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Wonder Twins power up: Gabe Eck rocks!!

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , , on September 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Gabe Eck comes out firing. (John Fisken photo)

Gabe Eck comes out firing. (John Fisken photo)

“I enjoy every minute of football from the blowout games to the nail-biting last play. Every minute of it is great.”

Listen to Gabe Eck for even a moment and you can hear his love of football spill out.

While the Coupeville High School freshman has already played numerous sports, it’s the gridiron that calls the strongest to Gabe and twin brother Ty.

After carving up foes at the middle school and youth league level, the duo will be making their high school debut tonight when CHS travels to Langley to face off with Island arch-rival South Whidbey.

For Gabe, it’s the first step in what he hopes will be a long football journey.

“My goals for this season are to help the team as best as I can and to make it to playoffs,” Eck said. “And in the future to get a college scholarship and play college football and go on to the NFL.”

Already a 10-year veteran, having played since his dad signed him up at age five, Eck is bouncing between quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back for the Wolves.

Wherever he gets the most plays, he’ll look to make same kind of impact he did at previous levels.

“I’m every smart with the game; over the years of being coached by so many coaches, I know so many different things about the game of football,” Eck said. “I have good quickness as a wide receiver, but I’d like to work on my speed.”

Away from the field, he’s an admitted shoe-fiend who enjoys history class and hails Top Gun and Pirates of the Caribbean as his favorite flicks.

Along with football, he’s played lacrosse, soccer and basketball and also wrestled and ran track.

His plan is to be a three-sport athlete for the Wolves, playing hoops in the winter and running the soccer pitch in the spring.

As he does so, he’ll try to emulate great players he’s come into contact with, from former Wolf stars to current professional players.

“Brett Arnold is like a role model to me,” Eck said. “And I went to a football camp and #17 for the Seahawks, Kevin Smith, was a great inspiration and a role model.”

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Wonder Twins power up: Ty Eck rolls!!

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , on September 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Ty Eck scrambles for yardage. (John Fisken photo)

Ty Eck scrambles for yardage. (John Fisken photo)

It’s all about family out on the gridiron for Ty Eck.

Whether he’s looking across at twin brother Gabe or his other teammates, the Coupeville High School freshman shares a bond with the guys he lines up next to.

“What I enjoy about football is being out there with my brothers, knowing they have my back, building team chemistry and the competitiveness of the game,” he said.

With a decade in the game (the brothers have been playing since age five), Eck, who will play safety and slot for the Wolves, has begun to build a strong game, on the field and in his mind.

“One of my strengths is I understand the game and how it is played, also my agility,” he said. “What I need to work is to increase my speed and strength.”

With an eye on the future (he’d like to become a team leader and earn a college scholarship), Eck has set his aim high for his first year at the high school level.

“My goals for this season are to become an even more team player, and like four interceptions,” he said.

A multi-sport athlete who is also planning to play basketball and soccer for the Wolves, Eck enjoys fishing with his uncle, swimming and hanging out with friends.

In school, engineering and math class draw his attention, even if those classes sometimes require extra effort.

“Even though I’m not the best at math I like the way it makes you think and to push myself to get better at it.”

In school or in sports, Eck draws inspiration from a wide range of people, starting with his parents.

“The first person who has had a big impact on me is my mom,” he said. “She has taught me to stay humble, my biggest fan, shows her love every day and gives up her time to help us on our football career.

“Second person is my dad,” Eck added. “He has always pushed me to do my best, teaches us new things about football and is always there when we need him.”

The young football star has also benefited from working with Rodrick Rumble, who made the jump from Oak Harbor High School to college and pro football.

“Last person is Rodrick,” Eck said. “He has pushed us to our limits, helped us on our footwork and speed/strength and is also a good supporter at what we do and a great friend.”

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Cake? He wants The Bucket for his birthday!!

Posted in Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on September 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

James Vidoni

James Vidoni (John Fisken and Monica Vidoni photos)

James Vidoni’s big day is a big day for all of Wolf Nation.

As the Coupeville High School sophomore celebrates his birthday today, he and his teammates will kick-off a new football season tonight.

And, of course, it’s no mere game, as the Wolves invade Langley to clash with their Island arch-rivals, South Whidbey (7 PM).

At stake? The Bucket (which CHS has held for the last year), another year of bragging rights and the chance to make the Southenders weep salty tears of despair.

Before he hops on the bus, possibly riding a sugar high from cake, we want to take a moment to pay tribute to Mr. Vidoni.

A three-sport athlete for Coupeville (football, basketball, baseball) and younger brother of former Wolf Monica Vidoni, James is a quiet, let’s-go-hit-someone kind of guy.

So, exactly the sort of dude most coaches like.

As he continues to grow and come into his own as an athlete, the future is bright for Vidoni and we wish him all the best, on the field and off.

Happy birthday, James!

Now, go make some Falcons cry.

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Hunt(er)ing for a star? Got one for ya!!

Posted in Baseball, Basketball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on September 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Hunter Smith: One cool cat. (John Fisken photos)

Hunter Smith: One cool cat. (John Fisken and Charlotte Smith photos)

When Charlotte Smith gives birth, the kids hit the floor running, already with skills.

At least it seems that way, as all three of her progeny — CJ, Hunter and Scout — stand tall among the best athletes in Coupeville at present, and they’ve all been shining since they were barely out of diapers.

