Jacob Schooley and Bella Karr are your new Coupeville High School cheer captains. (Photo courtesy Jennifer Morrell)
John Denver was a dirty, sweaty lil’ liar.
When he sung about West Virginia he failed to mention the heat, the humidity, or the non-stop bugs.
So many bugs.
And yet, according to the internet, West Virginia is not even in the top 10 for states in the USA when it comes to bugs.
I don’t think John Denver is the only liar…
Or maybe 54 years of living in Washington state, with the last 20 perched on the shores of Penn Cove, have left me unprepared for life in the buzz zone.
Twenty-four days in, I’m adjusting — somewhat — to life on the other side of the country, while still keeping at least one eye on the prairie.
With Coupeville High School football kicking off its first practices Wednesday, and other fall sports like volleyball and cross country slated to hit go this coming Monday, it feels more than a bit odd to not be in the thick of things in Cow Town.
August was traditionally the hardest time to find stories for the blog, with the dog days of summer preceding the return of school sports to the forefront.
Though, here in West Virginia, my two youngest nephews have already been back in class for a full week as of yesterday.
If I was still hanging out in my duplex, with a breeze bouncing off the water, and bugs few and far between, this is some of what I probably would have written about.
A young Deb Dire, now known as teacher extraordinaire Deb Sherman.
It sounds like Deb Sherman, the gold standard of elementary school teachers, is heading in to her final year in the classroom.
So many kids have deeply benefited from her gentle guidance over the years, and Coupeville was greatly blessed that she brought great joy and love to its classrooms.
I also see several former CHS athletes made it official and got hitched this summer.
Among those whose nuptials who I noticed were Hannah Davidson, Arisbeth Montiel, and Joey Lippo.
Arisbeth Montiel
Left to right are Scout Smith, Tia Wurzrainer, Scott Fox, Hannah Davidson, and Avalon Renninger.
Joey Lippo
Hannah’s marriage ceremony brought her back together with her former teammates, and their high school hoops guru, Scott Fox, in a complete-the-circle movement.
And one of those former running mates, Scout Smith, is about to embark on two new adventures this fall.
The Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Famer replaces the departed Cory Whitmore as head volleyball coach at CHS — running the program she once starred for — and will also be a full-time teacher after snagging a classroom gig at the elementary school.
Other new coaches coming aboard include Jasmine Ader (CHS girls’ soccer) Tianna Carlson (CHS volleyball — JV), James Kunz (CHS boys’ soccer), and Katelynn Quinonez (CMS volleyball), though Makana Stone (CMS girls’ basketball) has recently resigned.
In the world of high school cheer, Bella Karr and Jacob Schooley were tabbed as captains for the upcoming football season, while Wolf Nation took a hit with the passing of Martha Rose.
The former Island Transit Director was a strong supporter of CHS soccer, with her daughters Emily (May) and Taichen both starring on the pitch for the Wolves.
Soccer, in all its forms, continues to enchant many in Cow Town, whether it’s the young female stars of tomorrow, who continue to pile up the hardware, or a brave young teen heading overseas.
“We’re coming for all your trophies!” (Photo courtesy Kimberly Kisch)
Young gun Chayse Van Velkinburgh will spend the next 10 months at the Euro Madrid Soccer Academy in Spain. (Photo courtesy Dustin Van Velkinburgh)
Meanwhile, a bevy of former Wolves are trying their hand at playing college sports, with some photos popping up showcasing them in their new uniforms.
Here’s three which recently hit my feed:
Marcelo Gebhard, ready to hit the gridiron for Lewis-Clark Valley College.
Two-time CHS Athlete of the Year winner Mia Farris (right), now a freshman volleyball spiker at Whatcom College.
Lyla Stuurmans (second from left), hankering for some kills at Skagit Valley College.
Coupeville Sports 