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Josh Bayne stares down the state. (John Fisken photo)

Josh Bayne stares down the state. (John Fisken photo)

Josh Bayne only played one-way this time, but it was more than enough.

The recent Coupeville High School grad, who was an All-State player on both sides of the ball during his senior season, sparkled on defense Saturday at the 21st Earl Barden East-West All-Star Classic.

Sparked by Bayne’s hard-hitting play from the corner-back position, the West held on for a 20-14 win in the game, played at East Valley High School in Yakima.

The game brings together the best players in 1A, 2B and 1B.

Bayne, who was the 1A Olympic League MVP, was one of the state’s leading rushers in 2014.

While he didn’t get any carries Saturday, he brought the heat in much the same way that also made him one of the best defenders in his class.

He recovered a fumble, made several tackles and swatted a pass down.

With all the offense coming in the game’s first half, Bayne and his West teammates clamped down at the end of the first half to seal the win.

With their backs to the wall, they refused to break and pulled off a goal line stop heading into the break.

The score would have been more lopsided, but the West had a pick six called back because of a personal foul behind the play.

Bayne, who was also a First-Team All-League player in baseball, will now take his skills to the college level, where he plans to play football at Simon Fraser.

He’ll be one of two speedy Wolves making the trip North of the border, as former Wolf rushing sensation Jake Tumblin is also slated to join the school’s gridiron squad, known as The Clan.

Simon Fraser is scheduled to play Central Washington twice this coming season.

Former CHS lineman Nick Streubel, who blocked for both Tumblin and Bayne, is on scholarship at CWU, having red-shirted his freshman year.

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(Photo courtesy Bob martin)

“We are the Wolves!! Fear our bite!!” (Photo courtesy Bob Martin)

This is the future.

Take a look at the beautifully-crafted black and white photo at the top of this article (go ahead, click and enlarge it) and you’re seeing the faces that will one day shine under Friday night lights.

They are the newest edition of the Coupeville Middle School football squad (or, at least the ones who were there for spring practice and a group photo) and they are hungry.

Hungry to get better.

Hungry to win.

Hungry to pick up the mantle laid down by Nick Streubel and Josh Bayne and Jake Tumblin, and by Jason McFadyen and Virgil Roehl before them, and by Mitch Aparicio and Chuck Hardee and Kit Manzanares and Brad Sherman and Murph Cross and Jack Sell and every Coupeville gridiron warrior that came before them.

They are the Wolves.

They are the present and the future, and they’re ready to begin their journey.

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Matt Hilborn

Matt Hilborn

With a new high school football season ahead of us, let’s take a look at some of the young men who will play for Coupeville High School for the first time this fall.

He’s quick, but loves to hit.

Wolf freshman Matt Hilborn, who first picked up the game as a middle schooler, enjoys the crunch of helmets on shoulder pads that makes football such an explosive game.

“I like the sport because it is a contact sport,” Hilborn said. “I started because I thought it would be fun to play with my friends, also because I like tackling and I like to learn and always love to get better at the game.

“I enjoy working with teammates and my coaches.”

Of course, being quick enough not to get hit as often by the other guys is also a plus.

“I think that my strength is speed,” Hilborn said. “I would like to work on becoming a better wide receiver and a better line backer.

“Become better at the game and my positions,” he added. “Also, I would like to help my teammates.”

Away from the gridiron, he enjoys playing XBox and hanging out with friends, while also finding time to put in work in the weight room and play baseball.

He was on a Babe Ruth diamond squad in Oak Harbor this spring, continuing a love affair with a game sparked by his dad Steve, who has put in time as a baseball coach.

His parents have been instrumental in the development of the young Wolf, both as an athlete and, more importantly, as a young man coming into his own.

“My dad has made a big impact on my baseball career since I was only six or seven; he always helped my pitching and hitting,” Hilborn said.

“Another person that has helped me is my mom (Wendi),” he added. “She helps me with school and she is always there when I need something.”

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Shane Losey has got this. (Scott Losey photo)

Shane Losey has got this. (Scott Losey photo)

With a new high school football season ahead of us, let’s take a look at some of the young men who will play for Coupeville High School for the first time this fall.

If there is pressure in living up to the family name, it doesn’t seem to have affected Shane Losey.

A gunslinger at quarterback who will move up and join big brother Mitchell in the fall, following in the footsteps of their father and other relatives, he remains low-key and ready to learn.

“I would like to work on being a better receiver and quarterback,” Losey said. “Understanding the plays. They are a lot different this year.

“I want to start every JV game and perfect my skills.”

He’ll be a freshman, while his older brother will be a senior.

Having the chance to learn from Mitchell, and other Wolf veterans, whether on the field or in day-to-day life, has been valuable.

“My brother and his friend Josh Bayne, they crack me up!,” Losey said. “Fun times at our house.”

This will be his third season on the gridiron, having picked up the sport when he entered middle school.

“I started because I like football, thought it would be fun to play with friends,” Losey said. “I enjoy tackling people, playing with my friends, understanding the game and working hard.”

When he’s not on the football field, he can be found hanging with friends, playing XBox, going to water parks and movies and out and about on family camping trips.

Losey also spends a fair amount of time playing baseball, having just finished a season of Babe Ruth in Oak Harbor. He was one of six future Wolves to play for the squad.

“That is fun, playing with guys you don’t know from another school and you get to know them through the season,” Losey said.

A lot of that baseball time has been spent with dad Scott.

“My dad has been a big impact for me. He has coached me through most of my baseball career this far,” Losey said. “This year was the first he wasn’t there to coach since we played in Oak Harbor. So that was a little weird…

“He and I have had many road trips from Coupeville to parts all over different places playing ball,” he added. “Lots of nights getting home at 10:00 and up to school the next day.

“Texting mom on the way home the score. And call her to fill her in on my AWESOME game I had tonight!”

And, whether texting or talking in person, his mom, Melissa, is the one who is always there for him.

“She is great; I can talk to her about anything secret or not,” Losey said. “She listens and cares a lot. I have great support around me.”

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Mike Rice

Mike Rice

With a new high school football season ahead of us, let’s take a look at some of the young men who will play for Coupeville High School for the first time this fall.

Mike Rice is putting in the time in the weight room.

And why not? That’s where the Coupeville High School freshman-to-be has gotten a lot of the encouragement which made him want to be a football player.

“I really think coach (Brett) Smedley has helped me to become who I am,” Rice said. “He always helps me to push myself and get better.

“If we’re in the weight room and I’m using a certain weight that looks easy, he’ll tell me to push myself and go up 10 pounds.”

Smedley is entering his first year as head coach of the Wolves, while Rice will be playing in his second season, having started as an eighth grader.

He first strapped on the gear because the sport, which is the only one he’s currently planning to play, seemed like a good time.

“I enjoy football because it’s so well organized and it’s just a fun contact sport,” Rice said.

As he adjusts to the quicker pace and increased power of high school football, Rice is always looking to fine-tune his game.

“I’m not sure what my strengths are, but I do need to improve on my speed a bit,” he said. “My goals are to try to work hard enough to get playing time in varsity games.

“I’m gonna try and be the best every minute of practice to show the coaches I could do it!”

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