
Andrew Aparicio and other Coupeville netters won’t play in April and May, as planned, after Friday Harbor cancelled all fall sports. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
One rival steps down, and Coupeville High School loses 12 games and matches off its schedule.
Due to what the San Juan Islander is terming a “significant surge in positive COVID cases in the San Juan Island community,” Friday Harbor High School will not play fall sports, which begin this week.
That move affects four Coupeville teams, with boys tennis being hurt the most.
Friday Harbor is the only other Northwest 2B/1B League school to play the net game, so Coupeville’s entire six-match schedule for this pandemic-shortened season is lost.
That sends the Wolf netters to the sideline, though they can join cross country or football.
Coupeville’s volleyball, football, and girls soccer squads are also affected by the reduction in foes.
The loss of Friday Harbor cuts Coupeville’s soccer schedule from nine to six games, trims volleyball’s campaign from 12 matches to 10, and slashes football from four games to three.
Soccer loses road games April 9 and May 1, and a home tilt April 20, while volleyball was scheduled to host Friday Harbor April 10, then travel April 24.
CHS football is set to open at home against La Conner this Saturday, April 10.
With Friday Harbor’s departure, the Wolf gridiron squad will then sit until April 30, when they travel to La Conner for a rematch. They close their season May 8 at home against Concrete.
With NWL schools only playing league foes during the 2020-2021 school year, it’s unlikely any of the cancelled games or matches will be replaced.
And before you ask, Coupeville can’t call up its Whidbey neighbors, as tempting as that would normally be.
The leagues which Oak Harbor and South Whidbey are currently in played fall sports first, and are now playing spring sports.
CHS and the NWL opted to open with spring sports — all played outdoors — as prep sports teams tentatively returned from a year-plus absence.
To read more about the surge in cases on Friday Harbor, pop over to:
ALERT: Surge in cases on San Juan Island; here’s what to do (sanjuanislander.com)