Feeds:
Posts
Comments

It was a different time, back in the days when the press box was small, open air, and bee-infested — and a scoreboard operator could get his Wobble on. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Where were you when they turned Wobble off?

It’s been 11 years since the powers that be shut down use of the song, which came with its own dance, as the exit music for Coupeville High School football games.

Scoreboard operator and ice cream purveyor Joel Norris has never been the same since.

Without being able to Wobble, he’s a mere shell of a man.

Instead of living the sweet life in a world of soul-sustaining Rocky Road and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, there are rumors Joel has been experimenting with Rum Raisin and … choke … Black Licorice.

Now, if you weren’t around in October 2012, you likely have no clue of what I’m talking about.

The rapper V.I.C., who launched the song and the subsequent dance craze across America, has largely faded away himself, not having a measurable hit since 2015.

The internet says he’s still out there, bustin’ rhymes until the break of dawn in relative obscurity, and Wobble even had a brief renaissance on TikTok in 2020.

But he’s not headlining any major tours with Beyonce.

Hopefully V.I.C. (short for Victory in Christ – thanks, Internet) held on to all the rights to his greatest hit, and still lives in the comfort he deserves.

Cause Wobble was, and is, a banger.

Even in the slightly cleaned-up version which was used by high schools.

Cause that was what one parent complaint brought crashing down — the PG-ized take on the song, which was what CHS cheerleaders used for their performance.

It’s way past time to bring Wobble back to Coupeville football games, even if current Wolf seniors were … um, seven years old … the last time it ripped from the PA sound system.

I mean, we were still using the old, tiny wooden press box ruled by 10,001 angry bees — some alive, others likely zombies — back in those days.

So, reality tells me Wobble isn’t on the soundtrack for most current Coupeville students.

But hey, these are the same teens who belt out every line of Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver and Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, not to mention a whole slew of ’80s and ’90s classics.

They can learn the Wobble again.

And V.I.C. might be out there looking for a gig that gives him a trip to a small island in Washington state and be willing to lead the revival in person.

Stranger things have happened.

As we count down the days until Homecoming 2023, now is the time to rise up and declare as one:

Oh, oh, oh, oh
All the shawtys in the club
(Let me see you just)
Back it up, drop it down
(Let me see you just)
Get low n scrub the grown
(Let me see you just)
Push it up, push it up
(Let me see you just)

Don’t do it just for the kids. Do it for Joel Norris!

Don’t forsake the ice cream man to a Hellscape where … choke … black licorice ice cream is an option.

 

The song:

 

The dance:

Malachi Somes is one of 10 Wolves to score this season. (Bailey Thule photos)

They’ve hit double digits again.

Last season, during a run to a league title and a trip to the state playoffs, 12 Coupeville High School football players scored a touchdown.

This year, with a younger roster, scoring is down, but the Wolves have still found a way to get 10 players into the end zone.

Freshman Davin Houston snagged a touchdown pass from Logan Downes against Friday Harbor to become that 10th player to hit pay dirt.

With six games in the books, Coupeville has tallied 147 points and 22 touchdowns this season, averaging out to a not-bad 24.5 and 3.7 per game.

Admittedly, that is down from last year’s nine-game total of 363 points and 52 scores, but last year was also one of the best in program history.

Jack Porter (grey shirt) has found the end zone twice.

The Wolves have three regular season games left to play, with a non-conference Homecoming rumble against Forks set for this Friday, Oct. 13.

After that comes a road trip to La Conner and a Senior Night rematch with Friday Harbor as CHS pursues a return to state.

As the final games play out, one thing to keep an eye on is the play of quarterback Logan Downes.

The senior gunslinger has 13 touchdown passes this season and 33 for his career.

Logan Downes already owns the CHS single-game record of five scoring heaves and is chasing Joel Walstad (18) and big bro Hunter Downes (35) for the single-season and career marks.

Logan Downes chases history.

 

Scoring stats through Oct. 9:

 

Touchdowns:

Aiden O’Neill – 5
Chase Anderson – 4
Mikey Robinett – 3
Adrian Cunningham – 2
Logan Downes – 2
Jack Porter – 2
Hunter Bronec – 1
Peyton Caveness – 1
Davin Houston – 1
Malachi Somes – 1

 

PATs:

Anderson — 14
Downes – 1

 

Points:

Anderson – 38
O’Neill — 30
Robinett – 18
Downes– 13
Cunningham — 12
Porter – 12
Bronec – 6
Caveness – 6
Houston – 6
Somes – 6

Vote Ford for Board!

Part of the David Ford Fan Club.

The race for Position #4 on the Coupeville School Board features two strong contestants in incumbent Alison Perera and challenger David Ford.

Both are deeply committed to our local schools and put an emphasis on financial well-being for the district.

That being said, my personal support goes to Ford, a CHS grad whose family is deeply intertwined in the community.

His campaign sign is in my front yard, and the following is his personal statement for why he is running.

Do I think you should vote for him? I know I am.

 

The words of David Ford:

 

To state that I have an invested interest in the success of the Coupeville School District is an understatement.

Both my lovely wife and I were raised and graduated from Coupeville and five generations of my family have attended Coupeville Schools with two granddaughters currently in elementary school.

I am a software engineer for Boeing and have served in the Navy, both active and reserves, going on 29 years.

A lot of folks ask why I continue to serve and it’s a simple answer.

I live to serve my country and community and if I didn’t do it, one of our sons or daughters would have to.

A couple other questions that you may be asking yourself about me is why now and why haven’t you been more active in the schools previously?

To be honest, it has been a work/life balance issue.

