Coupeville Sports

State meet, here they come!

May 20, 2022 by David Svien

Coupeville’s Ryanne Knoblich is off to the state track and field meet in three events. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Sixteen Wolves are headed to the big dance.

High school track and field state championships will be held for the first time in three years, and Coupeville will be well-represented.

The pandemic erased all spring sports in 2020, before Washington state schools competed in just limited regular season action in 2021.

But now everyone is heading back to Cheney for three days of competition May 26-28, with the lure of state meet medals in the air.

To punch their ticket, the Wolves had to survive the District 1/4 meet Friday in Chehalis, a 21-team mega-rumble.

Coupeville’s boys finished 5th in the team standings, while their female counterparts claimed 11th.

The Rainier boys and Raymond girls finished atop the leaderboard.

“Spectacular showing for the boys!” said CHS coach Elizabeth Bitting.

The day was a long one, but the Wolves held up nicely.

“No matter what kind of day they had, they were all supportive of one another and cheered each other on!” Bitting said. “It was heartwarming!

Aidan Wilson roars out of the blocks.

While the CHS boys put up more points Friday, they faced a stiffer test to advance to state.

Because of a discrepancy in how many 2B schools are competing in track this spring, there will be 16 competitors in each girls event at state, but just 12 boys.

That gave the Wolf girls an advantage Friday, as a top seven performance was state-worthy, while the CHS boys needed to crack the top five to advance.

Coupeville senior Ja’Kenya Hoskins — the only active Wolf to already have a state meet medal in their possession — and junior Ryanne Knoblich qualified for state in three events apiece to top Coupeville.

Hoskins (200, 4 x 100, 4 x 200) and Knoblich (4 x 2, high jump, long jump) will join freshmen Lyla Stuurmans (400, 4 x 2) and Ayden Wyman (4 x 2), sophomore Ava Mitten (4 x 1), and juniors Carolyn Lhamon (shot put, 4 x 1) and Claire Mayne (4 x 1) in Cheney.

Mitten is an alternate for the 4 x 2 unit, a role junior Taygin Jump (4 x 1) and sophomore Issabel Johnson (4 x 1, 4 x 2) also embrace.

Scheduled to make the trip for the Wolf boys are seniors Logan Martin (shot put, discus) and Caleb Meyer (4 x 1), as well as juniors Aidan Wilson (800, 4 x 1), Dominic Coffman (4 x 1, high jump), and Reiley Araceley (4 x 1).

Junior Nick Guay and sophomore Mikey Robinett are alternates for the boys relay squad.

Five of the Wolves are making their second trip to state this school year.

Mayne qualified as a cross country runner in the fall, while Meyer, Coffman, Martin, and Guay played for a CHS basketball team which faced Kalama and Lake Roosevelt at the 2B championships.

Complete Bi-District results:

GIRLS:

200 — Ja’Kenya Hoskins (6th) 28.73

400 — Lyla Stuurmans (6th) 1:06.86

1600 — Ayden Wyman (14th) 7:24.62

3200 — Cristina McGrath (13th) 15:42.22 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Ava Mitten, Claire Mayne, Carolyn Lhamon, Hoskins (4th) 54.49

4 x 200 Relay — Wyman, Stuurmans, Ryanne Knoblich, Hoskins (5th) 2:00.63

Shot Put — Lhamon (4th) 31-00 *PR*; Reese Wilkinson (11th) 26-04 *PR*

Discus — Lhamon (11th) 81-01; Wilkinson (12th) 80-07; Taygin Jump (15th) 69-03

High Jump — Knoblich (4th) 5-00 *PR*; Mercedes Kalwies-Anderson (16th) 4-04

Long Jump — Knoblich (6th) 14-03; Hoskins (12th) 12-05

Triple Jump — McGrath (14th) 27-06.50

Coupeville’s state-bound 4 x 100 relay unit is comprised of (l to r) Ja’Kenya Hoskins, Carolyn Lhamon, Claire Mayne, and Ava Mitten.

