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Survive and thrive!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged Castle Rock, CHS Wolves, state, SunDome, volleyball, Yakima on November 6, 2017| 1 Comment »

Hot-serving Katrina McGranahan is one of seven seniors on this year’s state-bound Coupeville High School volleyball squad. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

After missing her junior year with a leg injury, Kyla Briscoe returned to play a key role in the Wolves success.

Welcome to the Group of Death.

Coupeville’s first trip to the state volleyball tournament in 13 years comes with one small caveat — spikes are about to fly.

But, survive the beginning, and the finale could be sweet.

The 16-team, double-elimination tourney opens Friday with two matches for each team, and the Wolves companions are the deadliest to be found.

Coupeville’s block of four teams includes both remaining undefeated schools, including the defending state champs, who HAVEN’T LOST A SET THIS SEASON … and some rich, private school you all might remember named King’s.

The Wolves won at least one match in all four of their previous trips to the big dance, between 2001-2004.

To keep that going, though, they will have to play their best volleyball of the season.

The opening foe (3:15 PM Friday) is Castle Rock, which arrives bearing a 16-0 mark.

The Rockets were the regular-season champs of the six-team 1A Trico League, which also sends La Center to state.

Castle Rock captured the title at the District 4 tourney, with wins over King’s Way Christian and the aforementioned La Center, earning its 25th trip to state.

In their previous visits, the Rockets have emerged as state champs three times — 1987, 1993 and 2012. They were runner-ups in 1983, 2008 and 2011, as well.

Win or lose, Coupeville is guaranteed a second match Friday night, and that foe will either be former Cascade Conference rival King’s, or the hottest team in 1A currently, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

The Knights, a longtime thorn in the side of the Wolves until CHS jumped to the Olympic League in 2014, are 15-2.

King’s only losses came to 2A Archbishop Thomas Murphy, a defeat it avenged late in the season, and fellow 1A power Lynden Christian.

That loss to the Lyncs kept the Knights from claiming a bi-district title, but they rebounded to drill Meridian to earn their 16th trip to the big dance.

Back-to-back state titles in 2008 and 2009 are the benchmark for King’s spiker program.

But while the Knights are undoubtedly top-drawer, they have a huge obstacle in front of them in Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), which hails from Spokane.

After winning three straight state titles from 1999-2001, the Eagles captured their fourth championship in 2016, and are now back to take their 13th crack at the big dance.

Last year’s title win came against Lynden Christian, preventing the Lyncs from winning a third-straight championship.

While plowing through the eight-team 1A Northeast League, which also sends Freeman to state, Lakeside has been absolutely, positively perfect, winning all 48 sets it has played this season.

With Coupeville a tidy 13-3 itself, its four-team bracket carries a combined record of 60-5, a .923 winning percentage which far outweighs the other three groups.

Whidbey Island’s other state-bound team, South Whidbey, is joined by Charles Wright Academy, Chelan and Naches Valley, and their combined .761 winning percentage (54-17) is the lowest of any group of four.

The other two pods are 58-9 (.866) — La Center, Cascade, Kiona-Benton and Overlake — and 53-15 (.779) — Freeman, Lynden Christian, Bellevue Christian and Goldendale.

A breakdown of what’s coming this weekend:

What: 1A state volleyball tourney.

When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10-11

Where: Yakima Valley SunDome (1301 S Fair Ave)

Admission (all day/all tournament):

Adult — $11/$19

Student — $9/$15

Senior Citizen (62+) — $9/$15

Child (under 5) — Free

Team capsules:

Coupeville:

Season record: 13-3

League finish: #1 in 1A Olympic League

Sets W/L: 40-10

Coach: Cory Whitmore

Mascot: Wolves

Bellevue Christian:

Season record: 12-5

League finish: #2 in 1A Nisqually League

Sets W/L: 37-18

Coach: Jenna Bronson

Mascot: Vikings

Cascade:

