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Net aces celebrate senior swan song

May 1, 2026 by David Svien

Hardcourt ace Miles Gerber saunters into action on the Coupeville High School tennis courts. (Photos by Presley Phillips and Melanie Wolfe)

They served up a successful Senior Night.

The Coupeville High School girls’ tennis squad hailed their veterans — Miles Gerber, Aleksia Jump, and Dahlia Miller — before playing Wednesday afternoon against Friday Harbor.

The trio shone brightly under rare blue skies on the prairie, hardcourt aces one and all.

Aleksia Jump

Dahlia Miller

Miles Gerber

The terrific trio enjoy their moment in the spotlight.

Posted in Girls Tennis | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

“Let’s use our energy in a positive way!”

May 1, 2026 by David Svien

The Coupeville Education Association and the Coupeville Educational Support Association recently compiled a 77-page climate survey, which showed disapproval for the jobs being done by Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood, school administrators, and the school board.

Coupeville Elementary School Principal Erica McColl was the exception, receiving high praise.

The following letter to the editor is written by School Board Vice President Nancy Conard:

Nancy Conard

 

I have lived in Coupeville for 70 years.

I am a proud K-12 alumni of Coupeville Schools.

I worked for the Coupeville Schools for 30 years, primarily as business manager.

I have been very actively involved in the Coupeville community my entire life, including 20 years as mayor of the Town.

I joined the school board five years ago, in part because my granddaughter, who we raised, was a student in the school, and in part because I was interested in supporting the school district.

Frankly, I was initially disappointed to learn that the financial management of the district was weak at that time, and there were a lot of opportunities for improvement throughout the district.

The school board and administration have worked through many of the financial issues, although there is still more work to do.

We adopted a new Strategic Plan which has guided some of the administrative priorities.

We are also working with the superintendent to support management and administrative changes … as we have faced some challenges in the last few years.

I appreciate and support her efforts to improve Coupeville Schools.

I have read the survey conducted by the labor unions and appreciate the input they received from staff. I support their right to conduct a survey and am looking forward to learning more about their issues.

I am disappointed that the unions chose such a public method of expressing their concerns.

Union leaders met with the superintendent, the board president, Morgan (White), and me, the board vice president, last Thursday to deliver the survey results and it was distributed to the staff and media on Friday.

The school board meets twice a month, once in workshop session and once is a formal meeting.

There is opportunity for public input at these meetings, and I think that would have been a good time to bring issues to the board. It didn’t happen.

In addition, all five of the board members are accessible to the staff and the community and will meet when asked.

There are also communication meetings with the administration and union, where these issues could also have been discussed.

Coupeville is a special community, and we work together, in good times and in bad, to support our folks.

I would urge our staff and our community to work with us to strengthen our school community and to hold back on the reaction to the negativity expressed in the survey.

Let’s use our energy in a positive way!

As your elected school board representative, you can reach me at nancyconard@aol.com or 360-969-0023.

Posted in Administration | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

Murder mixes with laughs on CHS stage

April 30, 2026 by David Svien

Coupeville High School senior Sydney Wallace delivers another outstanding poster, capping a four-year run of design work for the theater troupe.

Mystery, and laughs, are afoot.

The Coupeville High School Theater Department will bring “Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion” to the stage May 7-9.

The curtain rises at 7:00 PM each night in the middle/high school PAC, with tickets set at $10 for adults, $7 for students without an ASB, and $5 for those with an ASB.

The play, written by Ian McWethy, centers around a murder mystery where a cast of eccentric characters meet at the scene of the crime.

Some of the guests, all famed detectives in their own right, include Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, and Batman.

“Too Many Detectives” is a whodunnit “that will leave you laughing and guessing right until the very end — and there are different endings to choose from!” according to the play’s publisher.

 

Production Crew:

Director – Stefanie Ask
Stage Manager – Alex Lo
Stage Ninja – Ren Smith
Sound Design – Hailee Wells
Lighting Design – Emma McFadden
Set Design/Construction – Gabe Smith, Uni Hammond, Elliot Hislop
Costume Design – Hayden Kendall, Hannah Roberts
Prop Design – Kennedy O’Neill, Antonio Crandall

 

Cast:

Bobbi – Zoe Holm
Aggie – Allie Powers
Conan – Sophia Siverly
Dash, 911 Operator – Liza Zustiak
Hannah – Eliza Dodge
Madame Doyle – Avery Rude
Sherlock Holmes – Cedar Socha
Nancy Drew – Chloe Ferguson
Frank Hardy – Dorian-Cecil Tynda
Joe Hardy – Dahlia Miller
Sam Spade – Makaylah Hansen
Velma – Miles Gerber
Daphne – Lina Shelly
Fred – Garrett Bevill
Shaggy – Ness Milnes
Batman – Grey Bialik
Miss Marple – Sydney Wallace
Detective Christie – Sam Marchese
Detective Kane – River Dearmond

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Queen, Simpson pace CMS in track opener

April 29, 2026 by David Svien

Wolf 8th grader River Simpson picked up three wins Wednesday in the middle school track season opener, giving him 15 for his career. (Photo courtesy Rainy Simpson)

As season debuts go, this one was pretty flawless.

