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Rachel (left) and Allison Wenzel, supremely talented sisters. (Photo courtesy Susan Wenzel)

The toast of Coupeville is on her way to wow Ocosta.

Allison Wenzel, a three-sport athlete and musical wunderkind in her days as a Wolf, will follow up graduation from Central Washington University by being hired as a K-12 music teacher in Grays Harbor County.

Her job, which kicks in with the 2022-2023 school year, was approved by the Ocosta School Board at its April 26 meeting.

Wenzel graduates from CWU June 11.

The lil’ sis of highly talented Rachel, and daughter of Tim and Susan, Allison was a quintuple threat in high school.

She played four seasons each of volleyball, basketball, and track and field for CHS, advancing to the state championships in all three sports.

Wenzel, who graduated from Coupeville in 2018, was the first Wolf athlete in a decade-plus to go to the big dance in three sports.

When she wasn’t busy with sports, music ruled her world.

A master of multiple instruments, Wenzel also went to state as a musician, qualifying both as a solo artist (interpreting Mozart) and as part of a duo with Jakobi Baumann.

Add that time when she was inducted into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame — https://coupevillesports.com/2019/08/14/talent-so-much-freakin-talent/ — and she’s kind of a big deal.

Ocosta School District officials? You understood the assignment.

 

UPDATE:

After writing this story, I found out Tim Wenzel (and his siblings) are Ocosta grads, meaning Allison is going to work at her dad’s alma mater.

Her aunt (also named Rachel) previously taught for the school district, and Allison’s grandparents live in town. 

Which means we should be getting a first day of school photo when she starts her new job.

Just sayin’!

Coupeville senior Logan Martin is ranked in the top three among 2B athletes in three throwing events. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Everyone is jostling for the top of the leaderboard.

We’re down to three high school track and field meets left this spring — districts, bi-districts, and state — with athletes trying to put out their best efforts of the season.

When we look at the top 10 standings for 2B schools, Coupeville has a strong presence on the boys side of things, while two girls are in the mix.

Overall, there are eight Wolves currently among the best in their classification, led by Logan Martin and Caleb Meyer, who each appear three times.

Top 10 CHS track stars through May 9:

 

GIRLS:

400 — Lyla Stuurmans (6th) 1:04.73

High Jump — Ryanne Knoblich (7th-tie) 4-10

 

BOYS:

100 — Caleb Meyer (7th) 11.57

400 — Meyer (2nd) 52.68

1500 — Mitchell Hall (8th) 5:07.85

4 x 100 Relay — Caleb Meyer, Reiley Araceley, Aidan WilsonDominic Coffman (4th) 46.09

Shot Put — Logan Martin (2nd) 46-10

Discus — Martin (3rd) 149-00

Hammer — Martin (2nd) 175-00

High Jump — Coffman (6th-tie) 5-10

Coupeville football legend Sean Toomey-Stout will tackle you if you don’t have a ticket. Spoiler: It will probably hurt. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

It’s the third most important meet of the season.

Coupeville High School hosts the District 1 track and field championships Saturday, May 14 — the stepping-stone to Bi-Districts and the state meet.

Things will be hoppin’, with 12 teams — three 2B schools and nine 1B ones — competing.

Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood, Fellowship Christian, Grace Academy, Lopez Island, Lummi Nation, Mount Vernon Christian, Providence Classical Christian, Shoreline Christian, and Concrete round out the 1B field.

On the 2B side, it’s Coupeville, La Conner, and Friday Harbor.

Field events begin at 11 AM, with running events kicking off a half-hour later.

Making it even more of a festive occasion, the CHS concession stand will be open for business all day.

But, and this is important — for the first time this season you’ll have to pay to attend a track meet, and you can’t do so with cash.

Spectators have to enter through the main entrance at Mickey Clark Field, which sits right behind Coupeville Elementary (6 S. Main).

The back entrance by the baseball field is reserved for athletes and coaches.

Tickets have to be purchased online through GoFan, and you’ll need your phone to show your ticket(s).

No cash sales will take place.

 

Admission prices:

Adults and students without ASB — $7
Children (5-12) — $5
Senior citizen (62+) — $5
Student with ASB — $5

 

To purchase tickets, pop over to:

https://gofan.co/app/events/612390?schoolId=WA86277

Katelin McCormick angles a winner. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Savina Wells collects another strike.

The Wolves play for a trifecta.