Season record: 14-1

League finish: #1 in 1A Caribou Trail League

Sets W/L: 42-5

Coach: Marni McMahon

Mascot: Kodiaks

Castle Rock:

Season record: 16-0

League finish: #1 in 1A Trico League

Sets W/L: 48-9

Coach: Jeana Bayes

Mascot: Rockets

Charles Wright Academy:

Season record: 13-4

League finish: #1 in 1A Nisqually League

Sets W/L: 42-18

Coach: Mindy McGrath

Mascot: Tarriers

Chelan:

Season record: 12-4

League finish: #2 in 1A Caribou Trail League

Sets W/L: 39-13

Coach: Jenifer Rainville

Mascot: Mountain Goats

Freeman:

Season record: 14-3

League finish: #2 in 1A Northeast League

Sets W/L: 42-10

Coach: Eva Windlin-Jansen

Mascot: Scotties

Goldendale:

Season record: 12-5

League finish: #3 in 1A SCAC West

Sets W/L: 42-24

Coach: Jodi Bellamy

Mascot: Timberwolves

King’s:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #1 (tie) in 1A/2A Cascade Conference

Sets W/L: 46-10

Coach: Jeff Fransen

Mascot: Knights

Kiona-Benton:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #1 (tie) in 1A SCAC East

Sets W/L: 44-10

Coach: Jolene Calzadillas

Mascot: Bears

La Center:

Season record: 14-5

League finish: #2 in 1A Trico League

Sets W/L: 47-21

Coach: Cymany OBrien

Mascot: Wildcats

Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls):

Season record: 16-0

League finish: #1 in 1A Northeast League

Sets W/L: 48-0

Coach: Kara Moffatt

Mascot: Eagles

Lynden Christian:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #3 in 1A/2A/3A Northwest Conference

Sets W/L: 49-12

Coach: Kim Grycel

Mascot: Lyncs

Naches Valley:

Season record: 14-4

League finish: #1 in 1A SCAC West

Sets W/L: 46-20

Coach: Sherri Partlow

Mascot: Rangers

Overlake:

Season record: 15-2

League finish: #1 in 1A Emerald City League

Sets W/L: 46-11

Coach: Justice Magraw

Mascot: Owls

South Whidbey:

Season record: 15-5

League finish: #3 in 1A/2A Cascade Conference

Sets W/L: 50-15

Coach: Mandy Jones

Mascot: Falcons

Bracket:

http://www.olympicleague.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=2451&sport=10

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Last gridiron hit, last gridiron pic!!

Posted in Football, tagged CHS Wolves, Dane Lucero, David Stern photos, football, Jake Hoagland on November 6, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Dane Lucero (55) stops a Chimacum ball-carrier for little to no gain. (David Stern photos)

Jake Hoagland (8) heads down the line as Wolf QB Hunter Downes awaits the snap.

Downes (3) fights for possession of the ball near the goal line.

The late afternoon sun glints off of a new stadium, which was completed … a couple of days after the last home game.

Hoagland goes in for the wrap-up.

Teo Keilwitz (33) hauls in the ball, while Julian Welling keeps any pesky Cowboys out of his face.

The football season may be done, but there are a few more pics still falling to the gridiron.

As Coupeville closes down its very-active MASH unit and moves on to basketball season, David Stern delivers a few final photos for your perusal.

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Coupeville riders snag awards!!

Posted in Horse sports, tagged awards, CHS Wolves, horse riding, Megan Thorn, Thora Iverson on November 5, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Megan Thorn and her horse, Cheyenne, celebrate a successful equestrian season. (Photo courtesy Gretchen Thorn)

Champions ride from Coupeville.

Horse sports have attracted the interest of numerous CHS athletes in recent years, with Wolf alumni such as Madison Tisa McPhee, Brendan Coleman and Ally Roberts going on to ride competitively in college.

Back on the Island, the current batch of riders continue to put up strong times and performances, and are being honored for their achievements.

Saturday the Whidbey Western Games Association, whose season runs from Mar. through Oct., handed out its year-end awards, with three Wolves bringing home hardware.

