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Posts Tagged ‘CMS Wolves’

Nets open for business

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , , on November 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Davin Houston (right) and Coupeville Middle School basketball kicked off a new season Thursday at Langley. (Alia Houston photo)

The shoes are squeaking on the hardwood once more.

Basketball is back in action, with the Coupeville Middle School boys’ hoops stars first to take the floor in a competitive game.

Facing off with next-door neighbor South Whidbey down in Langley Thursday, the Wolves held their own, coming within a bucket or two of winning two of three.

While the Cougars ultimately swept all three games, it was a strong start for a CMS program featuring a considerable chunk of players who are fairly new to the sport.

The Wolves put 12 players into the scoring column on opening day.

Coupeville returns home for its next three games, hosting Lakewood (Nov. 22), Sultan (Nov. 29), and King’s (Dec. 1) as the eight-game schedule begins to unfold.

How Thursday went down:

 

Level 1:

The day’s most-competitive rumble, as South Whidbey surged, Coupeville rallied, then the Cougars held off the Wolves at the end for a 35-31 win.

A 12-2 run by the hosts stung CMS, as it fell behind 21-9 at the half.

The second half was a different story, however, with Coupeville going on a 13-4 tear in the third quarter before getting all the way back to knot things up at 27-27 midway through the final frame.

South Whidbey closed the game strongly, getting key buckets down the stretch, but the scrappiness shown by the Wolves bodes well for the future.

Jayden McManus banged home 10 points to lead Coupeville, while Carson Grove sank a pair of three-balls en route to an eight-point performance.

Chayse Van Velkinburgh, the lone 6th grader on the varsity, chipped in with five, while Davin Houston (3), Riley Lawless (3), and Sage Arends (2) also scored.

Coupeville’s first unit also featured appearances by Dylan Robinett, Joshua Stockdale, and Nic Laska.

Chayse Van Velkinburgh fires off a free throw. (Dustin Van Velkinburgh photo)

 

Level 2:

A slow start doomed Coupeville, as an 18-1 deficit after one quarter of play morphed into a 39-5 loss.

CMS clamped down on defense after that, limiting its hosts to just four points in the second quarter.

Liam Lawson and Nathan Niewald paced the Wolves, each dropping in a bucket, while Robinett rippled the nets on a free throw.

Wyatt Fitch-Marron, Charles Hart, Hunter Atteberry, and Brantley Campbell also saw floor time for CMS.

 

Level 3:

Take away the second quarter and Coupeville wins this one.

The Wolves held South Whidbey to just four points in every other quarter, but an 8-0 deficit in frame #2 was the difference in a 20-16 loss.

Down 12-2 at the half, CMS rallied to win the second half to a tune of 14-8, with Cyrus Sparacio going off for all of his team-high eight points in the fourth quarter.

Jacob Barajas and Campbell knocked down four points apiece in support, while Johnathan Jacobsen, Zach Blitch, Jacob Meador, Khanor Jump, Kenneth Jacobsen, and Atteberry rounded out the roster.

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Hardwood heroes prep for opening tip

Posted in Boys Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on November 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Carson Grove slaps home a shot last winter. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Interest in basketball is booming.

With 27 players currently on the roster, Coupeville Middle School plans to play three boys hoops games each time out this season, instead of the original two.

Northshore Christian Academy is the lone Cascade League School which only goes two teams deep, and that matchup is a road one, meaning Wolf fans can brace for long nights when their guys are playing at home.

The season kicks off Thursday, November 17 with a trip to Langley, followed by three straight home clashes against Lakewood, Sultan, and King’s.

Coupeville’s boys, under the guidance of coaches Jon Roberts and Craig Anderson, play an eight-game schedule.

Things wrap up Dec. 14, with the CMS girls taking control of the court in the new year.

The roster as it sits today, six days out from the opening tip:

 

8th grade:

Sage Arends
Zachary Blitch
Charles Hart
Davin Houston
Kenneth Jacobsen
Riley Lawless
Jayden McManus
Mahkai Myles
Dylan Robinett
Joshua Stockdale

 

7th grade:

Jacob Barajas
Wyatt Fitch-Marron
Carson Grove
Johnathan Jacobsen
Khanor Jump
Dillin Kestner
Nicholas Laska
Roger Merino-Martinez
Nathan Niewald
Max Ohme

 

6th grade:

Hunter Atteberry
Brantley Campbell
Jeremiah Crusoe
Liam Lawson
Jacob Meador
Cyrus Sparacio
Chayse Van Velkinburgh

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“We ask for prayers and good thoughts”

Posted in Not sports? Tough!, tagged , , , , on November 8, 2022| 2 Comments »

Coupeville volleyball coach Raven Vick and boyfriend Phillip Galvan enjoy a moment together. (Photos courtesy Vick)

It was a bittersweet homecoming.

Former Coupeville High School volleyball ace Raven Vick returned to the courts of her youth this fall, joining Cris Matochi in coaching the Wolf middle school spiker squads.

Being active in the same gym where she once played alongside twin sister Willow, helping a new generation of young women embrace a sport she loves, was fulfilling and gave her momentary respite from the real world.

What very few have known during this time is the journey Raven and her boyfriend of a year, Phillip Galvan, have been on.

The couple met while students at Seattle Pacific University, brought together initially by their work as resident advisors.

Raven, who was focusing on Communications and Women’s Studies, was wrapping up her degree.

Meanwhile, Phillip, whose family lives in Colorado, was in his third year of Mechanical Engineering.

The duo became an official couple Nov. 19, 2021, only to have their world upended several months later.

Phillip was diagnosed this past March with acute myeloid leukemia, an especially aggressive form of blood cancer.

Standing strong, together.

Phillip returned to Colorado for treatment, with Raven joining him there after her graduation from SPU in June.

