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Posts Tagged ‘girls basketball’

Girls’ hoops guru steps down

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , on June 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Megan Richter has stepped down as CHS varsity girls’ basketball coach. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Family is calling.

After taking a season off for maternity leave, Coupeville High School varsity girls’ basketball coach Megan Richter has decided to step away from the hardwood for good.

For now, at least.

Richter, who has led the CHS program since 2021, left open the option of returning to full-time coaching in the future.

But for now, working full-time as a teacher, joining with husband Bennett to raise two rambunctious young kids, and trying to finish her master’s is a lot, and something had to give at the moment.

“It’s been a pretty hard decision to make and I’m pretty sad leaving,” Richter said. “But I know it’s what’s best for me and my family.”

Richter sent a letter to players and parents Monday, detailing her thought process.

This decision has been incredibly difficult because I have truly loved being a part of this program.

From building the program to working alongside so many dedicated athletes, families, and coaches, these years have been some of the most rewarding of my life.

Watching our players grow as athletes, teammates, leaders, and young women has been a privilege that I will never take for granted.

I want to sincerely thank all of the families, players, assistant coaches, our athletic director, and the community for the support you have given me and this program.

Everything we accomplished was the result of countless people investing their time, energy, and belief into Wolf basketball.

At this point in my life, I feel called to spend more time with my family and be more present with them.

While I am stepping away from the high school program, I will continue to stay involved through CYBA and remain committed to supporting the growth of basketball in our community.

I don’t see this as the end of my coaching journey — just a pause for now. Basketball has given me far too much for me to walk away from it completely.

Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your lives and your daughters’ journeys. 

The relationships and memories made through this program will stay with me forever.

I am incredibly proud of what we built together and excited to watch the program continue to grow and thrive.

Richter, a three-time CHS Female Athlete of the Year winner, is the #4 scorer in Wolf girls’ basketball history, pouring in 1,042 points while playing between 2006-2010.

After working as a middle school and high school JV coach, she replaced Scott Fox as varsity coach when he stepped down in 2021.

That allowed Richter to follow in the footsteps of her parents, Willie and Cherie Smith, who led the CHS girls’ hoops program from 1994-2000.

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Big challenge, strong effort

Posted in Basketball, tagged , , , , , on June 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Haylee Armstrong, who normally wears #33 in honor of her late cousin, Adam Garcia, was #12 Saturday. (Photos courtesy Michelle Armstrong and Bettie Sifuentes-Hart)

She held her own on the big stage.

Playing in the 29th annual Washington/N. Idaho All-State girls’ basketball games Saturday in Spokane, Coupeville hoops star Haylee Armstrong did all the important little things.

She scrambled back on defense, poking balls away from rivals.

Set up brand-new teammates with passes.

Always — and I mean always — made a point to slap hands with girls from far-flung schools, offer encouragement or congratulations as her undermanned West squad fell 97-50 to a high-powered East team in the 2B/1B game.

Though both sides had 12 players selected to the game, four of the West players were MIA, including Armstrong’s Northwest League mate, Vera Schoultz of Friday Harbor, who was out with an injury.

That allowed the East to swap out five players at a time, while the West bench was much emptier.

Not everyone on this West roster was in uniform.

Armstrong hit the floor two minutes into the 40-minute contest, and saw plenty of floor time, part of a roster which included players from schools such as Taholah, Ocosta, Lopez Island, Naselle, and Toledo.

The East, which had a pronounced advantage on the boards, slipped out to a 17-8 lead through one quarter, then turned up the heat progressively.

The team in the red uniforms stretched its advantage to 41-20 at the half and 66-42 through three quarters, before raining down 31 fourth-quarter points in a bid to crack triple digits.

Armstrong stayed busy at halftime as well, taking part in a three-point shooting contest.

While she didn’t score in Saturday’s game, the senior-to-be has been a bucket-getter in her CHS career.

After rattling the rim for 207 points as a junior, Armstrong has 305 career points and counting heading into her final campaign.

That puts her #39 all-time on the CHS girls’ scoring chart, which covers 1974-2026.

The Haylee Armstrong Fan Club snags a photo op with their hoops hero.

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Stellar start, fantastic future

Posted in Girls Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on June 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Cami Van Dyke, off to kick butt and take names. (Julie Wheat photo)

She was made for the spotlight.

From a young age, Cami Van Dyke has often played above her age group, showcasing the same skill and inner drive that big sis Sydney brings to all her sports.

Given the chance to breakout this year as an 8th grader, Cami took advantage, finishing second in scoring for the Coupeville High School JV girls’ basketball team, before putting together a stellar year as the starting shortstop for the Wolf varsity softball team.

Starting from day #1, the second of Grant and Colleen’s four children was a force to reckon with on the diamond, spraying hits to all fields while gunning down runners from deep in the hole with laser-like throws.

Cami was a Second Team All-League pick and the CHS Rookie of the Year, helping fuel a run in which the Wolves finished 19-4, won league and district titles, and played three games at the 2B state tourney.

She whacked the ball at a .483 clip in her debut performance, piling up 28 hits, 26 runs, 11 walks, 14 stolen bases, and 23 RBI while forming an impenetrable defensive wall on the left side of the infield with Sydney, who plays third base for the Wolves.

All before officially reaching high school as a student, which will happen this fall, when Cami begins her freshman year.

Van Dyke, who was also a strong middle school volleyball player, stalking the floor in pursuit of balls while providing leadership to her squad, wants to keep the good times rolling across the next four years.

“My goals for my high school sports career are to improve my skill level, become a stronger teammate, work hard in practices and games, while also continuing to grow as an athlete while helping my team succeed,” she said.