BOYS:

100 — Caleb Meyer (7th) 11.86; Dominic Coffman (8th) 11.96

200 — Meyer (8th) 24.32

400 — Meyer (6th) 54.12; Aidan Wilson (7th) 54.85

800 — A. Wilson (2nd) 2:07.14 *PR*

1600 — Mitchell Hall (10th) 4:57.11; Carson Field (13th) 5:07.81

3200 — Cameron Epp (7th) 11:14.43 *PR*

110 Hurdles — Reiley Araceley (8th) 18.42

4 x 100 Relay — Araceley, Meyer, A. Wilson, Coffman (3rd) 45.20

Shot Put — Logan Martin (2nd) 45-04

Discus — Martin (2nd) 148-11; Zac Tackett (11th) 111-00 *PR*

Javelin — Hall (15th) 107-09

High Jump — Coffman (5th) 5-08; Nick Guay (8th) 5-06 *PR*; Cael Wilson (13th) 5-02

Long Jump — Coffman (15th) 16-02.75

Triple Jump — A. Wilson (6th) 38-10

Logan Martin is ready to rumble with the big boys.

Posted in Track | Tagged bi-districts, CHS Wolves, Logan Martin, Ryanne Knoblich, track and field | 1 Comment »

Netters fight until final point

May 20, 2022 by David Svien

Eryn Wood reaches for an overhead. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

It was a solid swan song.

Coupeville High School tennis players combined to net four wins Friday while playing in Tumwater, carrying the Wolves to a second place showing in the team standings at the District 1/4 tournament.

While the Wolves were not able to advance any of their racket wielders on to the state championships, every CHS netter in attendance garnered a win.

That’s especially nice, since five of the six Wolves who made the trip — Mary Milnes, Eryn Wood, Noelle Daigneault, Katelin McCormick, and Abby Mulholland — are seniors.

Helen Strelow, a junior who competed at state in cross country at the start of the school year, will be the lone returning player from this group.

The bi-district tourney featured two schools from each district, with Friday Harbor and Coupeville repping D-1, while Stevenson and Three Rivers Christian hailed from D-4.

Stevenson, which swept both the singles and doubles crowns, sends three players to state after going 10-2 on the day.

Coupeville was 4-4, winning all of its first-round tussles, while Friday Harbor and TRC finished 0-4.

Complete results:

Abby Mulholland:

Beat Pan (Three Rivers Christian) 6-1, 7-6(7-4)
Lost to S. Rudd (Stevenson) 6-2, 6-2

Helen Strelow:

Beat Dennis (Three Rivers Christian) 6-3, 6-1
Lost to P. Rudd (Stevenson) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

Eryn Wood/Noelle Daigneault:

Beat Coffman/Stevens (Three Rivers Christian) 6-0, 6-3
Lost to Gunderson-Birkenfeld/Schultz (Stevenson) 6-3, 7-6(7-4)

Mary Milnes/Katelin McCormick:

Beat McMillan/Yi (Three Rivers Christian) 6-2, 6-0
Lost to I. Spencer/S. Spencer (Stevenson) 6-0, 6-0

Helen Strelow can return for another season of volleys and aces.

Posted in Girls Tennis | Tagged bi-districts, CHS Wolves, Eryn Wood, Helen Strelow, tennis | Leave a Comment »

Hardball squad doles out awards

May 20, 2022 by David Svien

Sage Sharp was among those honored at the CHS baseball banquet. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Another season in the books.

The Coupeville High School baseball program put an official stamp on things Friday night with an awards banquet, doling out honors after a very-successful campaign.

The Wolf varsity went 11-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 13-7 overall, claiming a conference title and just barely missing out on a trip to state.

Meanwhile, Coupeville’s JV racked up three wins and a tie, as a roster which included several 8th graders showed great promise.

Xavier Murdy gives the ball a ride.