Coupeville 7th grader Les Queen, already an accomplished basketball player, competed in his first middle school track and field meet of the spring Wednesday and promptly won all four events he participated in.

Coming out on top in the 200, 400, discus, and as a member of a 4 x 100 relay squad, the lanky Wolf was one of 25 CHS athletes to nab a victory while clashing with visiting Sultan and Northshore Christian.

Also making a big early impact was 8th grader River Simpson, a triple winner in the 200, long jump, and 4 x 2, while Laurel Crowder, Henry Purdue, Sarai Dangerfield, Malachi Chapa, Kaleigha Millison, Liam Stoner, and Jesse Kehoe each picked up two first-place finishes.

Defending its home turf in style, Coupeville also stormed to big wins in the team standings.

The Wolf boys racked up 123 points, outpacing Northshore (82) and Sultan (35), while the CMS girls edged NSC 95-78, with Sultan bringing up the rear with 60.

While the points and wins are nice, Coupeville coach Jon Gabelein was also thrilled to see all the PRs rain down.

“Our athletes enjoyed starting their season right here at home,” he said. “I am very proud of the hard work they are doing at practice as it will be this daily effort that allows them to enjoy even stronger abilities.

“Several returning veterans were excited to share that they earned a PR today compared to their best results from last year.

“Being a team of 64 middle school students, their positive attitudes and supporting each other’s participation will keep making our adventures fun and rewarding for everyone throughout the upcoming season.”

Coupeville returns to action next Wednesday, May 6, when it travels to the wilds of Sultan for a rematch with the Turks.

 

Wednesday results:

 

GIRLS:

 

8th grade:

100 — Ava Alford (4th) 15.49; Amira Annunciado (7th) 16.25 *PR*; Claire Lachnit (11th) 16.81; Vicky Quiroga Rivera (14th) 17.89 *PR*

200 — Alford (2nd) 33.18 *PR*; Emma Green (5th) 35.04; Sabrina Judnich (6th) 37.17 *PR*; Quiroga Rivera (7th) 40.31 *PR*

400 — Lachnit (2nd) 1:29.25

800 — Anna Powers (2nd) 2:59.26

1600 — Powers (2nd) 6:28.15

100 Hurdles — Powers (3rd) 21.28; Kaleigha Millison (4th) 22.77

4 x 200 Relay — Lachnit, Judnich, Millison, Addison Jacobson (1st) 2:26.85

Shot Put — Jacobson (3rd) 23-06; Alford (6th) 19-01; Annunciado (7th) 18-06 *PR*

Discus — E. Green (4th) 51-11 *PR*; Lachnit (5th) 51-08; Jacobson (6th) 49-11; Millison (10th) 45-09; Judnich (12th) 45-00 *PR*; Powers (13th) 43-11 *PR*

High Jump — Millison (1st) 3-10

Long Jump — Annunciado (6th) 11-08 *PR*; Quiroga Rivera (10th) 8-10 *PR*

 

6th/7th grade:

100 — Laurel Crowder (2nd) 14.89 *PR*; Josilyn McColl (3rd) 14.93 *PR*; Bella Sandlin (4th) 14.93 *PR*; Mia Goers (8th) 15.91 *PR*; Eden Weeks (11th) 15.97 *PR*; Ava Clark (13th) 16.09 *PR*; Sophia Magdolen (15th) 16.52 *PR*; Ruby Folkestad (16th) 16.78 *PR*; Jasmine Allen (16th) 16.78 *PR*; Daisy Leedy-Bonifas (18th) 17.22 *PR*; Evelyn Merino Martinez (24th) 17.74 *PR*; Emma Roberts (25th) 17.79 *PR*; Dresden Rusch (26th) 18.04 *PR*; Reagan Green (27th) 18.07 *PR*; Dani Halsing (29th) 18.46 *PR*; Milly Somes (31st) 19.88 *PR*

200 — Crowder (1st) 30.69 *PR*; Sandlin (2nd) 32.48 *PR*; Weeks (4th) 34.31 *PR*; Magdolen (5th) 4.55 *PR*; Goers (7th) 35.17; Maja Govorcin-O’Connell (8th) 37.18 *PR*

400 — Sandlin (1st) 1:14.10 *PR*; Magdolen (3rd) 1:20.20 *PR*; Allen (4th) 1:22.85 *PR*; Diana Teran Herrera (7th) 1:34.96 *PR*

