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No quit in scrappy Wolves!!

September 5, 2017 by David Svien

   Joey Lippo fires up a serve against hazy skies as he and William Nelson roll to a season-opening win. (Joe Lippo photos)

   The stands were crammed as Wolf soccer players and cheerleaders dropped by the match before their practices started.

The fans who stayed to the end got a show.

Playing under hazy skies, the Coupeville High School boys tennis squad opened a new season Tuesday with a narrow 4-3 non-conference loss to big 2A school Port Angeles.

But while the Wolves represent a tiny 1A school with barely a quarter of the student population the Roughriders draw from (PA wins that battle 876-227), the CHS netters are a scrappy bunch.

Case in point, the day’s final match.

With play on all other courts finished, the score cards pulled and Port Angeles one step away from jumping on the bus and hauling tail for the ferry, Zach Ginnings and Drake Borden still had one final message to deliver to the big city folks.

The Wolf duo, a sophomore and freshman, respectively, battled blow for blow with their rivals, storming back to win in the #4 doubles slot with canny shot-making.

In a match full of long rallies and points pulled out with last-second miracle shots, Ginnings and Borden displayed a sweet touch on their volleys which earned an appreciative nod and smile from veteran Wolf coach Ken Stange.

His young guns ability to create was one of the true bright spots on a day when the sun was camped behind a thick layer of Canadian fire-driven smog.

Equally on point were seniors William Nelson and Joey Lippo, who romped to a quick win at #1 doubles, and sophomore Mason Grove, who cruised to a forceful victory in straight sets at #3 singles.

Nelson and Lippo, who came within a step of advancing to state a season ago, picked right back up, mashing big overheads and fooling the Roughriders with a variety of slick serves.

At one point Lippo cranked several winners in a row, sending the ball slamming off the court with enough kick to then cause it to shoot up and over the fence and land in a nearby housing development.

While the crowd argued over whether a tennis player could accurately be described as “hammering the ball” (I vote yes and the hapless tennis ball surely agrees with me), the serene Wolf duo remained low-key from opening warmup to final ace.

If they make it to state, Nelson and Lippo, a tandem not exactly prone to huge on-court celebrations, might go as far as tapping racquets.

Might.

On this day, the slightest of nods as they walked off the court, step one completed successfully on their final tennis journey.

 

Complete Tuesday results:

Varsity:

1st Singles — Nick Etzell lost to Kenny Soule 6-1, 6-2

2nd Singles — Jakobi Baumann lost to Hayden Woods 6-3, 6-1

3rd Singles — Mason Grove beat Henry Shaw 6-4, 6-0

1st Doubles — William Nelson/Joey Lippo beat Lucas Jarnigan/Milo Whitman 6-1, 6-2

2nd Doubles — Pedro Gamarra/Nile Lockwood lost to Hunter Dougherty/Jaden Seibiel 6-4, 6-3

3rd Doubles — Jaschon Baumann/Tiger Johnson lost to Brady Nickerson/Kyler Tourbin 6-1, 6-1

4th Doubles — Zach Ginnings/Drake Borden beat Wyatt Hall/Tanner Price 7-5

JV:

5th Doubles — Harris Sinclair/Thane Peterson lost to Dan Clark/Caleb Flodstrum 8-1

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My kingdom for a lawn chair!!

September 4, 2017 by David Svien

   While we wait for a new grandstand to arrive, CHS football fans should expect to sit as close together as the Wolves are in this pic. (John Fisken photo)

Patience is a virtue.

While it’s true Coupeville High School will have a new football grandstand at some point in the near future, it won’t be in place for the home opener against La Conner this Friday.

And that means fans are going to be cozy for a bit.

Once in place, the new grandstand will sit in front of the apartments on what was previously the visitors side of the field.

The ground has been prepared, concrete supports have been laid, but thanks to delays by the grandstand manufacturer, the local guys are left twiddling their thumbs.

