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Posts Tagged ‘Hall of Fame’

Camden Glover rumbles on the hardwood. (Julie Wheat photo)

“I would like to continue to be a reliable team player.”

That was Camden Glover’s stated goal as he entered his freshman year at Coupeville High School, coming off a stellar run as a middle school athlete which included several big-game performances on the hardwood.

And it was one he achieved during a four-year run in which he was as solid as they come.

Stevie’s oldest son, who has always been a protective big bro to his younger siblings, had actually already made his high school debut as an 8th grader, playing for the JV baseball squad, where he tore the leather off the ball.

But once he was a full-time high school student Glover really made his impact felt, both as a hitter and a pitcher across four varsity seasons on the diamond.

Numbers wise, he racked up 67 hits, 18 doubles, 49 RBI, 50 runs, 52 walks, and 47 stolen bases — while rarely being thrown out — while leading the squad in batting average over his final two years by nailing the ball at a .380 and .420 clip.

Throwing the high, hard cheese, and daring hitters to try. (Jackie Saia photo)

Put him on the mound, and Glover was equally as imposing, piling up 172 strikeouts in 101 innings of work on the bump.

Not only was the burly prairie native a danger to other teams whether he was flinging heat or taking swings, he was the kind of dude any coach wants at the center of their lineup.

In both good times, such as the Wolves advancing to the state tourney, or tough times, when he helped hold together a very-thin lineup, Glover carried himself the same.

He was a professional through and through, a leader by action and word, and, to those of us on the outside of the fence, seemed to be the glue which held his team together.

That was a mentality which carried over to his other high school sports, as well.

On the football field, Glover prowled the line, going both ways and anchoring things for the Wolves.

Few opponents got past him when he laid down a block, and he could be a menace on defense, often rumbling into the backfield to stuff a runner or pursue the other team’s quarterback.

Sharing a moment with fellow prairie progeny Lyal Viers (1) and Andy Penrod. (Tammy Glover photo)

Put him on a basketball court, and Glover was a truly intriguing player.

He had the size and strength to pound away in the key, muscling his way through defenders for hotly contested buckets.

But take your eye off of him for a second, and he would also pop out behind the three-point line, where he could be a deadly proficient long-range gunner, splashing home treys before the defense had fully registered what was happening.

Glover put in two really solid seasons of work at the varsity level, finishing with 351 points (and a ton of rebounds).

That has him sitting #80 all-time for a CHS boys’ basketball program which launched way back in 1917, which puts him in the top 18% of scorers among the 433 male hoops stars whose scoring exploits I have been able to chart.

With Glover having picked up his diploma this past spring, Wolf sports teams will have a big hole to fill — both in terms of the stats he piled up, and in the leadership, work ethic, and mentorship he displayed.

His younger brothers, and his cousins, are on their way, though all of them still have a few years before they’ll be at the high school level.

When they do, they’ll already have a role model to emulate, having watched Camden rip things up.

For now, we’ll take a moment to swing open the doors of the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame and welcome Tammy’s first grandson into its hallowed digital halls.

After this, you’ll find Camden Glover up at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab, a young man who earned that status by bringing it every day, every play.

A younger Camden with his #1 fan. (Photo courtesy Stevie Glover)

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Volleyball guru Cory Whitmore plots strategy. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

His run was truly stellar.

When Cory Whitmore took the reins of the Coupeville High School volleyball program in 2016, the varsity had won seven matches across the previous two seasons combined.

In his first go-round in the CHS gym, the Wolves promptly went 11-6, kicking off a string of nine consecutive winning seasons under their spiker guru.

Whitmore led Coupeville to the state tourney in 2017, snapping a 12-year dry spell, and got back in both 2023 and 2024, with the last of those teams claiming 4th place for the first state trophy in program history.

In between, his teams posted double-digit win totals eight times, with the only outlier being the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, when the Wolves were only allowed to play nine matches total.