Thora Iverson claimed 1st place in the Pee Wee division, while Megan Thorn and Madison Krieg finished 3rd and 7th, respectively, in the Juniors division.

Thorn was also tabbed as a Princess when the association named its 2017 royalty.

While the WWGA season is done, Krieg, Thorn and CHS foreign exchange student Charlotte Nolle will continue to ride as part of a high school equestrian team.

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On to the promised land!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged Bellevue Christian, Cascade Christian, CHS Wolves, districts, revenge, volleyball on November 5, 2017| 2 Comments »

Wolf spikers (l to r) Emma Smith, Ashley Menges and Maya Toomey-Stout are headed to the state tourney. (Kimberly Bepler photo)

Early in the day, Coupeville volleyball moms were laid-back and carefree. Things would get nerve-wracking later. (Konni Smith photo)

Wolf fans dominated the stands in Tacoma. (Bepler photo)

JV players showed up to support their varsity counterparts, and get a first-hand view of what they one day want to accomplish. (Smith photo)

Wolf senior Payton Aparicio celebrates with mom Tami and big sis Sydney. (Bepler photo)

State bound for the first time since 2004. (Photo courtesy Cory Whitmore)

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Two years ago, playing for a different coach, the Coupeville High School volleyball team had its season end early in the district playoffs at the spike-happy hands of Cascade Christian.

Saturday, on the biggest stage they have faced, the six Wolves remaining from that 2015 squad got the big payback.

Knocking off the Cougars in four sets while playing on a neutral court in Tacoma, CHS claimed third-place at the West Central District 3 tourney and punched their ticket to state.

Coming on the heels of a hard-fought four-set loss earlier in the day to Bellevue Christian, the split lifts Coupeville to 13-3, tying the program single-season record for wins.

It also sends the Wolves to Yakima for the first time since 2004.

When Hope Lodell, Payton Aparicio, Kyla Briscoe, Lauren Rose, Katrina McGranahan and Emma Smith — the last of the ’15 team — arrive at the SunDome for the 1A state tourney Nov. 10-11, they will find Castle Rock waiting for them.

Win or lose that first match, they are guaranteed a second match against either King’s or defending state champ Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

But that’s a week away, and Saturday night all second-year Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore could do was smile, smile and smile some more.

The body and brain were exhausted, but the buzz was still pinging a mad path across his nerve endings.

“I’m so proud of this team’s fight and heart throughout the day and especially down the stretch to meet the goal, going to state,” Whitmore said. “I can’t say enough about how hard they have worked, and worked together, to accomplish this milestone.

“So proud of these girls and so happy that they get to see their hard work pay off – such an incredible experience for them and to share that is indescribable.”

Four teams entered the gym at Charles Wright Academy Saturday, with three state slots in play.

The host Tarriers claimed the district title, edging Cascade Christian in five titanic sets before knocking off Bellevue Christian in four.

BC is still the only 1A team Coupeville has lost to this season, but, after being swept in straight sets in a non-conference match early in the year, Saturday’s tourney opener was much more of a pitched battle.

The Vikings slipped away with a 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23 win, but had to scrap for every point.

“I thought that we fought incredibly hard and showed a lot of heart when playing them,” Whitmore said. “They have two very strong hitters in the middle and our plan was to keep their attacks low and we did that for the most part.

“We served tough and at time too tough, sending the ball out more often than usual, but when our serving would get consistent, we would go on mini-scoring runs by staying aggressive with our swings and scrambling on defense.”

Sophomore sensation Maya Toomey-Stout and seasoned senior Aparicio paced Coupeville at the service line, each ripping four aces.

McGranahan and Ashley Menges backed them up, lacing three straight-up winners apiece.

When the ball was in play, big-hitting Mikayla Elfrank was the final word, cranking out seven kills to lead a balanced attack.

McGranahan (6), Aparicio (6), Briscoe (4) and Smith (4) all chipped in, as Menges and Rose combined to set up their teammates while sharing time at setter.

