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WIAA clarifies winter sports guidelines

November 3, 2020 by David Svien

Maddie Georges drives the ball up-court during Coupeville’s last basketball game, a playoff tilt in February. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

To basketball, or not to basketball, that is the question.

As we wade through the Age of Coronavirus, the current plan for prep sports is this:

Winter sports (basketball in Coupeville) would start the last week of December, with games kicking off in January.

Then, traditional fall sports (football, soccer, etc.) follow in March, with spring sports (softball, baseball, etc.) starting in May.

But…

Positive cases for COVID-19 are spiking throughout Washington state, including Island County, where there were 15 new documented cases between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2.

Deaths have not risen, with Island County sitting firm at 12, with 10 of those in long-term care facilities.

With that as a backdrop, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Board met Monday, where it approved “a process for determining the status of upcoming WIAA seasons during the 2020-21 school year.”

The decision was based on feedback from Athletic Directors across the state.

Monday’s plan states for a season to take place, “50 percent of schools in a WIAA region (by classification) must be eligible to participate in league games per the COVID metrics in Department of Health guidelines.”

That means at least four of eight schools in the revamped Northwest 1B/2B League will have to be ready to go for basketball to begin in December.

Along with football and wrestling, basketball is rated a “high-risk” sport by the state.

To play games, schools have to be in counties that have less than 25 new cases per 100,000 people in a 14-day period, and less than 5% positive cases overall.

NWL teams come from five different counties, and, as of Tuesday afternoon, two of eight schools would be eligible to play, with a third narrowly missing.

Friday Harbor and Orcas Island would be good to go, as San Juan County is at just 5.8 new cases over a 14-day period.

Chimacum narrowly misses, with Jefferson County at 25.1, while Coupeville has work to do, with Island County at 48.3.

Skagit County is at 57.3, making life tough for Concrete, La Conner, and Mount Vernon Christian, while Darrington is really hurting, with Snohomish County at 120.7.

But hey, at least no one in the league lives in Whitman County, which sits at 472.8.

The WIAA said if less than 50 percent of schools in a classification in a region are able to compete in a specific sport due to elevated cases, the Executive Board will “adjust the scheduled season in order to allow the chance for greater participation.”

That could mean moving up “low risk” sports such as cross country, while pushing back “high-risk” ones with the hope case numbers will come down as the traditional flu season fades.

Or not.

It’s all a mystery, and likely will remain so until the day things start, or shut down.

For basketball, the WIAA will send out a preliminary update Nov. 27 on where each region is, then make decisions on who can play between Dec. 4-11.

The first day of basketball practice is currently scheduled for Dec. 28.

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Big milestone for best-ever Wolf gridiron squad

November 2, 2020 by David Svien

Wolf QB Jason McFadyen operates under center during a practice in 1990. (Photo courtesy Carmen McFadyen)

The past is present again.

Next Tuesday – November 10 – marks the 30th anniversary of arguably the second-biggest game in Coupeville High School athletic history.

It’s hard to top the 1970 boys basketball district title game, when the Wolves toppled Darrington in front of 2,000+ fans.

That was the game when Jeff Stone torched the nets for 48 points, without the benefit of the three-point bomb, a single-game CHS mark which hasn’t been matched in 50 years.

Even more importantly, by winning that game, Coupeville beat Oak Harbor and Langley to the promised land, becoming the first Whidbey Island hoops squad to win a district title.

But the anniversary of that titanic hardwood tilt already passed earlier this year, and was talked about back then.

Today, in the time frame when football season would normally be wrapping up, we return to 1990.

Mariah Carey topped the musical charts with Love Takes Time as the morning of Saturday, Nov. 10 dawned.

George H.W. Bush was in the White House, and, at movie theaters, Child’s Play 2 was becoming the third-straight horror thriller to top the box office charts, following hot on the heels of Graveyard Shift and Jacob’s Ladder.

But Chucky’s reign would be a short one, at just one week, as a lil’ juggernaut called Home Alone was days away from release.

America so loved seeing Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern get abused, the film stayed #1 for 12 consecutive weeks, a feat matched by only four other films.

But, while they were home Nov. 10, 1990, the members of the CHS football team were not alone.

Instead, on an especially-gusty day, head coach Ron Bagby and his crew were surrounded by fans, as they took to the turf at Mickey Clark Field to host a WIAA state quarterfinal playoff game.