During the week, I work for Boeing in Tukwila, so the daily four-hour commute with the unknowns of the ferries, left me little time to commit to my other interests and passions.

With that, I have focused on supporting our students and community via contributions and donations.

With my retirement from Boeing on the horizon, June 2024, I plan to take advantage of my free time to work on what interests and excites me.

And that is giving back to the community that helped raise me.

Also, you can’t bitch about something unless you’re willing to dig in and get your hands dirty!

As a candidate for the Coupeville School Board, I am a passionate advocate for the future of our children while ensuring that education remains the priority.

Our schools are not just institutions of learning; they should be a reflection of the community and the starting point for our next generation’s dreams, aspirations, and innovations.

Our community, known for its work ethic and compassion, deserves an educational system that is just as focused and equitable.

But how do we get there?

Listening First: A top-down approach doesn’t work in education.

It is crucial to listen to our educators, our students, and our parents.

Their unique daily experiences provide invaluable insights into how we can make improvements and ensure a student-centered learning environment.

Equity and Inclusion: Every student, regardless of their background, deserves an equal shot at success.

This means making sure that our schools are equipped with the resources they need to support students of all backgrounds and abilities.

It means fostering environments where every student feels seen, heard, and valued.

Transparency and Accountability: As your school board director, I promise to maintain a culture of transparency.

Every decision, every policy, and every dollar spent should be openly accounted for and justified to you, the community.

Why are decisions being made? How do they align with the district’s Strategic Plan?

I look forward to asking the hard questions and weeding through the “noise” for facts and data to help drive board decisions.

Mental Health and Well-being: The well-being and safety of our students and staff is paramount.

We need comprehensive programs that prioritize mental health, helping our children navigate the pressures and challenges they face while providing the staff with their own resources to cope with having to do more with less.

Continuing our districts support to the Social and Emotional Learning curriculum will help our students by promoting self-awareness, empathy, resilience, and responsible decision-making, while fostering a positive and inclusive school climate.

Finally, Support for our Educators: Our teachers are the backbone of our district.

It’s essential that they are given continuous opportunities for professional development and growth while ensuring that they have the time and resources to focus on our students.

I envision a community where our schools are not just places to pass tests but are hubs of creativity, innovation, and personal growth.

A place where all children are excited to learn, where they feel safe, supported, and nurtured, and where they leave ready to take on the world through the career pathway of their choosing.

Not one school board director has all the answers.

I have been encouraged by the hard work and dedication of the current board to set priorities, set expectations of accountability and transparency and I’d like to be a part of the solution.

I don’t have years of drinking the district Kool-Aid, but I bring diversity and a fresh look at old problems.

I will listen, be your voice and provide answers.

You may not like all of them, but you will know what’s going on and why decisions are being made.

I seek your partnership, your advice, and your commitment.

Let’s roll up our sleeves together to make education the priority and build stronger schools for brighter futures.

Vote Ford for Board!

 

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT a paid ad but can be taken as an endorsement of David Ford for Coupeville School Board.

New uniform, same country, as Makana Stone (center) tears up Norwegian basketball courts. (Photo property of Erik Berglund)

Back with a vengeance.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone kicked off her third season of professional basketball, and second in Norway, with a bang.

Having made the jump from Baerum to Ammerud, the former Wolf ripped off a double-double in her season debut, pouring in 15 points and snatching 14 rebounds.

Powered by Stone, who also added six assists, three blocks, and two steals, Ammerud crunched Bergen 70-48.

The Queens also got 20 points apiece from Julia Heiden and Alexandra Polishchuk in the season opener.

Ammerud, like Baerum, plays in the Kvinneligaen, which is a six-team league this year.

Stone and her new teammates hit the floor on fire, jumping to a 22-10 lead after one quarter of play, then coasting in for the win.

A 40-26 halftime advantage blossomed into a 58-35 bulge by the end of the third quarter.

Coupeville’s progeny played four stellar seasons for Whitman College in Walla Walla, then went overseas and wowed the locals at Loughborough University in England.

Stone began her pro career with Leicester, moved to Norway to play with Baerum last season, and joined Ammerud this off-season.

Breanne Smedley, winning matches and dealing with the paparazzi. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

There were spikes, and reunions, in the air.

Bouncing between two locations Saturday, wanderin’ camera clicker John Fisken snapped a variety of volleyball-related pics.

While there were a lot of current Coupeville athletes and coaches featured in the snaps, there was also an appearance or two by former Wolves.

Former CHS spiker guru Breanne Smedley, who now coaches at Columbia River, was in Oak Harbor for a tourney.

Meanwhile, in Coupeville, Marie Bagby and her boys Mike and Jason — all top Wolf athletes in their day — gathered in the gym to watch Marie’s niece, Chloe Gaydeski, rip off spikes for visiting Forks.

Now, if the daughter of Ron Bagby’s sister, who’s just a sophomore, were to move to Cow Town to finish her stellar three-sport prep career?

A lot more family reunions and a lot more photos. And a lot more page hits for me.

Just sayin’…

Sitting dead center in the Coupeville High School gym, so they can root for both their alma mater and the visiting team featuring their family member.

Middle school coach Kristina Hooks enforces the rule book.

Wolf booters Ezra Boilek (back) and Cael Wilson bask in the afterglow of Friday’s big soccer win.

The future of Wolf athletics, ready for their closeup today.

The student section was small, but vocal on a sunny Saturday.

“Whoa now. I didn’t say I could dance LIKE John Travolta. I said I could dance BETTER than John Travolta.”

They smile now, but put them on the volleyball court, and they will unleash a can of whup ass on you.