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‘Canes nip frisky Wolves

October 3, 2023 by David Svien

Cole White is an assassin with a soccer ball. (Jackie Saia photo)

It was the nailbiter everyone expected.

Playing on the road for only the second time in seven games this season, the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad fell 3-2 Tuesday in a heartbreaker at Mount Vernon Christian.

The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Wolves, ranked #7 in the state, and leaves them at 1-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 4-2 overall.

MVC, which began the day ranked #4 in RPI, is 1-1 in league, 7-2-1 overall.

Friday Harbor and Orcas Island, which played for the state title last season, currently sit atop the NWL standings at 2-0.

Tuesday’s tilt in Mount Vernon pitted two strong teams against each other, with the Hurricanes able to barely pull out the victory.

“Boy, I wanted that one,” said Coupeville coach Robert Wood. “Very emotional game, which of course means physical.”

The Wolves first score came courtesy an own goal, as MVC defenders got confused on who was supposed to pick up the ball and accidentally knocked the orb past their own goaltender.

CHS senior Cole White added his own goal, knocking a free kick into the back of the net for his team-leading sixth score of the season.

It was the 10th goal of his stellar prep career, making him just the 12th Coupeville boy to crack double digits scoring.

The Wolves get a prime chance to bounce right back, hosting Grace Academy Oct. 6 under Friday Night Lights.

Kickoff is 6:00 PM, admission is free, and the visiting Eagles will arrive on Whidbey carrying a 1-5 record.

With the girls’ program shut down for a season, Coupeville’s female booters are joining their male counterparts on the pitch. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

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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 , , , , | 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 , , , , | 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 , , , , , , , | 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 , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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