When he stepped down after the 2024 season, Whitmore carried a .702 winning percentage with him, having gone 106-45 while on the CHS sideline.

How does that compare to other Wolf coaches? Pretty dang good.

While records are incomplete, the other highest winning percentages I can attest to are owned by the last two CHS softball coaches, Aaron Lucero and Kevin McGranahan.

Lucero is top dog right now, off to a 39-7 start (.848) across his first two seasons, while McGranahan went 111-49 (.694) while matching Whitmore’s nine-year run.

Here’s how Whitmore’s time at Coupeville played out:

2016: 11-6
2017: 13-5 (State)
2018: 11-5
2019: 14-5
2020: 6-3 (Partial season – Covid)
2021: 11-6
2022: 10-6
2023: 12-7 (State)
2024: 18-2 (State – 4th)

That final campaign was truly one for the ages, with Coupeville winning league and district titles, remaining undefeated until the final day of the season, advancing to the state semifinals, and smashing the program’s single season win mark en route to bringing home hardware.

Under Whitmore’s guidance, the Wolves also did the previously unthinkable, toppling La Conner from its perch atop the Northwest 2B/1B League volleyball standings, handing the Braves their first conference losses in more than a decade-plus.

Still kickin’ butt and takin’ names on the court. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

But while the wins and the trophies are huge, what I will remember most about the former Wolf coach is how he got there.

From the first practice to the last banquet, Whitmore was a dream to deal with.

He was friendly, personable, able to take complicated volleyball info and break it down to where even a relative idiot such as myself could (mostly) understand the game in a different way than before.

After crowd-pleasing wins or gut-punch losses, Whitmore never shied away from taking the time to send me emails from the road as the bus bumped back home or camping out in the CHS bleachers to answer my questions.

I found him to be one of the straightest shooters to ever hold a coaching job in Cow Town, and one of the most entertaining.

During his time running the Wolf program, he immersed himself fully in it, building a very-successful youth program which brought his high school players and elementary school students together.

Whitmore made volleyball fun and exciting for the next generation, and it will pay off for years to come.

Filling the gym with smiles. (Phoenix Da Costa-Ford photo)

He also set up a coaching tree which continues to branch out, with former Wolf players such as Ashley Menges, Scout Smith, Alita Blouin, and Hope Lodell having followed in the footsteps of the man who guided them during their own playing years.

While we all would have loved for him to coach for decades, his “retirement” was well earned.

Teaching at one school (Oak Harbor) while coaching at another, while putting in the 24/7/365 level of commitment to the volleyball program he did, takes its toll.

So, seeing Whitmore looking all hale and hearty and maybe able to have a moment or two to himself these days (or be able to spend some quality time with husband Cris), makes it easier to accept.

But while he’s stepped back from the spotlight a bit, that doesn’t mean we can’t pull him back to center stage one more time — at least online.

Today we swing open the doors to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, inducting him for his coaching prowess, his work ethic, and his sunny personality. The pride of Ritzville is the complete package.

After this you’ll find him up at the top of the blog under the Legends tab — the coolest cat in the joint.

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Helen Strelow, a master of many worlds. (Photo courtesy Brian Strelow)

“She is an amazing person. Artist, scholar, athlete, and one of the kindest people anyone could ever know.”

During her days in Coupeville, Helen Strelow soared, scoring big in multiple worlds, as evidenced by the words of her tennis coach, Ken Stange.

Was there anything Strelow couldn’t do? I doubt it.

She finished her CHS run with a 4.0 GPA, was one of two valedictorians for the Class of 2023, and was already wowing folks with her artwork and photography.

A glimpse at one of her many artistic pieces. (Photo courtesy Brian Strelow)

That embrace of her artistic side continues to show during her college days at Montana State University, where Strelow is pursuing a BFA in painting and a minor in art history.

During her time in Bozeman, the former Wolf has been involved in multiple projects, including creating storyboards for a student film, working on two children’s books, and designing and producing puppet lanterns for the Gallatin Valley Winter Bloom parade.

