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#BringBackBlack petition launches

June 28, 2023 by David Svien

Supporters push for the reinstatement of Dean of Students Tom Black. (Photo from Change.org)

They continue to turn up the heat in creative ways.

The fan club for Coupeville High School Dean of Students Tom Black is using old-school paint and new-school social media to drive home their point.

While they understand budget cuts are necessary after district officials came up short on keeping the general fund in line with the wishes of the school board, cutting Black is not the answer.

The rock in front of the CHS gym was painted in support of the jack of all trades recently, with siblings Moira and Gabe Reed launching the hashtag #bringbackblack.

A photo of that rock was quickly shared across Instagram, popping up repeatedly on the stories of Wolf students and parents.

Now, a petition has been launched on the popular web site change.org, calling for Black to be reinstated, with cuts coming elsewhere.

Petition organizer Gabe Reed wrote:

“Tom Black is easily the most important part of the Coupeville School environment.

“He’s helped countless students graduate when their odds were low, helped steer them away from suicide, and keeps the overall environment at school a safe space for students.

“I can’t even imagine what it would be like if Mr. Black were to be gone.”

 

The petition can be seen at:

https://www.change.org/p/keep-tom-black-as-the-coupeville-dean-of-students?source_location=search

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Pack the car, they’re state bound!

June 27, 2023 by David Svien

District champs, and still undefeated heading into the state tourney. (Kerry Western photos)

Roll on, mighty Wolves, roll on.

Beating visiting Sedro-Woolley 10-0 for the second night in a row, the Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball team cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night in Oak Harbor.

The victory lifts the Wolves to 14-0 on the season, gives them the District 11 title, and sends them on to the state tourney.

The big dance goes down July 1-9 in Vancouver, with Central Whidbey slated to open play against the winner of District 5, which reps the lower corner of Eastern Washington.

Here’s the state bracket, just waiting for teams to be plugged in:

Click to access 2023_LLSB_State_Bracket_1.0.pdf

Tuesday night, the Wolves went for the clincher in their best 2-of-3 district rumble, and once again came up big against a tough foe.

Walks were key, as Central Whidbey racked up a ton, but the Islanders also got base-knocks from Kennedy Strevel, Chelsi Stevens, and Cassandra Powers.

The Wolves pushed three runs across in the first to snatch the lead, before tacking on two more in the third, four in the fourth, and a final tally in the fifth to push the game into mercy-rule territory.

“We were very disciplined tonight against a pair of good Sedro pitchers,” said Central coach Aaron Lucero.

“Hats off to Sedro, they came out looking to fight and made some big plays,” he added. “We had bases loaded in the first three or four innings and we just couldn’t put it away.”

Stevens launched “an absolute laser shot with the bases loaded and two outs” that might have broken the game open early, only to see Sedro’s outfielder make “a fantastic grab” to save runs.

The Wolves never backed down, however, continuing to put the pressure on their foes.

“Great job by our ladies to just keep chipping away,” Aaron Lucero said. “Putting the ball in play, aggressive base-running, and hustle, got it done for us offensively.”

Strevel and Adeline Maynes both tapped home plate twice for the Wolves, while Sydney Van Dyke, Stevens, Olivia Martin, Cameron Van Dyke, Emma Cushman, and KeeAyra Brown also scored.

Basking in the afterglow of sweet victory.

Mary Western, Ava Lucero, Selah Rivera, Samantha Antonio, and Allie Powers also played for Central Whidbey.

Maynes returned to the pitcher’s circle for Central Whidbey and was in lock-down mode most of the game, whiffing eight.

She got big-time help on defense from her catcher, Ava Lucero, who made the defensive play of the night for the final out.

Sedro had the bases jammed with two outs and was desperate to keep the game going when a wild pitch ran away from the waiting glove.

Responding instantly, Ava Lucero scrambled to the backstop, sliding on one knee to snatch the ball off the ground and fire it back to Maynes, who slapped the game-ending tag on an incoming runner.

Now, it’s off to the big stage for the Wolves, with their coach ready to hit the open roads for another long trip.

“Really proud of these players on a truly undefeated season,” Aaron Lucero said. “They showed a lot of grit.”

On to the next challenge!

 

Want to help the Wolves make their trip to state?

You can support the 14 girls — 12 from Coupeville, and one apiece from Oak Harbor and South Whidbey — two ways.

Checks made out to Central Whidbey Little League can be mailed to P.O. Box 222, Coupeville, WA 98239.

Or use Venmo to send money through Wolf Mom Kelly Powers, who can be found at https://account.venmo.com/u/Coupeville2029.

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“Mr. Black inspired me to be a better human”

June 27, 2023 by David Svien

Sofia Peters, softball sensation and Class of 2023 grad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Life after life, changed.

Student after student, made to feel seen, cared about, and protected.

Whatever title you want to give Tom Black, whether it be Dean of Students or something else, the man has made an enormous impact in 19 years of service to Coupeville’s children.

Now, with his job having been eliminated by ongoing budget cuts, those students, many of them now young adults, are speaking out, calling for a reversal from Superintendent Steve King.

The message is simple, the message is loud, the message is heartfelt.

