Coupeville Sports

Daughter of the prairie returns

August 31, 2023 by David Svien

Jessica Caselden (left) returns as Coupeville High School Athletic Trainer, after the community raised $8,600 to fund her position. (Mandi Black photos)

It’s official-official.

After the community rallied to fund the position — raising $8,600 with a GoFundMe and car wash — Jessica Caselden returns as Coupeville High School Athletic Trainer.

Her rehiring, and approval of the district accepting the grant via a donation from the school’s booster club, were part of the consent agenda at Thursday’s school board meeting.

The vote was 5-0.

With Caselden set to work the sideline at Friday’s home football opener, a turbulent roller coaster ride reaches its final destination.

For a year, at least.

The athletic trainer position was slashed in the 2023-2024 budget crafted by Superintendent Steve King and Business Director Brian Gianello.

That budget, approved by the school board in a 4-1 vote after much back-and-forth, also cut the Dean of Students position held by 19-year vet Tom Black and reduced paraeducator positions and hours.

The public backlash was quick, loud, and consistent.

In Caselden’s case, a huge chunk of the blowback against the decision came from CHS athletes themselves, with Wolf softball players leading a pro-Jessica letter-writing campaign.

District officials later agreed to allow the public to fund the athletic trainer position, though not a specific employee.

Caselden’s direct supervisor, CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith — whose own duties were briefly on the chopping block before a reversal from King — was always clear he would retain the Wolf grad if that option was available.

Coupeville’s athletic future helps ensure its present success.

The GoFundMe brought in donations from 81 people, while the car wash, which was staffed by a large collection of young Wolf athletes, earned $1,300+ on its own.

Caselden, who also got married this summer, is a PE teacher and athletic trainer at the same high school where she once played softball and basketball.

A daughter of the prairie, back where she belongs.

Posted in jobs | Tagged athletic trainers, CHS Wolves, Coupeville School Board, fundraiser, Jessica Caselden | Leave a Comment »

Wolf soccer teams unite

August 31, 2023 by David Svien

Coupeville soccer fans like Madison McMillan (left) and Jada Heaton get a 2-for-1 deal, with Wolf booters joining together to form co-ed teams in 2023. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The tribes are merging.

In the wake of Coupeville High School cancelling its varsity girls’ soccer schedule due to a lack of players, those booters who did turn out will unite with their male counterparts to form a co-ed program.

The revamped Wolves will feature both varsity and JV teams, with player placement based on “game skill, determination, and leadership skills,” said girls’ coach Kimberly Kisch.

The set-up, which is only in place for the 2023 season at this point, will play against boys’ teams from the Northwest 2B/1B League.

Several of Coupeville’s rivals, such as Lopez Island, have fielded co-ed teams in previous seasons.

Schools at the 2B or 1B classification are allowed to use female players on male teams, if the school doesn’t have an active girls’ program in that sport.

For the Wolves, early practices drew 10 female players, while CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith stipulated the program needed 15 to be viable.

When it became apparent Coupeville couldn’t get to that number, the painful decision was made to cancel the varsity season for a girls’ program which has played 19 consecutive seasons since launching in 2004.

Smith and Kisch discussed other options, such as having the Wolves play a JV-only schedule, but that would likely require 7 v 7 games instead of the standard 11 v 11, with a very-limited set of opponents.

After consultation with CHS boys’ coach Robert Wood, the decision was handed to the players.

“After many discussions, team votes, and meetings, we decided we will merge our girls’ team with the boys,” Kisch said. “Ultimately we left the decision up to the team and they feel that this is the best option.”

Both coaches are intrigued by the possibilities of the new set-up, which will give Wolf girls a chance to keep their program alive, while adding a new wrinkle to the boys team.

“I truly believe that this will be a fantastic learning experience for all involved,” Kisch said. “Our coaching team is prepared to coordinate and organize a large team.

“We will have plenty of players for a first and second team, while also giving everyone plenty of field time.”

Wood, who has floated the idea of calling the unity team “CHS FC,” is raring to go with the Wolves set to open the season Sept. 12 at home against defending 2B/1B boys state champ Friday Harbor.

“One academy, with a first and second team,” he said. “Dreams do come true!”

Posted in soccer | Tagged CHS Wolves, co-ed, Kimberly Kisch, Northwest League, Robert Wood, Soccer | Leave a Comment »

Register today for junior cheer

August 31, 2023 by David Svien

Young cheerleaders bring the noise and excitement during their 2022 performance. (Corinn Parker photo)

The cheer life calls to you.

Have a kid in K-5 at Coupeville Elementary School and want them to participate in this fall’s junior cheer program? Now is your time.

