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Posts Tagged ‘districts’

Wolf swimmers go the extra mile (or ten)

Posted in Swim, tagged , , , , on November 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville’s two-woman pool crew are Liliana Newberg (left) and Alexandra Lo. (Photo courtesy John Lo)

Now they just need their own pool.

Two Coupeville High School students made the trek North day in and day out this fall to compete as swimmers.

With no pool program at their own 2B school, Alexandra Lo and Liliana Newberg trained and traveled with 3A Oak Harbor High School before splitting with the Wildcats for the postseason.

Competing in Anacortes last weekend at the 1A/2A District 1 meet, the Wolf duo put a strong cap on their campaign.

Lo, who is in her second season as a CHS swimmer, earned eighth place finishes in the finals of both the 200 free and 500 free, while Newberg set PRs in the prelims in both the 100 free and 100 breaststroke.

Having doubled the number of female Wolf swimmers taking advantage of the co-op — CHS senior splasher Finn Price hooks up with Kamiak each winter — those involved would love to see the roster grow.

“Hoping to build more interest in swimmers for next season so that we could add to our team,” said John Lo, father of Alexandra.

“You don’t have to be an expert swimmer; beginners are very welcome!”

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Wolf runners punch state tickets

Posted in Cross Country, tagged , , , , on November 1, 2025| 1 Comment »

CHS cross country coach Elizabeth Bitting is all smiles after both her boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for state. (Photos courtesy Amber Wyman and Elizabeth Bitting)

They were built for the moment.

Overcoming brutal weather conditions Saturday in Pierce County, Coupeville High School cross country runners shone brightly at the district meet, punching their ticket to the state championships.

Competing in the Westside Classic at University Place, the Wolf boys beat the field in the 2B clash, claiming the program’s first district team title since 1977.

Back then, all-timers like Jeff Fielding, Don Sherman, and Chris Chan were flying down the trail for CHS.

This time around, seven years after the school’s cross country program was revived after a two-decade-plus shutdown, the roster includes two freshmen, two sophomores, a junior, and two seniors.

League and now district champs.

Placing four runners in the top six, the Coupeville boys held off archrival Mount Vernon Christian 36-43 to claim the crown, with Orcas Island (70) and Friday Harbor (78) rounding out the top four.

CHS and MVC advance to state, set for next Saturday, Nov. 8 in Pasco, as complete teams.

They’re headed to Pasco.

On the girls’ side of things, 2B and 1B schools competed together, with the top four teams advancing.

The Wolves, led by sophomore Mikayla Wagner’s 8th place performance, claimed the final team slot to state, finishing fourth with 91 points, edging out Tacoma’s Covenant High School (115).

Pope John Paul II (24), MVC (67), and Friday Harbor (84) will join the Wolves in Pasco.

Saturday’s meet sent runners off across a 5,000-meter course, where Mother Nature promptly unloaded on them.

And it wasn’t just the competitors, as Wolf supporters had to wage war to keep the team’s tent from flying off and never being seen again.

Wolf fans 1, Mother Nature 0.

“Imagine the worst possible conditions for running a race,” said CHS coach Elizabeth Bitting with a laugh.

“We had gale force winds, rain, light at times, heavy at times, soggy, muddy, sponge like grass, water everywhere … the worst, yet the perfect conditions for a great cross country district race!!!”

The Wolves came prepared for the challenge.

“Spikes were a MUST in this race and thankfully they all wore them,” Bitting said. “We saw a few (runners) go down … but none of ours.”

Along with having the proper gear, having a strong mindset helped, as well.

Ten of the 12 Wolves running Saturday also competed in the annual Ragnar run this summer, and the entire crew has been diligent about putting in the work necessary to grow both as individuals and as a program.

“I believe last week (at the league meet), and today’s showing are a reflection of their summer miles,” Bitting said. “I love it when they buy into it!!”

Allie Powers outraces the weather.

