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Posts Tagged ‘1A Olympic League’

Are we all confused, or is it just me?!?!

Posted in Girls Soccer, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on September 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

"League? Non-league? Now you're just hurting my brain." (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)

   Kalia Littlejohn: “League game? Non-league game? I’ll just score in all of them and you can figure out the rest later.” (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)

Some games matter more than others.

And this is where it’s going to get kind of confusing.

Coupeville High School, which has only three foes in the 1A Olympic League (Port Townsend, Klahowya, Chimacum), has been looking to pad out the schedule for both its girls’ soccer and volleyball squads.

Mission accomplished.

The Wolves have added two more home volleyball matches and one road trip for the booters, bringing those teams totals to 14 (with seven at home) and 15, respectively.

Now we get wacky.

The Wolf spikers have added Chimacum (Oct. 1) and Port Townsend (Oct. 8) while the soccer squad has picked up Port Townsend (Sept. 29), but — now, pay attention — even though those schools are league foes, the matches WON’T count in the league standings.

So, while you certainly want to win, doing so won’t help Coupeville’s chances of earning playoff berths, just as losses wouldn’t derail any hopes.

For both squads only the originally scheduled six matches against those schools (and Klahowya) will matter when figuring out which three teams earn postseason berths in each sport.

So, for volleyball that’s:

10/13 Klahowya
10/15 @ Chimacum
10/20 @ Port Townsend
10/22 Chimacum
10/26 @ Klahowya
10/29 Port Townsend

And the “counters” for soccer:

10/15 @ Chimacum
10/17 Klahowya
10/20 @ Port Townsend
10/22 Chimacum
10/26 @ Klahowya
10/29 Port Townsend

Six league games is the magic number for fall, as Wolf football and boys’ tennis each have that number on their schedule as well, and all of those WILL count in the conference standings.

And, in slightly less confusing scheduling news, the Wolf JV football team has picked up a home game to fill an open slot on Monday, Sept. 21.

The Wolves will now tee it up with 2A Anacortes at 5 PM that night.

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New look, same goals!!

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , , , on September 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Seniors Lathom Kelley (left) and Ryan Griggs will be called on for big yards and big leadership. (John Fisken photos)

   Seniors Lathom Kelley (left) and Ryan Griggs will be called on for big yards and big leadership. (John Fisken photos)

Brett Smedley will make his debut as Coupeville's head football coach this Friday, when the Wolves travel to Langley.

   Brett Smedley will make his debut as Coupeville’s head football coach this Friday, when the Wolves travel to Langley.

Change is in the air.

Coming off a 5-5 season that snapped a streak of eight straight losing seasons, the Coupeville High School football squad lost its head coach and seven seniors, including the inaugural 1A Olympic League MVP.

After three seasons at the helm of the Wolves (and two wins over arch-rival South Whidbey), Tony Maggio turned the keys over to assistant coach Brett Smedley.

As he prepares to kick off his first season as head coach this Friday, the first-year man will have to do so without that departed MVP (Josh Bayne) and record-setting QB Joel Walstad, now both off to play college ball.

The cupboard is far from bare, however, as the Wolves seek their first winning season since the 2005 squad went 6-5.

Nine seniors, all of whom have seen substantial playing time in the past, will anchor Coupeville’s attack.

Leading the way are Wiley Hesselgrave, a First-Team All-League pick at linebacker as a junior, and hard-hitting Lathom Kelley, who both can become four year letter winners this season.

Joining them are linemen Brenden Gilbert, Josh Lord, JR Pendergrass and Jake Lord as well as multi-talented weapons CJ Smith, Ryan Griggs and Mitchell Losey.

Rounding out the key returning players are juniors Mitchell Carroll, Dominic Dausey, Jacob Martin and Clay Reilly and sophomores Hunter Downes, Hunter Smith, Cameron Toomey-Stout, James Vidoni and Julian Welling.

On a list dominated by seniors, Hunter Smith was the lone freshman named to the All-League team last year, earning Honorable Mention consideration.

While the loss of Bayne, a two-way All-State player, leaves a big hole to fill, the Wolves do return almost all of their offensive weapons.

Seven of their top eight receivers are back, led by Griggs, who topped the Wolves in 2014 with 485 yards on 29 catches.

Coupeville also brings back three backs who rang up yards on the ground in Hesselgrave (52 carries for 430 yards), Kelley (46-407 despite missing a chunk of the season with an injury) and Martin (57-295).

The hope is that one, or more of them, will step up and make a run at posting Bayne-like numbers (143-1,528).

Walstad threw for 18 touchdowns and nearly 1,600 yards as a senior, and, at least in the early days of practice, the battle to replace him at QB was wide-open, with Downes, the Smith brothers and freshman Gabe Eck in the mix.

Eck and twin brother Ty (WR/DB), sophomore Jake Hoagland (TE/LB) and seniors Zane Bundy (WR/DB) and Jordan Ford (WR/DE) are among the newcomers who have caught the eyes of coaches.

