Coupeville Sports

Lone Wolf splashes to state meet

February 12, 2024 by David Svien

Coupeville’s lone Wolf swimmer, sophomore Finn Price, is splashing to the state meet this coming weekend. (Jackie Saia photos)

Cold or no cold, he’s off to the big swim.

Coupeville High School sophomore Finn Price, a one-man aquatic team, overcame poor health to qualify for the state swim meet in two events.

After training and traveling with Kamiak since CHS doesn’t have a pool program, the lone Wolf went his own way for the postseason.

Vying in multiple events at the district meet in Anacortes this past weekend, Coupeville’s water king overcame foes from bigger schools to advance.

Now Price, who reps a 2B school, will swim in the 100 and 200 free at the 2A state meet Feb. 15-17 at the King County Aquatic Center.

He’s seeded 11th in the 200 and 16th in the 100, an event where he’s not the only Finn in the water.

Squalicum’s Finn Smith, also a sophomore, is ranked 15th in that event.

Two Finns, one pool, let the water war begin.

Even sharks are afraid when Wolves are unleashed in the water.

Posted in Swim | Tagged CHS Wolves, districts, Finn Price, state meet, swim | 1 Comment »

Wolf grappler set for Mat Classic

February 12, 2024 by David Svien

Coupeville’s Jaje Drake trained and travelled with South Whidbey during the regular season, then went his own way in the postseason. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

So, you’re saying he has a chance?

There are only 12 wrestlers from 2B/1B schools left standing in the 215-pound weight class, and Coupeville’s Jaje Drake is one of them.

Despite his school not having a grappling program of its own, the Wolf senior qualified for Mat Classic XXXV and stands four wins shy of a state title.

He’ll open the big dance Friday at the Tacoma Dome, squaring off with Austin Morgan, a junior from Okanogan.

Drake and his opening opponent both played football this fall, with the latter lining up at tight end and on the defensive line for the 2B state champs.

The duo are on the bottom half of the state wrestling bracket, opposite Gabriel Smith, a senior from Ritzville.

He’s one of the top four seeds and gets a first-round bye.

Win or lose that opening match, Drake gets right back at it, as state is a double-elimination event.

Posted in Wrestling | Tagged CHS Wolves, Jaje Drake, Mat Classic XXXV, state meet, wrestling | Leave a Comment »

Hoopaholics rebounds to celebrate 35 years

February 12, 2024 by David Svien

Hoopaholics, the early days.

They’re hitting both a milestone, and nothing but net.

Hoopaholics, a basketball camp geared at guys in the 30-and-above crowd, returns to Whidbey Island June 14-16.

It’s the 35th anniversary for the event, which is centered around Camp Casey, with game action held at Coupeville High School.

CHS players, coaches, and parents traditionally help out with clock management, food, and such, during the weekend, with Hoopaholics donating money to the Wolf hoops programs in return.

To be eligible to participate, you need to be 30 years of age and still possess a burning desire to pursue God’s Chosen Sport.

Though this year, in conjunction with the camp being held on Father’s Day Weekend, you can bring your son along, if they’re 21 or older.

For more info and to register, pop over to:

https://www.hoopaholicscamp.net/

Posted in Basketball | Tagged anniversaries, Basketball, Camp Casey, Hoopaholics, Steve Hawes | Leave a Comment »

It’s weird! It’s wild! It’s the playoffs!!

February 11, 2024 by David Svien

Chase Anderson is so shocked by District 2’s possibly un-American policy on cash money, he momentarily loses control of the basketball. (Jackie Saia photo)

Four teams enter, two teams claim a magic ticket.

The double-elimination District 1/2 boys’ basketball tourney kicks off Monday at various sites, before everyone converges in Coupeville to decide which teams will advance to the state tourney.

Thanks to (not) having the luck of the draw when Northwest 2B/1B League athletic directors did a pre-season seeding draw, Coupeville opens on the road against Auburn Adventist Academy.

Meanwhile, La Conner is at home, hosting Northwest Christian (Lacey), which beat Atlas Summit in a play-in game.

Monday’s winners advance to play for the Bi-District title, and the first state berth, Wednesday at CHS, while the losers square off in an elimination game the same night at the same location.

The team which comes up short in the title game plays the survivor of the loser-out affair for the second state tourney berth Saturday back in Coupeville.