Registration is open from Aug. 31-Sept. 8, kicking off in person Thursday at the CES Back to School Night/PTA Ice Cream Social.

That event runs from 5:00-6:30 PM.

Can’t be there? You can also register online at https://coupevillesoc.com/.

Cost is $65 per student, and your child gets both pom poms and a sweatshirt.

Or, if you’re content with just the sweatshirt and the memories, it’s $50.

Practices will be held September 12, 14, 19, and 21 in the CES Multipurpose Room from 3:30-4:45.

Junior cheer will cap things with a halftime performance Friday, Sept. 22 during Coupeville’s home game with La Conner.

Posted in Cheer | Tagged Cheer, CHS Wolves, football, junior cheer, registration | Leave a Comment »

To wallet, or not to wallet

August 30, 2023 by David Svien

You have to pay to watch Jada Heaton play volleyball and basketball, but not softball. (Delanie Lewis photo)

Not all sporting events are equal.

At least when it comes to whether or not you need your wallet.

We’re sitting 55 hours out from the first game of the 2023-2024 school year, so it’s a good time for a refresher on what Coupeville sports fans have to pay for, and what they don’t.

Simple answer: if you’re a CHS/CMS student with an active ASB card, everything is free until the playoffs roll around and the district steps in to put its hand in your pocket.

For everyone else, you get to fork out some cash for three high school sports — volleyball, football, and basketball.

Regular season high school tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, track, and cross country events are free, as are all middle school games.

Regular season ticket prices:

Posted in ticket prices | Tagged Basketball, CHS Wolves, football, ticket prices, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

Knoblich a joyful assassin

August 29, 2023 by David Svien

Ryanne Knoblich gets some love from Mama Mariah. (Karen Carlson photo)

“Nice try, Ry!”

Over the years, as she grew from a plucky young girl fighting to have an impact, to emerging as a full-blown star honored as a Coupeville High School Athlete of the Year winner, that statement took on new meaning.

Ryanne Knoblich may have followed in the footsteps of older brother Gavin, himself a three-sport sensation for the Wolves, but Mariah and Clint’s daughter wrote her own super-successful story.

When she exited CHS this past spring, carrying her diploma (and countless academic and athletic honors), she left as one of the best I’ve ever written about.

As an athlete, absolutely.

As a human being, even more so.

Ryanne was unfailingly joyful during her days repping the red and black, her megawatt personality lighting up gyms and track ovals and winning her a well-deserved legion of fans.

Pick a sport, and she was a huge contributor.

Doin’ what she does. (Jackie Saia photo)

On the volleyball court, she grew into a dangerous sniper, one who crashed from sideline to sideline in pursuit of the ball, before unleashing often-crippling spikes.

Look at her stats from her senior season, and it’s readily apparent how dangerous, and well-balanced, a player she truly was.

Ryanne racked up 108 kills and 109 digs, the rare player to amass top numbers at the net and in the back row.

She could also serve with the best of them, peppering rivals with spikes which tore off arms and deflated players on the other side of the court.

Through it all, while racking up All-Conference honors, she delighted in her teammate’s accomplishments as much as her own, her voice carrying across the gym as she bum-rushed her pals to squeeze the life out of them with a congratulatory hug.

That all-in style carried over to basketball, where Ryanne was her team’s most effective rebounder, while also finishing #3 in scoring.

She could pop a silky jumper, elbow a wayward rival, then dive on the floor to fight like her life depended on her ability to claim possession of the ball.

All while chuckling to herself, an intense warrior who always seemed to delight in just getting a chance to play alongside her friends.

The artist at work. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

When spring rolled around, Ryanne went outdoors for track and field, and it’s there she probably made her biggest impact.

The pandemic denied her a freshman season on the oval, but she more than made up for it in the remaining three years.

From her sophomore through senior year, Ryanne competed in 11 different events, from sprints to relays, hurdles to jumping competitions.

Through it all, she rang up 16 wins, twice finished 2nd at the state meet in the high jump and tied a school record which stood untouched since 1999.

Ryanne touched the skies at five feet, two inches in her premier event, joining Wolf legend Yashmeen Knox atop the record books.

While she may have left the building, her name will live on every time a new CHS athlete enters the gym complex and looks up at the record board on the wall.

And, while that record may one day be toppled, Ryanne’s place among the best Wolf athletes ever is still assured, as her photo will join others who have been tabbed as a CHS Athlete of the Year winner.

That honor is forever.

Not that she needs it, as “Nice try, Ry” will also live on in the memories of those who watched her play while fueled by her unique mix of intensity and joy.