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Posts Tagged ‘Allison Wenzel’

They’re winners, every season

Posted in Milestones, tagged , , , , on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Dominic Coffman (left) and Jonathan Valenzuela celebrate during their junior hoops season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They are part of an elite fraternity.

Having earned their ticket to a state championship event this spring, Coupeville High School seniors Dominic Coffman and Jonathan Valenzuela are the first Wolf boys to go to the big dance in three sports in more than three decades.

The duo both started for a CHS football team which clashed with Onalaska this fall – the first Wolf gridiron squad to make the state playoffs since 1990.

Jonathan Valenzuela relaxes after a game. (Davin Houston photo)

Jump back to their junior campaigns, and Valenzuela and Coffman came off the bench for a Coupeville boys’ basketball team which carried a 16-0 mark to state.

When Brad Sherman’s program broke through in the winter of 2022, winning league and district titles before vying with top-seed Kalama and Lake Roosevelt at state, it was the first such trip for the school’s male hoops stars since ’88.

Now, this spring, Valenzuela is one of Coupeville’s top hitters for a baseball team slated to play Toledo Saturday in Castle Rock.

The last visit to state for the Wolf diamond dogs was 2014.

Dominic Coffman hangs out with mom on Senior Night. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coffman is slated to be in Yakima May 25-27 for the state track meet, where he will compete in the high jump and 4 x 100 relay.

Last year he qualified in the same events — though the season finale was in Cheney — bringing home a 2nd place medal for his work with the relay squad.

While Valenzuela and Coffman are the first Wolf boys to make it to state in three sports in quite a while, Coupeville’s female athletes have done it several times during that time frame.

Allison Wenzel — the power of the braid compels you. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Allison Wenzel, who graduated in 2018, went to the state basketball tourney as a sophomore, made it to volleyball’s big dance as a junior, then PR’d in the discus at state as a senior.

Before that, Wolf girls earned state berths in volleyball, basketball, and softball during the 2001-2002 school year, with numerous players such as Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby, Sarah Mouw, and Tracy Taylor appearing on all three teams.

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Wolf grad plays masterful tune

Posted in music, tagged , , , , on May 9, 2022| 1 Comment »

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’!

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Talent? So much freakin’ talent

Posted in Hall o' Fame, tagged , , , , , , on August 14, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Allison Wenzel is the only CHS athlete in at least a decade-plus to make it to state in three separate sports. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

A master of many instruments, she also went to the state championships in music.

“Let the bodies (and the braids) hit the floor!!”

Allison Wenzel can do everything.

And, if not, give her a day or two and she’ll master whatever new task you try and throw her way.

A Japanese-born American bad ass, Allison combines blistering talent with a serene spirit.

She’s one of the most genuinely kind people you will meet.

Unless you’re trying to take a basketball away from her, then she will get all up in your business and leave you to bleed out in an alleyway.

Metaphorically.

Or, possibly for real…

During her days at Coupeville High School, Wenzel, a 2018 grad, was a non-stop whirlwind.

She was one of four students in her class to play a sport in every season of her prep career, putting in four campaigns apiece in volleyball, basketball, and track and field.

A role player who sacrificed for the team, she had her greatest achievement at the very end of her high school career.

Standing alone after so many years of playing for others, Wenzel advanced to the state track and field championships in the discus.

Once in Cheney, she let fly with the best throw of her career in her swan song, ripping off a PR and claiming 9th place in all of 1A.

That solo run in the spotlight allowed Wenzel to achieve something very few Wolves have, reaching the state tourney in three separate sports.

She’s the only Coupeville athlete to pull off the trifecta in the last decade-plus.

You’d have to go back to the early 2000’s, when Wolf girls basketball and volleyball squads went to state on a regular basis, to find a time when there might possibly be another three-timer.

In recent years there have been a number of talented Coupeville female athletes who made it to state in two sports.

Makana Stone. Skyler Lawrence. Emma Smith. Maya Toomey-Stout. Lindsey Roberts. Sarah Wright. Kyla Briscoe. Emma Mathusek. Payton Aparicio. Chelsea Prescott. Lauren Rose. Scout Smith. Lauren Grove.