And while CJ is the oldest and Scout is going to be the biggest star (I’m calling it now), it’s Hunter who celebrates a birthday today, so we’re focusing on the middle child.

And why not? He’s on the cusp of busting out and becoming a superstar as a sophomore.

Last year, he was the only freshman in the 1A Olympic League to be named to the All-League football team, then followed that up with often-explosive work on the basketball court.

Topping his year?

He was a breakout hit on the baseball diamond from day one, teaming with his brother in the infield and on the mound to give outgoing CHS coach Willie Smith the most consistent reason to smile all season.

New school year, skills even more fine-tuned? Hunter is ready to blow up.

But, if he does, will the Zen Master crack a smile on the field? That’s the bigger question.

Like CJ before him, Hunter is a cool cat.

Not emotionless (I’ve seen him grin in photos, just not in the heat of athletic battle), but composed, the kind of guy who doesn’t crack easily under pressure and doesn’t waste a whole lot of time worrying about photo ops.

Kid is a throwback to the olden days, a three-sport athlete who is willing to let his talent speak for itself.

Now, maybe he’s Mr. Chatty away from the field, off the court, but all I have to go on is what I see in person.

And what I see is impressive.

Remarkably composed for a young athlete, a hard worker, a guy who doesn’t coast but busts his rear on every play, a leader, and, like his siblings and parents (Charlotte and Chris) a true blessing to have here in Coupeville.

Happy birthday, Hunter. Much respect, man.

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New look, same goals!!

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , , , on September 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Seniors Lathom Kelley (left) and Ryan Griggs will be called on for big yards and big leadership. (John Fisken photos)

   Seniors Lathom Kelley (left) and Ryan Griggs will be called on for big yards and big leadership. (John Fisken photos)

Brett Smedley will make his debut as Coupeville's head football coach this Friday, when the Wolves travel to Langley.

   Brett Smedley will make his debut as Coupeville’s head football coach this Friday, when the Wolves travel to Langley.

Change is in the air.

Coming off a 5-5 season that snapped a streak of eight straight losing seasons, the Coupeville High School football squad lost its head coach and seven seniors, including the inaugural 1A Olympic League MVP.

After three seasons at the helm of the Wolves (and two wins over arch-rival South Whidbey), Tony Maggio turned the keys over to assistant coach Brett Smedley.

As he prepares to kick off his first season as head coach this Friday, the first-year man will have to do so without that departed MVP (Josh Bayne) and record-setting QB Joel Walstad, now both off to play college ball.

The cupboard is far from bare, however, as the Wolves seek their first winning season since the 2005 squad went 6-5.

Nine seniors, all of whom have seen substantial playing time in the past, will anchor Coupeville’s attack.

Leading the way are Wiley Hesselgrave, a First-Team All-League pick at linebacker as a junior, and hard-hitting Lathom Kelley, who both can become four year letter winners this season.

Joining them are linemen Brenden Gilbert, Josh Lord, JR Pendergrass and Jake Lord as well as multi-talented weapons CJ Smith, Ryan Griggs and Mitchell Losey.

Rounding out the key returning players are juniors Mitchell Carroll, Dominic Dausey, Jacob Martin and Clay Reilly and sophomores Hunter Downes, Hunter Smith, Cameron Toomey-Stout, James Vidoni and Julian Welling.

On a list dominated by seniors, Hunter Smith was the lone freshman named to the All-League team last year, earning Honorable Mention consideration.

While the loss of Bayne, a two-way All-State player, leaves a big hole to fill, the Wolves do return almost all of their offensive weapons.

Seven of their top eight receivers are back, led by Griggs, who topped the Wolves in 2014 with 485 yards on 29 catches.

Coupeville also brings back three backs who rang up yards on the ground in Hesselgrave (52 carries for 430 yards), Kelley (46-407 despite missing a chunk of the season with an injury) and Martin (57-295).

The hope is that one, or more of them, will step up and make a run at posting Bayne-like numbers (143-1,528).

Walstad threw for 18 touchdowns and nearly 1,600 yards as a senior, and, at least in the early days of practice, the battle to replace him at QB was wide-open, with Downes, the Smith brothers and freshman Gabe Eck in the mix.

Eck and twin brother Ty (WR/DB), sophomore Jake Hoagland (TE/LB) and seniors Zane Bundy (WR/DB) and Jordan Ford (WR/DE) are among the newcomers who have caught the eyes of coaches.

Hoagland and Bundy are making their high school football debuts, while Ford is a transfer student who has come home to the school where many of his relatives, including his dad and grandfather, have been athletic stars.

However the lineup shakes out, in true small-school style, many of the players will go both ways.

“We at CHS play a certain brand of football, and that’s an “Iron man” style of football,” Smedley said. “A few kids are going to be on the field all game everyday.

“We continue to develop this mentality in our players!”

While Port Townsend is the defending league champs, they also lost a chunk of key players.

Coupeville, which finished third at 3-3, was the only league school to beat the Redhawks last year, and came agonizingly close to upending Klahowya to earn a playoff berth.

Smedley sees no reason the Wolves can’t fight for a league title.

“This is a very strong league,” he said. “Any given night anyone has the ability to win the game.”

Coupeville opens with four straight games on the road, not playing at home until Oct. 2, but having veteran leadership should make that easier to handle.

“We have a lot of players that have been in the program for four years, and they will be the true leaders of this program,” Smedley said. “Their leadership on and off the field is one of our huge strengths.”

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