Coupeville Sports

Get yer fresh pics here!

August 15, 2022 by David Svien

Brittni Milner flies across the course during the half marathon at Saturday’s Race the Reserve. (Photos property CHS Class of 2023)

Chase and Rainy Simpson and their kids enjoy a family day out.

Take a picture. It’ll last longer.

We’re two days past the 2022 edition of Race the Reserve, but you can immortalize the moment by snapping up prints thanks to a bevy of camera clickers.

The annual event, which features a half-marathon, 10K, and 5K, is the biggest fundraiser for Coupeville High School’s senior class, and all photo purchases add to the money raised.

To see what’s available, pop over to:

https://racethereserve.smugmug.com

Posted in Photos, Running | Tagged CHS Wolves, Class of 2023, Photos, Race the Reserve, Running | Leave a Comment »

Once a Wolf, forever a Wolf

August 15, 2022 by David Svien

Bill Baas

A throwback to Baas as a high school sophomore. (Photo courtesy Jack Sell)

He was part of the brotherhood.

Bill Baas, who passed away Aug. 10 at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, remains part of the rich tapestry that is Coupeville High School boys basketball.

The Wolf hoops program, launched in 1917, has 105 seasons in the record books, and I’ve managed to identify 406 young men who put the ball through the net in a varsity game.

Baas, who was 72 and lived in Rochester, appears in the scoring totals for three of those seasons.

He dropped in nine points during the 1965-1966 season, then built on that, banking in 63 points in 66-67, and another 81 in 67-68.

Points were at a premium during that stretch, with Barry Brown leading the Wolves in scoring all three of those seasons — the only CHS boy to top the charts three times — and the current all-time scoring champ, Jeff Stone, debuting in 67-68.

For his varsity career Baas finished with 153 points, which puts him #164 all-time among CHS boys, nestled right between Geoff Wacker (154) and Ulrik Wells (152).

A celebration of life will be held in Rochester Aug. 27.

And when basketball games return this winter, Baas, like Brown, Utz Conard, and other now-departed Coupeville hoops stars, will continue to live large in the collective memories of Wolf Nation.

Part of the brotherhood, forever.

Posted in In memory | Tagged Barry Brown, Bill Baas, Boys Basketball, CHS Wolves, in memory | 1 Comment »

Kierra Thayer ready to rumble

August 15, 2022 by David Svien

Kierra Thayer strolls to the hoop during a middle school game. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

She lights up the gym.

Kierra Thayer, an incoming freshman at Coupeville High School, had an immediate impact when she stepped on the basketball court last winter.

Making her debut in a Wolf uniform as an 8th grader, she threw down a game-high eight points against Langley in a tense middle school hoops rumble.

There was plenty more where that came from, with Thayer leading all CMS players in the season scoring stats, while also providing often-explosive defense while denying rivals access to the paint.

Now, as she rumbles into high school, she plans to add volleyball to her to-do list, before returning to the hardwood.

While Thayer is a promising talent in multiple sports, basketball owns her heart at the moment.

“My favorite sport would have to be basketball,” she said. “Because I love the competitive side of it; but I also love team bonding.”

Her goal for high school “would have to be to make varsity,” but Thayer is willing to put in the work to get there.

“If I don’t (make varsity) then (my goal) would have to be to just do my best,” she said.

“This is my court!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Thayer embraces the athletic life and carries a positive attitude into everything she does.

“What I enjoy about being an athlete is the competitiveness, the team dynamic, and the traveling that goes along with it,” she said.

“I always love getting to meet new people and seeing what the competition is like.”

Away from sports Thayer enjoys baking and music, with science and math topping her classroom interests.

As she transitions from middle school to high school, she is already planning for the increased workload, both on the playing field and in the classroom.

“My strength that I have as an athlete would have to be that I pick up drills pretty easily,” Thayer said.

“But my weakness would have to be juggling schoolwork, along with the dedication requirement of being an athlete.”

Thayer is not alone, however, and is quick to praise those who are actively helping her reach her potential.

“There are two people that have impacted me,” Thayer said. “My mom and my science teacher, Ms. Berg.

“My mom always encourages me and taught me how to play the game of basketball correctly and how to take the game seriously while still having fun,” she added.

“Ms. Berg always pushed me to do better on my schoolwork, and she always saw potential in me and knew I could do better.”

Keeping both eyes on a bright future. (Photo courtesy Will Thayer)

Posted in Girls Basketball, Volleyball | Tagged CHS Wolves, freshman, girls basketball, Kierra Thayer, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

Achievement unlocked

August 15, 2022 by David Svien

Just another day at Coupeville Sports world headquarters. (David Svien photo)

Double digits.

