Coupeville Sports

Their gym, their time to soar

September 28, 2021 by David Svien

Willow Leedy-Bonifas and her Coupeville Middle School volleyball teammates start play Wednesday. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Give ’em the volleyball and get out of their way.

A new generation of spiker stars arrives at Coupeville Middle School Wednesday, as the Wolves kick off a fresh season of spikes and sets.

This time around, Cris Matochi and former Wolf player Katie Kiel are the coaches, and the 20-player roster includes 6th graders to go with the customary 7th and 8th graders.

The squad will be divided into two units — Level 1 and Level 2 — with different age groups mixed.

The first matches of the season, set to tip at 3:15 PM, are against arch-rival Langley.

After that, Coupeville goes on the road for three straight, comes back to CMS for a three-match homestand, then wraps its season Oct. 25 at Langley.

The opening day roster (with jersey numbers!) for the Wolves:

8th grade:

Abbigail Bond (#2)
Carly Burt (#3)
Teagan Calkins (#12)
Jordaya Dowell (#7)
Brynn Parker (#14)

7th grade:

Capri Anter (#33)
Haylee Armstrong (#11)
Ava Ashby (#22)
Ava Carpenter (#5)
Heidi Lysene (#15)
Myra McDonald (#8)
Natalie Perera (#6)
Grace Roberts (#4)

6th grade:

Isabellea de Souza Oliveira (#13)
Alexis Hewitt (#27)
Willow Leedy-Bonifas (#18)
Inara Maund (#16)
Adeline Maynes (#17)
Rhylin Prince (#28)
Tenley Stuurmans (#1)

Their gym, their time.

Posted in Middle School, Volleyball | Tagged CMS Wolves, Opening Day, roster, Tenley Stuurmans, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

Wolves ace Friday Harbor

September 28, 2021 by David Svien

Katie Marti and Coupeville’s JV volleyball team are a perfect 5-0 in Northwest 2B/1B League play. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

You can cut their floor time, but you can’t stop them crushing you.

With the last ferry off of Friday Harbor sounding its whistle Tuesday, the Coupeville High School JV volleyball team didn’t get to play a full match.

But that didn’t matter, as the Wolves crushed their hosts quickly and efficiently during the time they had, strolling to a 25-8, 20-7 win.

The victory, the JV’s second in less than 24 hours, lifts them to 5-0 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 6-1 overall.

Coupeville took command at the service line and never let up, peppering the host Wolverines from every angle.

“It was good!,” said CHS coach Ashley Menges. “It was a night full of serving for the girls; stats will show that for sure.”

Six of the nine Wolves notched at least one ace, with Madison McMillan, Issabel Johnson, and Gwen Gustafson recording five apiece to pace the team.

Issabel Johnson cranks up the ace machine.

After a crush of games in a short stretch of days, Coupeville is off until next Tuesday, Oct. 5, when it hosts Concrete.

With her team back in practice mode over the next six days, Menges will continue to preach improvement and fine-tuning of skills.

“As we’re getting to the end of our first round playing the league, we’re gonna start challenging the girls to hold a standard,” she said.

“I’m wanting these girls to continue to have great games as they continue to progress in their skills.

“I’m proud of the accomplishments we’ve already made, but I’m even more excited for what’s to come.”

Tuesday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 1 assist, 3 aces
Mia Farris — 3 aces
Gwen Gustafson — 3 kills, 5 aces
Jada Heaton — 1 kill
Issabel Johnson — 5 aces
Katie Marti — 2 assists, 4 aces
Madison McMillan — 1 kill, 1 dig, 6 aces
Grey Peabody — 1 solo block
Aby Wood — 1 kill

Posted in Volleyball | Tagged aces, CHS Wolves, Friday Harbor, Gwen Gustafson, JV, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

“Amazing game, amazing effort”

September 28, 2021 by David Svien

Andrew Williams delivered his “best soccer ever” Tuesday during a tense game in La Conner. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The soccer gods give, and the soccer gods take away.

The Coupeville High School boys soccer squad benefited from a timely call in their favor during a win against Grace Academy earlier in the season.

Tuesday night, during a rain storm in La Conner, that crunch-time call went against the Wolves, contributing to a nail-biter 3-2 loss in overtime against the Braves.

But while Coupeville lost the Northwest 2B/1B League battle, falling to 1-4 on the season, coach Robert Wood came away pleased with the continued growth of his young team.

“Amazing game, amazing effort. I thought we had that one,” he said.

“Kids are doing well – really played well in a strong and physical match on both sides,” Wood added.

CHS sophomore Nick Guay was the man with the golden leg this time out, earning a “brace” by bashing home both of the Wolf goals.

That moves him to the top of the season scoring chart, and gives him three tallies thus far in his prep career.

“Just a relentless press on the keeper and (Nick) got the loose balls … bing … back of the net,” Wood said.

“But it’s the buildup that really counts,” he added.

“Great control passing, trust, movement, effort, and desire. Then Nick for the no-questions cleanup.”

Wood also praised the effort of goalie Aidan Wilson — “a pro keeper tonight, save after save” — as well as Andrew Williams, who “played his best soccer ever.”

Also earning kudos were midfielders Preston Epp and Xavier Murdy, who “each ran a marathon,” and forward Alex Murdy, who “was the bodyguard for our team.”

“Really, really good team effort tonight,” Wood said.

Coupeville returns to action this Friday, Oct. 1, when it travels to Marysville to face Grace Academy, a team it beat 2-1 the first time around.

Posted in Boys Soccer | Tagged Andrew Williams, boys soccer, CHS Wolves, La Conner, Northwest League | Leave a Comment »

Two teams, multiple camera angles

September 28, 2021 by David Svien

Jill Prince brings the thunder. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Spike for spike, photo for photo.

Coupeville and South Whidbey clashed Monday in a good old-fashioned volleyball slugfest, with the Wolves coming out on top in the JV match, and the Falcons rebounding in the varsity tilt.

Wanderin’ photo clicker John Fisken captured action shots featuring both schools, and the pics above and below are courtesy him.

To see much more, and possibly purchase some glossies for Grams down in Boca, pop over to:

Coupeville:

https://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/Coupeville-Volleyball-2021/VB-2021-09-27-vs-South-Whidbey/

South Whidbey:

https://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/South-Whidbey-HS/VB-2021-09-27-at-Coupeville/

A Falcon keeps the rally going.

The volleyball thought it could escape. Spoiler: it could not.

Taylor Brotemarkle, an assassin with the aces.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

Wolves (l to r) Lucy Tenore, Lyla Stuurmans, and Olivia Schaffeld celebrate a big kill.

“We have a missile departing!”

Alita Blouin gives her back a work-out.

Maddie Georges chases down a wayward ball.

Posted in Volleyball | Tagged CHS Wolves, Jill Prince, John Fisken photos, Maddie Georges, SWHS Falcons, volleyball | Leave a Comment »

Our gym, our photos

September 28, 2021 by David Svien

Central Whidbey Little League softball guru Kim Brotemarkle tries to get an autograph from Wolf fab frosh Lyla Stuurmans. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The on-court action was full of spikes and aces.

The off-court action, not as frantic, yet still camera-friendly.

Wanderin’ photographer John Fisken explored every nook and cranny in the Coupeville High School gym Monday, and the pics above and below are courtesy him.

Heck, there’s even a lil’ bit of South Whidbey in this photo essay.

But just a bit.

This blog is still called Coupeville Sports.