CHS volleyball coaches Chris Smith (left) and Cory Whitmore are primed for a long playoff run. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Playoffs? We’re definitely talking about the playoffs.
As we slide into the second half of Oct., the end of regular season play for high school fall sports fast approaches, and that means the postseason can’t be too far behind.
While there are still about a thousand different ways this could all play out (give or take one or two dozen), here’s what I think I know as of today.
Boys Tennis:
Coupeville wraps its regular season at home today, Wednesday, Oct. 17, hosting Eastside Prep on Senior Night.
After that, the Wolves send two singles players and two doubles teams to the Emerald City League tourney Oct. 19 at the Amy Yee Tennis Center in Seattle.
This is the only sport in which CHS doesn’t compete as a member of the North Sound Conference, as only two of the league’s six teams (Coupeville and South Whidbey) play boys tennis.
So, instead, the Wolf and Falcon netters jumped out of District 1 and linked up with the ECL, which is comprised of private schools from District 2.
It’s a brutal eight-team league filled to the brim with state title contenders, mainly from juggernauts Seattle Academy, Overlake and University Prep, so the chances any Whidbey players advance to districts Oct. 20 is slim.
But you never know. An injury here, a torrid run on the court there, and miracles can, and do, happen.
Cross country:
The next three Saturdays will tell the tale of who the top harriers in the state are.
Coupeville runs at the North Sound Conference Championships in Lakewood Oct. 20 (minus sophomore Catherine Lhamon, who is the sixth-fastest female in the league, but also rehabbing an injury), then competes at bi-districts at South Whidbey Oct. 27.
The top 36 boys and 42 girls at that second race, which combines District 1 (North Sound Conference and Northwest Conference) with District 2 (Emerald City League), advance to the state meet Nov. 3 in Pasco.
Wolf senior Danny Conlisk is seeking his second-straight trip to the big dance, while Lhamon is expected to be back and ready to go in time for districts.
Football:
This is where CHS has the biggest up-hill battle.
The Wolves sit at 0-3 in league play, with two games to go, which leaves them a game off of Granite Falls (1-2) and Sultan (1-2) in the quest for the league’s fourth and final playoff berth.
If Coupeville finishes strongly and edges the Tigers and Turks, it will host a loser-out playoff game Oct. 30 against the #3 seed from the NWC, which is currently Lynden Christian.
Win that rumble and the Wolves travel to the home of the #1 NWC seed (Mount Baker and Meridian are currently tied) to play for a spot in the 16-team state tourney.
If the postseason doesn’t happen, there are two scenarios for a week #10 non-playoff game to wrap the season.
Finish #5 in the league standings, and Coupeville gets a cross-over game on the road with the #4 team from the NWC, currently Nooksack Valley.
Remain as the #6 NSC squad and it’s up to CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith to scramble and find another non-playoff team interested in picking up an extra game.
If that happens, the game could be home or away, depending on what’s worked out.
The football playoff bracket:
http://www.nscathletics.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=2738&sport=1
Girls Soccer:
Heading into the regular-season finale at Granite Falls Wednesday, the Wolves are tied with Sultan for the #5 playoff seed, but own a tiebreaker thanks to an extra point picked up for going to double-overtime in one of their league losses.
If something hinky happens, and the Turks make up that point, without slipping past Coupeville, the teams would stage a play-in game on the turf in Sultan Oct. 20 to decide who moves on, and who’s done.
More likely, if things hold as they are, the Wolves nab the last slot and open the modified double-elimination district playoffs Oct. 22 on the road with a loser-out game against the NSC #3 seed, most likely South Whidbey.
Upset their Island neighbors (or Granite Falls, if things fall that way) and Coupeville is guaranteed at least two more playoff games Oct. 24 and 27, needing just one win to advance to bi-districts, which run Oct. 30-Nov. 3.
The soccer playoff bracket:
http://www.nscathletics.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=2747&sport=11
Volleyball:
The sport where Coupeville holds the strongest position, having already clinched a playoff berth.
The Wolves, who are sitting in second place at 5-2 with three games to go, still have a (long) shot to upend defending state champ King’s (7-0) and claim the league crown, and can finish no lower than fourth in the regular season standings.
Districts are Oct. 27 and 30, are double-elimination, and will kick four of eight teams on to bi-districts Nov. 3.
The first day of districts plays out at two sites, with the #1 seeds from the NSC (currently King’s) and NWC (Lynden Christian) hosting four-team brackets. The second day of districts is at Lynden Christian.
The volleyball playoff bracket:
http://www.nscathletics.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=2745&sport=1