This latest letter comes from Sofia Peters, a 2023 Wolf grad:

 

Hey David,

I want to share my thoughts on Mr. Black being cut.

Mr. Black is a key part of what makes CMS and CHS students feel safe and welcomed.

I myself have always felt comfort and stability at school knowing Mr. Black has my back, whether it’s academically or personally.

Since sixth grade, Mr. Black has always said to me before I walk to my first period class, “I hope your day goes good, kiddo.”

I’ve known Mr. Black for about seven years and throughout those seven years he has done nothing but inspired me to be a better human and he has showed me what a great educator should look like.

Mr. Black is the type of guy that never misses student’s birthdays, never forgets to ask how their day is going, and always gives his all to put a smile on students faces.

He builds bonds with students that students like myself will never forget.

He treats students with respect, and he treats them as equals to him.

He doesn’t treat us like we are just students.

He treats us like we are growing and learning young adults.

He is the definition of “tough love.” He wants what’s best for every student and if that means having a difficult conversation with them, then so be it.

Like I said before, Tom Black is a key part of what makes CMS and CHS students feel safe, welcomed, and respected.

But most of all, Tom Black inspires students.

I stand with #BRINGBACKBLACK!

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“Without Mr. Black, students are going to struggle”

June 27, 2023 by David Svien

Coupeville freshman Haylee Armstrong and mom Michelle have both witnessed Tom Black’s positive impact on students. 

Every generation is speaking out.

Coupeville alumni have come on strong in support of Tom Black, the Dean of Students, saying his value is more than a dollar amount, and he shouldn’t be a casualty in the ongoing budget cuts.

Now, current students are joining the call.

Our next letter comes from incoming Wolf freshman Haylee Armstrong.

 

Dear Coupeville School District,

I would like to make a recommendation for the cut to the position of the Dean of Students.

Mr. Black, the Dean of Students, should not be cut from his position.

Without Mr. Black’s smile and bright mood in the Coupeville Middle/High School hallways, the students are going to struggle.

Mr. Black has made an impact on many students, including my friends and cousin.

You may or may not know, but my cousin, Adam Garcia, was a little troublemaker in those hallways while Mr. Black was there.

Mr. Black kept my cousins, mom, uncle, students, and myself in check.

Without Mr. Black’s smiling, positive mood, the students are going to slip.

I know for a fact Mr. Black in our hallways makes a difference between getting students to class on time, talking to students that need help, or helping with a short staff.

What if a teacher comes in late? Who’s gonna cover for them if they have no sub; what happens if we are short-staffed?

We aren’t gonna have Mr. Black to cover for a late teacher or a short staff.

Personally I am 100% with the hashtag #BRINGBACKBLACK.

Coupeville Middle/High School needs Mr. Black to stay in check.

Every morning Mr. Black would bring a smile to mine and others’ faces, whether it was just a “Good morning” or “I like that sweatshirt.”

Coupeville Middle/High School needs Mr. Black, so I strongly disagree with the decision of the Dean of Students being cut.

Sincerely,

Haylee Armstrong

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One win down, one to go

June 26, 2023 by David Svien

Chelsi Stevens and her Central Whidbey Little League softball squad are halfway to winning a district title. (Kristi Stevens photo)

They’re halfway to the promised land.

The Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad kept its unbeaten streak alive Monday, thrashing Sedro-Woolley 10-0 in the District 11 playoff opener.

Playing in Oak Harbor, the Wolves combined timely hits, a keen eye at the plate, and the overpowering pitching of Adeline Maynes to push their record to 13-0 on the season.

Central Whidbey now has two chances to punch its ticket to the state tourney.

Game #2 of the best-of-three district royal rumble is Tuesday on the fields next to the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool, with first pitch set for 6:00 PM.

If Sedro stays alive, a winner-take-all game #3 would be Wednesday, same location, same time.

The state tourney goes down in Vancouver July 1-9.

Monday’s game was close for a bit, with the Wolves pulling away to end things early thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.

Central Whidbey put up three runs in the bottom of the first, went scoreless in the second, then slapped on a fourth tally in the third.

Two more runs in the fourth frame stretched things out to 6-0, before a four-run uprising in the bottom of the fifth put a bow on things.

“Team was very resilient and battled every inning,” said Wolf coach Aaron Lucero.

“Had some hiccups I attribute to a few weeks layoff, but we kept fighting and never backed down,” he added. “Big game jitters. Sedro was a tough opponent and made some good plays.

“Luckily we had solid pitching, baserunning, and put pressure on the defense every opportunity we could.”

Sedro’s offense was never able to get much going, as Maynes went the distance in the pitcher’s circle, retiring 12 hitters via a strikeout.

She also scored three times, with seven different Wolves tapping home plate.

Sydney Van Dyke came around twice, while KeeAyra Brown, Emma Cushman, Kennedy Strevel, Ava Lucero, and Cameron Van Dyke also made the scoreboard operator earn their (likely nonexistent) paycheck.

Chelsi Stevens, Allie Powers, Samantha Antonio, Mary Western, Cassandra Powers, Selah Rivera, and Olivia Martin also saw playing time for the Wolves.

“Very proud of these young women,” Aaron Lucero said.

“Told them at the end of the game our work isn’t over and need to come out tomorrow ready to play ball.”

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

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