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Posts Tagged ‘CHS Wolves’

Tick-tock, almost time to rock

Posted in Football, tagged August, Bobby Carr, CHS Wolves, countdown, first practice, football on August 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“I’m (almost) back, baby!” (Bailey Thule photo)

The calendar rolls once more, and the countdown begins.

As of today — August 1, 2024 — there are 20 days left until Coupeville High School football begins fall practices.

The Wolf gridiron team hits the field Wednesday, Aug. 21, with soccer, volleyball, and cross country athletes making their returns on the following Monday — Aug. 26.

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“Thank you for the time and dedication!”

Posted in Softball, tagged Capri Anter, CHS Wolves, Haylee Armstrong, Kevin McGranahan, Softball on July 31, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville softball sluggers Capri Anter (left) and Haylee Armstrong, ready for another balmy “spring” on the prairie. (Michelle Armstrong photo)

“I just need to believe in myself like Coach Kevin believed in me.”

Coupeville cousins Capri Anter and Haylee Armstrong have three years left to collect highlights as Wolf multi-sport stars.

But while CHS softball coach Kevin McGranahan won’t be around in person to continue to help guide them, his impact will reverberate throughout their prep careers.

Which is why the duo reached out Tuesday with their thoughts on the diamond guru, who has resigned after nine seasons and is moving across the country to be closer to family.

“I first met Coach Kevin when I was in my last year of little league,” Armstrong said.

“I remember just playing the game of ball and hearing his deep loud voice and at first, I was scared for high school softball,” she added with a laugh.

For Anter, her first meeting came when she debuted with the high school softball program two years ago as an 8th grader.

McGranahan can cut an imposing figure, but she soon saw a different side of the coach.

“My best memory from playing with Coach Kevin is when I would swing at a high or low ball and realized I shouldn’t have done that,” Anter said.

“One time, I had two strikes on me and then got a triple after that, and when I reached third base, he laughed at me and either him or I said that made up swinging for that ball.”

McGranahan’s work with the duo has benefited them both, and the cousins are at the forefront of a team which can return everyone from a squad which went 14-5 during their freshman season this past spring.

“He helped make me a better player by showing me what true sportsmanship is,” Anter said. “Helping me with my hitting form, and how to play right field.

“With his help, I now know what to do and can help better myself,” she added.

“And since I know what I need to work on, I can help some of my teammates on my travel ball team or people that would also be doing right field if they don’t already know what to do.”

Armstrong agrees, reflecting on how McGranahan is both a stern taskmaster at times, but also able to not takes things deadly serious.

“Coach Kevin made me a better ball player by shaping me into a utility player with a good attitude,” the Wolf dangerous leadoff hitter said.

“Some people may think Coach Kevin is just some old, retired dude who is loud, but he’s actually really funny,” Armstrong added.

“At practice and games, he’s always making jokes about us. ‘Capri and her two left feet’.”

Her cousin, a sweet-swinging slugger who showed great growth this spring, agrees.

“I feel like he always has a smile on his face, even if we have a bad game, bad practice, or even if he’s having a bad day,” Anter said.

“I also know that he is super competitive, but also has good sportsmanship.”

While a new coach will be in place when next spring rolls around, the diamond duo say McGranahan’s work will be appreciated for years to come.

“I think his lasting impact on the CHS softball program will be how caring he was for the team,” Anter said. “And no matter what, he always believed in us, even if we were having a bad day.

“I will say how I thought I was a nobody on the team or that I wasn’t good enough to play with everyone else, but he put me in right field, and believed I could take over,” she added.

“Sure enough after some practice, I was able to do it, and after time I have gotten so much better and faster, and it’s all thanks to Coach Kevin for believing in me.

“I now believe that I can do anything.”

Armstrong praised McGranahan for “the fundraisers and legacy he left behind,” and, looking ahead to her still far off Senior Night, she knows she will include him in her farewell thoughts.

“I think three years from now I’m gonna thank Coach Kevin for having faith in me and playing me in only my 8th grade year,” she said.

“I’m so thankful for the two years I had with him as a coach and wish he was staying longer, but even the legend himself said he’ll forever be a part of the Wolfpack.

“Coach Kevin, if you’re reading this, thank you for the time and dedication you put into me and our program.”

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Big impact, big legacy

Posted in Hall o' Fame, Softball, tagged CHS Wolves, Hall of Fame, Kevin McGranahan, Softball, US Navy on July 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Kevin McGranahan, softball guru. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

No fear.

During his nine years at the helm of the Coupeville High School softball program, Kevin McGranahan, and his teams, never backed down from a challenge.

Ever.

The Wolf sluggers won a lot of games, collected some nice hardware, and built a solid reputation for not only excelling on the field, in the classroom, and in the community, but for how they did it.

