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Bob Barker’s got more knowledge to drop!!

March 14, 2016 by David Svien

Barry Brown

  Wolf legends Barry Brown and Jeff Stone, with some of their ’67-’68 basketball teammates. (Photo courtesy Stone)

Bob Barker (Photo courtesy Sherry Roberts)

Bob Barker (Photo courtesy Sherry Roberts)

Bob Barker spent 31+ years at Coupeville High School, working as a teacher, coach and Athletic Director, affecting countless lives over the years.

A 1959 grad of what would become Western Washington University, he led baseball and basketball (both boys and girls) teams at CHS, taking three to state.

Hailed by his former players as “the best coach I ever had” and “one of the three or four people who shaped who I am today,” his impact lingers long after his retirement.

In this series, Barker responds to my questions as only he can, eloquently and passionately.

Today’s question: “Was Jeff Stone the greatest athlete you ever coached at CHS?”

David,

It is currently raining so I thought I would take some time and give my response to your third question.

Jeff was six-feet-four, but had very long arms.

He had soft hands and a very fine touch on the ball.

He had great athletic ability and while he played with his back to the basket for me, he learned to play facing the basket while in college.

He was recruited by Seattle Pacific, which was playing a very high level game at that time.

By his junior and senior college years he played on exceedingly fine teams and was one of their better scorers. 

Jeff’s skills fit very nicely in the sport of basketball,  and if I was to pick an all-star basketball team from the 30 years that I observed the sport at Coupeville, Jeff would be my first pick. 

Although Jeff didn’t play tennis, if he had had the interest, with his build and skills, I think that he would have made a tremendous tennis player, too.
 
Now having said that, it is my opinion that he was not the best all-around athlete competing in sports during that period of time.

I am going to list some special performers from some of my basketball teams. These were All-Conference Performers.
 
NAME                  TEAM              YEAR
Barry Brown     NWB 1st            1967
John O’Grady    NWB 2nd          1976
Barry Brown      NWB 1st           1968
John O’Grady    NWB 1st           1968
Jeff Stone          NWB 1st            1969
Jeff Stone          NWB 1st            1970
Pat O’Grady      NWB 2nd           1970
Corey Cross       NWN 1st            1971
Bill Riley             Cascade 1st       1972
Corey Cross         Cascade  2nd     1972
 
If I was to pick some of the most all-around athletes that I have observed during the 30 years at Coupeville they would be Barry Brown, Corey Cross, Bill Riley, Randy Keefe and Foster Faris.

Most of these individuals were outstanding in at least two and many three sports.

I believe that Randy Keefe lives in Coupeville but has changed his name to O’Keefe.
 
I am going to include a few individual season statistics which you may or may not find interesting. 

Best point average per game:

1. Jeff Stone  (27.0)  1969-70
2. Bill Riley  (23.9)  1972-73
3.  Bill Riley  (18.7)  1971-72
 
Most Rebounds:

1. Bill Riley  (310)  1971-72 (21 games)
2. Jeff Stone  (295)  1969-70 (24 games)
3. Bill Riley  (288)  1972-73 (20 game) 
4. Randy Duggan  (262)  1971-72 (21 games)
5. Barry Brown  (206)  1967-68
6. Pat Brown  (175)  1969-70
7. Jeff Stone  (159) 1968-69
8. John O’Grady (141) 1967-68
 
Here is another tidbit. The best season free throw percentage was Alan Hancock at 75.4%. 

Alan is now a judge on Whidbey Island.
 
I hope that this has been of some interest to you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bob Barker

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Lou-who!! Bring on the cake!!

March 14, 2016 by David Svien

Lindsey Roberts: Woman of a 1,000 grins. (John Fisken photos)

Lindsey Roberts: woman of 1,000 grins. (John Fisken photos)

(Amy King photo)

   Celebrating with part of her hoops squad after winning the 1A Olympic League crown. (Amy King photo)

She is The Natural. The Chosen One. The Savior.

Is she blushing yet?

Daughter to two former Coupeville High School Athlete of the Year winners.

Granddaughter to a legendary Wolf coach.

Cousin, niece and older sister to a whole host of skilled athletes, all of whom have little to no fear of the camera, as well.

So it comes as no surprise to see Lindsey Roberts lighting up the world, one day at a time.