With everything in mid-construction, that side of the field will be roped off Friday and all fans, Coupeville and non-Coupeville, get to congregate together on the far side of the field.

If you attended a game last year, you know seating on that side of the field is limited.

When the old grandstand and (bee-infested, but deeply-missed) press box were ripped out prior to the 2016 football season, two smaller sections of bleachers were moved in to form what will one day officially be the visitors stands.

For now, those bleachers and the surrounding grass and track will provide one dumping ground for home and road fans alike.

So, either arrive early (kickoff is 7 PM), bring a lawn chair or get used to standing.

One thing that could help is Coupeville’s gridiron schedule begins with four of the first six games on the road.

After facing La Conner, the Wolves welcome Charles Wright Academy to town Sept. 22, then don’t play at home again until mid-Oct.

If we’re lucky, that shiny new grandstand will be in place in time for Coupeville’s late-season three-game home-stand (Oct. 13 vs Bellevue Christian, Oct. 20 vs. Klahowya, Oct. 27 vs. Chimacum).

Hey, miracles can happen.

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Another game, another record!!

September 3, 2017 by David Svien

   Hunter Smith broke the CHS career receiving yardage record Friday night, and missed the single-game mark by just two yards. (John Fisken photo)

Hunter Smith is coming for all the records. I said all of them!

The Coupeville High School senior now owns at least a share of five Wolf football records, and came within a measly two yards Friday night of getting a sixth one.

Smith hauled in seven passes for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns to spark CHS to an 18-0 win over host South Whidbey.

His first catch of the night, a 12-yard reception, gave him the school’s career receiving yards record.

Chad Gale racked up 1,345 yards in the late ’80s, and Smith had 1,335 entering the 2017 season.

The record Smith narrowly missed was the single-game mark for receiving yards.

While his 200 yards topped his own personal best (178, which Smith hit once as a sophomore and once as a junior), Gale’s 202 yards from an ’87 game is still the gold standard … if just barely.

The quarterback flinging passes Smith’s way, senior Hunter Downes, threw for 310 yards, just 13 off his personal best (323 vs. Charles Wright as a junior).

The Hunter to Hunter connection was the big news, but plenty of other Wolves posted sterling stats in the opening night victory.

Where we stand after week one, as compiled by CHS coaches and posted on MaxPreps:

OFFENSE:

Passing:

Hunter Downes 13-26 for 310 yards with 3 TDs and 2 INTs

Receiving:

Hunter Smith 7 receptions for 200 yards
Sean Toomey-Stout 1-57
Matt Hilborn 2-39
Cameron Toomey-Stout 2-8
Shane Losey 1-6

Rushing:

S. Toomey-Stout 5 carries for 54 yards
Smith 2-5
Chris Battaglia 1-2
Hilborn 6 (-14)
Downes 6 (-27)

All-Purpose Yards (Rush/Rec/KR/PR/IR):

Smith 205
S. Toomey-Stout 111
C. Toomey-Stout 50
Hilborn 25
Losey 6
Battaglia 2
Downes (-27)

Total Yards (Rush/Pass/Rec):

Downes 283
Smith 205
S. Toomey-Stout 111
Hilborn 25
C. Toomey-Stout 8
Losey 6
Battaglia 2

Touchdowns:

Smith 2
S. Toomey-Stout 1

Points:

Smith 12
S. Toomey-Stout 6

DEFENSE:

Tackles:

S. Toomey-Stout 14
Battaglia 12
Hilborn 8
Dane Lucero 8
Julian Welling 7
Losey 6
Jake Pease 6
C. Toomey-Stout 6
James Vidoni 5
Trevor Bell 3
Jake Hoagland 3
Smith 3
Andrew Martin 1

Interceptions:

C. Toomey-Stout 2

Fumble recoveries:

Hoagland 1
Pease 1
Welling 1

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Kickoffs:

Hilborn 4 for 140 yards

Punts:

Downes 2 for 40 yards

Kickoff/Punt returns:

C. Toomey-Stout 1 for 12 yards

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The battle begins!!