Hoagland and Bundy are making their high school football debuts, while Ford is a transfer student who has come home to the school where many of his relatives, including his dad and grandfather, have been athletic stars.

However the lineup shakes out, in true small-school style, many of the players will go both ways.

“We at CHS play a certain brand of football, and that’s an “Iron man” style of football,” Smedley said. “A few kids are going to be on the field all game everyday.

“We continue to develop this mentality in our players!”

While Port Townsend is the defending league champs, they also lost a chunk of key players.

Coupeville, which finished third at 3-3, was the only league school to beat the Redhawks last year, and came agonizingly close to upending Klahowya to earn a playoff berth.

Smedley sees no reason the Wolves can’t fight for a league title.

“This is a very strong league,” he said. “Any given night anyone has the ability to win the game.”

Coupeville opens with four straight games on the road, not playing at home until Oct. 2, but having veteran leadership should make that easier to handle.

“We have a lot of players that have been in the program for four years, and they will be the true leaders of this program,” Smedley said. “Their leadership on and off the field is one of our huge strengths.”

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Young, but ready to rumble!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on August 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Wolf junior Tiffany Briscoe is a key returning player. (John Fisken photos)

Wolf junior Tiffany Briscoe is a key returning player. (John Fisken photos)

Sophomore Katrina McGranahan is back and ready to unleash her power game.

   Sophomore Katrina McGranahan is back and ready to unleash her power game.

Never back down.

That captures the attitude shown by the Coupeville High School volleyball squad, which is looking to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the 1A Olympic League last year.

While those Wolves went 1-11, many of the matches were close affairs and CHS was rarely, if ever, blown out.

The loss of five players to graduation will sting a bit, but much of the core of the team was young last year, which bodes well for this season and the future.

“My expectation is that our team competes every day, gives maximum effort for the sake of their team, and challenges each other to become better,” said Wolf coach Breanne Smedley. “Our goals are to improve with each week, earn a league title, and compete into the post season.

“We are out to beat them all! We talk about all other teams as just another jersey,” she added. “We are constantly competing with ourselves and focusing on what is going to help us improve each week.

“All else will fall into place if we are successful in this.”

As Smedley heads into her second year at the helm of the Wolves, she’ll have a roster that is still fairly young, with just two seniors.

Middle blocker McKenzie Bailey and setter Sydney Autio, who was out injured much of last year, are those veterans, and they’ll be joined by juniors Valen Trujillo (libero), Tiffany Briscoe (OH) and Ally Roberts (OPP).

Sophomores Kyla Briscoe (OH/OPP), Katrina McGranahan (MB), Lauren Rose (setter), Hope Lodell (OH) and Payton Aparicio (OH) and freshman phenom Emma Smith (MB) are also in the mix.

It’s a group that has stepped up in off-season workouts and is intent on toppling Klahowya, Port Townsend and Chimacum.

“Our strengths include the ownership the girls are taking over the program, and their competitiveness to continually improve,” Smedley said. “We have depth from pin to pin in our offense, which will prove to become a strength for us if we can focus in on quality first ball contacts.”

As their season opener approaches (Sept. 8 at home against South Whidbey), the Wolves remain hard at work.

“We need to work on controlling the first ball contact on serve receive and in defense,” Smedley said. “We are also working on getting our middles to run quicker through the middle and introducing combinations into our offense.

“It is all dependent on the first ball contact, though.”

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The Spark is back!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, tagged , , , , , on August 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Jenn Spark is back, healthy and ready to lead the Wolf booters. (John Fisken photos)

   Jenn Spark is back, healthy and ready to lead the Wolf booters. (John Fisken photos)

Bree Daigneault (left) will be a captain this season.

Bree Daigneault (#17) will be a captain this season.

The brightest bit of news from the first week of practice for the Coupeville High School girls’ soccer squad was the return of senior spark-plug Jenn Spark.

The defensive whiz kid with the booming clearing kick suffered a devastating MCL/ACL injury and missed most of her junior campaign, but is back to lead a young Wolf squad into a new season.

“Jennifer has been working hard and I expect great things from her and she expects great things from herself,” Wolf coach Troy Cowan said. “She will take the helm of our defense as our “sweeper.” Welcome back Cap!”

Coupeville, which went 6-7-1 and finished second in the 1A Olympic League last season, will face an uphill battle in 2015.

League rival Klahowya is the defending 1A state champ, and while it lost its top two players, McKenzie Cook and Izzy Severns, to graduation, the Eagles are still stacked.

“Tough team to deal with, lots of talented players on the pitch and a coach that is always well prepared and has a bench full of starters!,” Cowan said. “We will do our best and give them everything we have, no excuses and no backing down.”

While the Wolves lost eight players to graduation, Spark will have some familiar running mates and a strong group of promising freshmen will be fighting for immediate playing time.