The CHS frosh, who has already lettered (and been a key player) in soccer and basketball, is about to blow the roof off the joint in track.

Her debut on the high school oval is three days away (Thursday at the Island Jamboree in Oak Harbor), but first, there are more important matters.

Like a little cake day, as she (and grandpa Sandy) share a birthday today.

As she celebrates, we want to take a moment to gush about Lindsey, while not going too overboard.

After all, we have 3 1/3 more years to do that, as she shatters all the records and takes all the awards.

Part of a very impressive Class of 2019 (from Sarah Wright to Ashlie Shank to Kalia Littlejohn to Emma Smith to Maddy Hilkey to Ashley Menges and on and on, the freshmen girls boast one of the deepest classes of athletes in years), Roberts is the early leader.

Not to jinx her, but she’s the only Wolf 9th grader, girl or boy, who remains on pace to win a full 12 varsity letters, something very few before her have accomplished at CHS.

Whether she makes it to the land of Hailey Hammer and Megan Smith or not, she is going to be a delight to watch.

The biggest reason?

Not her talent, which is unmistakable. Not even her hard work and dedication, which bolsters the talent.

It is, quite simply, her joy.

The joy that spills out of Lindsey in great waves whenever she takes the athletic stage, regardless of the sport.

She is a young woman who genuinely seems to love being an athlete, and it carries over to how she interacts with her teammates, coaches, fans and personal photographers.

And we have to mention that, because Roberts is on a very short list (with McKayla and McKenzie Bailey, Lauren Rose, Taya Boonstra and Hunter Hammer) when it comes to lovin’ her time in front of the camera.

She is solid gold, the go-to standard, because no matter if she’s sick, eating or grumpy, she will bring her A-game whenever she hears a camera shutter go off.

Coupeville Sports lives and thrives thanks to Lindsey and her ilk, and it is absolute kismet that, as we lose a transcendent athlete like Makana Stone to graduation, we gain such a bright ball of energy as Miss Roberts.

I can go on now. I have a reason to keep publishing.

Yes, well…

Anyways, I just want to wish Lindsey (and her grandpa) the best of birthdays.

Never stop being awesome, Lou. Just keep on being yourself.

Posted in Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Happy birthday, Track | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

“Very, very proud of them!!”

March 13, 2016 by David Svien

(Photos courtesy Pat Kelley)

Daniel Olson knows proper hydration is important. (Photos courtesy Pat Kelley)

team

The Wolves huddle before taking the floor.

The experience was invaluable.

While they won’t be coming back from Spokane with any wins, the Coupeville 6th/7th grade SWISH boys’ basketball team learned big-time lessons.

Facing off with more experienced squads at the state tourney, three of whom won trophies, the Wolves discovered what it will take to compete at a higher level.

As the players move upwards through middle school and high school play in the coming years, the weekend trip East may turn out to be a major turning point for Coupeville hoops.

The Wolves opened against Tahoma and jumped out to a six-point lead in the early going, but couldn’t keep it going, eventually falling 53-21.

Tahoma went 3-1 in the tourney, claiming fourth-place.

Game two against Juanita was virtually a mirror image.

Coupeville soared to an eight-point lead after the first eight minutes of play, then stalled out, losing 51-23 to the eventual Consolation Division state champs.

The Wolves came within a play or two of upending Hazen Select of Kent in their third contest, leading all the way until the final minute.

With team scoring and rebounding leader Jake Mitten missing for the final three-and-a-half minutes — victim to fouling out — Coupeville was nipped 43-40.

While Hazen went on to win the consolation bracket, bouncing Oak Harbor by 13, the Wolves wrapped things with a 43-31 loss to Woodinville.

Having survived their longest (three-day) tournament, on the biggest stage they’ve yet seen, the young Coupeville players earned praise from their coaches.

11 of 12 players scored, and, despite the team battling a flu bug, they were competitive every time out.

“Very, very proud of them,” said Pat Kelley.

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Bob Barker breaks it down for you!!

March 13, 2016 by David Svien

Bob Barker (Photo courtesy Sherry Roberts)

Bob Barker, hard at work. (Photo courtesy Sherry Roberts)

Bob Barker spent 31+ years at Coupeville High School, working as a teacher, coach and Athletic Director, affecting countless lives over the years.