While she’s conquering new worlds and impressing a whole new crowd these days, Strelow’s first big impact came back when she was repping the red and black.

A gifted cross country runner and tennis player, she advanced to the state championships three times during her CHS playing days, two as a harrier and one as a netter.

No tennis ball shall escape her. (Jackie Saia photo)

During her senior season on the courts, Strelow went 11-3 for a 2B program, with her only loss during the regular season coming against a 3A rival.

Once she hit the postseason, everything just clicked for the quietly efficient serve and volleyer, as she earned a Tri-District singles crown, sparking the Wolves to a team title as well.

Off to Eastern Washington for state, she played three matches at the big dance across two days and is one of the few Wolf netters to capture a state win, bouncing a rival from Lake Roosevelt in straight sets.

It was the sixth and final time Stange took players to state during a two decade-plus coaching career, as he and Strelow departed together, but not before Coupeville tennis collected an academic state title for having the highest team GPA among all 2B schools.

As he reflected on his final season, and the serene ace at the core of the team, Stange delivered one final note of approval.

“She improved from week to week, day to day, on a consistent basis. Helen certainly has a spot on my all-time CHS team!”

Running at the front of the pack. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Tennis wasn’t Strelow’s only game, though, as she was also played a key part in the revival of Coupeville’s cross country program, running all four years during her high school days.

Over the course of four campaigns, she racked up 11 top ten finishes, including winning an individual title at the Northwest 2B/1B League Championships as a junior.

Strelow advanced to state in her final two seasons, with the latter of those efforts coming as CHS sent its entire girls’ trail team to state for the first time since the 1980’s.

Her times remain some of the best in program history, as well, as she currently sits #1 among all Wolf girls in 5,439-meter races and #2 all-time in both 3.1 and 3.2-mile events.

When I look back on the history of CHS athletics, especially on the last 14 years as I’ve written this blog, she stands tall as one of the shining examples of everything you love to see from a student/athlete.

So today, way past time, we take a moment to induct Helen Strelow into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, honoring her for her work as an athlete, but also as an artist and student.

After this you’ll find her hanging out at the top of the blog under the Legends tab, an ideal spot for a young woman of such rare quality.

 

PS — If you want to see what Strelow is up to these days, check out her work at:

https://helenstrelow.com/

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Savina Wells was a homer-bashin’ hotshot as a freshman back in 2022. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

She was The Natural.

The One Born to Lead the Wolves to the Promised Land.

Why, she was, dare I say it, The Chosen One.

Oh, I did, and I was chastised by some for doing so, which I understand. Not that it stopped me.

Savina Wells was that rarity in Coupeville — a naturally gifted athlete who excelled at each and every sport she tried, who made things seem effortless at times, and was a genuine star from day one.

And by day one, I mean birth, as she followed in the footsteps of her older siblings, Ulrik and Izzy, following them around, one cartwheel at a time, before stepping up to stake her own claim to fame.

From her earliest days in little league and rec basketball, to her days at Coupeville Middle School and High School, Savina was arguably the second-most talented athlete I have written about here on the blog.

Makana Stone lives in a world of her own, and the battle for #2 during the Coupeville Sports era is a fierce one, with a group headlined by Maya Toomey-Stout, Madeline Strasburg, Lindsey Roberts, Teagan Calkins, and a few others.

Savina brought height, grace, speed, tenacity, confidence, and star quality to the stage, and left a sizable impact while we still had her in Cow Town.

Different state, same superstar. (Photo courtesy Katy Wells)

A family move to Florida after her freshman year left Wolf fans wondering what could have been, while she went on to have a super-successful run at Fernandina Beach High School as a volleyball, basketball, and track star.

Before graduating in 2025, Savina advanced to the state track meet twice in the sunshine state, while setting a school record in the high jump.

And yes, her top mark of five feet, three inches would also be a CHS girls record, if the world moved in a different way.