September 3, 2017 by David Svien

   Trevor Bell had a strong defensive game Friday as Coupeville rolled to a win in its season opener. (John Fisken photo)

Big wins, big losses and a forfeit.

Week one of the high school football season brought a little bit of everything to the eight teams which make up the Olympic/Nisqually League.

Overall, the schools won four of seven non-conference games, while Port Townsend forfeited its match-up with 2A Sequim, citing “a lack of eligible players.”

It was a sour start for the RedHawks, who have been a dominant program in recent years.

They lost their best player, senior Detrius Kelsall, when he unexpectedly transferred to Shasta High School in Redding, CA, and currently sit with a shockingly-low 26 players on their roster.

The news was much better for most league schools, with Coupeville retaining The Bucket after drilling South Whidbey and defending league champ Cascade Christian rolling in its opener.

The key to victory? Having a C at the start of your school’s name, as Chimacum and Charles Wright Academy also won.

Week 1 scores:

Coupeville 18
South Whidbey 0

Bremerton 45
Klahowya 6

Charles Wright 19
Toledo 18

Forks 68
Vashon Island 0

Chimacum 21
Neah Bay 6

Cascade Christian 41
Orting 7

Cedar Park Christian 14
Bellevue Christian 7

Sequim 2
Port Townsend 0

Olympic/Nisqually League football standings:

School League Overall
COUPEVILLE 0-0 1-0
Cascade Christian 0-0 1-0
Charles Wright 0-0 1-0
Chimacum 0-0 1-0
Bellevue Christian 0-0 0-1
Klahowya 0-0 0-1
Port Townsend 0-0 0-1
Vashon Island 0-0 0-1

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“I’m happy with what I saw today!!”

September 2, 2017 by David Svien

CHS sophomore Scout Smith had a stellar varsity debut. (John Fisken photo)

Release the butterflies.

Opening a new volleyball season at a jamboree, like Coupeville did Saturday, is a good way for players to deal with nerves while honing skills, something CHS coach Cory Whitmore appreciates.

“I’m happy with what I saw today,” he said. “It’s a great way to get the first game butterflies out prior to league and non-league play.

“What impressed me most, and what I wanted to see from today’s competition, was a progression forward,” Whitmore added. “With each time we played either team, we improved.

“We have to work on our consistency for each of the six skills but we set the tone for our capabilities with a solid foundation to move forward in the season.”

Coupeville faced off in three-set matches with Darrington and host Oak Harbor, with both the varsity and JV getting ample floor time.

Whitmore praised the play of sophomore Scout Smith, who is making the jump to the Wolf varsity this season.

With senior setter Lauren Rose sitting out with a leg injury (she lost a fight with a picnic table), Smith played the full six sets, and was the only Coupeville player not to come off the floor.

“Each player had standout moments and when we had six on at a time clicking, things looked solid,” Whitmore said. “As the only sophomore to be on varsity, also in her first outing at the varsity level and never step off the floor, I’m really proud of Scout’s performance and calmness under pressure.”

While Whitmore ran the varsity crew, new JV coach Chris Smith made his debut calling the shots for the farm team.

“Our JV — a large 15-girl group — settled into learning the rotations behind the direction of Chris,” Whitmore said. “I’m happy with what I saw there too.

“Our strong group of sophomores did a fantastic job of settling into their roles as well as helping out the group of freshmen learning on the fly,” he added. “Learning rotations and making adjustments based on positions is a tough thing to do and I was pleased with the base they too have set to progress in consistency.”

Having enjoyed the low-pressure kickoff (“shout out to Oak Harbor for putting on a small, but smooth-running, fun jamboree”), Whitmore now turns to focus on the regular season.

Coupeville opens on the road Tuesday, the first day of school, with a non-conference tilt at Mount Vernon Christian.

“Quick turn-around with no practice time in between,” Whitmore said. “So we will make our adjustments on the fly and always look forward to the next game and challenge.”

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