800 — Sarai Dangerfield (1st) 4:05.25; Teran Herrera (2nd) 4:06.90 *PR*

1600 — Juniper Dotson (2nd) 6:07.48 *PR*; Dangerfield (3rd) 6:43.85

100 Hurdles — Dotson (1st) 21.18 *PR*; Leedy-Bonifas (12th) 29.19 *PR*; Kolby Johnson (14th) 36.95 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Leedy-Bonifas, Dotson, McColl, Allen (2nd) 1:02.53; Goers, Abby Hunt, Folkestad, R. Green (4th) 1:05.86

4 x 200 Relay — Merino Martinez, Dangerfield, Rusch, Clark (1st) 2:32.28

Shot Put — Weeks (5th) 19-10 *PR*; Govorcin-O’Connell (6th) 19-07 *PR*; Roberts (9th) 15-06 *PR*; Rusch (12th) 15-05 *PR*; Clark (17th) 12-09 *PR*

Discus — McColl (4th) 46-11 *PR*; Halsing (6th) 45-01 *PR*

High Jump — Crowder (1st) 4-06 *PR*; Hunt (2nd) 3-08 *PR*; Govorcin-O’Connell (3rd) 3-08 *PR*; Halsing (4th) 3-06 *PR*

Long Jump — Dotson (2nd) 12-00 *PR*; Sandlin (3rd) 11-08 *PR*; Goers (5th) 11-01 *PR*; Allen (8th) 10-09 *PR*; Halsing (10th) 10-04 *PR*; Dangerfield (12th) 9-11 *PR*; Magdolen (13th) 9-09 *PR*; Roberts (13th) 9-09 *PR*; Leedy-Bonifas (16th) 9-06 *PR*; Johnson (26th) 7-05 *PR*; Teran Herrera (31st) 5-06 *PR*

 

BOYS:

 

8th grade:

100 — Aiden Wheat (8th) 13.96 *PR*; Xander Beaman (13th) 14.55; Diesel Eck (16th) 14.64 *PR*; Vincent Alguire (17th) 14.71 *PR*; Maverick Walling (18th) 15.12; Maverick Light (23rd) 17.18 *PR*

200 — River Simpson (1st) 26.26 *PR*; Wheat (4th) 28.59 *PR*; Beaman (5th) 29.28; Jacob Lujan (7th) 33.17

400 — Malachi Chapa (1st) 1:01.22 *PR*; Lujan (3rd) 1:09.83 *PR*

800 — Henry Purdue (1st) 2:27.50 *PR*; Lincoln Wagner (2nd) 2:38.08; Archer Schwarz (5th) 2:49.50

1600 — Purdue (1st) 5:16.06 *PR*; Schwarz (2nd) 5:58.15 *PR*

110 Hurdles — Lujan (1st) 20.80

4 x 100 Relay — Wheat, Beaman, Simpson, Chapa (2nd) 52.00

4 x 200 Relay — Walling, Simpson, Wagner, Sawyer Rudat (1st) 1:58.80

Shot Put — Alguire (1st) 35-09 *PR*; Eck (2nd) 33-11; Rudat (12th) 14-09 *PR*

Discus — Eck (1st) 112-00 *PR*; Wagner (6th) 75-04 *PR*; Light (14th) 45-00 *PR*

High Jump — Chapa (1st) 5-03 *PR*; Purdue (2nd) 5-01 *PR*; Beaman (3rd) 5-00 *PR*; Alguire (4th) 4-10 *PR*; Wheat (6th) 4-08 *PR*

Long Jump — Simpson (1st) 15-11 *PR*; Chapa (3rd) 15-06 *PR*; Wagner (5th) 15-00 *PR*; Walling (9th) 13-01 *PR*; Lujan (9th) 13-01; Schwarz (12th) 12-07; Rudat (13th) 12-06 *PR*; Light (17th) 10-08 *PR*

 

6th/7th grade:

100 — Liam Stoner (1st) 13.63 *PR*; Jesse Kehoe (3rd) 13.74; Logan Dees (6th) 14.75 *PR*; Henry Tierney (8th) 15.12 *PR*; Cyrus Badger (15th) 16.84 *PR*; LJ Schultz (17th) 17.10 *PR*

200 — Les Queen (1st) 28.84 *PR*; Stoner (2nd) 29.26 *PR*; Dees (4th) 31.76 *PR*; Miles Abram (7th) 34.26 *PR*; Badger (12th) 35.98 *PR*; Schultz (13th) 37.02 *PR*; Jackson Coxsey (14th) 42.79 *PR*

400 — Queen (1st) 1:05.96 *PR*

800 — Abram (3rd) 3:09.42 *PR*

1600 — Abram (2nd) 6:16.02 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Stoner, Queen, Alton Hansen, Dees (1st) 55.55