 

Saturday results:

 

GIRLS:

Mikayla Wagner (8th) 23:19.0
Ivy Rudat (18th) 24:31.4
Aleksia Jump (19th) 24:33.9
Allie Powers (25th) 25:18.3
Devon Wyman (27th) 25:29.1

 

BOYS:

George Spear (2nd) 18:33.0
Ezekiel Allen (3rd) 18:57.3
Cyrus Sparacio (5th) 19:09.8
Kenneth Jacobsen (6th) 19:13.6
Ossian Merkel (20th) 20:56.7
Isaiah Allen (21st) 21:00.9
Beckett Green (22nd) 21:15.3

Devon Wyman powers to the finish line.

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CHS track sending baker’s dozen to state

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on May 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Carson Field won three district titles Saturday, propelling him to a final run at the 2B state meet in two weeks. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“What a day!”

Coupeville was the epicenter for track and field action Saturday, with the Wolves hosting the District 1 Championships, while delivering a dazzling performance for their home fans.

The CHS boys claimed a team title, with the girls’ squad finishing 3rd, while 13 athletes in red and black punched their ticket to the 2B state meet.

Coupeville coaches Bob Martin and Elizabeth Bitting will travel with their stars to Yakima for that event, slated to go down May 29-31 at Zaepfel Stadium at Eisenhower High School.

Saturday’s district meet, which was a 2-in-1 affair with both 1B and 2B teams vying, featured 13 schools.

In the 2B battle, Coupeville’s boys romped to the team title, racking up 145 points, with Mount Vernon Christian second with 72.

Friday Harbor (66), Orcas Island (58), and La Conner (46) rounded out the field.

Coupeville’s 4 x 400 relay team was the fastest in town. (Jaime Burrows photo)

On the girl’s side, MVC (153) was top dog, with La Conner (89), Coupeville (62.5), Friday Harbor (49.5), and Orcas Island (21) chasing the Hurricanes.

Providence Classical Christian and Lopez Island won 1B girls and boys team titles in eight-school battles.

For 2B competitors such as Coupeville, districts was the last stop before state.

Earn a top two finish Saturday, and you’re in. Hit the line in third, you’re close, but no cigar.

Katie Marti (Shot Put, Discus, Javelin) and Carson Field (800, 1600, 3200) paced the Wolves, each winning three titles.

Cael Wilson, Preston Epp, and Chase Anderson also qualified for state in three events, with Lyla Stuurmans earning her invitation in two.

Blake Burrows, Malachi Somes, George Spear, Wyatt Fitch-Marron, Matthew Ward, Marquette Cunningham, and Davin Houston round out Coupeville’s state qualifiers.

With both of the boys’ relay teams advancing, Wolf coaches will pick alternates for those squads, which may bump the total higher.

Of the 13 CHS stars scheduled to make the trip, two have previously collected state meet medals while at the big dance.

Seniors Lyla Stuurmans and Cael Wilson have three and two, respectively.

Overall, 90 Wolves have brought home a medal since the modern era of state track and field meets began in 1964.

Matthew Ward will cap his senior season with a trip to state to compete in the triple jump. (Jandellyn Ward photo)

Saturday’s meet dodged a forecast calling for high winds and heavy rain, with teams dealing with just a few splatters of liquid sunshine and a couple of moderate prairie breezes.

Whether they advanced to state, or wrapped their season Saturday, each Wolf in action got a shout-out from their coaches.

“The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as our athletes gave it everything they had,” Bob Martin said.

“We’re incredibly proud of every athlete. The dedication and heart shown today was inspiring.”

Martin and Bitting also praised the contributions of their assistant coaches, and the combined forces of Wolf Nation which came together to pull off a successful big-time meet.

“A huge thank you to our incredible community of volunteers who helped create a seamless experience for the 13 schools in attendance,” Martin said.

“And to our team parents — your hospitality was unmatched, with a breakfast spread that could rival a gourmet brunch!”