Before she left Coupeville, Savina played two years of varsity basketball for the Wolves, joining Lyla Stuurmans as the first 8th graders to ever start for the high school program.

She and Izzy were the #2 and #3 scorers in 2021 for a CHS hoops squad limited to a partial schedule by the pandemic, then was the #4 scorer for the Wolves as a fab frosh.

And do you need to ask? Yes, she went on to pour in nearly 700 points and snatch 500+ rebounds across her three seasons playing God’s Chosen Sport in Florida.

Pardon me while I go cry in the corner…

Rampaging on the hardwood during Covid days. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

While Savina turned to track and field to fill her spring days in her new home, she played softball for CHS as a freshman, often operating as the team’s catcher while Izzy stalked the pitcher’s circle.

They made for a dynamic duo, helping lead the Wolves to a 16-3 mark in their one season together, with Savina crackin’ extra base hits and flying around the basepaths like a wild woman unleashed.

That included a three-hit game early in the season on the road against state powerhouse Lynden Christian, capping things with a two-out home run which set Lync fans back in their pricy chairs.

The youngest Wells was also a varsity volleyball player for CHS as a freshman, piling up 70 kills, 47 digs, five block assists, and 42 service aces in her debut.

Savina hangs out with mom and big sis Izzy. (Photo courtesy Katy Wells)

Regardless of which state she was living in, Savina excelled. Pure and simple. She had great potential, and she lived up to the promise.

Selfishly I wish she had made her full run in Coupeville, like Ulrik and Izzy.

But she didn’t, and I don’t fault families for finding what works for them. Her parents, Lyle and Katy, were two of my favorite customers in the Videoville days, and they raised three really stellar children.

Seeing Savina soar to new heights, even from across the country, has given me great joy the last couple of years.

But I want her to know, that like her brother and sister and parents, she’s not forgotten about where it all began.

So today Savina joins her big sis in the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, inducted for all she accomplished in Cow Town, and all she has done since departing The Rock.

She was always special, not just as an athlete, and from now on you’ll find her up at the top of the blog under the Legends tab.

Right where she belongs.

Born to be a superstar. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

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Teagan Calkins, prairie immortal. (David Somes photo)

Prairie legends aren’t built in a single day.

Oh sure, one game, one epic performance in crunch-time, may seal the deal, may catapult some from the middle of the pack to the pantheon.

But the true all-timers, the ones whose stories live on for decades, reach their status by doing it day after day.

The few who truly stand apart have one thing in common — their excellence — but often live different lives, have different traits, often radically different personalities.

Some are quiet and self-contained, while others have personalities which can’t, and shouldn’t, be restrained.

You can see it when you look back at the athletic wonders who have dominated the pages of Coupeville Sports over the past 14 years.

Lathom Kelley literally ran up and bounced off of walls, while Makana Stone’s photo is forever lodged in the dictionary right next to the word “serene.”

Jae LeVine, her heart three times the size of her body, was pluckiness made human.

Meanwhile Sean Toomey-Stout’s unmatched work ethic impressed even the local wildlife, as evidenced by a skittish deer once leading him to the end zone, then nodding in approval before surrendering the spotlight.

This spring, as every spring, a group of Coupeville athletes played their final games, then accepted their diplomas and stepped away, off to create new magic elsewhere.

Some will be remembered, some will likely fade from memory (it happens), and one will stand forever.

If there is a top 1% for Wolf athletes, Teagan Calkins, AKA “The Red Dragon,” is on that very short list.

Sports or academics, she was always top of her class.

In the words of Frank Sinatra, and a whole lot of cover artists over the years, she did it her way, a true one-of-a-kind athlete, student, and human being from the first moment she repped the red and black until the end.

Valedictorian and CHS Athlete of the Year winner as a senior, the rare person to pull off the feat.

And, as of today, a member of the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, destined to forever see her name listed under the Legends tab up at the top of the blog.

Or at least as long as I pay my domain bill.