When McGranahan took over the program in 2016, the Navy veteran was employed at a school playing in the 1A classification.

Midway through his tenure, the Wolves returned to their old stomping grounds in 2B, reflective of the size of the student body, not of the heart displayed by those teenagers.

McGranahan proved to be a master of strategy, and a man who nimbly walked the line between having his team beat its rivals, while never unnecessarily embarrassing inferior, or rebuilding programs.

He used his whole bench whenever possible, made sure that the last girl on the roster saw field time in real game action, and that every Wolf felt valued.

But he also challenged his players, and they grew because of it.

During McGranahan’s time sitting on the bucket at the edge of the dugout, Coupeville challenged bigger schools, and legacy programs whenever possible.

The Wolves always played to win, but the value of a hard-fought non-conference loss against an Onalaska, or a Forks, or a Lynden Christian, was worth its own weight in gold.

Having a heart-to-heart with Jae LeVine. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

So, Coupeville played 3A Oak Harbor, on its field, and beat the Wildcats as Veronica Crownover’s homer sailed high over the fence.

And yes, the big city diamond dandies haven’t played CHS again since that moment — but that’s on them, and not McGranahan, who always was ready for a rematch.

His nine-year run appears to have come to an end with his recent resignation and a planned move across the country so he and wife Justine can be closer to family.

But as he departs, he leaves the Wolf softball program in a really solid position.

Every player from the team that went 14-5 this spring can return next year, but it’s more than that.

McGranahan followed a divisive coach who lasted almost a full season and had no interest in working with the media — literally running away from Jim Waller and myself after one game rather than answer a question.

From day one, the former little league coach turned high school guru brought a different energy to the program, recalling previous highlights like David and Amy King and Jackie Saia.

He’s been open, willing to speak truth, and always accommodating.

One of the best for sending info from the road, and a straight shooter in person, McGranahan is a personal favorite of mine.

Directing traffic on the basepaths. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

On the field, his success is undeniable.

His teams crafted a 111-49 record, with seven consecutive winning seasons after the 2016 team went 9-11.

Having taken the Wolves to the 1A state tourney in 2019 — where they fought valiantly against eventual champ Montesano, thrashed Deer Park, and came within a play of upending Cle Elum — McGranahan and his girls were shafted by the pandemic.

A team primed to make a return run at big dance glory never got to play a game in spring 2020, but the Wolf coach was instrumental in not letting real world disappointment crush his program.

Coupeville stormed back to go 12-0 in a shortened 2021 season which marked the school’s return to 2B and is 56-14 across the last four seasons.

Softball has been one of the most successful Wolf sports programs over the years, first in slow-pitch, then in its current incarnation as a fast-pitch endeavor.

McGranahan built on what was crafted by Randy Dickson, the Kings, Saia, and others, and his successor will be walking into a prime opportunity.

Coupeville softball players take the field expecting to win, prepared to compete, and unwilling to back down from anyone, regardless of the name on the other uniform, or what future D-1 college player may be chucking fastballs from the pitcher’s circle.

As he and Justine depart, we take a moment to hail Kevin McGranahan for what he accomplished, both in terms of the win-loss record, and in terms of building a respected program.

So, let’s swing open the doors to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, and add him to the pantheon.

After this, while he’ll reside on the other side of the USA, he’ll always be a Wolf, living large up on top of the blog under the Legends tab.

His impact will be remembered and appreciated.

One team, one dream. (Kim Brotemarkle photo)

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Hardball heroes a howlin’ success

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, Camden Glover, Chase Anderson, CHS Wolves, Landon Roberts, tourney title on July 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Camden Glover celebrates a tourney title with mom. (Photo courtesy Stevie Glover)

You can disguise the fact they’re Wolves, but not that they’re winners.

Coupeville High School baseball stars Landon Roberts, Camden Glover, and Chase Anderson have spent the summer wearing Oak Harbor colors for travel ball.

Along the way, the trio and their teammates have played in five tournaments, and capped things this weekend by sweeping four games in Ellensburg to capture a tourney title in the Central Washington Bullpen Series.

The Wildcats (and their Wolf compatriots) won 10-9, 13-3, 8-0, and 11-10 across two days of play to earn the crown.

Wolves in disguise (l to r) Landon Roberts, Glover, and Chase Anderson get a close-up with coach Ryan Lange. (Photo courtesy Jon Roberts)

Roberts, who will be a CHS senior, patrolled right field while also pitching in two games.

Meanwhile, Glover held down third base (and pitched out of the bullpen) while Anderson pulled off his best Edgar Martinez tribute as a hard-hitting DH.

The younger Wolf duo begin their junior years this fall in Coupeville.