Van Dyke uses her Jedi mind skills to freeze the basketball in midair. (Teagan Calkins photo)

While still young, Van Dyke has a pretty clear-eyed view of her best traits and areas she’d like to improve.

“My strengths are being athletic, having strong hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and working well with a team,” she said.

“Playing sports has helped me become a well-rounded athlete who can adapt to different challenges and use a variety of skills.

“Areas I can improve on include increasing my speed and strength, building confidence, and becoming more consistent in my performance.”

Away from sports Van Dyke likes “spending time with my friends, listening to music, and staying active,” while hailing PE and science as her favorite classes, with the latter being because she “enjoys learning how things work.”

While she’s deeply committed to whichever sport is in season, softball is her favorite, she admits.

“It’s mainly because of the positive environment around me and because I have been playing it my whole life,” Van Dyke said. “Also I couldn’t imagine my life without it.

“What I enjoy most about being an athlete is the opportunity to compete against other teams, stay active, and continue improving my skills.

“I also enjoy being part of a team and spending time with people who share the same passion and love for sports as I do.”

As she continues to grow as an athlete and student, Van Dyke will continue to look towards her mentors for guidance.

“My family and coaches have had a big impact on me by always supporting and encouraging me to work harder every day and never give up when times get hard,” she said.

“They have taught me the importance of responsibility, teamwork, and having a positive attitude.

“Their guidance and belief in me have helped shape me into the person and athlete I am today.”

Van Dyke and Emma Cushman kicked off their varsity softball run with a trip to state. (Grant Van Dyke photo)

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Joltin’ Jada a joy juggernaut

Posted in Girls Basketball, Hall o' Fame, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on June 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Jada Heaton, one of the most-joyful athletes to ever wear a Wolf uniform. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Joy, absolute unbridled joy.

There have been Coupeville athletes who seemed happy to be playing, whether on a field or a court, but few have exuded the consistent level of bliss that Jada Heaton brought to everything she did.

That positivity, through every game, every at-bat, every sideline interaction, made her a valuable linchpin to very-successful Wolf volleyball, basketball, and softball squads.

Ready to tear up the softball diamond with running mate Mia Farris. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

Jada, who graduated from CHS in 2025, was part of what always seemed to be an especially tight-knit group of young women, a band of sisters from other misters who played together from when they were pee-wees to their final Senior Night moments.

That group went to state in multiple sports, earning league titles and both team and individual honors along the way.

Maybe more importantly, however, they genuinely seemed to like each other, taking delight in both their own praise-worthy accomplishments, but also in the achievements of their teammates.

A lot of that, in my opinion, seemed to spring from the bright, beating heart of joy at the center, one Jada Rose Heaton, whose positiveness never seemed to wane, win or loss.

Up to shenanigans. (Bailey Thule photo)

During her athletic career there were moments where she was a key contributor, stepping up and seizing the spotlight, and others where she was the perfect supporting crew.

A rebounder and a scrapper and a hustler on the hardwood, she lit up Orting one Saturday afternoon in front of her hometown fans.

Coupeville had lost a key league game to Friday Harbor just hours before, ending any playoff dreams for the Wolves, who needed a spark.

Enter Joltin’ Jada, who suddenly became a rampaging offensive dynamo in the game’s final moments.

Kickin’ butt and takin’ names. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Demanding the ball (well, OK, politely asking for it…), she scored on three consecutive trips down the floor in the fourth quarter to ice the victory, the bounce in her step getting bigger after every play.

First Jada took a lob from Katie Marti, slapping the ball off the glass for a quick bucket.

Then, wham, bam, thank you ma’am, she scored on a power move down low, muscling her way through a mass of players trying to viciously elbow and knee her tender regions.

Capping things, Jada elevated to snatch an offensive board — as she so often did — before using a quick dip to get past a defender for the put-back.

There were other spotlight reel moments as well, especially on the softball diamond, where she lashed extra-base hits and mentally scarred Darrington pitchers for the next three generations.

Or when Jada made this game-saving catch during her little league days, captured in one of my all-time favorite images from 14 years of doing this blog.

“And just where do you think you’re going, Mr. Softball? Get in my glove!!” (Jackie Saia photo)

When she got magical, she celebrated with all her heart.

But, and this is huge, when her teammates, her lifelong friends, her compadres, got magical as well, Jada celebrated even harder.

Her kindness shone through in the toughest of moments.

Her inner strength and resilience amazed when she ripped a nasty foul ball off her own chin at the state softball tourney, then tried to stay in the game even with a chipped tooth and badly swollen jaw.

And that joy?

It washed over every teammate she ever had, and it was the secret super glue which bound together one of the most-successful band of sisters to ever grace the Coupeville sports scene.

The smiling assassin. (Corinn Parker photo)

Jada is a good athlete and a great human being, and she was an absolute joy to write about.

Diploma in hand, she went off to find new challenges and impress new people, and I hope all of her dreams come true.

In this moment, though, we want to take Jada back for a second to her school days and make sure she knows how highly she is regarded.

Today we swing open the doors to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame and induct a smart, graceful, kind, and joy-filled young woman who made even the stormiest of prairie days seem sunnier.

After this, Miss Heaton will reside in the Legends section at the top of the blog, never forgotten and always remembered, her joyful presence absolutely guaranteed to light the joint up.

She does like to celebrate. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

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Girls’ basketball camp explodes in July

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , on May 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Ignite your game.

Coupeville High School and Middle School girls’ basketball coaches will host a skills camp July 1-3 for players entering grades 6-9 in the fall.

All the pertinent details can be found in the photo above, and questions can be directed to CHS head coach Megan Richter at mrichter@coupeville.k12.wa.us.

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