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Preston Epp, ready to unleash the lightning and the thunder. (Lyla Stuurmans photo)

It’s a three-man shootout.

The Coupeville High School varsity boys’ soccer squad has played 75% of its regular season games, with nine in the books and three left on the schedule.

As they make the turn for the run-up to the playoffs, the Wolves have three booters battling for the team lead in scoring, with just a goal separating the trio from a three-way tie.

While none of these current players are putting up the kind of numbers CHS scoring leaders Abraham, Derek, and Aram Leyva did in their heyday, they are making life difficult for rival goaltenders.

Shut one down, and another will find a way to get the ball into the back of the net.

That makes for a deadly recipe which usually comes out in favor of the Wolves.

Ball vanishes into the net and the Wolves celebrate. (Mia Farris photo)

 

Season scoring stats through Oct. 15:

 

Varsity
(9 games):

Ezra Boilek  – 6
Cole White – 6
Nick Guay – 5
Preston Epp – 2
Angel Partida – 1
Cael Wilson – 1

 

JV
(3 games):

Dane Hadsall – 1
Partida – 1

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Coupeville cross country coach Elizabeth Bitting keeps a watchful eye on her runners. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

We’re in the thick of things.

Fall sports are chugging along, with the race for league titles and playoff seeding part of daily life.

In that environment, Coupeville High School teams have six events in the coming week, with three at home and three on the road.

Wolf fans are on the edge of their seats.

Wolf volleyball enjoys home cooking, hosting Concrete Tuesday and Mount Vernon Christian Thursday night.

Meanwhile, CHS football has its Homecoming game Friday, with Forks making the long trek to participate.

Rounding out things, cross country gets on the bus for a trip to Lake Padden Park in Bellingham Thursday for the Lake Lap Invitational, while boys’ soccer makes two trips off-Island.

The Wolf booters travel to Friday Harbor Tuesday to square off with the defending state champs, then amble down to Bothell Thursday to play Providence Classical Christian.

As we continue to work our way towards basketball season, a look at up-to-the-moment league standings through games of Oct. 7:

 

Northwest League boys’ soccer:

School League Overall
Friday Harbor 3-0-0 6-1-0
Coupeville 2-1-0 5-2-0
MV Christian 2-1-0 8-2-1
Orcas Island 2-1-0 5-4-0
PC Christian 1-1-0 5-3-0
Grace Academy 1-2-0 1-6-0
La Conner 1-2-0 3-5-0
CPC-Lynnwood 0-2-0 3-5-0
Lopez Island 0-2-0 2-4-0

 

Northwest League football — (11-Man):

School League Overall
Friday Harbor 2-0 3-2
Coupeville 1-1 1-5
La Conner 0-2 1-4

 

Northwest League football — (8-Man):

School League Overall
Darrington 1-0 6-0
Concrete 0-1 4-2

 

Northwest League volleyball:

School League Overall
La Conner 5-0 6-5
Orcas Island 4-1 7-3
Darrington 3-1 9-2
Coupeville 1-2 3-4
MV Christian 1-3 5-4
Concrete 1-4 4-6
Friday Harbor 0-4 0-9

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Aidan Wilson was a multi-sport star at Coupeville High School. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Aidan Wilson is a jack of all trades, and a master of most of them.

The rare athlete who seemingly could do it all, the Coupeville High School Class of 2023 grad excelled in track and field, soccer, and cross country, putting together one of the best prep careers ever crafted by a Wolf.

Spring seemed to bring out the best in the lanky speed demon, as he participated in a mind-boggling 16 events as a track star, collecting 41 wins across three seasons.

Wilson brought home five state meet medals, earning three 2nd place finishes, and capped his career by placing 7th out of 32 in a two-day, 10-event decathlon featuring competitors from every classification.

Striding to success at a big-time meet. (Bob Martin photo)

One of only eight Wolf boys to earn as many as five state meet medals, it’s likely he would have gone higher on that list if real-world issues hadn’t intruded.

The pandemic erased all spring sports when Wilson was a freshman.

While competition returned the next spring, the state meet was cancelled as track officials limited how far schools could travel in the Age of Coronavirus.

But once he got a chance to shine on the big state, Wilson made his mark in short order.

That was his normal operating style, as he tore up the course in his one season as a cross country runner, while raining down goals on the soccer pitch.

Wilson rattled the net for 10 goals as a senior, earning All-Conference First-Team honors, and finished his prep career with 13 scores, putting him #6 on Coupeville’s all-time boys’ soccer scoring chart.

Off to score another goal. (Morgan White photo)

A nimble athlete with quick reflexes, he also did some time as a goaltender, holding off rival teams from scoring, while sacrificing a chance to add to his own goal totals.

When it all ended, Wilson brought home one of his school’s big athletic honors, receiving the Cliff Gillies Award as a senior.

Named in honor of a longtime Executive Director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, it goes to athletes for “outstanding scholarship, citizenship, and participation in school activities.”

Hanging out with fellow senior booters (l to r) Grant Steller, Cameron Epp, and Reiley Araceley. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Student/athletes come and go as the seasons unfold, and a relative few are likely to stand the test of time and be remembered in vivid detail years later.

I believe Wilson will be one of those whose exploits will live on in the memories of fellow players, coaches, and fans.