When it came to her school days, I am sure Teagan worked extremely hard on the education side of things — or maybe is just the second coming of Albert Einstein — but I wasn’t there in the classroom to see her flexin’ her big brain.

I was there, however, in person for much of her athletic career, sitting on rock hard bleachers or hunched over as waves of nasty prairie breeze slammed acres of infield dirt straight up our noses.

From little league through middle school and then high school, she started as a precocious lil’ sprout and finished as a strong, feisty young woman, rarely a moment when Teagan wasn’t at the center of things. And rightfully so.

“I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger!” (Jackie Saia photos)

We can talk about stats, sure, because she piled them up on the volleyball court, on the basketball hardwood, and, most of all, on the softball diamond.

Teagan smacked laser-like kills which rearranged a few knees, she splashed home three-balls from every angle, and she piled up home runs, both of the over-the-fence variety and of the lash-a-liner-to-deep-left-field-and-run-like-a-wild-woman type.

She was the anchor for all her teams, both as a young gun playing alongside an older pack of girls for most of her career, and then as the unofficial mom to her heirs — the young women who will fill the lineup over the next several seasons.

Need a big play? Teagan was there. Time and again.

The calm, “glue” player who held things together through big wins and painful losses, or the shining superstar asking for the game to be put on her shoulders, she could do it all and fit her game to match the needs of her teammates and coaches.

Time and again, I watched as she overcame injury and illness, strapped herself into whatever gear was needed to hold all the body parts together, and stayed in the heart of the action, because she wouldn’t leave her teammates high and dry. Ever.

The bionic woman, ready for battle.

Leaders come in all sizes and shapes, with all different kinds of attitudes.

Some scream and holler. Others buckle down, close their mouths, and let their actions speak for themselves.

Whatever works best for you.

Teagan? She had her own style, as always.

She could chatter with the best of them, especially as a catcher on the softball field, where she kept up a line of dialogue humming with the pitcher she was warming up, with the coach watching the warmup, with her dad adjusting his phone to stream her game, and with each passing human (or pooch).

Teagan knew who to calm down, who to pump up, who to praise, who to (gently) kick in the butt, and she made it seem as effortless as any I have seen in three decades of watching some very-talented CHS backstops.

And then there is a subtle thing which speaks to the depth of her heart, the thing which elevates her that last step from being a great to truly being a prairie legend.

I have been writing about Coupeville sports, on and off, but mostly on, since 1990, and I have personally witnessed two times in which a teenage athlete, deep in their own preparation for a game, stopped what they were doing to thank a younger teammate for doing the hard behind-the-scenes work.

The first was Makana Stone, the finest athlete/human being of my writing career.

The other was Teagan Calkins, and the care she showed in that moment for a girl hauling equipment from the dugout to the storage shed is why she reaches a different level.

“How you doin’??”

There will be more seasons of softball on the prairie. More big moments. More top-level performances.

Haylee Armstrong and Ava Lucero and the Van Dyke sisters and little girls currently killin’ it as 3rd graders and so many more will step up to carry on the tradition of excellence set by the program.

When they do, they will keep alive what “The Red Dragon” nurtured and honored and built with her bat, with her howitzer arm, and, most of all, with her heart and personality.

The names will change, the wins will keep on coming, and when the fans are able to keep their eyes open against the howling winds, they will swear they can still see the shadows left behind by the trailblazers.

Jae LeVine hopping up and down on second base after slaying Klahowya.

Sarah Wright threatening to eat a worm. More than once.

Mia Farris catching a fly on a dead sprint in center seconds before flipping up and over the temporary fence, while never losing control of the ball.

And Teagan?

She’ll be there, one more time popping up from behind home, arm snapping off a laser right onto the glove of the incoming shortstop to nail a would-be thief by three steps.

Followed by her high-fiving everyone in a three-mile radius, before ambling over to the dugout, picking up her treasured bat and gently whispering to it, “Time to go wreck some fools.”

Some athletes are here for a bit. Some for longer.

Teagan? Teagan is eternal.

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