Unless both teams in that game are from District 2, then they get to stay closer to home and the Wolf support crew gets the night off.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4209

What do you need to know before tip-off Monday?

Well, since Coupeville’s first game is on the road at a District 2 site, don’t expect to pay cash to get in.

Having surrendered to their digital overlords, D2 only sells tickets through GoFan, with your phone being your ticket.

That means you pay processing fees on top of inflated playoff pricing.

Will there be further issues?

Possibly, as the site currently has the game listed at the wrong time (4:00 instead of 6:00 PM) and at the wrong location (Northwest Christian, instead of Auburn Adventist Academy).

https://gofan.co/event/1364248?schoolId=WA86276

Once you’re back in Cow Town, you’ll still have to pay a bit more than regular season prices, since it’s the playoffs, but cash will be welcome, and those pesky processing fees vanish into the ether.

Logan Downes crashes to the hoop. (Bailey Thule photo)

A look at the teams involved:

Auburn Adventist Academy

Season record: 17-3

League: 1B/2B SeaTac

Trips to state tourney: 2 (Most recent: 2023)

RPI ranking: #7

Results vs. bi-district foes: Beat Northwest Christian 86-59, lost to Coupeville 69-57

Coach: Hector Brito

Seniors: Zachary Ellis, Tom Lai, Bobby Osei-Bonsu, Jonathan Russell, Kobe Yoshitake

Mascot: Falcons

Coupeville

Season record: 15-5

League: Northwest 2B/1B League

Trips to state tourney: 6 (Most recent: 2022)

RPI ranking: #14

Results vs. bi-district foes: Beat AAA 69-57, lost to La Conner 69-68, beat La Conner 65-54

Coach: Brad Sherman

Seniors: Ryan Blouin, William Davidson, Logan Downes, Nick Guay, Timothy Nitta, Zane Oldenstadt, Mikey Robinett, Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim, Cole White

Mascot: Wolves

La Conner

Season record: 14-6

League: Northwest 2B/1B League

Trips to state tourney: 43 (Most recent: 2023)

RPI ranking: #17

Results vs. bi-district foes: Beat Coupeville 69-68, lost to Coupeville 65-54

Coach: Lance Lopez

Seniors: Logan Burks, Ivory Damien, Alfonso Sampson, Kenai Zimmerman

Mascot: Braves

Northwest Christian (Lacey)

Season record: 6-10

League: 1B/2B SeaTac

Trips to state tourney: 3 (Most recent – 2013)

RPI ranking: #45

Results vs. bi-district foes: Lost to AAA 86-59

Coach: Ben Lamb

Seniors: Kaden Lanham, Ryddis Robinson

Mascot: Wolverines

Zane Oldenstadt powers inside for a bucket. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Posted in Basketball | Tagged Auburn Adventist Academy, Boys Basketball, CHS Wolves, La Conner, Northwest Christian, playoffs | Leave a Comment »

Wolf mat master punches state ticket

February 11, 2024 by David Svien

Coupeville senior Jaje Drake is off to the state tourney. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coupeville High School is sending a wrestler to state, despite not having a program of its own.

Wolf senior Jaje Drake, who trained and traveled with South Whidbey this season, went his own way for the postseason.

Accompanied by CHS football coach Bennett Richter, he claimed 3rd place in the 215-pound weight class at regionals Saturday at Adna High School, propelling him to the big dance.

Drake will participate at Mat Classic XXXV at the Tacoma Dome Feb. 16-17, and CHS will give him a state tourney send-off Thursday said CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith.

On the mats at Adna, Drake, who was also an All-League football player for Coupeville this fall, won three of four matches.

The Wolf ace pinned Alejandro Cruz of Raymond, fell just short against Matthew Kenney of Rainier, then rebounded with two more wins.

Drake closed regionals by pinning Marcus Lynch of Ilwaco and Blake Roberts of Rainier to clinch his trip to Tacoma.

He’s the first Wolf wrestler since current CHS assistant football coach Alex Turner also qualified for state as a senior, back in 2019.

Adin Wollum of North Beach won the 215-pound title at regionals, pinning Kenney in the final bout.

Forks won the 2B team title, holding off Rainier 182.5-121, while Darrington finished third.