But he doesn’t need to wait to be acknowledged as one of the greats – we can do that today while his time at CHS is still fresh in all of our minds.

Swing open the door to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, because we’re welcoming Wilson to our lil’ digital shrine to athletic excellence.

After this, you’ll find him at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab, enshrined for his accomplishments in the red and black, and the way he approached his sports.

Wilson exuded talent, but he also put in the work, day after day, competition after competition, and he earned his spot atop the mountain.

A job well done.

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Senior Nick Guay leads all active CHS boys’ soccer players in career scoring, having tallied eight goals. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“It’s time to play to win!”

Clashing with teams in the Northwest 2B/1B League, home of the last two state champs, the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad has its work cut out for it.

Even more this year, with District 1 seeing its tickets to the big dance cut from four to three.

But Coupeville coach Robert Wood is making no excuses.

While he lost four seniors to graduation, including leading scorer Aidan Wilson, the Wolves have one of their most-solid rosters in years.

Better yet, it’s full of players with experience from playing under fire against state champs Friday Harbor and Orcas Island, as well as other top NWL programs.

“We have a solid number of players — finally — a foundation of skill and drive and focus, and an injection of energy and talent,” Wood said.

Coupeville returns 11 of a possible 12 players, while also picking up a strong group of newcomers.

“Four freshmen already making an impact at practice, showing the seniors they want their spot!” Wood said. “Plus, two transfers from the football program showing the same intent.”

With the first week of practice unfolding, the Wolves are trying different looks and lineups to see what clicks.

“Formation and positions are still being determined,” Wood said. “Strengths and weaknesses are still being determined, but our talent and camaraderie are both sure to help the team grow together and succeed.”

Cole White, here dancing with the soccer ball, returns for his senior season. (Morgan White photo)

Coupeville went 5-9 last year, falling to Summit Atlas in the district playoffs.

Early in the season, they shocked Friday Harbor 3-1 at Mickey Clark Field, handing the eventual state champs one of only two losses the Wolverines suffered during their golden season.

Key to that victory was following Wood’s teachings about playing as one unit.

“Teamwork and patience is always the focus of our work,” he said. “Soccer is a game of chess on a very large field.

“The game itself is the ultimate teacher,” Wood added. “And if you’re not willing to learn then it is not only blatantly obvious, but the team suffers.”

Coupeville has a 12-game slate this season, with all games against NWL foes, though the first four will be counted as non-league clashes.

The Wolves play five of their first seven at home, before wrapping things up with four of five on the road.

Of those home games, four will be played on Friday night in prime time, with Coupeville’s football team making trips off of Whidbey Island those same evenings.

CHS doesn’t charge admission for soccer, with Sept. 15 (Providence Classical Christian), Sept. 29 (Cedar Park Christian), Oct. 6 (Grace Academy) and Oct. 20 (La Conner) an ideal chance for Wolf fans to support their pitch program.

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Coupeville booter Grant Steller earned Second-Team All-Conference honors. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Four for the score.

The Northwest 2B/1B League released All-Conference soccer teams Monday night, with a quartet of Coupeville High School boys earning honors.

Senior forward Aidan Wilson, who led the Wolves in scoring, was tabbed as a First-Team selection, while senior defender Grant Steller landed on the Second-Team roster.

CHS also had a pair of underclassmen notch Honorable Mention status, with junior goaltender Nick Guay and junior midfielder Cole White getting their names called.

Orcas Island senior midfielder Tommy Anderson-Cleveland was named league MVP, with Friday Harbor’s Brett Paul claiming Coach of the Year after leading the Wolverines to a state title.

The Team Sportsmanship Award went to Orcas Island.

Aidan Wilson leads the charge. (Morgan White photo)

 

First-Team All-Conference:

Austin Birkhofer – Senior – Forward/Midfielder – Grace Academy
Alden Carli – Junior – Forward – Friday Harbor
Malachi Cary – Senior – Forward – Lopez Island
Owen Conde Raggett – Senior – Midfielder – Friday Harbor
Eric Corbin – Senior – Defender – Friday Harbor
Isa Gonzalez-Rojas – Senior – Defender – La Conner
Diego Lago – Senior – Defender – Orcas Island
Lucas Millenaar – Sophomore – Forward – Mount Vernon Christian
Ben Rozema – Senior – Midfielder – Mount Vernon Christian
Luke Totten – Senior – Goaltender – Friday Harbor
Paxton White – Senior – Goaltender – Orcas Island
Aidan Wilson – Senior – Forward – Coupeville

 

Second-Team All-Conference:

Colby Border – Senior – Defender – Friday Harbor
Alex Bravo-Jump – Sophomore – Forward/Mid – Providence Classical Christian
Zia Fackethall – Junior – Midfielder – Grace Academy
Cecelia Groeninger – Senior – Defender/Mid – Orcas Island
Pedro Guerra – Senior – Forward – Orcas Island
Christian Kilvert – Junior – Midfielder – Mount Vernon Christian
Jonah Parsons – Senior – Midfielder – Friday Harbor
Cade Peterson – Junior – Forward/Mid – Grace Academy
Matthew Reeve – Defender/Mid – Providence Classical Christian
Grant Steller – Senior – Defender – Coupeville
Sam Sutton – Junior – Midfielder – Orcas Island

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