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Look back, move forward

November 10, 2024 by David Svien

Hunter (left) and Hurlee Bronec are leaving the outdoors behind and heading into the gym for basketball season. (Danica Strong photos)

One week left.

Or actually more like three or four days.

Fall sports comes to a close for Coupeville High School this coming week, with volleyball making a trek to Yakima for the state tourney Wednesday and possibly Thursday.

The Wolf spikers are the last team standing as soccer, football, cross country, and cheer have wrapped their campaigns.

So that means today’s look at the standings is our last one until basketball season kicks into gear.

Ari Armstrong, Nick Shelly and associates have gotten CHS sports off to a strong start this fall.

 

Northwest League boys’ soccer:

School League Overall
Orcas Island 8-0-0 17-2-0
Lopez Island 6-2-0 14-2-0
PC Christian 6-2-0 12-4-2
Coupeville 4-4-0 6-8-1
Friday Harbor 4-4-0 8-7-0
MV Christian 4-4-0 9-5-1
CPC-Lynnwood 2-6-0 5-9-0
La Conner 2-6-0 2-11-1
Grace Academy 0-8-0 2-12-0

 

Northwest League football — (11-Man):

School League Overall
Coupeville 1-1 5-4
Friday Harbor 1-1 4-5

 

Northwest League football — (8-Man):

School League Overall
Darrington 1-0 5-5
La Conner 0-0 3-4
Concrete 0-1 3-6

 

Northwest League volleyball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 10-0 16-0
Darrington 6-2 18-5
La Conner 6-4 12-9
Orcas Island 6-4 12-10
MV Christian 4-6 7-10
Concrete 1-7 9-11
Friday Harbor 0-10 2-13

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Another night, another gem

November 9, 2024 by David Svien

The champs. (Mark Saia photo)

The Wolf spikers are making history on a daily basis.

Led by a very strong pack of seniors, the 2024 edition of the Coupeville High School varsity volleyball squad continues to put together a run like no other.

The latest conquest came Saturday at La Conner, where the Wolves polished off Orcas Island in straight sets to get to a program-record 16-0, claim the District 1/2 title, and punch a return trip to the state tourney.

Keyed by a hit-happy offense and a scrambling defense, CHS swept the Vikings off the floor to a 25-4, 25-20, 25-15 tune.

“Really proud of all the people and effort — well before tonight — that went into a district championship,” said Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore.

“We came out firing in the first and they made some adjustments to keep it a lot closer in the second.

“But going up 2-0 I was proud of the girls for keeping laser focus on the goal, playing point-to-point and finishing the job.”

The Wolves celebrate on Instagram, and I am here to poach the pics.

Senior setter Katie Marti, having flown past 1,000 career assists recently, continued to add to her torrid total, lofting pinpoint passes to her big hitters.

And whether the ball landed on the ferocious fingertips of Mia Farris, Teagan Calkins, Madison McMillan, or Lyla Stuurmans, the hapless orb quickly got the crud pounded out of it.

Spraying kills from all angles, the Wolves were, once again, too much for Orcas to handle for an extended period of time.

“Our offense looked really sharp all night, hitting with very few errors and very in-rhythm,” Whitmore said.

Teagan Calkins, Coupeville’s kill queen this season, basks in the afterglow. (Mark Saia photo)

“I’m so proud of how we’ve prepared in practice for these chances to play in big games,” Whitmore said. “And, of course, I’m proud of our program pushing to return to state.

“We are looking forward to the experience and pushing to play as deep into playoffs as possible.”

Coupeville, which is currently ranked #2 among all 2B schools by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, will find out its state tourney path Sunday, when teams are seeded, and the 16-team bracket is announced.

The double-elimination rumble is set for Nov. 13-14 at the Yakima SunDome.

This is the seventh time Coupeville volleyball has advanced to the big dance, and the third under Whitmore.

The Wolves, led by coaches Kim Meche and Toni Crebbin, qualified four straight years from 2001-2004, before making it back in 2017 and 2023 with Whitmore at the helm.

 

Saturday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 4 digs
Teagan Calkins — 8 kills, 1 block assist
Mia Farris — 10 kills, 5 digs, 4 aces
Jada Heaton — 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 block assist
Katie Marti — 1 kill, 4 digs, 26 assists, 6 aces
Madison McMillan — 3 kills, 9 digs, 3 assists
Lyla Stuurmans — 11 kills, 2 digs, 1 ace, 2 solo blocks
Tenley Stuurmans — 2 digs, 1 assist

Coupeville’s seniors roll on. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

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“They all ran beautifully!”

November 9, 2024 by David Svien

Coupeville cross country runners, ready to rumble. (Photos courtesy Elizabeth Bitting)

They finished the season like they started it — leaving everything out on the course.