Olivia Hall set a PR in the 400 at districts. (Maria Summers photo)

 

Saturday’s results:

 

GIRLS:

100 — Isa Mc Fetridge (6th) 14.23 *PR*; Laken Simpson (8th) 14.36

200 — Mc Fetridge (5th) 29.95

400 — Olivia Hall (4th) 1:07.66 *PR*; Marin Winger (5th) 1:19.42

800 — Lyla Stuurmans (1st) 2:39.34; Lillian Ketterling (6th) 3:05.72; Ivy Rudat (7th) 3:08.53

1600 — Stuurmans (2nd) 6:01.86; Mikayla Wagner (4th) 6:43.80; I. Rudat (5th) 6:52.31 *PR*; Devon Wyman (6th) 7:08.38 *PR*

3200 — Wagner (3rd) 13:34.10 *PR*; Aleksia Jump (6th) 14:51.71; D. Wyman (7th) 15:45.16 *PR*

100 Hurdles — Ari Cunningham (7th) 21.75; Frankie Tenore (10th) 24.40

300 Hurdles — Tenore (8th) 1:08.15

4 x 100 Relay — Cunningham, Willow Leedy-Bonifas, Ayden Wyman, Mc Fetridge (4th) 57.97

4 x 200 Relay — Simpson, Leedy-Bonifas, Lexis Drake, Mc Fetridge (4th) 2:00.24

4 x 400 Relay — Hall, Ketterling, I. Rudat, Simpson (4th) 4:47.68

Shot Put — Katie Marti (1st) 34-08 *PR*

Discus — Marti (1st) 89-08; Ketterling (3rd) 82-01

Javelin — Marti (1st) 102-05

High Jump — A. Wyman (4th) 4-04

Pole Vault — A. Jump (4th) 7-00; I. Rudat (6th) 6-00; Ketterling (6th) 6-00

Long Jump — Leedy-Bonifas (7th) 13-00; Cunningham (8th) 12-10.25

Triple Jump — Leedy-Bonifas (6th) 27-02.50 *PR*

Aleksia Jump prepares to charge into action. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

 

BOYS:

100 — Chase Anderson (1st) 11.51; Marquette Cunningham (3rd) 11.78; Matthew Ward (4th) 11.83 *PR*; Davin Houston (8th) 12.13; Marcelo Gebhard (9th) 12.18 *PR*; Liam Blas (12th) 12.33; Beckett Green (14th) 12.35

200 — Houston (5th) 24.00 *PR*; Green (8th) 24.43 *PR*; M. Cunningham (11th) 24.78

400 — Preston Epp (2nd) 53.17; Blake Burrows (3rd) 54.95 *PR*; Dane Hadsall (6th) 58.65 *PR*; Jonah Weyl (7th) 1:02.46

800 — Carson Field (1st) 2:02.66; Solomon Rudat (5th) 2:24.49; Ethan Walling (7th) 2:32.28; Johnathan Jacobsen (10th) 2:37.40; Finn Price (12th) 2:43.38

1600 —Field (1st) 4:43.29; Malachi Somes (2nd) 4:51.03 *PR*; George Spear (4th) 4:53.82 *PR*; Kenneth Jacobsen (5th) 5:14.30; Walling (10th) 5:39.65; Edmund Kunz (11th) 5:47.54

3200 — Field (1st) 10:27.36 *PR*; Spear (2nd) 10:45.69; K. Jacobsen (3rd) 11:26.09 *PR*; Kunz (4th) 12:18.57 *PR*

110 Hurdles — Axel Marshall (4th) 17.86 *PR*

300 Hurdles — Marshall (3rd) 46.29 *PR*; Blas (6th) 46.71 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — M. Cunningham, Houston, Epp, Anderson (1st) 44.41

4 x 400 Relay — Anderson, Burrows, Wilson, Epp (1st) 3:35.55

Shot Put — Gebhard (3rd) 38-07; Zac Tackett (4th) 36-09; Khanor Jump (9th) 30-04.50; David Somes (13th) 25-04.50