CHS coaches, led by hardball guru Will Thayer, doled out the following at their banquet:

Varsity awards:

Offensive MVP — Scott Hilborn

Defensive MVP — Xavier Murdy and Hawthorne Wolfe

Starting Pitching MVP — Hilborn

Relief Pitching MVP — Wolfe

Most Improved — Sage Sharp

Top Positive Influence — Cole Hutchinson

Top Program Newcomer — Chase Anderson

Wolf Pack Leader — Murdy

Four-Year Awards — Cody Roberts and Wolfe

Chase Anderson brings the heat.

Varsity letter winners:

Chase Anderson
Peyton Caveness
Scott Hilborn
Cole Hutchinson
Xavier Murdy
Jack Porter
Cody Roberts
Sage Sharp
Jonathan Valenzuela
Cole White
Hawthorne Wolfe

JV awards:

Offensive MVP — Cole White

Defensive MVP — Aiden O’Neill

Pitching MVP — Coop Cooper

Most Improved — Cooper

Wolf Pack Leader — Landon Roberts

Landon Roberts smacks a base-hit.

JV certificates:

Coop Cooper
Camden Glover
Aiden O’Neill
Johnny Porter
Gabe Reed
Landon Roberts
Yohannon Sandles
Alex Smith
Kai Wong
Seth Woollet

Manager:

Brooklyn Thayer

Brooklyn Thayer, the power behind the throne.

Posted in Baseball | Tagged awards banquet, baseball, CHS Wolves, Hawthorne Wolfe, Scott Hilborn | Leave a Comment »

Young Wolves sizzle on home track

May 19, 2022 by David Svien

Coupeville’s Laken Simpson, here throwing the shot put, won the 100 and 200 Wednesday at a home middle school track meet. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

They are (young) women, hear them roar.

Wednesday’s home Coupeville Middle School track and field meet was dominated by the Wolf girls, as they teamed up for seven wins.

Led by Laken Simpson, who doubled her fun by landing on top of the podium in the 100 and 200, the CMS 6th/7th grade girls accounted for six of those victories, which carried them to a team win as well.

The youngest Wolves derailed traditional power Langley 76-57, with the Cougars bouncing back to win team titles for 8th grade girls, 6th/7th boys, and 8th boys.

Northshore Christian Academy and Granite Falls rounded out the competitors, joining the Whidbey rivals in the regular season finale.

Coupeville closes the year with the Cascade League Championships, which are May 26 (prelims) and June 1 (finals) at Lakewood.

Competing on their home turf Wednesday, the Wolves got wins from 8th graders Carly Burt (long jump), George Spear (800), and Malachi Somes (1600).

Sixth-graders Simpson (100, 200), Marin Winger (400), Lillian Ketterling (800), and Mikayla Wagner (1600) also triumphed, with a 4 x 100 relay team hitting the line first.

That squad was comprised of Winger and 7th graders Ava Carpenter, Myra McDonald, and Tirsit Cannon.

In addition to the victories, the Wolves showed improvement across the board, combining to net a whopping 83 PR’s on the day — 43 for the boys, 40 for the girls.

Amaya Schaffeld breaks the speed of sound.

GIRLS:

8th grade:

100 — Amaya Schaffeld (2nd) 13.78 *PR*; Noelle Western (7th) 15.19; Carly Burt (11th) 15.75 *PR*; Aleksia Jump (13th) 15.94 *PR*; Abbigail Bond (20th) 17.34; Frankie Tenore (21st) 17.53 *PR*; Brynn Parker (22nd) 17.60; Grier Mooney (23rd) 17.63 *PR*

200 — Liza Zustiak (3rd) 37.38

100 Hurdles — Zustiak (16th) 21.91 *PR*; Tenore (20th) 24.22

4 x 100 Relay — Burt, Western, Jump, Schaffeld (3rd) 1:00.59; Bond, Mooney, Tenore, Zustiak (4th) 1:10.69

Shot Put — Zustiak (8th) 22-03.50 *PR*; Mooney (13th) 19-09 *PR*

Discus — Mooney (11th) 43-03.50 *PR*

High Jump — Schaffeld (4th) 3-10; Parker (4th) 3-10; Jump (4th) 3-10; Bond (9th) 3-10 *PR*