Ferociously successful, one and all, but the needle stopped at two, and hasn’t made it to three for any of them.

Yet…

Four of those Wolf girls still have at least a school year left in their careers, so hope lives.

Coupeville boys? Yeah … there’s been a bit of a dry spell.

We’re talking the late ’80s as the last time there’s the possibility of finding a male Wolf who went to state in three sports.

Chad Gale, certainly, and, after that, we’d need to do some more research.

Today, though, we know Wenzel stands at the top of the peak for recent athletes, alone and untouched.

Chalk it up to talent, commitment, and drive.

Others skipped seasons, took time off, stayed on the sidelines.

Not Wenzel.

As a sophomore, she was on the girls basketball team which squared off with perennial powerhouse Cashmere, falling just short of making it to the final eight.

Then, as a senior, she went East with the volleyball squad, where the Wolves tangled with heavy hitters Castle Rock and Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), before capping things during track season.

Actually, Wenzel made it to state four times, as she also was the queen of the music set.

A master of many instruments, she went to the big dance as a musician, qualifying both as a solo artist (interpreting Mozart on the French Horn) and as part of a duo with Jakobi Baumann.

So, it comes as little surprise that the effortlessly-talented Wenzel is currently pursuing studies in musical education at Central Washington University, wowing a whole new crowd.

For her hustle on the court, her displays of power in the throwing arena, and her artful musical noodlings, plus her kindness, her huge heart, and her love of Star Wars (bonus points!), it’s time to acknowledge all she accomplished, and all that is yet to come.

Allison Wenzel is a bright star streaking across the night sky, one who lights up everything in her path and inspires all of us down here on planet Earth.

Putting her in the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, which we do today, is something she richly deserves.

After this, you’ll find her up at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab.

Out in the real world?

She’ll be winning real awards left and right, quietly being awesome, cause she couldn’t be anything else.

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Sun, fun, and a wild run!!

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on May 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville junior Lindsey Roberts finished 2nd in the 100 hurdles, capturing the fifth medal of her prep track career. (Dawnelle Conlisk photos)

   Jerseys hang waiting for Danny Conlisk and Jacob Smith, who combined to bring home six medals from Cheney.

   Allison Wenzel, here throwing the javelin in an earlier meet, smashed her PR in the discus Saturday by almost 10 feet. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Ariah Bepler soared to a fifth-place finish in the high jump.

Wolves (l to r) Danny Conlisk, Randy King and Jacob Smith celebrate Coupeville’s smashing success of a weekend. (Dawnelle Conlisk photo)

Tyler King, the most-decorated track athlete in Coupeville High School history, finished 2nd five times at the state meet.

Those runner-up finishes (and two state titles) were part of an 11-medal haul for the guy who would go on to be an All-American on scholarship at the University of Washington.

So, when I say the 2018 Wolves emulated King Saturday, it’s something for them to be proud about.

While none of Coupeville’s athletes were able to win a state title during the 1A state track and field meet in Cheney, they did the next best thing, capturing four second-place medals in one day.

Hauling in medals in six events Saturday, including three runner-up finishes, the Wolf boys roared up the team standings, as well.

By the time the day was done, the current squad had claimed 5th, the best showing since the CHS boys took home 4th in 2008.

Coupeville finished with 34 points, just back of Riverside (36), while King’s (58), Lakeside (50) and Stevenson (48) rounded out the top three.

Island rival South Whidbey finished 12th.

The Wolf girls, who had a lot less bodies in action, claimed 24th, while South Whidbey was 10th and Lakeside claimed the team title.

The few Coupeville girls in action Saturday all made an impact, however.

Allison Wenzel (Discus) and Lauren Bayne (Javelin) both set PR’s, with Wenzel smashing her career mark by nearly 10 feet.

The spotlight was brightest on Lindsey Roberts, though, as she stormed past her arch-rival, Aubry Botkin of Port Townsend, beating the RedHawk for the first time this season.

Roberts finished second, a hair off of Chewelah sophomore Lillian Kirry, while claiming the fifth state meet medal of her career.

Botkin, who entered state ranked #1, had held off Roberts at the league and district meets, and Saturday was the final time the two Olympic League stars will likely face.

Though she’s a junior, Botkin is graduating early and joining the military.

