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It’s raining coaches

January 26, 2021 by David Svien

Elizabeth Bitting, seen here with Brynn Parker, is taking the reigns of the CHS cross country program. (Corinn Parker photo)

New coaches as far as the eye can see.

While it’s been almost a full year since a Coupeville High School or Middle School team has competed during the Age of Coronavirus, behind-the-scenes preparations continue.

CHS/CMS Athletic Director Willie Smith has five new coaches lined up, but the actual hires are waiting on two things — a return to play, and the approval of the school board.

Topping the list is Elizabeth Bitting, who is moving from coaching middle school track to running the high school program. At least for a year.

“With no middle school athletics at this point, other than a possible track season, Elizabeth agreed to do the high school cross country team this year,” Smith said.

“We’ll evaluate at the end of the year what level she will coach next year.”

The extremely-popular Bitting, who worked with runners from both schools during the open coaching period, replaces Luke Samford, who moved out of state.

Other new coaches waiting to officially start their duties include Will Thayer, Robert Wood, Cris Matochi, and Ashley Menges.

Thayer, who was originally hired to coach JV softball last spring, only to see COVID cancel the season before it began, replaces Chris Smith as CHS head baseball coach.

Smith moved off-Island after the graduation of his youngest child.

Wood, who previously worked as an assistant coach, steps into the lead role with the CHS boys soccer program.

Kyle Nelson previously coached both boys and girls soccer, but with Coupeville’s move from 1A to 2B, both teams now play in the same season, and he chose to step away from one program.

Matochi will coach middle school volleyball, while Menges, whose unofficial hire had been previously announced, follows Chris Smith as the JV volleyball coach for the CHS spiker program.

With the proposed hirings, the lone position still open on the school district’s web site is for a CHS boys basketball JV coach — which was also previously filled by Chris Smith.

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School Board tabs new Student Rep

January 25, 2021 by David Svien

Mary Milnes is the new Student Rep for the Coupeville School Board. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mary Milnes has another impressive achievement to add to her resume.

The Coupeville High School junior, already a top scholar and solid two-sport athlete (when COVID allows her to play) is the new Student Rep to the Coupeville School Board.

Her appointment was unanimously approved Monday, and she’ll start a year-long run in the position with the February meeting.

She replaces CHS senior Drake Borden, who served during a unique time, when the ongoing pandemic forced board meetings to go entirely on-line.

While he missed out on the in-person aspect of the school board experience, he was praised by Superintendent Steve King and board members for his input.

Milnes, who plays tennis and soccer for the Wolves, applied for the position because she “wants to represent the voice of the students.”

“That’s all the students – elementary, middle school, and high school,” she added.

She has two brothers also in Coupeville schools, and plans to speak to them, friends, and other students, to get feedback on any matters which come up in board meetings.

“I want to reach out to as many people as possible,” Milnes said.

With the pandemic shutting down a lot of interpersonal contact, she plans to stay in touch with people through email, while looking forward to when sports return and she can speak in person with her teammates.

Staying active and involved in the path the school district takes is important, Milnes said while fielding questions from board members.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to voice the student’s opinion,” she said. “I want to be involved in the school’s decisions.”

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Hoops history, one cassette at a time

January 25, 2021 by David Svien

Randy Keefe, the basketball gunner with the sweet shot. (Photo courtesy Renae Mulholland)

Time for another blast from the past.

Renae (Keefe) Mulholland is hard at work digitizing old cassettes recorded by her father, which document Coupeville High School basketball games her brother Randy played in.

Today we return to 1975 for a playoff donnybrook with powerhouse La Conner, complete with a rowdy female fan being tossed from the gym in the final moments.

Time to tip-off!

 

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Wolf grad earns big honor

January 22, 2021 by David Svien

Tacoma’s Venajah Woods (left) and Coupeville grad Raechel Kundert have earned internships with the Japanese Cultural Community Center of Washington in Seattle. (Photo property of JCCCW)

Raechel Kundert is a bright, shining star.

The Coupeville High School grad is a senior at the University of Washington, where she carries a triple major.

You read that right, as Kundert is studying Linguistics, Japanese, and Asian Languages and Cultures.

Which shouldn’t leave the former Wolf much free time.

But Kundert will carve out a chunk of her schedule to accept a new honor, having been tabbed for a winter Ganbaru internship with the Japanese Cultural Community Center of Washington.

She’ll join Venajah Woods, a Psychology major from Tacoma, in working as a Social Media and Marketing intern for the JCCCW.

Ganbaru translates to “give one’s best effort,” and interns work on cultural and historical programs, annual events, and office operations.

Kundert, who was a talented musician and football player during her time in Coupeville, grew up on Whidbey Island and became interested in Japanese culture at a young age.

A big fan of the country’s pop culture, she also studied karate in elementary school.

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Paperwork today, play tomorrow

January 22, 2021 by David Svien

Willie Smith is on the lookout for your paperwork. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Get your paperwork done!

That’s the message from Coupeville High School Athletic Director Willie Smith, as the school prepares for an anticipated return to athletic competition.

The Wolf head man released the following statement Friday afternoon:

 

CHS families,

We are very excited that we have a schedule for providing athletics to our high school students!

It has been a long nine months and we believe that this schedule gives a very real chance to play sports this year!

As with everything this year, the sports season is a bit different with spring sports (baseball, softball, girls tennis, and track and field) slated to be our first season starting on February 22.

That will be followed by our fall sports (football, volleyball, boys tennis, boys soccer, girls soccer, and boys/girls cross country), and ending with winter sports (boys and girls basketball).

You should have received two things from the school on Friday in regards to school: an electronic version of our athletic packet and required signature forms that must be filled out prior to any student playing any sport.

The signature form is accompanied by forms explaining what you’re signing, as well as eligibility requirements to participate in athletics and spectator conduct.

The other item, specifically for the students, is a Google Form sent to their school email for them to select which sport or sports they are interested in playing this year (separated by season).

This is crucial for us to receive back by Wednesday, Jan. 27 in order to start gathering information for our coaches and staff.

We are asking that you (parent/guardians) also return the signed athletic paperwork back to Barbi Ford (bford@coupeville.k12.wa.us) or Lisa Yoder (lyoder@coupeville.k12.wa.us) by next Wednesday as well, so we can begin creating a database for this year.

We would prefer an electronic return rather than a physical packet back, so please fill it out electronically with a parent/guardian signature and student signature where applicable.

We want to emphasize that ALL academic and attendance requirements for participating in athletics will continue to be enforced and need to be met before and during the sports season(s).

It is imperative that you (students) start the second semester strong and work towards having success in the classroom so that you can have the opportunity to participate fully in athletics.

If you have any questions or have not received this paperwork, please contact myself, Willie Smith (wsmith@coupeville.k12.wa.us), Barbi Ford, or Lisa Yoder.

Thank you, and I hope you are all as excited as we are for this opportunity to come to fruition.

Willie Smith

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