Long Jump — Burt (1st) 12-02 *PR*; Western (10th) 10-07; Tenore (12th) 10-05 *PR*; Parker (13th) 10-04 *PR*

6th/7th grade:

100 — Laken Simpson (1st) 14.25 *PR*; Willow Leedy-Bonifas (2nd) 15.53 *PR*; Ivy Rudat (3rd) 15.71 *PR*; Arianna Cunningham (8th) 16.66 *PR*

200 — Simpson (1st) 31.06 *PR*; Myra McDonald (3rd) 33.03 *PR*; Tenley Stuurmans (4th) 33.90; Ava Carpenter (7th) 35.78

400 — Marin Winger (1st) 1:24.68 *PR*; Rudat (2nd) 1:25.44 *PR*; Taylor Marrs (4th) 1:28.15 *PR*

800 — Lillian Ketterling (1st) 3:12.50 *PR*

1600 — Mikayla Wagner (1st) 6:52.84 *PR*

100 Hurdles — Carpenter (2nd) 21.37 *PR*; McDonald (6th) 21.91 *PR*; Ar. Cunningham (8th) 22.31 *PR*; Emma McFadden (10th) 22.40 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Carpenter, Winger, Tirsit Cannon, McDonald (1st) 1:04.03; Ketterling, Devon Wyman, Wagner, Simpson (2nd) 1:07.94

Shot Put — Stuurmans (4th) 21-05 *PR*; McFadden (7th) 18-03.50; Winger (10th) 17-05 *PR*; Simpson (11th) 17-04; Ketterling (12th) 16-08.50 *PR*; Rudat (14th) 13-03

Discus — Ketterling (3rd) 51-08 *PR*; Stuurmans (4th) 50-05 *PR*; Marrs (8th) 43-00.50; Ar. Cunningham (10th) 40-02; McFadden (15th) 28-08 *PR*

Long Jump — Carpenter (2nd) 11-09 *PR*; Cannon (3rd) 11-08 *PR*; Isabella de Souza Oliveira (9th) 11-02 *PR*; McDonald (10th) 11-01; Ar. Cunningham (13th) 10-01 *PR*; Leedy-Bonifas (15th) 10-00 *PR*; Wagner (16th) 9-11 *PR*; Rudat (17th) 9-06; Wyman (19th) 8-05; Marrs (22nd) 7-02

Max Ohme launches a PR in the discus.

BOYS:

8th grade:

100 — Easton Green (5th) 14.34 *PR*; Matthew Kuzma (8th) 16.22 *PR*

200 — Adrian Cunningham (3rd) 28.00 *PR*; Kuzma (7th) 29.81 *PR*

400 — George Spear (4th) 1:13.53

800 — Spear (1st) 2:39.22

1600 — Malachi Somes (1st) 5:30.00; Kuzma (5th) 6:36.00 *PR*

110 Hurdles — Spear (7th) 22.25 *PR*

Shot Put — Ad. Cunningham (6th) 25-07 *PR*; Somes (10th) 22-01

Discus — Somes (6th) 81-07.50 *PR*; Spear (12th) 61-05 *PR*; Ad. Cunningham (18th) 54-02 *PR*

High Jump — E. Green (3rd) 4-04

Long Jump — Ad. Cunningham (2nd) 15-08.75 *PR*; Somes (5th) 14-00.50 *PR*; Kuzma (16th) 10-03 *PR*

6th/7th grade:

100 — Beckett Green (5th) 13.78 *PR*; Wyatt Fitch-Marron (9th) 14.44 *PR*; Kenneth Jacobsen (11th) 14.56 *PR*; Roger Merino-Martinez (13th) 14.72 *PR*; Nathan Niewald (15th) 14.87 *PR*; Shiloh Sandlin (18th) 15.50 *PR*; Leonardo Rodriguez (19th) 15.81 *PR*; Jonah Weyl (22nd) 16.00 *PR*; Johnathan Jacobsen (23rd) 16.28 *PR*; Edmund Kunz (24th) 16.41 *PR*; Zach Blitch (30th) 17.57; Ayden Warren (31st) 18.03 *PR*; Ryan Beaston (32nd) 19.32

