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“Depriving students of their music education is a travesty”

April 22, 2024 by David Svien

Music fans are not going down without a fight.

The Coupeville School Board will vote Thursday on adopting a “modified education plan” which begins the process of cutting $1.6 million from the budget.

That first proposal offered by outgoing Superintendent Steve King includes “elimination of the secondary band/music program.”

The reaction on the streets of Coupeville? It doesn’t have a good beat, and you can’t dance to it.

The first letter to the board has hit Board Docs, and comes from Patrick Manuel, a highly-regarded music instructor who began his career in Coupeville.

His thoughts:

 

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Patrick Manuel, and I am the middle school band director at North Whidbey Middle School located in Oak Harbor, WA.

I was recently informed that the Coupeville School District is considering eliminating the band and choir program.

This is unfortunate because we all know the importance of music education and how music impacts and develops the entire student.

I worked in the Coupeville School district for four years as the Middle and High School Band and Choir Director.

My last year teaching in Coupeville was in 2002 right before Jamar Jenkins was hired.

Although my time teaching in Coupeville was short, I grew the program in a short amount of time.

The students in Coupeville were super talented and there definitely was a high interest in music in the school and community.

Depriving students of their music education is a travesty.

Students need this opportunity and healthy outlet in their education.

There is always an over emphasis on athletics and not every student wants to be an athlete.

I truly believe that a positive and energetic teacher could grow Coupeville’s band and choir program.

From what I have heard, Mr. Brown has already sparked a lot of interest in just a few months of taking over the program.

Fun fact, Mr. Sean Brown was one of my students when I taught in Coupeville.

I hope you consider my thoughts on the matter and thank you for your time.

I have also added the student numbers I started with in Coupeville and where I got them to in four years.

Beginning Band – 30 to 75

Advanced MS Band – 20 to 45

HS Wind Ensemble – 18 to 45

MS/HS Jazz Band – 9 to 14

 

Respectfully,

Mr. Patrick Manuel
North Whidbey MS Director of Band

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Softball sensation honored for writing skills

April 22, 2024 by David Svien

Adeline Maynes, softball sensation and award-winning essayist. (Jackie Saia photo)

On the softball diamond or in the classroom, Adeline Maynes is killin’ it.

The Coupeville Middle School 8th grader, coming off a 12-strikeout pitching performance against Granite Falls, will be honored at Thursday’s school board meeting for being a local and regional Fleet Reserve essay contest winner.

Now, thanks to mom Lara, Coupeville Sports is exclusively presenting that award-winning essay, “What Memorial Day Means to Me.”

 

Memorial Day means a great deal to me.

It means honoring the sacrifice and courage of those who have lost their lives in military service to our country.

When I think of Memorial Day, the image of my father comes to mind. What if he was the one who we were honoring?

What if one day, the United States Navy informed my family that he had been killed? How would this make me feel?

Memorial Day brings a lot of important questions to mind.

I feel I can understand the meaning of Memorial Day better than most.

Just thinking about how sad I am when my dad deploys for six months at a time, and then magnifying that feeling if he were never to come home. For military kids, this is a realistic worry.

We never know when something unexpected might happen.

For example, my dad was on an aircraft carrier when the previous Commanding Officer was removed. As the Executive Officer, he had to take charge and do both jobs.

It is incredibly daunting to think that Memorial Day could come around and my family would be the ones honoring a family member lost in service.

These experiences as a military kid make me feel that I can understand what Memorial Day means in a significant way.

All of these reasons make me think about how incredibly grateful I feel to have a dad who serves in the United States Navy and is still with us, when some families do not have that privilege.

All of my experiences have led me to believe that what Memorial Day means to me is honoring the sacrifice and courage of those who have fallen in military service to our country.

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Wolf track stars among state’s best

April 22, 2024 by David Svien

Katie Marti (right) is one of the best shot-put throwers in the state. (Mia Farris photo)

There’s movement on the charts.

After several weeks of having four Wolves on the top 10 lists for 2B athletes, the Coupeville High School track and field team has added to its numbers.

Coming off of strong performances at a home meet, CHS juniors Lyla Stuurmans and Katie Marti join Reese Wilkinson, Cael Wilson, and Nick Guay among the state’s current best.

