — Murdy (1st) 5-02; Coffman (3rd) 4-10

Long Jump — Murdy (1st) 16-04.50; Killian (5th) 14-11.50 *PR*; Araceley (6th) 14-08.50; Coffman (9th) 13-04.50; Robinett (11th) 13-03.50 *PR*; White (12th) 13-01 *PR*; Downes (16th) 12-10 *PR*; Mathusek (17th) 12-09 *PR*; Wyman (19th) 12-05.50; Radford (24th) 11-05; Milnes (25th) 11-04.50; Blouin (31st) 10-04 *PR*; A. Clark (32nd) 9-11; Davidson (34th) 8-08.50 *PR*

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No need for rackets

May 8, 2019 by David Svien

Coupeville junior Tia Wurzrainer and doubles partner Avalon Renninger finished 2nd at the North Sound Conference tennis tourney, and are now off to bi-districts. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Well, at least they got to skip some school.

Coupeville High School netters Avalon Renninger and Tia Wurzrainer went back to Granite Falls Wednesday for day two of the North Sound Conference tennis tournament, but never had to play.

The Wolf duo, after going 2-1 Tuesday, had already clinched a spot at bi-districts, but didn’t know if they would go as the #2 or #3 seed from District 1.

Turns out they will be #2, and all without lifting a racket this afternoon.

Wurzrainer and Renninger waited as four other teams battled Wednesday, and when the last team standing was Ainsley Nelson and Farris Jokinen of South Whidbey, Coupeville got a walk-over win in the 2nd/3rd place match.

That was because the Wolves top doubles duo beat the #2 Falcon team Tuesday, claiming a 6-0, 7-6(7-2) win.

Coupeville would have only had to play Wednesday if King’s #2 team or Granite Falls #1 duo had emerged victorious from the four-team rumble.

Renninger and Wurzrainer open bi-districts Tuesday, May 14 at the Overlake School in Redmond, facing the #3 team from District 2’s Emerald City League in a loser’s out match.

Nelson and Jokinen face the Emerald City League’s #2 team the same day at the same location.

If either or both Whidbey teams survive, they advance to the semifinals May 17 at the Redmond Tennis Club.

Wurzrainer and Renninger would face the Emerald City League’s #1 team, while Nelson and Jokinen would run up against their own teammates, as Falcons Allison Papritz and Mary Zisette are the #1 seed from the North Sound Conference.

Two teams advance to state.

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Sarah goes South for softball

May 8, 2019 by David Svien

Coupeville softball star Sarah Wright has signed to play college ball for Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Softball is carrying Sarah Wright across the country.

The Coupeville High School senior signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play for Sewanee: The University of the South, an NCAA D-III school in Tennessee.

While attending the liberal arts college, Wright plans to study politics, but will also spend a fair amount of time hanging around the diamond.

“I can’t imagine my life without softball,” she said in her Senior Night farewell. “And I am blessed enough to continue to play the sport I love.

“Go Tigers!”

The school, which is commonly referred to as simply Sewanee, offers 24 varsity sports.

The softball squad, coached by Merrit Yackey, went 3-27 this spring and graduates five of 11 players, leaving plenty of opportunity for Wright to make an immediate impact.

During her time at CHS, she’s been a four-year starter at catcher, while also pulling some side duty at third base and in the pitcher’s circle.

One of the most-ferocious sluggers ever to pull on a Wolf uniform, she brings smarts, grit, a surprising amount of speed, and eye-popping power to the diamond.

Wright is hitting .621 this season, with 41 hits, including 12 doubles, two triples, and four home-runs, while scoring 32 times and picking up 30 RBI.

During a four-year run she’s shared with fellow seniors Veronica Crownover and Nicole Laxton, the trio has won back-to-back league titles as juniors and seniors, while never losing a game to arch-rival South Whidbey.

Wright also played basketball for three seasons, volleyball for two, and soccer for two, and was named Homecoming Queen her senior season.

Sewanee softball, which plays in the Southern Athletic Association, currently has players from Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, and Pennsylvania on its roster.

A deep dive into Wikipedia reveals the campus (referred to as “The Domain” or “The Mountain”), sits on 13,000 acres atop the Cumberland Plateau, overlooking the Tennessee Valley.

The school was established in 1857, is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and has a long history of athletic and academic achievement.

The Sewanee Review, founded in 1892, is the oldest continuously-published literary magazine in the country, while 26 Rhodes Scholars have been launched from the campus.

Playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner Tennessee Williams, author of landmark plays such as The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, left his literary rights to the school.

There’s now a performance venue and teaching facility on campus named in his honor, and the school offers Tennessee Williams teaching fellowships.

The school can also lay claim to one of the great early-day athletic success stories.

The 1899 Sewanee Tigers football team went 12-0, with 11 shutouts, outscoring their foes 322-10.

Five of those wins came during a six-day, 2,500-mile road trip by train.

In a 2012 vote held by the College Football Hall of Fame, the 1899 Sewanee team nipped the 1961 Alabama squad and was named “the greatest collegiate football team of all time.”

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