Coupeville Sports

Wolves reachin’ for that top mark

May 1, 2023 by David Svien

CHS track star Tate Wyman is ranked in the top 10 state-wide in two events. (Sherry Bonacci photo)

We’re entering the stretch run, where every second and every inch counts big-time.

High school track and field enters the postseason this week, with Coupeville traveling to La Conner Wednesday for the Northwest 2B/1B League Championships.

After that, depending on performance, is districts and the state meet.

That means, across the state, every track athlete is gunning to throw down PR’s, which creates near-constant movement on the top 10 charts.

Coming off of strong work at Saturday’s Sunny and 70s Invitational, seniors Claire Mayne and Tate Wyman hurdle their way back into the mix for a top spot.

Also jumping onto a top 10 chart is fellow 12th grader Taygin Jump, who made her debut in the hammer throw an auspicious one.

At the same time, several Wolves who sat out Saturday’s meet find themselves bumped off the list, for the moment at least.

And, in a side note, there’s the case of sophomore Katie Marti, currently ranked #10 in the javelin with a throw of 98 feet, 10 inches.

Paul Messner’s granddaughter also has a throw of 100-04, which came at the one-team Coupeville Classic Invitational.

While listed as Marti’s PR, that lob has not been acknowledged as an official mark yet, however, because of complicated regulations on how results are reported, and what is considered “official” and “unofficial.”

With that in mind, a look at where the Wolves rank state-wide among 2B athletes as of May 1:

GIRLS:

400 — Lyla Stuurmans (6th) 1:03.76

100 Hurdles — Claire Mayne (9th) 17.96

4 x 400 Relay — Stuurmans, Ryanne Knoblich, Mayne, Carly Burt (6th) 4:37.74

Shot Put — Carolyn Lhamon (4th) 33-09

Javelin — Katie Marti (10th) 98-10

High Jump — Knoblich (6th) 4-10

Hammer Throw — Taygin Jump (3rd) 56-08

BOYS:

400 — Aidan Wilson (6th) 53.08

800 — Wilson (2nd) 2:01.22

110 Hurdles — Tate Wyman (8th) 16.99

4 x 100 Relay — Nick Guay, Wyman, Wilson, Dominic Coffman (2nd) 45.37

4 x 400 Relay — Guay, Mitchell Hall, Hank Milnes, Wilson (10th) 3:42.76

Discus — Zac Tackett (10th) 127-05

High Jump — Guay (7th) 5-11; Coffman (8th) 5-10

Long Jump — Alex Murdy (5th) 19-11.75

Triple Jump — Wilson (5th) 40-08.75

Posted in Track | Tagged 2B, Aidan Wilson, CHS Wolves, Lyla Stuurmans, Top 10, track and field | Leave a Comment »

Wolfe living diamond dream

May 1, 2023 by David Svien

Hawthorne Wolfe (right) reunites with high school mates Caleb Meyer (left) and Logan Martin. The trio are all college athletes now. (Abbie Martin photo)

Hawk is still flying high.

Coupeville grad Hawthorne Wolfe tossed two scoreless innings Saturday as his Western Washington University baseball squad rolled to the first win in a three-victory weekend.

The Vikings swept Central Oregon Community College, winning 10-0, 11-2, and 5-4.

That lifts WWU to 16-9 on the season heading into the regular season finale this coming weekend against Portland State University.

On the season Wolfe, the former Northwest 2B/1B League baseball MVP, has pitched in nine games, making four starts.

He is 1-0 with a save and has racked up 21 strikeouts in 20 innings of work.

At the plate Wolfe, in a limited number of at-bats, has chipped in with four hits, three runs, and two RBI.

During his Coupeville days Joan McPherson’s grandson was a standout basketball and baseball star who played a major role for league title-winning teams in both sports.

Even with essentially losing a full season of games due to Covid, Wolfe singed the nets for 800 points, making him the #14 scorer all-time in the 106-season history of CHS boys’ basketball.

Posted in Baseball, Wolves in college | Tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Hawthorne Wolfe, Western Washington University | Leave a Comment »

Lippo lashes, start to finish

May 1, 2023 by David Svien

Coupeville grad Joey Lippo earned some college hardware this spring. (Photo courtesy Connie Lippo)

He did his part.

Coupeville grad Joey Lippo put together a strong statistical season on the diamond this spring, even as his college baseball team struggled to win.

The University of Maine at Presque Isle, which wrapped its season with a doubleheader Sunday, finished 2-33 overall, losing its final 13 games.