A win away from a trip to the Tacoma Dome (with a journey to the Kingdome on tap if they made the state final), the ’90 Wolves were, without argument, the most-successful team in program history.

Using a pounding ground attack and a feisty defense, Coupeville was 9-0, and had outscored opponents 258-107.

The Wolves had won a league title, their first on the gridiron since 1974, and the program was making its fourth state playoff appearance, and first at home.

Coupeville had shredded its rivals all year, but the defining win was likely a 10-0 whitewashing of Concrete, which was the reigning powerhouse in the Northwest B League.

Frank Marti capped a 122-yard rushing performance with a one-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter, then Brad Haslam dropped the punctuation mark with a 34-yard field goal.

The stage was set for continued success as the playoffs kicked off, but, ultimately, Coupeville had to accept the role of Child’s Play 2, and not Home Alone, as it lost 34-14 to visiting Rainier.

The Mountaineers would go on to blank Adna 16-0 in the semifinals, before falling 13-3 to Reardan in the state title game.

While it wasn’t the end Coupeville coaches, players, and fans wanted, that 1990 team still towers above any other football squad to wear the red and black.

It’s final 9-1 record remains the best in program history, and, 30 years out, Wolf football has yet to win another league title or return to the state playoffs.

As we roll up on the anniversary of their quarterfinal clash, it would be nice if CHS could do an in-person event to commemorate those players and coaches.

Of course, the ongoing pandemic makes that impossible.

But, we can run through the roll call one more time, and give them an online tribute.

So, 30 years later, still the greatest football team in Coupeville High School history is:

 

Coaches:

Ron Bagby
Brian O’Hara
Tom Roehl (RIP)
Jon Prater

 

Manager:

Brent Fitzgerald

 

Seniors:

Brian Barr
Ben Biskovich
Sean Dillon
Chris Frey
Les Hall
Mark Lester
Frank Marti
Jason McFadyen
Ryan Samplawski
Aaron Williams

 

Juniors:

Danny Bonacci
Matt Cross
Brad Haslam
Van Kellems
Ben Russell
Todd Smith
Nate Steele
Tracy Wilson

 

Sophomores:

Troy Blouin
Todd Brown
Ted Clifton
Eric Lester
Craig McGregor
Gerald McIntosh
Jason McManigle
David McMillan

 

Freshmen:

Ross Buckner
Scott Gadbois
Scott Kirkwood
Kit Manzanares
Jerimiah Prater
Virgil Roehl
Joe Staples
Kevin Steiner

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They have the meats!

October 30, 2020 by David Svien

Concession stand workers man the grill at a CHS football game in pre-COVID days. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Prepare your taste buds.

With no football games or volleyball matches right now, the Coupeville High School Class of 2021 is unable to raise money from concession stand sales.

So, the parents and students have found a different way to get meat into the mouths of Wolf fans, while generating money for the graduation night party fund.

The Class of 2021 is hosting a BBQ at Mickey Clark Field Saturday, Nov. 21 – with all the hot dogs and hamburgers you can buy.

They’ll be selling Wolf Pack Meals at the concession stand, which sits at the entrance to the field on S. Main, and the event runs from 12-4.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

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Pandemic won’t stop CHS yearbook

October 30, 2020 by David Svien

The 1925 Coupeville High School yearbook, the fifth in school history. Even with an ongoing pandemic, students plan to keep the tradition alive in 2021. (Jack Sell photo)

It’s a whole new ballgame.

With schools largely restricted to distance learning, and no sports until at least January 2021, thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the way things work have been changed.

But, thanks to one hard-working adviser, and a pack of opportunistic students, Coupeville High School still plans to put out a yearbook.

“We have a group of students who have committed to put together a yearbook this year, despite the obvious challenges,” said CHS yearbook adviser Jackie Saia.

“They are determined to make this a book like no other in CHS history, but they will need the help of the students, parents, and the community as a source for photos and content.”

A website for the yearbook is now live, and, on it, you can find out how to preorder the book.

There’s also info on how to submit photos, as well as creating and purchasing senior congratulatory ads.

The pandemic is throwing everything askew, but keeping alive the yearbook tradition matters both this year, and in the future.

“While distance learning and social distancing is difficult for all, it is certainly unique and is part of our story,” Saia said. “25, 50, 100 years from now, this will be a historical document for your child’s high school year of 2020-2021.