Coupeville High School baseball and softball have clinched Northwest 2B/1B League titles, and girls tennis will try and make it a trio of champs when it hosts Friday Harbor Tuesday, May 10.

That’s one of just three scheduled contests for Wolf teams this coming week, though everything being played has major consequences.

CHS baseball travels to a neutral field in La Conner May 12 to face Friday Harbor in a winner-to-state, loser-out game.

Then, Wolf track and field hosts the District 1 Championships May 14, a precursor to bi-district and state meets.

Meanwhile, the Coupeville athletes with the best win/loss record — the 16-2 softball sluggers — await their own winner-to-state, loser-out game.

That tilt doesn’t arrive until May 21, however.

As they wait, a look at how NWL teams are doing through games of May 7:

 

Northwest League baseball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 11-1 13-6
Friday Harbor 10-1 14-2
Orcas Island 6-4 8-5
MV Christian 6-5 9-6
Darrington 2-7 2-8
La Conner 2-9 2-11
Concrete 0-10 0-11

 

Northwest League girls tennis:

School League Overall
Coupeville 1-0 3-1
Friday Harbor 0-1 0-2

 

Northwest League softball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 8-0 16-2
Friday Harbor 6-2 8-6
Darrington 3-5 6-6
Orcas Island 2-4 2-6
La Conner 0-8 0-13

Maya Nottingham picks up some hitting tips. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The bats were so hot they almost melted down.

Getting contributions from everyone in the lineup Saturday, the Coupeville High School JV softball team closed its season in style.

Playing at a tournament in Blaine, Katrina McGranahan’s squad tore the cover off the ball, smashing 23 hits en route to sending 28 batters home to score in a cut-down doubleheader.

With a win over Ferndale and a tie against the tourney hosts, Coupeville’s JV finishes 6-2-1.

The only thing slowing the Wolves down was having to play “JV rules,” with a five-run limit per inning, and a 90-minute cap on games, regardless of what the score might be.

“Today was a beautiful day for a game or two and the girls did a great job with coming ready to play,” McGranahan said. “Never know what you’re going to get with a long bus ride.

“Everyone hit the ball at some point and when I say hit I mean crushed the ball.”

The Wolf coach, who ripped many an extra-base hit in her own playing days, watched in satisfaction as her sluggers launched three home runs, smacked five triples, and bopped three doubles.

Melanie Navarro delivered four of those big base-knocks, including sending two of her team’s three home runs flying far, far away.

Mel had a heck of a day,” McGranahan said. “We couldn’t slow her down!”

Melanie Navarro gets savage.

Allie Lucero joined Navarro in mashing a longball, while Mia Farris led the Wolves with seven hits across the two games.

While the extra-base hits grab the spotlight, Coupeville also proved to be masters of small ball.

“We discovered a new bunting machine,” McGranahan said. “Maya Nottingham did an amazing job, and once I saw she can bunt, let me tell you, I bunted her a lot.”

Farris prowled the pitcher’s circle in the opener against Ferndale, while siblings Allie and Maya Lucero were a nimble tag-team chucking the ball against Blaine.

Mia did a great job in the circle today,” McGranahan said. “She really held her own and I enjoyed watching her work through the game and powering through.”

Mia Farris, a terror in the field and at the plate.

The doubleheader also saw Katie Marti slide behind the plate to catch for the first time this season.

While she doesn’t normally wear the mask and gear, the talented freshman had an immediate impact.

“All season I’ve had Katie play third base and hardly practiced her at catcher, but she did alright!” McGranahan said.

“Even got a girl out on a throw down to second!”

Also proving superb on defense was fellow fab frosh Jada Heaton, who was patrolling center field for the Wolves.

Jada got an amazing catch!” McGranahan said. “We all thought she wasn’t going to get it, but she happened to lay her glove down on the ground at the last minute to scoop up a dying line drive!

“It was a great play and her facial expressions were awesome!”

While the JV has no more games, the players will stay in action to scrimmage with the varsity as it waits out an 18-day gap between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

 

Saturday stats:

Edie Bittner — 1 double, 2 walks
Teagan Calkins — 1 single, 3 walks
Mia Farris — 5 singles, 2 triples, 1 walk
Jada Heaton — 1 walk
Violette Huegerich — 3 walks
Allie Lucero — 1 home run, 1 walk
Maya Lucero — 1 single, 1 double, 1 triple
Katie Marti — 2 singles, 2 walks
Candace Meek — 1 single
Melanie Navarro — 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs
Maya Nottingham — 3 singles, 2 walks