While Roberts came out triumphant in her final duel, the CHS boys were on fire all day.

Senior Jacob Smith became just the second Wolf to ever win four medals at one state track meet, joining Jon Chittim, who did so in 2006.

Smith claimed 2nd in the 100 and 200, then sparked his 4 x 4 relay team to an unexpected 5th place finish.

The Wolves had slipped into the final as the eighth and final entry.

Capping off his incredible run, Smith was also part of a 4 x 1 squad which claimed 7th.

With his furious finale, Smith finished his career with six state meet medals, which ties him for the fourth-most in CHS track history.

The fourth 2nd place finish Saturday came courtesy junior Danny Conlisk.

Gliding through the 400 while looking like he didn’t have a care in the world, the lanky, serene Wolf passed a runner in the final steps, set a PR, but was out-leaned by La Salle speed demon Peterson Bohannon.

The defending state champ in the 400, Bohannon picked up two more state titles in his final year, also out-leaning Smith in the 200.

That race was decided by .05 of a second.

Senior Ariah Bepler capped the day, and the weekend, by finishing 5th in the high jump, the final event concluded in boys action.

He tied his PR of 6-02 and actually finished in a three-way for third, just two inches off the 6-4 that won a state title.

Bepler dropped to fifth based on which of the three at 6-02 had the most misses, but his finish was high enough to clinch Coupeville’s spot in the top five for the team standings.

His performance, which came on the same weekend cousin Payton Aparicio teamed with Sage Renninger to claim 4th at the girls tennis state tourney, just missed giving Ariah family bragging rights.

Dad Mark Bepler finished 4th in the discus in 1986, and will remain the king of the house, at least in terms of state track meet finishes.

All total, Coupeville picked up 14 medals in 2018, with nine athletes claiming at least one.

Smith led the way with four, Conlisk and Sean Toomey-Stout nabbed two apiece, and Cassidy Moody, Henry Wynn, Roberts, Jean Lund-Olsen, Cameron Toomey-Stout and Bepler each collected one.

 

Complete Saturday results:

 

GIRLS:

100 Hurdles — Lindsey Roberts (2nd) 15.63

Discus — Allison Wenzel (9th) 106-04 *PR*

Javelin — Lauren Bayne (11th) 109-02 *PR*

 

BOYS:

100 — Jacob Smith (2nd) 11.64

200 — Smith (2nd) 22.75

400 — Danny Conlisk (2nd) 49.70 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Cameron Toomey-Stout, Smith, Sean Toomey-Stout, Jean Lund-Olsen (7th) 45.16

4 x 400 Relay — Smith, Henry Wynn, S. Toomey-Stout, Conlisk (5th) 3:31.00

Shot Put — Ryan Labrador (16th) 36-04.75

High Jump — Ariah Bepler (5th) 6-02

Long Jump — C. Toomey-Stout (14th) 20-00 *PR*; S. Toomey-Stout (15th) 19-06.50

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Passionately smashin’ every expectation!!

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on May 21, 2018| Leave a Comment »

“So, Allison Wenzel, you’re going to the state track meet. Any thoughts?” (Photos by Logan Martin)

   Like a gunfighter strolling down Main Street, Henry Wynn moseys into town before the start of the day’s final relay.

Cameron Toomey-Stout walks the line, daring the breeze to ruffle his hair.

   Emma Smith (with ribbon), showing impeccable taste in band t-shirts, shares a moment with teammate Hannah Davidson.

   CHS coach Randy King gives Mallory Kortuem a pep talk. “Hit ’em hard, slice ’em off at the knees and let ’em bleed out!!! Oh yeah … and have fun out there.”

Wynn, held together by tape and powered by heart, sells out in the 4 x 4.

“Ready when you are, Mr. Spielberg.”

“Run as one, win as one.”

The kid has a great eye.

Coupeville Middle School track star Logan Martin has proven to be an ace with the camera as well, providing a fresh perspective while clicking away at high school meets.

The photos seen above, which capture the mix of stillness and power to be found around the oval, come from this past weekend’s district meet in Renton.

Coupeville is sending 16 athletes on to the state meet in Cheney, and, hopefully, one fast-rising camera bug to capture their exploits.

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