Sophomore Mia Littlejohn is the top returning scorer, having netted three goals while winning Rookie of the Year honors last season.

“Mia’s versatility allowed her to play goalie to forward for CHS last year, but after an extremely successful European soccer tour, Mia’s offensive prowess will be on display full time this season!,” Cowan said. “No net will be safe this season, ciao…”

Junior Bree Daigneault and sophomore Sage Renninger (“she hasn’t missed a beat and her shot is better than ever”) join Spark and Littlejohn at the forefront, with Daigneault being named a team captain.

“I think Bree has surprised me the most. She really worked hard since last year and has transformed herself into something special,” Cowan said. “Not only is she a much more physically dominating player, but her leadership is profoundly distinctive and magnanimous.

“Bree has added quickness and ball control to her game,” he added. “She really came out of the gate on fire and hasn’t looked back.”

Two youngsters expected to make an immediate impact are freshmen Kalia Littlejohn and Lindsey Roberts.

“Kalia will be fun to watch this season, so everyone better come early because you may not want to miss the show this young striker is going to put on!,” Cowan said. “Not to be outdone, Lindsey has turned her golden track shoes in for spiked soccer cleats and we have been picking up the bodies ever since.

“This young, defensive-minded speedster with power in both legs has been anything but freshman like! Just dangerous.”

While the Wolves will miss the veterans lost to graduation, Cowan looks to the future, and sees a bright one.

“Our goals are simple; Stay positive, improve each and every half, give 100% effort, and never, ever quit!,” he said. “We are going to focus on what we can control and manage what we can’t!

“Our team strengths are our youthfulness and our high energy,” Cowan added. “We are very young and have some players with a lot of energy. We will be looking to capitalize on that energy and use it to gain momentum and turn it into our advantage.”

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“We are the team to beat!!”

Posted in Boys Tennis, tagged , , , , on August 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Junior doubles ace John McClarin will be one of the Wolf captains this season. (John Fisken photos)

   Junior doubles ace John McClarin will be one of the Wolf captains this season. (John Fisken photos)

Jared Helmstadter lets rip.

Jared Helmstadter lets rip.

Blessed with a deep, experienced roster, Coupeville High School boys’ tennis guru Ken Stange is entering a new season with one goal — for this squad to mirror last spring’s Wolf girls’ netters and put a new banner up in the gym.

“For the varsity squad, a league title should be in order,” Stange said. “Honestly, if we fail to win the league title, it will be a disappointing season. We are very deep.

“It will be a successful season if we go undefeated in league play,” he added. “The kids at CHS love the chance to win league titles. The girls picked one up last spring. The boys are ready to hang one up for themselves!”

Leading the charge is senior Sebastian Davis, who will slide up a slot to replace the graduated Aaron Curtin as the team’s #1 singles player.

Davis went 6-0 in league play last season, then pushed Curtin, who advanced to state, hard in the postseason.

“He is the heir apparent to the league singles title,” Stange said. “He is ready to pick up where Aaron left off.”

While the second and third singles slot are up for grabs (“We will be inexperienced, but I imagine the other schools in our league will face the same dilemma. As long as our 2 and 3 can display confidence and consistency, we should be good”) the Wolves are stacked at doubles.

“I’ve never had this sort of doubles depth on the boys’ team,” said Stange, who is in his 11th season at CHS. “They are all bigger and stronger, and there has been a noticeable rise in consistent play.”

The Wolves return 10 lettermen, with Davis joined by seniors Jared Helmstadter, Connor McCormick and Loren Nelson, juniors Joseph Wedekind, John McClarin, Grey Rische and Jimmy Myers and sophomores Joey Lippo and William Nelson.

Seniors Garrett Compton and Cole Payne (making a jump from football) and sophomore Nick Etzell are expected to fight for court time, as well.

Regardless of how the various varsity slots are filled, Stange is looking for a team-wide commitment in more ways than one.

“I want my boys to work on more than sharpening their skills. I want them to be a supportive group that challenges each other,” he said. “I want competition in practice so we can carry it over to matches.

“I want my players to be happy when they lose a challenge match in practice, because I want them to understand that our team is better when we beat the stuffing out of each other in practice,” Stange added. “Last season, the girls’ team found that family feel.

“The boys have always been a together sort of bunch, but I want them to take it to the next level. I think that’s how we can win.”

Before they get to league rivals Klahowya and Port Townsend/Chimacum, the Wolves will be tested in non-conference matches by top-level programs, always a good way to sharpen skills.

“Beating South Whidbey and ATM, that will be challenging,” Stange said. “For the newcomers, learn the game and become consistent players.

“Our doubles teams, while taking quite a beating last year, will benefit from the combination of another year’s experience and attrition from the other schools,” he added. “On top of a league title and a strong showing in the league tourney, it would be a special treat if we could sneak someone (or a pair) though districts and on to state.”

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