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Posts Tagged ‘cancer’

Sluggers stage successful cancer fundraiser

Posted in Baseball, Softball, tagged baseball, cancer, CHS Wolves, fundraiser, Softball, WhidbeyHealth on April 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

CHS softball sluggers (l to r) Haylee Armstrong, Sydney Van Dyke, and Cami Van Dyke played for others Saturday. (Photos courtesy Grant Van Dyke and WhidbeyHealth Foundation)

It was a solid day’s work.

Both the Coupeville High School softball and baseball teams won their home games Saturday, but there was more to the afternoon than just on-field action.

The Wolf sluggers spearheaded a Coupeville vs. Cancer event which raised $2,390.20 for WhidbeyHealth’s MAC Clinic through the sale of t-shirts and food.

Both teams dressed up for the occasion, with softball players sporting different colored socks to reflect different forms of cancer, while the diamond men wore special shirts.

Several players offered impassioned speeches about family members who have been impacted by cancer, and, for the first time this spring, home games were played on the prairie under clear blue skies.

The event required the coordinated efforts of many, led by Wolf Moms Michele Thule and Michelle Armstrong.

Also playing a large role was Rainy Simpson from the WhidbeyHealth Foundation and MAC nurses Sherry Phay, Lisa Toomey-Stout, and Courtney Gray.

The WhidbeyHealth Foundation sponsored the baseball team t-shirts, while the Coupeville Booster Club provided softball’s socks.

Ashley’s Design printed the shirts, and CHS coaches covered the cost of 100 hamburgers and 100 hotdogs.

Playing key roles:

Shaloma Allen
Joe and Michelle Armstrong
“Granny” Chris Baker
Mandi Black
Shawn Calkins
Mindy Grove
Lark Gustafson
Steve Hilborn
Rachel King
Leann and Nate Leavitt
Aaron and Jess Lucero
Dane Lucero
Tony Martin
Scott and Lara Maynes
Tamra Patterson
Morgan Payne
Mike Pearson
Jennifer Rains
Jon Roberts
Alix Roos
Dina Shaw
“Auntie” Bettie Sifuentes
Kristi and Brent Stevens
Mariah Stoker
Michele and Doug Thule
Colleen and Grant Van Dyke
Emily Zenz

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Diamond squads plan Cancer Awareness day

Posted in Baseball, Softball, tagged baseball, cancer, CHS Wolves, Softball, WhidbeyHealth on March 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The battle never ends. (Photos courtesy Michelle Armstrong)

They want to strike out a deadly disease.

The Coupeville High School softball and baseball teams are uniting Saturday, Apr. 4 to stage fundraisers for the WhidbeyHealth Foundation Cancer Center.

The event, the fourth annual one for the sluggers, is tied to home games against non-conference foe East Jefferson.

Wolf baseball players will be wearing t-shirts provided by the foundation, with softball players sporting special socks highlighting different forms of cancer.

Both teams will be selling t-shirts, featuring the logo seen below:

On the back of the t-shirts, it will say, “I wear this shirt for,” and fabric markers will be offered to fans at the games to write names on the back of their shirts.

If you’re not able to make it to the event in person, you can still donate, as shown on this poster:

Across the previous three seasons, the CHS softball squad has raised nearly $3,600 in support of cancer care.

“We would like to thank the Coupeville softball and baseball players, coaches, and supporters for their continued dedication to Coupeville vs. Cancer,” said the WhidbeyHealth Foundation in a statement.

“Your efforts go far beyond the field, making a meaningful difference for patients receiving care in our community. We are truly thankful for your commitment and generosity.”

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Big spikes, big bucks

Posted in Fundraisers, Volleyball, tagged cancer, CHS Wolves, Dig Pink Night, fundraiser, volleyball, WhidbeyHealth on October 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Willow Leedy-Bonifas celebrates. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The spikers scored big, two ways.

Coupeville High School volleyball hosted its annual Dig Pink night last Thursday, with both the varsity and JV knocking off visiting La Conner on the court.

Now, Wolf coaches have revealed the cancer awareness event generated $1,420, with the proceeds earmarked to go to the WhidbeyHealth Foundation.

Coupeville’s net crew returns to action Thursday, Oct. 24 with a road trip to Concrete.

The Wolf varsity is a pristine 10-0 on the season, and a win against the Lions will clinch the Northwest 2B/1B League title and give the 2024 squad the best start in program history.

Meanwhile, the JV spikers aren’t too far off their varsity counterparts, boasting an 8-1 mark this season.

The Wolf varsity gets pumped, pre-game.

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Help softball sluggers “strike out” cancer

Posted in Softball, tagged cancer, CHS Wolves, fundraiser, Softball, WhidbeyHealth on March 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville’s softball sluggers bring big hearts to the field. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Your donation can help “strike out” cancer.

The Coupeville High School softball squad is holding a gift basket fundraiser this Saturday, Mar. 30 during its home doubleheader with Onalaska.

The non-conference rumbles begin at 1:00 PM.

Coupeville’s sluggers will be selling raffle tickets for 6-7 baskets during the first game and intermission, with winners announced during the second game.

All proceeds benefit WhidbeyHealth and will aid locals who are fighting the battle against cancer.

Last year the Wolves raised almost $700 with their first “Strike Out Cancer” event.

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“Val was a friend to everyone”

Posted in In memory, tagged cancer, in memory, Julianne Sem, Valerie Sem, Wolf Mom on July 7, 2023| 1 Comment »

Valerie (Sebo) Sem

Paths crossed; lives touched.

Valerie Sem graduated from Oak Harbor High School, before my own brief time in those hallways.

Where we came into contact was later, in her role as a Wolf Mom, when her daughter Julianne began to appear in the pages of Coupeville Sports.

A tennis player who helped the Wolves win titles, an honor student, part of the CHS theater troupe, she was a remarkably bright, very kind young woman.

Still is, I’m sure.

Valerie and I became Facebook friends somewhere in there, and we may have said a few words in passing.

Like her daughter, she always seemed very kind.

In late June, Mrs. Sem wrote one of the most heartbreaking posts I’ve seen on social media.

She talked about her painful battle with stage four cancer and her decision to bring her battle to an end on her own terms the following day.

The outpouring of love from her friends was immense, and I hope it gave her comfort in her final hours.

I knew her only in passing, connected as part of Wolf Nation, so I can’t speak with the depth of love others could, and still are doing.

All I can say is this — you seemed like a truly lovely human being, Valerie — something carried on by your daughter — and you will not be forgotten.

From her family:

Valerie Sem died peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 27 with her family at her side.

She was born March 10, 1960 in Eugene Oregon, the daughter of Robert and Joan Sebo, the sister to Renee, Rob and D’ann.

Val graduated from Oak Harbor High School and attended Pacific Lutheran University.

She worked at Mark-it Food’s in Oak Harbor and later went on to put her mark on Sebo’s Hardware in Anacortes.

She enjoyed boating, traveling and walking on beaches looking for sea glass and shells.

Val was an avid hiker, gardener and party planner.

No matter the occasion she always won the award for being the best dressed.

Val was a friend to everyone and made friends wherever she went.

Val is survived by her husband Dave, their son Steven and daughter Julianne.

She is also survived by her father Robert (June) Sebo, her brother, sisters and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother Joan.