“We hope you can help make it the best publication possible! Thank you!”

 

For more info, pop over to:

https://www.coupevillewolves.org/chs-yearbook

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Get those buckets, boys

October 28, 2020 by David Svien

CHS hoops star Jack Elzinga kept his hair short and the nets jumpin’.

Longer history, smaller inner circle.

Sorta.

While the Coupeville High School girls basketball program didn’t kick off until 1974-1975, the Wolf boys have been throwing up buckets since 1917.

And throwing away their stat sheets almost from day one.

As I’ve attempted to compile complete scoring stats for CHS basketball, the boys side of things has been far more frustrating.

With the Wolf girls, I have pretty on-target individual totals for every season except the inaugural one, which the local newspaper and the school yearbook both essentially ignored.

Now, the boys…

I can tell you Roy Armstrong dropped in a team-high 80 points during the 1924-1925 season, thanks to an incredibly-detailed (and thick!) yearbook.

Other than that, from 1917 — where I have come up with a complete roster, just no stats — to 1954, I have been able to track down individual scoring totals for just three other seasons.

Once we get to the 1954-1955 season, we’re golden though, as I’ve charted every season successfully from there up through 2019-2020.

So, it’s a start.

But, with so many stats lost to time, it appears we’ll never have a true CHS boys hoops scoring chart. Or, at least not one which can match the girls program.

What I do have are 391 players, from old-school beast Banky Fisher to new-school sniper Daniel Olson, who have scored at least one varsity point for the Wolves.

While seven different Coupeville girls have held their program’s individual career scoring record at some point, from Jill Whitney to current #1 Brianne King, I can only really vouch for five guys being atop their program’s mythical big board.

Even then, the first three guys I’m about to list don’t have complete career totals.

But anyway.

Until I can obtain more than the 1924-1925, 1926-1927, and 1939-1940 stat sheets, we might as well start with 1952-1953.

Tom Sahli went off for 310 points that season, so we’ll call him our first true, semi-verified career scoring champ.

Except, he also played in 1951-1952 and 1953-1954, two “missing” seasons, so who knows what his real totals are?

Not me.

In 1954-1955 Jack Elzinga erupted for 337 points, taking the title away (though maybe not), before adding 309 more points the next season to finish with 646.

Except, Elzinga also played on that 1953-1954 team with Sahli, so his totals are also off.

But anyway.

On to Mike Criscuola, who, according to our incomplete totals for his two big-name predecessors, “officially” became the school scoring champ after the 1958-1959 season.

Big Mike had racked up 674 points by then, before adding another 305 the next year as a senior to finish with 979.

Except, we know Criscuola, already the most-imposing player on the floor, played a fair amount as an 8th grader.

He’s right at the center of the team pic in the yearbook, but the point totals listed for the season omit his name.

There’s also questions about points from playoff games in later seasons being left off his season stats, so it’s not hard to believe Criscuola likely topped 1,000 points.

If we could get a time machine, go back and grab all five years of his stat sheets, it’s very possible he still is the real all-time CHS boys scoring champ.

Since we can’t, and barring someone finding a stash in an attic or basement, Criscoula handed the title off to Jeff Stone during the 1969-1970 season.

The sweet-shootin’ Stone rippled the nets for 644 points as a senior, almost 200 more than the next-best performance in school history — Jeff Rhubottom’s 459 in 1977-1978.

Having played three years, as freshmen weren’t eligible for varsity ball in the ’60s, Stone capped his prep career with 1,137 points.

That endured for 36 years, and still hasn’t fallen.

Given a chance to play a full four years, Mike Bagby did the nearly impossible, with his last point during the 2005-2006 season being the 364th of his senior campaign, and the 1,137th of his career.

The duo have remained atop the charts (with the old-school trio of Sahli, Elzinga, and Criscuola lurking in their rearview mirror) ever since, with little to worry about.

Hunter Smith made a nice run before graduating in 2018.

Ultimately, though, a lack of varsity playing time as a freshman, and a handful of later injuries, stopped him at #12 all-time, with 847 points.

Two seasons into his own career, Hawthorne Wolfe is already at #55, with 410 points, but the ongoing pandemic has put his junior season into question.

The chase goes on, for scoring records long-held and stat sheets long-buried.

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