CHS sophomore Danny Conlisk will run cross country this fall, training and traveling with South Whidbey while competing as a Wolf. (John Fisken photo)
Six years ago Tyler King was the fastest cross country runner among all 1A athletes in Washington state.
When he ran away with a state championship in 2010, kicking off his senior year at Coupeville High School, he joined Natasha Bamberger atop the podium, 25 years after she won the girls title in 1985.
But, no Wolf has competed in cross country since King’s title run.
And, Coupeville didn’t actually have a team in 2010, with the program having been shut down years earlier.
King traveled and trained with Oak Harbor, but competed as a (very successful) one-man Wolf squad.
That followed on the heels of his first three years, when he actually competed under Oak Harbor’s banner and went to state at the 4A level each season.
The agreement between the two schools changed before King’s senior campaign, and then was dropped after OHHS reverted to being a 3A school.
In recent years, CHS athletes have been able to travel and train with fellow 1A school South Whidbey, but compete as Wolves, if Coupeville doesn’t offer their sport.
The most obvious case was Austin and Christine Fields, who qualified for state in golf all four years they each competed.
Now, at least one Wolf, and possibly as many as four, are following in King’s huge footprints.
Coupeville sophomore Danny Conlisk, who went to state in the 800 and 4 x 400 as a freshman, is signed up and will kickoff cross country practice at 12:01 AM Monday morning at Camp Casey with South Whidbey.
Three other Wolf track stars — Abby Parker, Lauren Bayne and Henry Wynn — have expressed interest in cross country, and may join Conlisk in the coming days.
If they do, they will compete alongside the Falcons in the regular season, then split off when the postseason arrives.
South Whidbey competes in the 1A/2A Cascade Conference, while Coupeville runners will line up opposite their counterparts in the 1A Olympic League to start off any postseason run.
Conlisk’s commitment, and the possibility of other Wolves being interested, has revived interest in CHS re-starting its own cross country program.
Coupeville teams finished in the Top 10 at state five times between 1975-1982.
To bring the sport back to CHS would take some work, however.
“We would have to do a cost breakdown for coaching, bus, interest (other than four kids) etc.,” said CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith. “We would also have to figure out a home course, which are generally on golf courses or some semblance of trails that are maintained.
“So not much but something worth looking into.”
Until then Conlisk (and possible company) will simply go rogue like King before them.
Coupeville Sports 