Coupeville Sports

“We couldn’t get the bats working”

May 2, 2016 by David Svien

CJ Smith had one of the few hits for Coupeville Monday in a 3-0 loss. (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)

Seven steps forward, one step backward.

A game after they clinched their first league title in 25 years, the Coupeville High School baseball squad came out a bit flat Monday afternoon.

Call it a hangover loss.

Unable to generate much offense, the Wolves fell 3-0 at Chimacum, taking their first league defeat under first-year head coach Marc Aparicio.

Now 7-1 in the 1A Olympic League, 10-9 overall, CHS will wrap its regular season with a home game against Klahowya Wednesday.

Win or lose, the Wolves open district play May 10 at Curtis High School.

They’ll also play May 12 and possibly May 14 and will need two wins to advance to state.

To see the playoff bracket, hop over to: http://www.olympicleague.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=1906&sport=6

Facing off with a foe they had beaten by a single run in each of their first two meetings, Coupeville got stung early Monday.

Chimacum plated all three of its runs in the first inning, using a couple of singles and two Wolf errors to do their damage.

It was the only time all afternoon the Cowboys had much going at the plate, but it turned out to be enough, as Coupeville struggled offensively.

“We played well, but couldn’t get the bats working,” Aparicio said.

Coupeville went down in order three times, and only managed to get more than one runner on in the same inning twice in the game.

Singles from CJ Smith and Cole Payne in the first went for naught, while a brief fourth inning rally sputtered out as quickly as it began.

Posted in Baseball | Tagged 1A Olympic League, baseball, Chimacum, CHS Wolves, first loss | Leave a Comment »

Goals “R” Us!!

May 2, 2016 by David Svien

Cody Menges (14) is one of seven WOlves to have scored this season. (John Fisken photos)

Cody Menges (14) is one of eight Wolves to have scored this season. (John Fisken photos)

Ethan Spark (15) jumps into Tanner Kircher’s arms as Garrett Compton (right) joins them in a post-goal celebration.

The offense is clickin’.

The season is not over for the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad, but they have already amassed their most successful goal-scoring campaign in recent memory.

And it’s not even close.

With at least two more games on the schedule — the regular season finale at Klahowya Tuesday and a playoff game Thursday in Oak Harbor — the Wolves have tallied 46 goals this season.

They have also scored in every one of their 13 games this season, unheard of consistency for a program which had been shutout at least five times a season for five years running.

At the center of the attack has been senior Abraham Leyva, who broke his own school single-season scoring record.

After tallying 25 goals combined over his first two seasons at CHS (11 as a sophomore and 14 as a junior) Leyva has 20 this year, having scored in all but one game.

Here’s a look at how this year’s Wolves compare to the last five teams to suit up:

2016 — 46 goals in 13 games, zero shutouts (5-7-1 record)
2015 — 35 goals in 14 games, six shutouts (3-11-0)
2014 — 22 goals in 17 games, five shutouts (5-10-2)
2013 — 15 goals in 17 games, nine shutouts (3-14-0)
2012 — 27 goals in 18 games, six shutouts (10-8-0)
2011 — 30 goals in 17 games, seven shutouts (6-11-0)

Both the 2011 and 2012 teams won playoff games, the last times the CHS boys’ soccer squad triumphed in the postseason.

The ’11 team beat Meridian 3-0, then was nipped 2-1 by Seattle Christian, while the ’12 booters bopped Meridian 1-0 and were eliminated 1-0 by Cedar Park Christian (Bothell).

And a look at this year’s scoring chart:

Abraham Leyva — 20
Ethan Spark — 8
Zane Bundy — 5
William Nelson — 5
Zack Nall — 3
Andre Avila — 2
Sebastian Davis — 2
Cody Menges — 1

Posted in Boys Soccer | Tagged Abraham Leyva, CHS Wolves, Ethan Spark, goals, Soccer, Zane Bundy | Leave a Comment »

Sluggers swing into spring!!

May 2, 2016 by David Svien

“Listen, and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are struck out.” (John Fisken photos)

Veronica Crownover dares the pitcher to try and slip one past her.

Is this new, or has it always been there and I’m just legally blind?

Hannah Benway prepares to go from zero to 160 MPH at the mere crack of the bat.

Nicole Lester is taking this one downtown.

The later in the season, the better the weather gets.

That’s true every spring, and this year is no different.

Taking advantage of the suddenly-abundant sunshine, the Coupeville High School softball squad drilled visiting Port Townsend Friday, while the rays also helped wanderin’ photo man John Fisken focus his camera.