At the same time, Carly Burt, through no fault of her own, slips off the charts for the moment, as several pole vaulters passed her best height.

But never fear, the week ahead presents two more opportunities for the Wolves to throw down top times, heights, and distances.

Coupeville is slated to travel to Lynden Thursday and Lakewood Saturday as the regular season comes to an end.

Where the Wolves land on the top 10 charts through April 22:

 

GIRLS:

400 — Lyla Stuurmans (8th) 1:04.72

Shot Put — Katie Marti (8th) 33-05

Discus — Reese Wilkinson (9th) 105-09

Long Jump — Stuurmans (5th) 15-08

 

BOYS:

High Jump — Nick Guay (3rd-tie) 6-00

Pole Vault — Cael Wilson (4th-tie) 11-00

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Home cooking looms for (some) Wolves

April 21, 2024 by David Svien

“Who’s in first place? We are!!” (Mia Farris photo)

The stretch run comes at home. Mostly.

After a week where 99% of games were on the road, Coupeville High School spring sports teams get six home clashes this coming week.

Both softball and baseball travel to Darrington Monday, then are camped on their own diamonds after that.

Orcas Island is slated to travel to Coupeville Tuesday, with Concrete arriving Thursday, and Darrington swinging by for a rematch Saturday.

The final one of those home games will be Senior Night for Wolf baseball.

The CHS softball sluggers? They have no 12th graders on their roster this season.

Meanwhile, girls’ tennis continues its season-long road trip while waiting for new courts to be finished, with treks to The Bush School in Seattle Wednesday and to Friday Harbor on Friday.

Wrapping things up, Coupeville track and field has its final two regular season meets, with both coming off-Island.

The Wolves travel to Lynden Thursday and Lakewood Saturday, then make the turn to the postseason after that.

As we head into what should be a busy week, a look at where things stand as of April 21 among sports which count wins and losses.

 

Northwest League baseball:

School League Overall
Orcas Island 7-1 10-4
Coupeville 5-2 6-8
MV Christian 5-3 8-6
Friday Harbor 4-4 4-8
La Conner 2-4 6-5
Concrete 1-5 2-5
Darrington 1-6 1-6

 

Northwest League girls’ tennis:

School League Overall
Friday Harbor 2-0 2-0
Coupeville 0-2 0-5

 

Northwest League softball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 5-0 8-4
Darrington 5-1 6-2
Friday Harbor 5-2 5-5
Orcas Island 2-4 3-8
Concrete 0-5 0-9
La Conner 0-5 0-10

“The bus? Yep, we’re getting on the bus again.” (Andrew Williams photo)

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Wild weather, titanic throws

April 20, 2024 by David Svien

It’s hammer time for Coupeville throwers (left to right) Katie Marti, Erica McGrath, and Mason Butler. (Bob Martin photo)

Survive and thrive.

That’s the goal at large track and field meets like Saturday’s Lil’ Norway Invitational at North Kitsap High School.

Call it a success then, as Coupeville, repping one of the smallest student bodies at the 20-team event, held its own, garnering a win in the girls’ discus and 12 PRs.

Wolf senior Reese Wilkinson brought home the title, emerging from a field of 33 throwers.

Not only did she set a PR, but she finished seven feet, six inches ahead of the #2 thrower.

Reese Wilkinson stands tall. (Mich Johnson photo)

Also having a strong day chucking things was junior Katie Marti, who earned third place finishes in both the javelin and the hammer throw.

She was making her debut in the latter event and was joined by fellow first-timers Erica McGrath and Mason Butler.

Lynden, a powerhouse at the 2A level, held off North Kitsap to claim both the girls and boys team titles, while the Wolf girls made a strong statement, finishing eighth.

As often happens during “spring” in Washington state, the day was full of weather twists and turns.

“Mother Nature never ceases to surprise us with what she has in store for us on our weekend invitationals,” said CHS coach Elizabeth Bitting.

“What started out as a beautiful sunny, warm day ended with gusty winds, light rain, no power and freezing cold athletes.

“Thank goodness those in charge of timing had a generator so the meet could continue.”