200 — B. Green (3rd) 30.15; Max Ohme (14th) 33.34; Ethan Walling (15th) 34.16; Axel Marshall (16th) 34.65; Joshua Stockdale (19th) 35.22

800 — Dylan Robinett (6th) 3:52.63 *PR*

1600 — K. Jacobsen (4th) 6:02.00 *PR*

110 Hurdles — Merino-Martinez (4th) 20.60 *PR*; Marshall (7th) 21.75 *PR*; Fitch-Marron (8th) 21.94; Rodriguez (10th) 26.50; J. Jacobsen (11th) 26.78 *PR*; Beaston (12th) 30.50

4 x 100 Relay — Carson Grove, B. Green, Merino-Martinez, Niewald (2nd) 1:00.62

4 x 200 Relay — Robinett, Kunz, Walling, Stockdale (2nd) 2:38.62

Shot Put — B. Green (2nd) 25-00 *PR*; Grove (7th) 21-08 *PR*; Robinett (12th) 17-05 *PR*; Niewald (13th) 17-01; Walling (14th) 16-11 *PR*; Sandlin (15th) 16-01.50 *PR*

Discus — Ohme (4th) 62-04.50 *PR*; Grove (8th) 50-01.50; Marshall (9th) 49-01.50; Weyl (14th) 40-10.50 *PR*; Blitch (16th) 38-04.50; Niewald (18th) 34-08 *PR*

High Jump — Fitch-Marron (2nd) 4-02; Stockdale (2nd) 4-02; J. Jacobsen (5th) 4-00

Long Jump — Grove (6th) 13-02.50 *PR*; K. Jacobsen (12th) 11-08.50; Sandlin (15th) 11-04 *PR*: J. Jacobsen (16th) 11-03 *PR*; Kunz (19th) 10-07.75 *PR*; Rodriguez (23rd) 10-04 *PR*; Merino-Martinez (25th) 10-00.50; Weyl (28th) 9-00.25; Warren (30th) 8-02 *PR*; Robinett (31st) 7-09.50; Ohme (33rd) 6-06

Posted in Middle School, Track | Tagged CMS Wolves, home meet, Laken Simpson, Malachi Somes, track and field | Leave a Comment »

CHS track stars ready to rumble

May 17, 2022 by David Svien

Cristina McGrath flies towards the finish line. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Dominic Coffman soars above the bar.

20 athletes in 24 events.

Coupeville High School track and field will be coming in hot this week, having qualified a large chunk of its roster for the District 1/4 championships.

The final event before the state meet, the royal rumble goes down Friday, May 20 at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.

Four of those Wolves — Ja’Kenya Hoskins, Caleb Meyer, Dominic Coffman, and Aidan Wilson — are set to compete in the maximum four events.

Coupeville boys need a top-five finish at bi-districts to punch their ticket to the big dance, while girls move on with a top-seven finish.

The difference is because girls events at the state meet will each have 16 competitors, while boys events will only have 12.

The reason?

There are 50 schools actively competing in 2B girls track, while just 49 boys teams meet the necessary criteria.

And that’s enough for the hard asses at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association to cling to draconian rules, while ignoring the fact this is the first state meet in three years thanks to the pandemic.

Coupeville’s lineup for Bi-Districts:

GIRLS:

200 — Ja’Kenya Hoskins

400 — Lyla Stuurmans

1600 — Ayden Wyman

3200 — Cristina McGrath

4 x 100 Relay — Ava Mitten, Claire Mayne, Carolyn Lhamon, Hoskins

4 x 200 Relay — Wyman, Stuurmans, Ryanne Knoblich, Hoskins

Shot Put — Lhamon; Reese Wilkinson

Discus — Lhamon; Wilkinson

High Jump — Knoblich; Mercedes Kalwies-Anderson

Long Jump — Knoblich; Hoskins