Shot Put — Coxsey (5th) 14-08 *PR*

Discus — Queen (1st) 116-00 *PR*; Tierney (5th) 63-03 *PR*

High Jump — Kehoe (1st) 5-02 *PR*; Abram (3rd) 4-0 *PR*; Hansen (4th) 4-0 *PR*

Long Jump — Kehoe (1st) 16-02 *PR*; Stoner (4th) 13-11 *PR*; Dees (5th) 13-08 *PR*; Hansen (6th) 13-05 *PR*; Tierney (7th) 12-11 *PR*; Schultz (17th) 9-04 *PR*

Posted in Middle School, Track | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

“Red Dragon” rules, Wolves romp

April 29, 2026 by David Svien

Teagan Calkins? There ain’t ever been another one quite like her. (Jackie Saia photo)

It ended the only way it could, the only way it should.

“A fly got in my mouth! And it doesn’t want to get out!!”

And with that Teagan Calkins, one of the best to ever wear a Coupeville High School softball uniform, coughed her way to the finish line in her final diamond game on the prairie.

Of course, the Wolf catcher also smashed three hits and threw a runner out trying to steal second, powering the Wolves to a 15-0 mercy-ruled win over visiting Orcas Island.

But the knowledge that the irrepressible Calkins, “The Red Dragon” who has carved out a legendary career of high achievement and great joy, accidentally carried a pesky piece of the prairie away with her, doing its best to dodge her gulps of water?

Chef’s kiss…

Of course, Calkins and the Wolves are far from done.

With Wednesday’s win, coming on Senior Night for its catcher, Coupeville gets to 10-0 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 16-1 overall.

Ranked #7 in the latest RPI rankings from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the Wolves have the most wins of any 2B diamond program, with non-conference road trips to Klahowya, South Whidbey, and East Jefferson still left on the schedule.

After that comes the district and state tourneys, with CHS softball going to the big dance in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever.

But first they had one last game to play in front of their hyped-up fans, and the day was a smash.

Flawless weather — the prairie offering one tantalizing taste of sunshine after a season of freezing wind and dark skies — the return of power-hitting Capri Anter to the lineup after a stint on injured reserve, and a soaring performance of the national anthem sung by Wolf first-baseman Ava Lucero.

Adeline Maynes was prowling the pitcher’s circle, firing BBs into Calkins glove, and only got into danger once during a 10-strikeout performance.

That came in the top of the first, when Orcas loaded the bags thanks to a walk and a couple of shallow hits.

To which Maynes said, “Not today, sister,” and promptly ended the frame by pouring liquid heat past a hapless Viking who meekly went down swinging and missing.

Coupeville, which pounded out 18 hits on the afternoon, got on the board quickly, before steadily pulling away.

Three runs in the bottom of the first, with Chelsi Stevens plating one on a sac fly before Sydney Van Dyke and Ava Lucero walloped back-to-back RBI hits, got things started.

Haylee Armstrong, a danger to pitchers everywhere. (Aleksia Jump photo)

Another tally went up on the scoreboard in the second, thanks to Haylee Armstrong smashing a low, sinking liner to center, the ball skidding past the fielder as the Wolf leadoff hitter turned a sure thing double into an inside-the-park home run with a mad dash around the basepaths.

It wouldn’t be Coupeville’s only four-bagger, as Maynes lashed her own tater in the middle of a game-busting 16-batter, 11-run explosion in the third inning.

Like Armstrong, the sophomore hurler spanked the ball hard, then showed off her wheels, careening around third and storming home ahead of the throw.

The big blast was part of a run of six straight Wolf batters collecting a base knock to open the frame, with Calkins, Stevens, and Sydney Van Dyke mashing doubles to provide extra pop.

Before the inning was done, 8th grader Zariyah Allen would collect two hits, Maynes would get nicked by a wayward pitch (payback for the homerun??), and Stevens would launch another laser to left, each Wolf making a major impact.

Up 15-0, CHS got playing time for many of its bench players, while also giving its lone senior two final moments to remember.

In the bottom of the fourth a Viking player, surprised to get on base, attempted to steal second.

Springing up from behind the plate Calkins zipped a missile of a throw right onto the glove of shortstop Cami Van Dyke, who alertly slapped the tag on the incoming runner with the fury of an in-his-prime John Cena, dropping the Viking face-first to the infield dirt with a sweet thump.

Chef’s kiss…

To which Calkins, ever the show woman, turned to a prairie fly minding his own business and said “Hey, you all wanna top that?”

“The Red Dragon” abides. (Jackie Saia photo)

 

Wednesday stats:

Zariyah Allen — Two singles
Haylee Armstrong — Two singles, one home run
Teagan Calkins — One single, two doubles
Ava Lucero — Three singles
Adeline Maynes — One home run, one walk
Chelsi Stevens — Two doubles
Cami Van Dyke — One single, one walk
Sydney Van Dyke — One single, two doubles

Posted in Softball | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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