While many of the athletes in attendance hailed from large schools, the Wolves never flinched from the challenge.

“Our athletes held up nicely next to the bigger schools,” Bitting said. “There were a few who just missed out on the podium but regardless ran, threw and jumped well.”

Coupeville returns to action next week, with its final two regular season meets.

The Wolves are slated to travel to Lynden Thursday, then to Lakewood next Saturday, before veering off to start the postseason the week after.

Kayla Crane flies for the line. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

 

Saturday’s results:

 

GIRLS:

100 — Issabel Johnson (24th) 14.50; Frankie Tenore (38th) 17.60

200 — Lyla Stuurmans (7th) 29.22

400 — Ivy Rudat (24th) 1:16.58; Reagan Callahan (28th) 1:22.58

800 — Kayla Crane (17th) 2:51.97 *PR*; Callahan (27th) 3:31.41 *PR*

1600 — Crane (16th) 6:24.00 *PR*; Callahan (25th) 7:48.63 *PR*

3200 — Aleksia Jump (18th) 15:59.50

100 Hurdles — Lexis Drake (22nd) 21.60 *PR*; Myra McDonald (24th) 21.93

300 Hurdles — Drake (22nd) 59.00

4 x 100 Relay — Jump, Carly Burt, Johnson, Jasmine Castellanos (11th) 57.70

4 x 200 Relay — Stuurmans, Burt, Johnson, Castellanos (12th) 1:58.90

4 x 400 Relay — Rudat, Castellanos, Drake, Burt (9th) 5:08.79

DMR 4000 Relay — Rudat, Lydia Price, Crane, Jump (6th) 16:45.87

Shot Put — Reese Wilkinson (6th) 29-08.75; Katie Marti (8th) 29-07

Discus — Wilkinson (1st) 105-09 *PR*; Erica McGrath (6th) 80-03

Javelin — Marti (3rd) 92-08

Hammer Throw — Marti (3rd) 78-09 *PR*; McGrath (6th) 65-02 *PR*

High Jump — Tenore (19th) 4-00; McDonald (19th) 4-00

Pole Vault — Burt (6th) 7-00; Jump (11th) 6-06

Long Jump — Stuurmans (13th) 13-06; Rudat (22nd) 11-02

 

Blake Burrows reaches down and finds a different gear. (Thomas Studer photo)

 

BOYS:

100 — Marquette Cunningham (22nd) 12.27; Davin Houston (28th) 12.86

200 — Nick Guay (17th) 25.39

400 — Preston Epp (16th) 55.34; Nehemiah Myles (18th) 55.43 *PR*

800 — Carson Field (22nd) 2:25.65; Thomas Strelow (24th) 2:29.33

1600 — Field (13th) 5:05.61; Malachi Somes (21st) 5:14.30

3200 — George Spear (17th) 11:57.06; Nicholas Wasik (24th) 13:01.97

110 Hurdles — Cael Wilson (12th) 19.26; Axel Marshall (21st) 21.34 *PR*

300 Hurdles — Mikey Robinett (23rd) 50.16; Marshall (30th) 57.02

4 x 100 Relay — Cunningham, Houston, Epp, Guay (10th) 46.80

4 x 200 Relay — Blake Burrows, Marcelo Gebhard, Matthew Ward, Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim (12th) 1:45.93

4 x 400 Relay — Epp, Burrows, Wilson, Guay (10th) 3:53.45

DMR 4000 Relay — Kenneth Jacobsen, Strelow, Somes, Field (4th) 12:19.38

Shot Put — Zac Tackett (15th) 36-11.25; Robinett (20th) 35-02.25

Discus — Tackett (12th) 117-03

Javelin — Gebhard (12th) 116-05 *PR*; Robinett (24th) 97-02

Hammer Throw — Mason Butler (4th) 73-09 *PR*

High Jump — Guay (7th) 5-10; Wilson (17th) 5-04

Pole Vault — Wilson (9th) 10-00; Marshall (13th) 8-06

Long Jump — Myles (21st) 16-06; Alex Merino-Martinez (29th) 13-09

Triple Jump — Cunningham (15th) 35-11.75; Hank Milnes (18th) 34-05.75

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