Today — Aug. 15, 2022 — marks the 10th birthday of Coupeville Sports, a blog born in anger that transformed over time into something else.

Most days, at least.

Along the way, I’ve been kicked out of my local press box at least once (I deserved it), been banned from attending games at another school (later rescinded) and tried to quit several times.

My most recent aborted departure was derailed when a worldwide pandemic surfaced, pulling me back in to write … just as prep sports went away for a year plus.

Through big wins and tough losses, a couple of track and field state championship titles for Danny Conlisk, and a lot of self-righteous blathering on a varied series of topics, I’ve churned out 9,391 articles and counting.

It would be more, but, that whole “no live sports for a year-plus” thing did sort of put a crimp in things.

There are those who love what I do, and those who hear my name and make a face like they’re sucking on one lemon while trying to jam another three up their tush.

Thankfully, there’s enough of the former that I continue to dodge the odds and survive financially thanks to the kindness of donations.

There’s never been a paywall on the blog, something which remains as true on day #3,653 as it did back on day #1.

They said it wouldn’t work, and yet, most of “them” are long gone, and I’m still chugging along, with the occasional hiccup.

Ultimately, Coupeville Sports is all about the words — though I am eternally grateful to all those who have let me, a non-photographer, use their pics.

From John Fisken and Shelli Trumbull to Morgan White and Jackie Saia and everyone else who has said “yes” to sharing their images with my readers, thank you. It wouldn’t be the same without you.

But, while the blog itself is the core, it has also allowed me to accomplish some things in the real world which stand out.

My two biggest achievements in the last decade were being able to, with the help of many others, celebrate the 101st anniversary of CHS boys basketball, and the creation of the Wall of Fame in the high school gym.

So, where do we go from here?

Well, prep sports return this week, with high school football set to start practice Wednesday, and all other fall teams kicking off new seasons next Monday. The first game is Sept. 2.

My pursuit of 10,000 stories is ongoing, my quest to find every last point scored in a CHS varsity basketball game endures, and I still think the school’s stadium should be named in honor of longtime Wolf coach Ron Bagby.

If nothing else, I’m likely to annoy some folks — a couple of days ago I was called sexist for using the term “man benches” — and, hopefully, find the right balance to keep Coupeville Sports relevant.

We shall see. Keep your lemons at the ready.

Posted in Milestones | Tagged birthday, bloggers, CHS Wolves, CMS Wolves, decade | Leave a Comment »

Wolf grads prep for college sports action

August 14, 2022 by David Svien

Mica Shipley, seen here in her Coupeville days, is an NCAA D-1 cheerleader. (Photo courtesy Tammy Akard)

Fall creeps closer, and with it the return of high school and college sports action.

Several Coupeville High School grads are confirmed to be in the mix to play at the next level when leaves start to fall.

Topping the list is Mica Shipley, an NCAA D-1 cheerleader at Eastern Washington University.

She’s a junior and is headed into her third season on the sidelines with the Eagles.

EWU football, backed by the high-flying Shipley and her teammates, kicks off a new season Sept. 3 at Roos Field in Cheney, when Tennessee State University visits.

At least two other former Coupeville athletes are chasing college football dreams.

Purple pride. (Chelle Herbruger photo)

Sean Toomey-Stout, a sophomore, is listed as a safety and sports the #30 for the University of Washington.

“The Torpedo” has been participating in fall practices and is fighting for a chance to make his debut as a D-1 gridiron star.

The Huskies begin play Sept. 3 at home against Kent State.

Football has carried Ben Smith from Coupeville to Illinois. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Toomey-Stout’s former Wolf teammate, Ben Smith, has landed at Eureka College in Illinois, where he’s listed at outside linebacker.

The Red Devils host Nebraska Weslyn Sept. 3 in their season opener.

Lucy (red) and Sophie Sandahl row for Seattle Pacific University. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coupeville sisters Lucy and Sophie Sandahl return to the Seattle Pacific University rowing program, which will compete in fall regattas before conducting the majority of its season next spring.

With the departure of several strong seniors, the boat lineups for the Falcons are still being determined.

Rounding out the Wolves participating in fall college sports — at least as far as I know at the moment — is Joey Lippo, who confirms he’ll be back on the links at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

It’ll be the second college golf campaign for the lanky duffer, who has also played two seasons of baseball at UMPI.