Discus — Tackett (3rd) 129-09; Blas (8th) 97-02 *PR*

Javelin — Anderson (3rd) 135-09; Gebhard (8th) 111-08; Ward (10th) 93-07

High Jump — C. Wilson (1st) 6-00; Wyatt Fitch-Marron (2nd) 5-10 *PR*; Houston (4th) 5-08; J. Jacobsen (9th) 5-00

Pole Vault — C. Wilson (2nd) 12-06; S. Rudat (8th) 8-06; Kunz (10th) 7-00

Long Jump — C. Wilson (3rd) 20-06 *PR*; Fitch-Marron (10th) 16-05.75 *PR*; Edmund Wilson (11th) 15-11.25; Green (12th) 13-10.50

Triple Jump — Ward (1st) 40-02 *PR*; M. Cunningham (3rd) 37-00.50; Marshall (6th) 35-09

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Bashers boppin’ to the big dance

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on May 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

CHS sluggers (l to r) Taylor Brotemarkle, Jada Heaton, Teagan Calkins, Mia Farris, and Madison McMillan made it to state in volleyball and softball this year. (Grant Van Dyke photo)

Eastern Washington, the Wolves are headed your way, red-hot bats in hand.

Dodging raindrops Thursday at the Skagit Playfields in Mount Vernon, the Coupeville High School softball squad decisively claimed the District 1 title, while punching its ticket to the 2B state tourney.

The Wolves, who are 18-1 after crunching Friday Harbor 15-5 in the championship game, have won 17 straight after a one-run loss to 3A Oak Harbor way back in March.

Slotted #4 in the final Washington Interscholastic Activities Association RPI rankings, Aaron Lucero’s squad will find out its state path Sunday.

That’s when a seeding committee releases the 16-team bracket for the royal rumble, which is slated to play out May 23-24 at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.

This is the fourth trip to state for CHS softball, and its first in the 2B classification.

The Wolves advanced in 2002 (winning four of five games to earn a 3rd place trophy), 2014, and 2019, all as a 1A school.

Aaron Lucero has the Wolves rollin’ at 18-1. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Now, Lucero, in his first season at the helm of the Wolf program, joins former Coupeville diamond gurus Randy Dickson, David King, and Kevin McGranahan in leading a softball team to state.

His band of sluggers has carved a brutal path through foes this season, outscoring their rivals 276-37.

No, that’s not a misprint, and yes, it could have been even more lopsided if Lucero hadn’t pumped the brakes at time.

Narrow victories over Lakewood, Forks, and Granite Falls have proven Coupeville’s iron will under pressure, while the Wolves have also captured 14 of those 18 wins by enforcing the mercy rule, which shuts down games after five innings if one team leads by 10 or more runs.

Friday Harbor, which eliminated Orcas Island 9-1 in a loser-out playoff opener Thursday, hung tough in the championship game, but the Wolves ultimately had too many weapons.

The Wolverines scratched out a run in the top of the first, but the lead would be short-lived.

Coupeville started to attack almost immediately, using relentless speed and guile on the basepaths to once again keep a foe tense and ready to break at all times.

Mia Farris cracked a one-out single, followed by Teagan Calkins eking out a walk, before the dance began.

A stolen base led to a wild pitch, then, after Madison McMillan tied the game on an RBI groundout, the Wolves took the lead for good on a frantic play.

With Calkins bouncing on third, a pitch got away from the Friday Harbor catcher, and “The Red Dragon” shot for the plate.

Unexpectedly, the ball shot back a little quicker to the backstop’s glove than probably expected, but Calkins went under the tag like a professional limbo dancer, her arm caressing the plate as the catcher juggled and dropped the ball.

The safe call went up, Calkins did the slow strut to the bench, and the momentum had changed.

Teagan Calkins can destroy you with her bat, feet, or arm. Pick your poison. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

While Friday Harbor escaped the inning trailing just 2-1, the Wolves were already starting to feel it.