Putting in some of their best times of the campaign Saturday at the 2B state cross country championships in Pasco, the Coupeville High School harriers closed with a bang.

“They all ran beautifully!” said Wolf coach Elizabeth Bitting. “What a cap off to an already great season!!”

Coupeville, which revived its cross country program in 2017 after a two-decade shut down, sent 11 runners East this time, most of the new era.

The Wolf boys had a full team in the competition and earned 9th place, one spot better than their finish last year.

Cle Elum-Roslyn claimed the boys’ team title, while Coupeville’s Northwest 2B/1B League rival Mount Vernon Christian was 7th.

Dexter Delaney, a senior from Liberty, won the individual crown.

The Wolf girls ran strongly.

On the girls’ side of things, it was incredibly close, with Rainier nipping Pope John Paul II 71-72 for the team crown.

Friday Harbor finished 8th as a unit to give the NWL its best showing among schools which qualified a full female team.

Top individual honors on the 5,000-meter course at the Sun Willows Golf Course went to Regan Thomas, a junior from Saint George’s.

Seniors (left to right) Carson Field, Landon Roberts, and Thomas Strelow score a photo op with their running guru.

Saturday’s meet was the last one for three Wolf seniors, as Carson Field, Landon Roberts, and Thomas Strelow reached the final finish line after helping rebuild their school’s running program.

“It’s an end of an era!” Bitting said. “Missing those senior boys already. Heavy sigh.”

But the future is a bright one, as eight of the 11 Wolves who ran in Pasco can return next year.

That group includes two freshmen (Mikayla Wagner, Devon Wyman), two sophomores (Kenneth Jacobsen, Ethan Walling), and four juniors.

Aleksia Jump, Ezekiel Allen, Aleera Kent, and George Spear will be seniors next year, as will be Noelle Western, a two-time state meet qualifier who was denied a third trip by injuries.

 

Saturday results:

 

GIRLS:

Mikayla Wagner (36th) 21:45.60
Aleera Kent (69th) 23:05.10
Aleksia Jump (81st) 23:31.30
Devon Wyman (90th) 24:02.90

 

BOYS:

Carson Field (28th) 17:48.40
George Spear (37th) 18:14.30
Landon Roberts (38th) 18:16.20
Ezekiel Allen (49th) 18:33.80
Kenneth Jacobsen (55th) 18:51.20
Thomas Strelow (81st) 19:43.70
Ethan Walling (94th) 20:40.20

Bow Down to Cow Town.

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Richter resigns!! (No, not from football)

November 8, 2024 by David Svien

Bennett Richter cradles his lil’ daughter last winter. Now his offspring is a ready-to-rumble one-year-old. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Family life calls.

With a precocious young daughter ready to learn the art of the crossover dribble and a wife who’ll be deep in coaching basketball during the winter, Bennett Richter is stepping back just a bit.

The ever-popular coach is still in charge of the Coupeville High School football program, but after two years, he will let others guide the town’s middle school girls’ hoops players.

Richter’s departure from the CMS post will be official once approved by the school board at its meeting next week.

In his resignation letter, he offered his thanks and well wishes.

 

Over the past two years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team and have learned so much about coaching and supporting young athletes.

Watching these players grow and develop both on and off the court has been a rewarding experience that I will always treasure.

As I look forward to spending more time with my one-year-old daughter, I am also excited to have the opportunity to support my wife as she continues her own journey as a basketball coach.

While stepping away from this position is bittersweet, I am grateful for the memories, friendships, and valuable lessons I have gained during my time with the team.

Thank you for the trust you placed in me and for all the support from the school, the students, and their families.

I look forward to cheering on the team from the sidelines and celebrating their continued success.

Warm regards,

Bennett Richter

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Look how they massacred my boy!!

November 8, 2024 by David Svien

Whoomp! There it is..

“Hit the gas, Harold!! The feral cats have hammers and they’re coming for us!!”

What do you mean the mailman won’t deliver now??

It’s the most dangerous intersection on Whidbey Island.

If you’re a mailbox.

Trying to live as a receptacle for bills and political ads?

Don’t park your tuchus where Sherman Road drops down to meet Madrona.

Three times now … THREE TIMES … someone operating a motor vehicle has hit the mailbox serving 165 Sherman, otherwise known as Coupeville Sports World Headquarters.

The first time, the tourist with the too-wide turn stopped to apologize and arrange to pay for the damage.

The second time was an Island Transit bus, and SPOILER ALERT, Island Transit has yet to make good on its promise to repair the damage.

Now, as of Thursday night, I’m pretty sure this mailbox is finally down for the count.

Did Moron #3 stop? No, they did not.

Did they scratch up their vehicle nice and good? One certainly hopes so.

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