A 1959 grad of what would become Western Washington University, he led baseball and basketball (both boys and girls) teams at CHS, taking three to state.

Hailed by his former players as “the best coach I ever had” and “one of the three or four people who shaped who I am today,” his impact lingers long after his retirement.

In this series, Barker responds to my questions as only he can, eloquently and passionately.

Today’s question:

“Was the 1969-1970 CHS boys’ team the best basketball team in school history?”

David,

Let me set the scene a little.

The schools in the Northwest B League were members of what was I believed called a tri-district (B schools in Snohomish, Skagit and Island county.)

Based on the total enrollment of the schools this district rated a total greater than 1 but less than 1.5. I am not sure, but lets say 1.3.

This meant that we rated more than one team in the state tournament but not enough for two teams. 

There must have been other districts in the state with the same problem, hence we would get one team one year and two teams the next and so on.

Coupeville had for many years been a strong basketball school.

One thing I noticed when I came in the spring of 1959 was there was a number of outside baskets and these were always busy before school and at lunch.

Football and baseball were just something to do until basketball season rolled around.

COACH            YEAR           TOURNAMENT PLACE
Sanman           56-57                   3rd
Boushey          57-58                   3rd
Boushey          58-59                   2nd
Boushey          59-60                   2nd
Boushey          60-61                   3rd
Boushey          61-62                   3rd
Boushey          62-63                   3rd
Boushey          63-64                   3rd
Boushey          64-65                   4th
Barker              65-66                   2nd

So you can see that some of those years where there were two teams we finished 3rd and at least two years where there was one team we finished 2nd. 

It was very frustrating.

1970 was the year that Coupeville finally broke the jinx by winning the district tournament.

In 1970 we opened the season with 12 victories and were 12-0. 

In January, when the polls opened, Coupeville was rated #1 in the state in its division and Jeff Stone led the scoring for all high school players in the state.

Now a small town such as Coupeville takes great pride in their school activities.

The school district put up a special levy in February and due to the pride in our basketball team the levy passed with well over 80%, which was really unheard of.

When we won the District tournament we became the first Whidbey Island school to gain a state berth.

Now to the question, was this the best Coupeville team in history.

I am not sure that I can say that as I had a great team in 1972, but this team due to some unfortunate circumstances did not make it to state. 

In 1971 -72 the Cascade A League had lost a couple of members, hence invited La Conner and Coupeville to join their league. 

If we had joined them and declared to play up we would have had to place in the top four in the league and then go to the A tournament in Mount Vernon and compete with perennial state powers like Lynden, Lynden Christian, Mount Baker, etc. 

We agreed to come in but would go back into the B tournament at the conclusion of the season.

The members of the Cascade thought this would be alright as they could use us as cannon fodder and complete their schedules.

The problem arose that Coupeville won the Cascade League that year and La Conner placed third.

This provoked the Cascade members as they were then sending their 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th place teams to compete with the powerful teams to the North.

It also pissed off the rest of the Northwest B League teams, so they set up the tournament in such a way to extract some revenge by putting Coupeville and La Conner in the same bracket.

The Northwest B League was now sending two teams to state every year.

It should have been La Conner and Coupeville meeting in the final game and both teams going to state.

Being the lower-rated team La Conner played some team in the first round and beat them.

We, having the better record had been seeded and met La Conner.

Now ask any coach would he like to play or be seeded as that first night the kids get rid of their jitters and stage fright, which every team has.

Unfortunately we were defeated by a good La Conner team that was more relaxed than we were.

In my estimation winning the Cascade A League title in 1972 was a greater achievement than winning the district tournament in 1970, however, not as exciting as taking the first Coupeville team to state.

At that time the Cascade League contained a powerful Lakeside team, a talented King’s team, Granite Falls, Langley, Sultan and Tolt as well as La Conner.

We ended up winning the league with a record of 14-2.

One loss was to Lakeside and one to La Conner.  I believe that our season record going into the tournament was 18-2.

I probably have given you more information that you wanted but when I get started babbling it is hard to stop.

Bob Barker

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Welcome the fab four!!