When the ball hit the floor, Lodell and Aparicio went low to scrape it back up, each wracking up 12 digs apiece.

While taking a second loss to Bellevue could have been a crippler, the Wolves shrugged it off impressively, returning to the same court fired-up two hours later.

“I was very impressed with this group’s ability to mentally recover from a loss to be in a loser-out situation game,” Whitmore said. “It’s a testament to our experience with a large group having been in that very situation a year before to turn around and come ready to fight for that last spot to state.”

Knowing Cascade Christian was aggressive, the Wolves matched their attack, taking chances and swinging for big play after big play.

While its service game dipped a bit in the second match, Coupeville made up for it with strong play at the net and a refusal to bend to a private school playing much closer to home.

With a large contingent of Cow Town fans making a considerable amount of noise, the Wolves took the opening set 27-25, then slipped a bit, dropping set two 25-20.

Not ruffled in the least, CHS — maybe channeling a need for revenge, maybe not — closed things out 25-19, 25-22.

Lodell was “all over the court,” racking up 15 of her team’s 55 digs, while Rose had four aces and eight digs and McGranahan (10 kills) and Smith (8) were a one-two hitting machine.

Aparicio gave her team a bit of everything, collecting 11 digs, two aces and seven kills, including the one that sent Coupeville to state.

The Wolves suited up 12 players Saturday, with Scout Smith, Chelsea Prescott and Emma Mathusek also in uniform. Senior Allison Wenzel was at a prestigious music performance, but will return for state.

Whether they were the six getting a bit of revenge for themselves and 2015 coaches Breanne Smedley and Heidi Wyman, or part of the new wave of players prospering under Whitmore, Chris Smith and Ashley Herndon, every Wolf shares one trait today.

They’re scrappers, they’re winners, and they’re Yakima bound.

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Seasons change, war still rages!!

Posted in standings, tagged 1A Olympic League, CHS Wolves, football, Soccer, tennis, volleyball on November 4, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Mason Grove fires up a serve for a Wolf tennis squad which came within a whisker of winning a third-straight league title. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Allison Wenzel and Hope Lodell (1) are part of a deep senior class which carried the CHS spikers to back-to-back league crowns.

Coupeville’s football season started strongly, but an astonishing run of injuries made life difficult in the second half of the season.

Lauren Bayne’s fan club saw her help lead the Wolf soccer squad to a program record-tying eight wins.

Surprises, until the end.

Capping the final day of regular-season play for fall sports, Chimacum football shocked Klahowya 17-14 in overtime Friday night.

The first time the Cowboys have beaten the Eagles on the gridiron since the 1A Olympic League formed in 2014, it gave Chimacum’s oldest players a great parting gift on their Senior Night.

Preventing Klahowya from notching another league win also aids Coupeville, allowing the Wolves to stay right on the heels of the Eagles for varsity wins spread across four fall sports.

With conference play complete in girls soccer, volleyball, boys tennis and football, KSS holds a 21-20 edge over CHS as we exit the fall and head for the basketball court.

Port Townsend, with seven wins, and Chimacum, with five, are lagging way back in the hinterlands at the moment.

Coupeville, which captured the varsity wins crown in 2016-2017, after two years of narrowly being nipped by Klahowya, is riding high thanks to its female athletes.

An undefeated, league-title winning volleyball squad and a solid, second-place soccer unit have compensated for a football team which was ripped asunder by a historic run of injuries.

With two Olympic League teams still active in the postseason (Coupeville volleyball and Klahowya soccer are state-bound), standings through Nov. 5:

Olympic/Nisqually League football:

School	League	Overall
Cascade Christian	7-0	9-1
Charles Wright	6-1	8-2
Bellevue Christian	4-3	4-6
Klahowya	3-4	3-7
Port Townsend	3-4	3-7
Chimacum	2-5	4-6
Vashon Island	2-5	2-8
COUPEVILLE	1-6	3-7