Coupeville Sports

Booster Club kicks off new year

August 21, 2024 by David Svien

Bow Down to Cow Town. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

New year, new hopes and dreams.

With the start of school rolling closer as we enter the dog days of August, the Coupeville Booster Club is getting a jumpstart on fanning the flames of support for the Wolves.

The first meeting of the 2024-2025 school year is set for this Monday, Aug. 26.

It’ll be held in the health room at the Coupeville High School gym, which is the first thing on your left as you enter the front door. Start time is 6:00 PM.

There are many ways to support the invaluable work of the booster club, all of which you can find out by popping in for a meeting.

The boosters are the backbone of Wolf sports, making life easier for coaches, athletes, and admins.

The group annually awards eight $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors, while also providing a yearly stipend to high school and middle school sports programs.

The boosters also provide roses for Senior Night festivities, varsity letters for Wolf athletes, meal money and goodie bags for road trips, and numerous team improvement items.

These have ranged from literature and DVDs to tarps, weight room equipment, batting cages, upgrades to school athletic fields and facilities, and t-shirts for cancer awareness nights.

Plus, the Wall of Fame in the CHS gym, which documents accomplishments from 100+ years of Coupeville athletics?

It wouldn’t exist without the support of the boosters, who provided the biggest financial contribution to its development, and continue to handle updates.

Posted in Booster Club | Tagged CHS Wolves, Coupeville Booster Club, information meeting, new year | Leave a Comment »

Season opener offers unique challenge

August 20, 2024 by David Svien

Davin Houston and Co. open a new season in 17 days. (Andrew Williams photo)

There’s a new foe on the gridiron.

When the Coupeville High School football team opens its season at home Friday, Sept. 6, the team it welcomes to Mickey Clark Field will be one it’s never played before.

And also one which is fairly new to the whole Friday Night Lights experience.

Annie Wright, a private 1A school from Tacoma, is a member of the Nisqually League and well-known for being successful on the basketball court.

But the Gators are new to football, having debuted just last year with a mostly JV schedule.

Coached by the school’s Director of Athletics, Harvard grad Mike Finch, Annie Wright played one varsity contest, closing the season with a 26-13 loss at La Conner.

Now, the Gators are set to take a much-bigger step, as a team with just four seniors is slated to clash with Cascade Christian, East Jefferson, and Klahowya among others.

First up, however, is a trip to Whidbey to face Coupeville, which beat La Conner 48-6 and 43-12 last season.

But everything rolls on in sports.

The Wolves will have new faces in new places as Bennett Richter opens his third year at the helm of the CHS gridiron program.

La Conner has moved, at least temporarily, from 11-man football down to the 8-man game.

And Annie Wright, which offers programs for preschool-12th grade, is ready for its prime-time football closeup in Cow Town.

Seventeen days away and counting.

Posted in Football | Tagged Annie Wright, CHS Wolves, football, Mike Finch, season opener | Leave a Comment »

Rattle the rims, punch the pedal

August 20, 2024 by David Svien

Jerry Helm, and some of his progeny, meets the public. (Sylvia Arnold photo)

Sometimes he puts out the fires, and sometimes he starts them.

Metaphorically speaking…

Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue Chief Jerry Helm spent this past weekend laying down rubber and scorching the racetrack while driving the #27 car.

Battling against a packed field, he claimed fourth place in a NASCAR street stock main event, part of a strong rookie season for the father of three.

Ready to rumble. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)

“Solid day at the track yesterday,” Helm said. “Fell back to fourth behind some very talented drivers with fast cars but settled in thanks to the spotter/coach in my ear, Gene Watson.

“His calm voice in my ear helped settle this rookie down and focus on driving the wheels off the car.”

Helm, who will be in action at Evergreen Speedway Aug. 31, also sent props to his crew — Matthew Garstin, Wyatt Waldron, Gary Garstin, and Jerry Helm, Sr.

And the sponsors who keep the speed-happy driver punching the pedal through the metal?

They would be Tiger Construction, Fisherman Jack’s, The Muse Whiskey & Coffee, and North48 Real Estate.

Zoom, zoom.

Posted in auto sports | Tagged auto racing, Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, Evergreen Speedway, Jerry Helm, NASCAR | Leave a Comment »

Young pitch aces shine brightly

August 19, 2024 by David Svien

Coupeville soccer girls are kickin’ goals and takin’ names. (Photos courtesy Kimberly Kisch)

The Wolves are on the prowl, conquering one soccer pitch after another.

Four young Coupeville booters were shining brightly in Tukwila alongside their teammates with Deception FC.

Sparked by Lucy Youderian, Elaina Grose, Scotlyn Helm, and Lilly Hestbeck, the GU11 squad wrapped up play Monday at the Surf Invitational in Tukwila with a second-place finish in its class.

Coming off stellar play at the Rush Cup earlier this month, Deception FC received a special invitation from the Surf Invitational director.

“I wear #1, because I am #1, skippy!”

Two Whidbey teams made the trek off-Island, with both of them reaching the final.

Of course, the one featuring Coupeville athletes, led by coaches Will Tellez and Matthew Hutchinson, is the one which gets the biggest buzz in a blog called … Coupeville Sports.

For the other Deception FC players, it’s time to convince your parents to move to Cow Town, is all I’m sayin’…

Anyways, the trip to Tukwila was a boon for all involved, said proud Wolf Mom (and CHS girls’ soccer head coach) Kimberly Kisch.

“We were so excited to have the opportunity to compete at this skill level,” she said. “No matter the outcome, the experience was invaluable.”

Along with the games on the field, the girls also got to watch the pros at work, viewing a scrimmage between the Seattle Reign and Portland Thorns.

All your medals belong to us.

Posted in Girls Soccer | Tagged Deception FC, Girls Soccer, Scotlyn Helm, Seattle Reign, Surf Invitational | Leave a Comment »

Wolf soccer legend hits college pitch

August 19, 2024 by David Svien

Nezi Keiper shows off her college colors. (Photos property Edmonds College women’s soccer program)

The best defender in the biz is back on the pitch.

After taking a year off to focus on life, Coupeville High School grad Nezi Keiper is suiting up for the women’s soccer team at Edmonds College this fall.

The Tritons, who play in the Northwest Athletic Conference, kick off their season with a pair of friendlies this week, with the regular season starting August 28.

Edmonds has a 12-game schedule which runs through Oct. 30, with the possibility of playoff action after that.

Keiper, a slam-dunk inductee into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame after her graduation in 2023, was a standout student/athlete for the Wolves.

The hardest-hitting player on the field as a middle school football player, she was a star basketball and soccer athlete once she hit high school.

Keiper was a team captain and First-Team All-Conference pick for the Wolf pitch squad, joining with running mate Carolyn Lhamon to provide leadership and grit.