In August, Phillip celebrated his 21st birthday and received a bone marrow transplant from his sister, Allie, which sent him into remission for two months.

Raven returned to Coupeville at the end of the summer, applying for the middle school coaching position as a way to help “clear my head and readjust to life at home.”

She chose to keep her boyfriend’s cancer fight largely private during the season but is publicly acknowledging it now as Phillip has recently relapsed.

“It was caught quickly,” Raven said. “So, we are hoping for this treatment to get him right back into remission.”

With the CMS volleyball season done, she plans to return to Colorado in the next few weeks to spend time with Phillip as he continues his fight.

As they move forward, the duo draw solace from their religious faith, and the emotional support of their many supporters.

Raven’s request is simple and heartfelt.

“We just ask for all of the prayers and good thoughts for him and his family.”

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CMS spikers earn awards

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on October 28, 2022| Leave a Comment »

8th grader Haylee Armstrong received two awards at Thursday’s season-ending CMS volleyball awards shindig. (Michelle Armstrong photo)

The volleyballs have been put away, the jerseys returned, and the awards handed out.

The Coupeville Middle School spikers officially wrapped a successful season Thursday, with coaches Cris Matochi and Raven Vick honoring their players.

 

MVP:

Haylee Armstrong (Varsity)
KeeArya Brown (JV)
Willow Leedy-Bonifas (JV)
Tenley Stuurmans (Varsity)

 

Most Improved:

Lexis Drake (Varsity)
Olivia Martin (JV)

 

Wolf Spirit Award:

Capri Anter (Varsity)
Isabella Bowder (JV)
Adeline Maynes (Varsity)

 

Most Inspirational Leader:

Haylee Armstrong

 

Participation Certificates:

Capri Anter
Haylee Armstrong
Cheyanne Atteberry
Isabella Bowder
KeeArya Brown
Isabella de Souza
Lexis Drake
Alexis Hewitt
Emma Leavitt
Willow Leedy-Bonifas
Olivia Martin
Adeline Maynes
Myra McDonald
Alyssa McGee
Rhylin Price
Tenley Stuurmans

Emma Leavitt, already a top server as a mere 6th grader, will be back. (Leann Leavitt photo)

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CMS spikers play furious finale

Posted in Middle School, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on October 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Capri Anter, seen last season, is off to play high school volleyball next year. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They played their strongest in the finale.

Toss away the scores, and the Coupeville Middle School spikers peaked perfectly Wednesday in Langley, just the way coaches Cris Matochi and Raven Vick hoped.

“I believe this is by far the best volleyball, but the scores didn’t reflect that today,” Matochi said. “I was pleased that we played good volleyball, not desperate volleyball.”

How the day unfolded:

 

Varsity:

The second clash between next-door neighbors in three days went to the host team, with the Cougars nipping Coupeville 25-23, 26-24, 15-11 in a reversal of Monday’s Wolf win.

The loss drops CMS to 4-4 heading into the awards banquet.

Win or lose, Matochi liked what he saw from the girls on the floor.

“We read the balls, not reacted to the balls, which was great,” he said. “I was excited that the girls who came in, did their roles and played their best.

“This was the first time we ran a full new rotation, learning defense and hitting systems that were not executed before,” Matochi added.

“I think that the biggest opponent that we had today was our own minds, but I’m excited to see how today’s matches will elevate the girls game next year.”

Using a mix of full-time varsity spikers and swing players who got their first taste of the high life in the final week, the Wolves jelled and flourished.

“It was great to see how Willow (Leedy-Bonifas) reset from the JV to play on varsity,” Matochi said.

“Haylee (Armstrong’s) serves changed the game. She just chipped and chipped away,” he added. “Rhylin (Price) took a bigger role with serve receive and was a main player in our lineup.

“Capri (Anter) being consistent tonight was such a plus. As well as Lexis (Drake) was able to recover quickly and finish on a good note, which is something we love to see.”

Both matches against their archrivals were tense, hard-fought affairs, giving the Wolves a taste of battles to come.

“We walked in the gym knowing it would be a tough match and the girls ended up letting the pressure overcome their skills,” Matochi said. “Though we are both confident that this will make them better next year.

“The coaches would like to thank the players who are moving on to high school next year and we want to celebrate their accomplishments,” he added.

“They built up our team and were a great asset and we are excited to see where they go next year.”

 

JV:

Coupeville’s second squad battled to the end in a 25-23, 25-18, 15-8 loss, leaving its final record at 1-7.

“I’m incredibly impressed with how well we played and had good energy for the most part throughout the whole game,” Raven Vick said.

The former Wolf praised the players who grew as the season progressed.

“Olivia (Martin) did well with holding her platform and she was highly successful with that,” Vick said. “This was the best Alyssa (McGee) played this season and she got a few playable balls up.

“Izzy (Bowder) worked really hard on passing today, too. Everyone chipped in with serving, but we lacked consistency.”

CMS 6th grader Emma Leavitt opened the match with a six-point run at the service stripe, with her reign of terror only ending when the ref belatedly remembered the five-serve limit in middle school volleyball.

“Tonight, Emma did well with serving and consistently put a run in at the line,” Vick said. “KeeAyra (Brown) did well with passing and had one incredible save where she got it back over the net when no one else thought it was going to happen.

“Cheyanne (Atteberry) had a couple of good passes, which helped out the team.”

The serene nature and competitive fire of one Wolf player made a particular impression as the season wrapped.

“Willow (Leedy-Bonifas) was a calm fire on the court,” Vick said. “Always encouraging her team while staying her fairly quiet self.

“She has a way of keeping the court humming along without most people in the stands noticing,” she added.

“Willow is a quiet leader, and we as coaches are so excited to see how much she stepped up this season.”

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