The pics above are courtesy him.

To see more, and possibly purchase some, thereby helping fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes. pop over to:

http://www.olympicleague.com/index.php?act=view_gallery&gallery=11402&league=21&page=1&page_name=photo_store&school=24&sport=0

Posted in Softball | Tagged CHS Wolves, Hannah Benway, John Fisken photos, Nicole Lester, Softball | Leave a Comment »

Birthday buddies soar sky high!!

May 2, 2016 by David Svien

Ethan Marx fires in a ball while patrolling the outfield during a CHS baseball practice. (John Fisken photos)

Genna Wright, surveying her kingdom.

They’re keeping the family business strong.

Ethan Marx and Genna Wright, who celebrate a joint birthday today, are both the youngest in families with a strong Coupeville athletic tradition.

Marx, who just days ago delivered a three-run double to propel the Wolf baseball squad to its first league title in 25 years, follows on the heels of older sister Haley, a star soccer and basketball player at CHS.

Wright is the latest in a long line of super-talented folks from her family, a diverse group that includes a host of older siblings and cousins.

She’s only a 7th grader, and is the youngest birthday celebrator we’ve featured in this series, but she’s already turning heads.

A fiery, fun-lovin’ competitor, no matter the sport (and she plays just about everything plus spends a considerable amount of time on the slopes), Genna takes most closely after older sister Sarah.

Both play at 120 MPH, crashing around and through teammates when necessary and are a lot of fun, on and off the court.

Marx may be a little quieter, but he’s just as dedicated, and, obviously, doesn’t shy away from the spotlight of the big stage.

As the duo hit their cake day, we just want to take a moment to wish them both happy birthday and all the best for their (very bright) futures.

You’re both legacies, and you’re upholding that legacy extremely well.

Good on you.

Posted in Happy birthday | Tagged CHS Wolves, CMS Wolves, Ethan Marx, Genna Wright, Happy birthday, legacies | Leave a Comment »

Bepler writes another chapter in family’s success story!!

May 1, 2016 by David Svien

Ariah Bepler (right) heads off to track practice with partner in crime Hunter Downes. (John Fisken photo)

Ariah Bepler is Wolf Nation royalty.

His parents (Mark and Kim (Stuurmans) Bepler) were both strong athletes during their time at Coupeville High School, and you spread out from there.

Uncles, brothers of uncles, aunts, cousins, all the way to grandpa Cec Stuurmans, who is one of the best-regarded coaches in school history, and it’s obvious athletic success is in the bloodlines.

Which was why it was so nice to see Ariah and his family return to Whidbey Island before the start of this school year, allowing the ever-growing sophomore to rejoin the family business.

He’s made an immediate impact this year, playing basketball in the winter and competing in track and field this spring.

Bepler has taken full advantage of the freedom track offers, trying nine events this year, with his best work in the 300 meter hurdles.

“This was my year to try out all the events I think I might like,” he said. “I like the freedom of choices, and the giant group of friends working together as a team.”

“I haven’t honed in on anything in particular this year. Just feeling like a jack of all trades right now,” Bepler added. “I’ll know more about my strengths and specialize more next year.

“I’d like to find the event that suits me best so I can focus more attention on that for the upcoming years.”

Bepler first picked up the sport as a seventh grader in Oregon, where he was lured in by getting to spend time with classmates.

“It was a huge team and I wanted to compete with a fun group of friends.”

The move back to his parents old stomping grounds has reunited him with much of his sprawling family, while offering Bepler the chance to shine in a more intimate arena.

“Being in Coupeville offers me more choices than the bigger schools I have attended previously,” he said. “It makes school so much more fun to be able to participate.”

Bepler greatly enjoyed his time on the hard-court, as well (“I played basketball this year and love that sport”) and is considering picking up a fall sport for his junior year.

Regardless of which sports he ends up in, he’s guaranteed a large fan base, for which he is appreciative.

“All my family has played sports in Coupeville, but my parents have had the biggest impact encouraging me,” Bepler said.

Away from the games, he enjoys action/adventure movies (“in particular well-choreographed fight scenes”), hanging out with friends and his engineering class, where he gets to apply his design and architecture skills.

He also has a lesser-known talent of which he is justifiably proud.

“I love to make up and draw animated characters and story lines.”

Posted in Track | Tagged Ariah Bepler, Basketball, CHS Wolves, legacy, track and field, Wolf Nation | Leave a Comment »

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