Lippo, a two-sport college athlete who also plays golf for the NCAA D-III Owls, was a consistent performer on both sides of the ball, however.

He finished his junior season at UMPI ranked in the top three in 12 different offensive categories.

Lippo led the Owls in runs (22), triples (2), and walks (12), while being one of five players to appear in all 35 games.

The former CHS star was second on UMPI in batting average (.295), at-bats (122), hits (36), total bases (46), and home runs (1), and third in OPS (.735), doubles (3), slugging percentage (.377), and stolen bases (6).

Normally an outfielder for the Owls, Lippo also made three appearances as a pitcher this season, whiffing four hitters in 11+ innings of work.

During his time in Coupeville, Joey, whose twin sister Skyy is pursuing a successful dance career, played tennis, basketball, and baseball for the Wolves.

Posted in Baseball, Wolves in college | Tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Joey Lippo, season finale, University of Maine at Presque Isle | Leave a Comment »

Two sisters, too fast

April 30, 2023 by David Svien

Lucy Sandahl hangs out with her fan club prez. (Photos courtesy Jeannie Sandahl)

Sophie Sandahl (front, far right) ready to make the boat do what it does. Go fast.

They created a big splash on their dad’s birthday.

With parents Michael and Jeannie in attendance, and pops celebrating his cake day Sunday, Coupeville’s Sophie and Lucy Sandahl shone brightly this weekend for the Seattle Pacific University crew team.

The Falcons were competing at the WIRA Championships in Sacramento, and both Sandahl sisters were part of teams which delivered strong second-place finishes.

Lucy was the coxswain for the SPU varsity 4+ team, which won its heat Saturday, then dropped its time by more than four seconds Sunday, even while facing down a headwind.

The Falcons almost caught UC Santa Barbara at the end of the finals but needed a few more turns of the oars on a 2,000-meter course.

Meanwhile, Sophie, who is wrapping up her senior season for SPU, rowed out of the third seat for the JV 8+ team, which pushed Humboldt State to the very end of their championship race.

The WIRA Championships marked the end of the regular season for the Falcons, who return to the water at the Windermere Cup Regatta on the Montlake Cut Saturday, May 6.

Posted in Rowing, Wolves in college | Tagged Lucy Sandahl, Rowing, Sacramento, Seattle Pacific University, Sophie Sandahl | Leave a Comment »

New month, new challenges

April 30, 2023 by David Svien

Djina Radenovic and Co. play for a league title this coming week. (Jackie Saia photo)

The calendar turns and things get serious.

The arrival of May marks the start of the stretch run for Coupeville High School spring sports teams, with league titles and possible postseason glory at stake.

Wolf softball, baseball, and girls’ tennis all sit atop the Northwest 2B/1B League standings, while track and field has been dominant, especially on the boy’s side.

The CHS netters, who have clinched at least a tie for the conference crown, can claim sole possession with a win Tuesday at Friday Harbor.

Miss there, and they’ll get another crack May 12, when the Wolverines travel to Whidbey for Coupeville’s Senior Night.

Wolf softball only plays once in the week ahead, but everything hinges on the outcome.

The sluggers travel to Friday Harbor Thursday, and the stakes are simple.

Win, and the Wolves clinch a playoff berth. Lose, and a May 12 non-conference road game at South Whidbey is the season finale.

CHS baseball was supposed to play twice, but non-league rival Sultan bailed on a Monday trip to Whidbey, so the hardball squad will wait until Thursday, joining softball for its island-to-island trek.

Win, lose, or draw, the diamond squad has clinched the #1 seed for the District 1/2 tourney for 2B schools, where they’ll need one victory May 13 to punch a ticket to state.

What is at stake this coming week is the NWL title.

Coupeville is a half-game up on 1B Mount Vernon Christian, with the teams having split their two-game season series.

MVC has games left Tuesday with Concrete and Thursday with Orcas Island as the Hurricanes angle to stay even with the Wolves.

While the first three sports are nearing the end of the regular season, track is the first to step into the postseason, with a trip Wednesday to La Conner for the league championships.

That starts a three-meet run for glory, with districts and state up next.

As we head into a (possibly) dramatic week, a look at current standings for teams which tally wins and losses:

Northwest League baseball:

School	League	Overall
Coupeville	12-1	14-4
MV Christian	11-1	12-3
Friday Harbor	7-5	7-7
Orcas Island	6-7	9-7
Darrington	5-8	6-8
La Conner	3-10	4-12
Concrete	0-12	0-12