Coupeville Sports

Former Wolf coach charged with federal crime

October 3, 2023 by David Svien

Michael Golden

A former Coupeville Middle School football coach has been charged with a federal crime, with authorities alleging he defrauded investors more than $3 million.

Michael Golden was an assistant coach with the Wolf gridiron program for several months in 2017, before moving back to Alabama.

He has been charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

The announcement was made Friday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples.

The complaint against Golden, 48, alleges as founder and owner of three businesses, he duped investors between January 2018 and July 2022.

Those companies are Wolf-Tek LLC, MountainTop Timber LLC, and DroneTek Inc.

According to the complaint, Golden is alleged to have misrepresented his businesses to investors in multiple ways.

This includes stating he had timber leases and a way to harvest said timber for profit, that he had hundreds of pre-orders for drones, and that his businesses were about to be sold for millions of dollars to Amazon and other companies.

It is also alleged Golden gave investors promissory notes in which he misrepresented his ability to repay.

The charges state Golden defrauded investors to the tune of $3.5 million dollars and used the money to pay back prior investors and for personal expenses.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rummage is prosecuting the case.

Posted in Football, Laying down the law | Tagged CMS Wolves, FBI, football, Michael Golden, wire fraud | Leave a Comment »

Famous Freeland restaurant closes

October 3, 2023 by David Svien

One of Whidbey Island’s most well-known restaurants will permanently close before the end of the month.

Chef Gordon Stewart is shuttering Gordon’s on Blueberry Hill Oct. 22, but will continue to operate Gordon’s Fusion Cuisine in Coupeville.

The former business is on Woodward Ave. in Freeland, while the latter is in the building formerly occupied by Christopher’s on Whidbey.

Stewart’s official farewell:

Posted in Not sports? Tough! | Tagged closure, Freeland, Gordon Stewart, Gordon's on Blueberry Hill, restaurant news | Leave a Comment »

Summer fades, photos endure

October 3, 2023 by David Svien

Ready to shoot in the golden light. (Jackie Saia photo)

The photos are falling faster than the leaves.

Fall is upon us, with the calendar clicking over into October, and a vast pack of photographers spreads out across the prairie, cameras in hand.

They’re here and they’re clear … to snap away.

Gridiron giant Zane Oldenstadt gets caught on film. (William Davidson photo)

Coupeville running guru Elizabeth Bitting introduces foreign exchange students to the prairie. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Kassidy Upchurch inspires the next generation of cheerleaders. (Brittany Kolbet photo)

“What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.” (Andrew Williams photo)

Greg and Morgan White watch their favorite son sparkle on the soccer pitch. (William Davidson photo)

Senior cheerleaders bring their A-game to the sidelines. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Spikers Jada Heaton (left) and Taylor Brotemarkle escape the gym for a night. (Jackie Saia photo)

Posted in Cheer, Cross Country, Football, soccer, Volleyball | Tagged Cheer, CHS Wolves, cross country, football, Kassidy Upchurch, Soccer, volleyball, Zane Oldenstadt | Leave a Comment »

Big win, bigger growth

October 2, 2023 by David Svien

Wolf 8th graders anchor the Coupeville Middle School volleyball program. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

They lit the joint up.

Playing at home for the first time this season, the Coupeville Middle School varsity volleyball squad captured its first win Monday, crushing visiting Granite Falls.

Meanwhile, both Wolf JV teams fought hard against the Tigers, with the A-Team coming dangerously close to capturing its own victory.

Varsity:

It was all Coupeville, all the time, as the Wolves cruised to a sweep.

The 25-18, 25-17, 15-8 triumph started with high school coach Cory Whitmore covering for his fiancée, Cris Matochi, who was wrapping an important meeting at his day job.

With Whitmore and CMS coach Kristina Hooks working in tandem, they sparked the Wolves to a strong start, before Matochi swept into the gym to help his players close out the victory.

“We had a good night tonight,” Matochi said. “The varsity team played really well and their energy was unmatched.

“Once they figured out a way to get a good run on serving, the match took its course.”

Coupeville’s consistency and ability to work as a unit brought a smile to their coach’s face.

“We were able to flow as a group even on points when things were not working in our favor,” Matochi said.

“However, they were never intimidated and kept consistent, solid form-oriented volleyball throughout the entire match.”

The victory was for everyone in the gym.

“Our fans were awesome. The kids were feeding off their energy,” Matochi said. “When I arrived there, I saw how well they got the team going.

“Coach Cory was excited to get the experience to coach them for a little while today and see the talent that will be heading his way in the future.

“Cory has such a gift with volleyball and I’m so proud of what he is doing for this program.”

Spiker gurus Kristina Hooks and Cris Matochi bring passion and fun to their teaching duties.

JV:

Team A was nipped 25-23, 20-25, 15-10 in a nailbiter, while Team B “also put on a good fight.”

“Kristina’s Team A, they were so close to finishing the first set,” Matochi said. “But Granite Falls had a very strong server that was able to turn the game around when they were tied 23-23.

“The kids are improving so quickly and although we have quite ways to go, the kids are showing that their game is growing.”

While Matochi is a veteran in the CMS coaching world, this is Hooks first go-round with the Wolves, and the former Oak Harbor spiker star is already having a hugely positive impact on her young players.

“Coach Kristina is incredible,” Matochi said. “She is working so hard with these kids and their improvement is clear as water.

“She has such an incredible drive for the game and the kids really want to make her proud,” he added. “We are so lucky to have her on our staff.”

Posted in Middle School, Volleyball | Tagged CMS Wolves, Granite Falls, home opener, Kristina Hooks, Tenley Stuurmans, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

Two countries, one hammer-throwing dream

October 2, 2023 by David Svien

Coupeville’s Logan Martin learns from Camryn Rogers, reigning world champ in the hammer throw. (Photos courtesy Abbie Martin)

Canada is the place to go if you’re serious about being a top-level hammer thrower, eh.

Coupeville grad Logan Martin, now a sophomore at Central Washington University, continues to work year-round in his pursuit of excellence, and that sent him to Langley, British Columbia last weekend.

Dad Bob, who coaches the CHS track team, was supposed to go along for the trip, but the family dog brought that to a skidding halt, eating the elder Martin’s passport.

Rumors abound that papa, a former Marine Drill Sergeant, is currently making the persnickety pooch run laps.

Is the hangdog hound dog responding by doing a note-perfection imitation of Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman, whining “I got nowhere else to go!”

One can only hope so.

World champ Ethan Katzberg informs Martin all of his power comes from his ‘stache.

Meanwhile, back in reality, Logan Martin spent his time in maple syrup country training with world champion hammer throwers Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers, as well as coaches Dylan Armstrong and Garrett Collier.

The first of those coaches is a former Olympian who trained with the sport’s top guru, Dr. Anatolij Bondarčuk, while the latter mentors throwers at the University of British Columbia.

Along with the chance to train with top-level hammer chuckers, Logan Martin also inspired his own throwing coach, Martin Bingisser, to put together a podcast on the subject for his massive HMMR Media network.

That reunited Bingisser, an 11-time national champ, with Armstrong, as the pair were training partners in the old days.