Adeline Maynes (left) and Mary Western were high school softball sensations while still attending middle school classes. (Bailey Thule photo)
Claim your destiny, young guns.
With the start of a new school year rumbling into sight, thoughts turn to the first days of practice for fall sports.
Coupeville High School offers volleyball, cross country, cheer, football, boys’ and girls’ soccer, and boys’ tennis — if enough athletes turn out.
In the case of soccer and tennis, participation numbers are a concern, and coaches and admins are pushing a push on getting enough players to be able to offer full programs.
Last year low numbers among female booters caused the school’s soccer programs to be compressed into one co-ed one, as the Northwest 2B/1B League allows girls to play on boys’ pitch teams if their school can’t field a full girls program.
That snapped a 20-year-plus run of Wolf girls’ soccer teams at CHS, and coach Kimberly Kisch and Athletic Director Brad Sherman are hopeful to revive the girls’ team as its own thing this time around.
Coupeville boys’ soccer coach Robert Wood is putting his own push on when it comes to building a solid roster and would be thrilled to see a packed field on day #1 of practice, which is set for August 26.
With boys’ tennis, low numbers put the program on hiatus several seasons back, but new coaches Tim Stelling and Starla Seal would like to revive the net squad.
With CHS boasting brand new tennis courts which were just finished, it would be a perfect way to kick things off without having to wait until the Wolf girls take the court next spring.
One thing to keep in mind is that Coupeville, as a 2B school, can use 8th graders on high school teams — varsity or JV — where there is a legitimate need.
So, while middle school students have their own volleyball and cross country programs — and the state doesn’t allow 8th graders to play high school football — you can attend CMS yet play soccer or tennis for CHS this fall.
Multiple Wolves have taken advantage of that recently in sports such as girls’ tennis, softball, baseball, and girls’ basketball.
That includes Tenley Stuurmans, who advanced to the state tourney in tennis this past spring as just an 8th grader.
