Coupeville Sports

“I always thought it was the coolest thing to do!!”

December 18, 2015 by David Svien

Wolf freshman cheerleader Julie Bucio takes a break from performing at a CHS basketball game. (John Fisken photo)

Bucio (left), hanging out with fellow cheerleader Brittany Starr. (Photo courtesy Bucio)

Being a cheerleader has been a life-long dream for Julie Bucio.

Now, the Coupeville High School freshman is living the dream on a daily basis, and it’s been everything she hoped for, and more.

“I’m doing cheer because I wanted to meet more people and always wanted to do cheer ever since I was young,” Bucio said. “I always thought it was the coolest thing to do.”

She’s one of 10 Wolves who made the jump from the fall cheer squad to the winter team, taking her spirit and hard work indoors for basketball season.

A firm believer in the CHS cheer program’s dedication to Ohana, being a family, Bucio has picked up a ton of new sisters along the way.

“The thing that I mostly enjoy about doing cheer is all the wonderful new friends I have made,” she said. “They always seem to put me in a good mood.

“Also, I enjoy pumping up the crowd!”

While her school still considers cheer an activity, as opposed to a sport, Bucio, having gone through the behind-the-scenes work, begs to differ.

“I feel like it’s not a activity, it’s a sport because we actually work as hard as all the other sports,” Bucio said. “Cheerleading is not all about wearing cute uniforms; we actually work out and try to perfect our routines, which is a lot of work, if you ask me!”

When she’s not cheering, Bucio is involved in choir (“so that kind of keeps me busy, too”) and enjoys science class (“I just love science and I think it’s very interesting”).

She also plans to cap a busy first year of high school by possibly playing tennis in the spring.

Whether it’s sports, class work or day-to-day life, Bucio is grateful for her friends and family, who are always there to support her.

Her parents have always been her biggest boosters.

“I have to say a person who has really impacted my life is my mom!,” Bucio said. “She is always there for me, no matter what, and she supports my decisions and is always by my side and I love her for that.

“My dad also has been there for me too,” she added. “He always supports my decisions too and has my back!”

Posted in Cheer | Tagged Cheer, choir, CHS Wolves, Julie Bucio, tennis | Leave a Comment »

Can’t be stopped! Won’t be stopped!!

December 17, 2015 by David Svien

Jake Mitten poured in 28 points Thursday, most by any Coupeville basketball player, high school or middle school, this season. (John Fisken photo)

We have a new leader atop the board.

No one involved in Coupeville basketball this season, high school or middle school, has done what CMS 7th grader Jake Mitten accomplished Thursday.

Playing in his first game after turning 13, the nephew of former CHS hoops star Jason McFadyen torched host Chimacum for 28 points, almost outscoring the Cowboys by himself.

Led by Mitten’s offensive explosion — he also racked up 13 rebounds, three steals and two assists — the Wolves destroyed Chimacum 54-32.

Half of his points came in the third quarter, one of two periods in which CMS racked up 20 points over eight minutes of play.

And, while Mitten was unstoppable, he wasn’t the only Wolf who had a strong day.

Daniel Olson dropped in 12, including a pair of three-point bombs, while Matthew Kelley popped for eight, Sage Downes banked in four and Michael Laska swished a bucket.

Kelley snatched 10 boards, while Olson collected seven and both Downes and Ben Smith corralled three caroms apiece.

Coupeville was quick with the hands all day, as Kelley pilfered six steals, Olson made off with five and Downes grabbed four.

Kelley added a team-high seven assists.

Gage Powers and Alex Jimenez also saw playing time for the Wolves.

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School | Tagged Ben Smith, Chimacum, CMS Wolves, Daniel Olson, Jake Mitten | Leave a Comment »

Girls score! Your move, guys!!

December 17, 2015 by David Svien

Lindsey Roberts tries out a new look for her hoops head shot. (John Fisken photos)

Kailey Kellner’s fan club is all in for their favorite long-range sniper.

The Wolf JV, mean-muggin’.

Super fans Emma Smith (#3 sign) and Ashley Menges are on hand to root for fellow frosh Ashlie Shank and Maddy Hilkey.

Senior class big wigs McKenzie Bailey (left) and Jazmine Franklin can run the school and still find time for a photo op. It’s called multitasking.

The CHS varsity, eternally loose before their game.

CHS football phenom Lathom Kelley (standing, backwards hat) makes sure his folks are ready to get loud.

“We’re coming for all the wins. All of them!!” Wolves (l to r) Tiffany Briscoe, Mia Littlejohn, Kailey Kellner and Roberts prepare to drop another butt-whuppin’.

The bar has been set, the mic has been dropped.

Given first crack at a substantial photo shoot this season, the Coupeville High School girls’ basketball team (and its fans) responded strongly.

Now, as the Wolf boys near their own date with destiny (in the form of a camera-wielding John Fisken) this Friday, when they host Concrete in a non-conference tussle, the only question is — can they respond? Will they respond?

Well, that’s two questions, but you get the point.