March 13, 2016 by David Svien

Bill Riley (top left) is joined by (clockwise) Haley Sherman, Corey Cross and Hayley Waterman (blue shirt).

   Bill Riley (top left) is joined by (clockwise) Haley Sherman, Corey Cross and Hayley Waterman (blue shirt).

We’re bringing the generations together.

The four athletes who comprise the 38th class inducted into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame are two guys from the early ’70s and two women from the 2000s.

But, regardless of when they played, they all left a sizable impact on their alma mater.

So, with that, we’d like to welcome Bill Riley, Haley Sherman, Corey Cross and Hayley Waterman to these hallowed digital walls.

After this, you’ll find them up at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab, where they and their accomplishments will live on as long as Coupeville Sports does.

Our first two inductees, Riley and Cross, were two of the five athletes named by legendary Coupeville High School coach Bob Barker when I asked him who were the best he had seen here in Cow Town.

The other three?

That’s for me to know and you to wonder until I get around to writing that article.

For now, we want to talk about Cross, whose name still looms large over his hometown.

He was a 10-time letter winner (four in baseball, three each in football and basketball), 12 if you count rugby (which I previously was not aware had ever been a sport at CHS … back to the research desk!) and his name heads up the list of Male Athlete of the Year winners.

Cross actually won the honor twice, in 1970-1971 and 1971-1972, setting the standard for all who have come after him.

But what makes him truly worthy of induction is not just the awards. It’s the way people respond when you bring his name up in conversation.

Jaws drop. Eyes bug. Words like “incredible athlete” and “the best I’ve ever seen” come tumbling out.

Every single time.

Riley, a superb two-sport star for CHS (football and basketball), gets some of that same treatment, especially from his former coaches.

A First-Team All-League selection during his time on the hardwood, it’s there that I’ve actually been able to track some stats down, and they are still as impressive 40+ years down the road.

In ’71-’72 Riley averaged 18.7 points and 14.8 rebounds a game, then he turned that up a notch or two the next season, banging away for 23.9 and 14.4 a night.

As I’ve worked my way through years and years of Wolf athletic history, the only hoops player who I’ve found with a higher single-season scoring average than Riley’s 23.9 was Jeff Stone and his immortal 27 a game from ’69-’70.

So, pretty dang good company.

Our third inductee, Sherman, is our youngest, but there’s no need to wait for time to pass.

Haley was an impact player in both volleyball and softball, helping carry a very-thin Wolf diamond squad to the state tourney in her senior season in 2014.

Despite playing through an ankle injury she suffered at districts, The Shermanator was a standout on defense (gunnin’ down fools from left field) and at the plate, as CHS broke a 12-year dry spell, making its second-ever appearance at the big dance in the fast-pitch era.

A hard worker with a superb sense of humor, Haley was always one of the most radiant athletes we had, a true daughter of the prairie who made her large fan section (she’s basically related to 89% of the town) very proud.

Making people proud came naturally to our fourth inductee.

Waterman doesn’t have the showy stats some of the others had, but that’s largely because she took one for the team. Game after game.

In the early days of girls’ soccer at CHS, wins were few and far between. Really, really far between.

But if it wasn’t for talented booters like Hayley, who sacrificed to build the program, it wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is today, at a point where the Wolves are fighting for league titles and making repeat visits to the playoffs.

Waterman was a wild woman on the pitch, and remains one of the most incredible people I have ever known off the field.

Long before she went on to study cellular and molecular biology in college and then start doing lab work that I can’t understand even when she tries to explain it in simple terms, Hayley was brilliant.

In high school, she did every extracurricular thing you could think of (all at the same time), shepherded all her brothers and sisters (including future soccer star Paige) and still found time to be indispensable at Videoville.

It was there and later at David’s DVD Den, where she was half of The Wonder Twins with Kate Harbour, that she achieved true greatness.

The afternoon where the two created an entire fake section of DVD’s, all crafted to look like “The Brown Bunny,” a film that had scandalized our boss, just for a brief laugh, is just the tip of their shenanigans.

I have had some God awful jobs in my life, but the 15 years I spent managing video stores will always balance out the crud, and the Wonder Twins are, hands down, the best part of those years.

Sports hall of fames? Nice, sure.

But in the true Hall o’ Fame of life, Hayley and Kate will always be my first inductees.

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