Freshman pitcher Adeline Maynes held the Wolverines at bay in the top of the second, before her sluggers went off for five more runs in the bottom half of the frame.

It started with Jada Heaton, noted softball magnet, sacrificing her body one more time by getting plunked for the 11,478th time this season.

From there, Ava Lucero, Farris, Calkins, and McMillan cranked RBI base hits to push the lead to 7-1, with Calkins almost ripping off the pitcher’s arm with a gnarly shot right back up the middle.

“I’ll do it again! You know I will,” (allegedly) murmured the one-woman wrecking crew.

Friday Harbor, fighting to keep its season alive, did cut the lead back to 7-3 and held Coupeville scoreless(!) in the third inning, but it wasn’t enough.

Wolf shortstop Taylor Brotemarkle pulled off a highlight reel-worthy defensive play, veering to her left to snag a hard-hit chopper before firing a cannon shot to Lucero at first for the out.

And then the Wolf offense fired right back to life.

Haylee Armstrong celebrates with her fan club president. (Michelle Armstrong photo)

Calkins smacked an RBI single to light the fuse in the bottom of the fourth, while Haylee Armstrong capped a five-run frame with a run-scoring base knock of her own.

In between? Madison McMillan broke the universe.

The senior third baseman, master of the mammoth moonshot, unleashed a three-run home run to straightaway center field, the ball puncturing a hole in the grey clouds which hung over the field.

Rumors that the softball sailed so high up in the air it knocked a spy satellite out of orbit are just that … rumors. NASA will not confirm or deny.

Back on Earth, Friday Harbor, being pesky and persistent to the end, snipped the margin back to 12-5 and pulled off a pretty impressive double play in the fifth to (momentarily) hold off its fast-approaching doom.

Enter Calkins, who plated Brotemarkle with yet another RBI single, before dancing around the basepaths herself, disrupting the defense with a bold dash for home.

With the game at 14-5 and the possibility of enforcing the mercy rule, Wolf frosh Sydney Van Dyke, already a grizzled vet in her second season as a starter, ambled to the plate.

Slicing a single into the mist in left, the ball hitting the grass and skidding away, it sent McMillan streaking home and the Wolves off to the promised land.

“Every player contributed today!” Aaron Lucero said. “Really proud of their composure and intensity.

“On to state!!!!”

Fab frosh Sydney Van Dyke (left) and Ava Lucero are state bound. (Grant Van Dyke photo)

 

Thursday stats:

Capri Anter — One single, one double, one walk
Haylee Armstrong — One single
Taylor Brotemarkle — One walk
Teagan Calkins — Three singles, one walk
Mia Farris — Three singles
Jada Heaton — One single, one walk
Ava Lucero — One single
Madison McMillan — One single, one home run, one walk
Sydney Van Dyke — One single

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Lone Wolf splashes back to state meet

Posted in Swim, tagged , , , , on February 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Overcoming illness, Coupeville’s Finn Price qualified for another trip to the state swim championships. (Rachel Price photo)

Federal Way is calling Finn Price one more time.

The Coupeville High School junior, battling his way through the winter crud Saturday, earned a return trip to the state swim championships.

The lone Wolf, who has been dealing with “his usual Districts cold/flu” according to mom Rachel, still claimed a third-place performance in the 200 free to punch his ticket to the big dance.

Price was ranked #2 in the 100 free, but “didn’t have much in the tank” and finished fourth.

He is likely to nab a wild card in the event, however, based on his time, and could be hitting the water in both events when state goes down Feb. 21-22 at the King County Aquatic Center.

The only current male swimmer at CHS, a 2B school, Price joins athletes from 1A South Whidbey during the regular season and they train and travel with 4A Kamiak.

Once the postseason begins, Coupeville’s aquatic star competes on his own.

For now, Price has a week to recuperate, before he does double duty next weekend, with the state swim meet and his Eagle Scout ceremony both on tap.

Price slices through the water. (Christi Messner photo)

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