My advice to the CHS boys hoops stars? Loosen up, play to the camera, crack a freakin’ smile every once in awhile.

You’re off to a great start, atop the 1A Olympic League. Enjoy the moment and realize there’s more to life than adopting a cold stare every time the camera comes your way.

You’re not food-deprived wrestlers, after all. You can kick ass and still have fun.

No one remembers the photos where ten dudes stare at the camera with a monotone snarl on their face. Dare to switch it up once in awhile.

Otherwise you’ve already ceded the battle to your female counterparts, who understand how to play the on-court game and off-court game equally well.

Posted in Fashionable Fans, Girls Basketball | Tagged Basketball, CHS Wolves, fans, John Fisken photos, Kailey Kellner, Lindsey Roberts | Leave a Comment »

Hoop alumni ready to rumble!!

December 16, 2015 by David Svien

Gavin O’ Keefe gets welcomed to the club at last year’s tourney. (John Fisken photos)

Jason McFadyen, still poster-worthy after all these years.

Ten days until things get real.

Alumni from Coupeville, Oak Harbor and South Whidbey are expected for the annual Tom Roehl Roundball Classic, set for Dec. 26 from 10:30-6:00 in the Coupeville High School gym.

The event raises money for scholarships given to local students by the foundation run by the legendary former coach’s family.

Roehl was an assistant football coach at CHS and helped run the Central Whidbey Youth Athletic Association for two decades before his passing in 2003.

The tourney has six teams currently registered, with at least two more on the cusp of joining the fray.

Red Pride (anchored by Mike Vaughn and Scott Stuurmans), The Coupeville Cows (featuring a collection of Shermans and Bagbys) and Central Ballers (led by CHS boys’ JV basketball coach Dustin Van Velkinburgh) will all be returning.

Tourney director Noah Roehl has also pulled together two coups.

The first is the return of Pete Petrov, standout former Wolf point guard, who is returning to make his tourney debut with the Red Pride.

Will it be enough to lift Red Pride back into the title picture?

After winning three straight titles, the Pride fell last year, with the Cows, led by tourney MVP Jason Bagby, beating the Central Ballers in the final.

The second coup is getting a team of relatively younger players to take a chance on making a run at the “old school” legends who have held court the last couple years.

The new squad, made up of players from 2010-2015, will feature Joel and Tim Walstad, among others.

The tourney will kick off with seeding play at 10:30, with the tournament round set tentatively for 2 and the championship game at 4:45.

A popular three-point shooting contest, which debuted last year, will go between the opening rounds.

The Round-Ball Classic helps to fund two scholarships, one which goes to a CHS grad and one to a graduate from South Whidbey High School.

Community support is provided by Harada Physical Therapy, Island Periodontics, Cascade Custom Homes, Jason Joiner with Windermere Commercial and DCG Engineering.

Admission to the tourney is free, but donations may be made to help the foundation’s work.

For more info, pop over to:

http://www.tjroehl.org/

Posted in Basketball, Fundraisers | Tagged Alumni, Basketball, CHS Wolves, fundraiser, Tom Roehl Roundball Classic | Leave a Comment »

Wolf legend one step from return to CHS diamond!!

December 16, 2015 by David Svien

Marc Aparicio (who has since shaved the beard), hanging out with his children.

Marc Aparicio (who has since shaved his magnificent beard), hanging out with his children.

Barring a last-second plot twist, Marc Aparicio is on his way to becoming the new head baseball coach at Coupeville High School.

CHS Athletic Director Duane Baumann confirmed Wednesday the school has offered Aparicio the position.

All that remains is for the hire to be approved by the school board, which meets 6:30 PM Monday, Dec. 21 in the Coupeville Elementary School library.

Aparicio’s potential new job is on the agenda.

A 1988 CHS grad who played baseball, football, basketball and track during his time as a Wolf, Aparicio went to state five times.

His ties to the community run deep.

Older brother Mitch was also a multi-sport star for the Wolves and current CHS sophomore Payton Aparicio, a top volleyball and tennis player, is his niece.

After graduation, Marc put in stints in the Air National Guard (electrician), Army National Guard (heavy equipment operator) and the US Coast Guard before retiring this year and moving home to Coupeville, where he lives on Penn Cove.

During his time in the Coast Guard, Aparicio, an aeronautical engineer, spent six months on ice patrol, flying search and rescue missions on the Bering Sea.

He was chief engineer for the H-65 helicopter fleet, a maintenance test pilot, project manager on two of the biggest USCG acquisition programs in history, member of a helicopter operational unit and a senior flight instructor.

If approved by the school board, Aparicio will replace Willie Smith, who retired in the spring after a very successful 19-year run as head baseball coach at CHS.

Aparicio will get some valuable help from Chris Smith.

The father of Wolf players CJ and Hunter Smith, he was JV coach under Willie Smith (no relation) last season, and confirmed Wednesday he plans to return.

“I’m looking forward to working with Marc,” Chris Smith said.

Posted in Baseball | Tagged baseball, Chris Smith, CHS Wolves, Marc Aparicio, Willie Smith | Leave a Comment »

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