Coupeville Sports

Playoffs loom, standings freeze

October 29, 2023 by David Svien

Issabel Johnson and her spiker crew are chasing a trip to state. (Nick Guay photo)

The standings are frozen.

Regular season play for all fall sports teams finished this past week, and everyone still alive is off to the playoffs.

That means, first and foremost, that this is our final standings story until basketball gets underway.

But it doesn’t mean there isn’t action coming your way this coming week.

Coupeville High School volleyball plays Monday (in Lacey) and Wednesday (in La Conner) in the District 1/2 tourney, trying to punch its ticket to state for the first time since 2017.

Wolf cross country has already earned an invite to the big dance, with the entire boys’ team and sophomore Noelle Western slated to compete Saturday in Pasco in the 1B/2B state championships.

And finally, we may have more football. Emphasis on may.

Coupeville missed out on a trip to the playoffs but could pick up a week #10 game against another school without a postseason date.

Watch this blog (with bated breath) to see what develops in the next few days.

“When does basketball start??” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Final regular season standings:

Northwest League boys’ soccer:

School	League	Overall
Friday Harbor	8-0-0	11-1-0
MV Christian	6-2-0	12-3-1
Orcas Island	6-2-0	9-5-0
PC Christian	6-2-0	10-4-0
Coupeville	3-5-0	6-6-0
Lopez Island	3-5-0	5-7-0
Grace Academy	2-6-0	2-10-0
La Conner	2-6-0	4-10-0
CPC-Lynnwood	0-8-0	3-11-0

Northwest League football — (11-Man):

School	League	Overall
Friday Harbor	4-0	5-3
Coupeville	2-2	2-7
La Conner	0-4	2-6

Northwest League football — (8-Man):

School	League	Overall
Darrington	1-0	8-1
Concrete	0-1	6-3

Northwest League volleyball:

School	League	Overall
Orcas Island	8-1	12-3
La Conner	7-1	10-7
Coupeville	6-2	10-4
Darrington	4-5	11-6
MV Christian	4-5	8-6
Concrete	1-8	6-10
Friday Harbor	0-8	1-13

Posted in standings | Tagged CHS Wolves, football, Northwest League, Soccer, standings, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

“It was a very fun game”

October 28, 2023 by David Svien

Coupeville varsity booters rock the mic during Saturday’s JV finale. (Christi Messner photo)

End on a happy note.

Coming off of a miserable final varsity game played in a typhoon on Orcas Island, the Coupeville High School soccer squad was looking for a positive ending.

And they found it Saturday at home, as the Wolf JV put up a strong fight on a sunny day, pushing Northwest 2B/1B League heavy hitter Friday Harbor every step of the way.

While Coupeville’s co-ed team fell 3-0 to the visitors, Wolf coach Kimberly Kisch was pleased with the effort.

“The sun was shining, and everyone gave it their all for their final game of the season,” she said.

“I would say they have greatly improved,” Kisch added. “I saw them setting up some great plays!”

With the CHS girls program shut down this season, Kisch and eight of her players joined up with Robert Wood and the Wolf boys’ team.

The union has been a success, and Saturday’s game was proof.

It was also a strong statement for the talent to be found on the second team, young players developing their skill set with the hopes of making the jump to varsity in the future.

The bright future of CHS soccer. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“Sam (Richards) was killer in goal, saving a rapid-fire attempt from Friday Harbor,” Kisch said. “Then he was a force to be reckoned with on the wing.

“Sage (Arends), Dane (Hadsall), and Sam had shot attempts, but none made it through.”

Kisch also praised Lydia Price and Hurlee Bronec, who “were a brick wall on the defensive line” and Solomon Rudat and Angel Partida, who “made a couple of fantastic runs.”

While the JV players were battling their rivals, Coupeville’s varsity players got to experience a different side of the game.

Andrew Williams, Preston Epp, and Cael Wilson “did announcements with hilarious commentary,” while Ezra Boilek and Hank Milnes joined Wood in reffing.

While Kisch was in charge, she got “coaching” help from departing seniors Nick Guay, Cole White, and Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim.

Seeing the game from a different angle gave the booters a new perspective.

“Quinten stated, now I understand why coaches yell so much. This is stressful,” Kisch said with a laugh.

New additions to the coaching staff. (Kimberly Kisch photo)

Posted in soccer | Tagged CHS Wolves, Friday Harbor, JV, season finale, Soccer | Leave a Comment »

Shorter hair, same fast steps

October 28, 2023 by David Svien

Mitchell Hall pounds down the trail. (Photo courtesy Maria Summers)

His strength is not in his hair.

Rockin’ a new buzz cut, Coupeville grad Mitchell Hall was back at it Saturday, competing in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships in Shelbyville, Indiana.

The former Wolf, now a freshman at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, covered the 8K course in 29 minutes, 24.18 seconds.

That put him in the top half of finishers, earning him 70th in a field of 138 harriers.

Enrique Salazar of Manchester claimed the individual title at Blue River Cross Country Course, spurring his school to a team title as well.

Manchester edged Rose-Hulman 44-51, as the two teams finished atop the leaderboard in an eight-school race.

Next up on the schedule is the NCAA D-III Great Lakes Regional in Norton, Ohio, Nov. 11, where runners will vie for a trip to nationals.

Hall, a standout track and cross country athlete during his days in Coupeville, is studying physics and mathematics when not out pounding the trail.

Posted in Cross Country, Wolves in college | Tagged CHS Wolves, cross country, Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Mitchell Hall, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Leave a Comment »