Feeds:
Posts
Comments
Uriel Liquidano (John Fisken photos)

Uriel Liquidano, busy being awesome. (John Fisken photos)

First you hear the explosion, then the screams.

Two kinds of screams.

When Uriel Liquidano unloads on a ball carrier, roaring across the football field and spearing them like a runaway missile, there’s often an audible boom.

Then, while his foe screams “Why? Why me?!?!?” through mouthfuls of turf, the Coupeville fans scream, just a lot happier.

Liquidano, who celebrates a birthday today, is a rampaging beast on the field, and we would have it no other way.

Cracking heads and blowing up blockers, Woody is a weapon, and it’s awfully nice to have him on the side of the good guys.

Following the example set by older brother Oscar, who rocked a few would-be rushers in his day, he has carved out a niche for himself.

As he gets ready for his senior season, the multi-sport wonder (he’s also a strong midfielder/defender for the Wolf boys’ soccer squad and could possibly return to basketball after some time off) is a key player for the CHS gridiron squad.

With the Wolves trying to bounce back from a 1-9 season, and with their third head coach in four years, elder statesmen like Uriel will be looked to as leaders and role models.

It’s a job he should fill nicely.

During his time in Coupeville, Liquidano has earned much love and respect from his teammates, and admiration from his fans.

He’s a rock-solid guy, well-liked by all it seems, and as talented off the field (where he sits on the honor roll) as on.

Our town got lucky when his family moved here, not just in picking up three athletes (Oscar, Uriel and younger sister Estefanny), but in nabbing a quality family.

From Uriel’s parents on down, the Liquidano clan is the best of what Coupeville is, and we wouldn’t be the same without them.

So happy birthday to a rampaging beast with a heart of gold, from all your many fans.

It’s ovalicious!!

(John Fisken photos)

Fresh, fragrant polyurethane as far as the eye can see. (John Fisken photos)

track

And from another angle.

track

A third angle?!?! Sure, why not.

long view

And the long view, looking down across the football field.

You can practically smell the new polyurethane just by looking at the photos.

Once you get done trying to scratch and sniff through your computer or phone screen, you can sit back and let the excitement bubble.

The lanes aren’t marked yet, but Coupeville High School’s new track oval continues to come more into focus with each new day.

When it’s finished, the eye-popping new orange(?) ring, which replaces the old, cracked black one, will once again allow CHS to host track meets.

The school is 17 days away from the first home football game of the new school year (Sept. 3 vs. South Whidbey), so expect finishing the track to be job #1 for everyone between now and then.

You could say they’re … racing … to finish.

Or you could not.

Party for Bennett!!

Bennett Boyles (Photo courtesy Pat Kelley)

Bennett Boyles (Photo courtesy Pat Kelley)

Two days until the biggest night of the summer.

People from near and far are expected to pack the Coupeville Rec Hall this Friday, Aug. 19 for an auction fundraiser to help an ailing Wolf hoops star.

Bennett Boyles, 11, finished three weeks of treatment for inoperable tumors on his brain stem and just returned home from Seattle, but he and his family still face a tough road ahead.

Bennett’s teachers at the Ebey Academy have been spearheading fundraisers all summer to help his mom, CHS grad Lucienne Rivera, a single mom of two who had to quit her job to take care of her son.

Friday night the Rec Hall will be jumping to the music of Jacobs Road, with more than 100 items up for auction.

Tickets are $10 and can be bought at the door (the rec hall is at 901 NW Alexander St., across the street from Christopher’s on Whidbey.)

The event, which runs from 6-10 PM, is open to all ages.

Beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be available, with wine and beer offered by donation thanks to Penn Cove Tap Room.

Some of the many items which will be up for auction:

Toby’s Tavern gift basket
Knead & Feed baking class
Framed, signed Steve Largent jersey
A party with Santa
A Seahawks tailgate party
Wine and cheese basket
A wheelbarrow full of beer
Photography sessions
A month of child care at Ebey Academy
Handyman hours
Oak Harbor Cinemas tickets
A fire pit with all the fixings

Strong with spirit!!

Happy (John Fisken photos)

   The hour was early, but the excitement was already rippling through the gym. (John Fisken photos)

Ja'Tarya Hoskins

   Ja’Tarya Hoskins, perhaps dreaming of those fading summer days when she could still sleep in.

Kiara

Senior Kiara Burdge provides veteran experience.

Mckenzie

   Tell Mckenzie Meyer cheer is not a sport (something I would NEVER do),  and she will break you in half.

team

Strong with spirit, they are.

No rest for the cheer warriors.

Coupeville High School cheerleaders were hard at work Wednesday morning, fine-tuning their routines in advance of the start of a new football season.

The Wolves will take to the sidelines for the first time Sept. 3, when CHS hosts South Whidbey in the Battle for The Bucket.

By then, Coupeville’s loudest ‘n proudest will be a well-oiled machine, honed to a razor edge by coach Cheridan Eck.

Falcon fans will never know what hit ’em.

Jacob Zettle (John Fisken photos)

Jacob Zettle puts in work during summer drills. (John Fisken photos)

Freshman Dawson Houston

Freshman Dawson Houston (left) runs the offense during a scrimmage.

(Claire Mietus photo)

   Coupeville’s five home football games are represented in these incredibly-detailed welcome signs drawn (freehand!!) by Wolf cheerleader Claire Mietus.

And so, it begins, again.

The 2016-2017 prep sports year officially kicks off at 9 AM Wednesday morning, as Coupeville High School football takes to the practice field for the first time in the Jon Atkins era.

Girls soccer, volleyball and boys tennis follow suit next Monday, Aug. 22, with the first official game Sept. 3, when the Wolves host South Whidbey on the gridiron.

With the Wolf seniors playing for their third coach in their prep career (Tony Maggio as freshmen/sophomores and Brett Smedley as juniors), it’ll be a season of transition.

The hope is to make it a successful one, as well, as Coupeville looks to improve on last year’s 1-9 mark.

Thoughts from the players as they pull on their helmets and prepare to put in work:

Jacob Zettle (junior):

This season is going to be a fresh start for us all; new playbook, new coach, new start.

I am excited and have been preparing all year, from getting in the weight room to catching with our quarterback.

We will have fun out there, and we will play hard.

And I can tell you this much, we ain’t goin’ 1-9 this year.

Hunter Downes (junior):

I just want to freaking win!

Clay Reilly (senior):

All I’ve got is I’m ready to embarrass South Whidbey and bring back The Bucket!

Jacob Martin (senior):

I think this season will be great because we’re disciplined, and have good leadership.

Our team goal is to win league and make the playoffs.

My knee is healing up well and I might make the first game.

Uriel Liquidano (senior):

South Whidbey doesn’t know what’s coming their way.

I just hope they are ready, because we have some hungry Wolves that want to eat some chicken.

It’s going to be a great season!