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Posts Tagged ‘jamboree’

Haylee Armstrong (left) and Taylor Brotemarkle share a number, and a commitment to being most excellent. (Michelle Armstrong photo)

The spikes are flying once more.

Volleyball season kicked off Saturday with a three-school jamboree at Oak Harbor High School, with Coupeville and South Whidbey traveling north for the day.

The Wolves were led by JV coach Ashley Menges and middle school volleyball guru Cris Matochi, who stepped in for varsity head man Cory Whitmore, who had a family comittment.

Coupeville’s senior spikers invade Oak Harbor for the final time as a pack. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

Jamborees are all about getting into sync, and getting a chance to experience competition, often with a new lineup.

“My goals for them today were to get comfortable in rotations and make sure they knew them, and to have fun,” Menges said.

“Once the rotations are out of the way, then I really get to start coaching.

“So, for about the first two sets we were still learning those, but once everyone seemed to understand, the day went great.”

The Wolf JV squad is a mix of veterans and newbies, and they quickly found a rhythm.

“A lot of really good things happened today, and this group is really great about applying feedback immediately,” Menges said.

“They’re quick learners, and the immediate gratification they feel when things go right is really great to see so early in the season.

“I’ll say pretty much everyone had a great day, and a lot of the freshmen really impressed me today.”

Chelsi Stevens sends a ball skyward as Adeline Maynes watches. (Kristi Stevens photo)

Now it’s on to the start of the regular season, with a road trip to South Whidbey set for Tuesday.

Menges, herself a former standout Wolf spiker, is ready for the current generation to hit the floor and come out swinging.

“Lots of good things, and lots of things to work on of course, but it was a great start to this season,” she said.

“I’m totally proud of these girls and I hope they are as well.”

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Cousins Haylee Armstrong (left) and Capri Anter are ready for their freshman season. (Michelle Armstrong photo)

It’s more about learning lessons than the final score, but the scores were pretty nice as well.

With both its varsity and JV seeing action against larger schools Saturday, Coupeville High School’s volleyball program kicked off a new season in style at the Oak Harbor Jamboree.

The Wolf varsity, reppin’ a 2B school, swept 1A South Whidbey 25-16, 25-19, 25-13, and held up well against their 3A hosts.

Oak Harbor’s main crew eventually escaped with a 25-11, 17-25, 25-18 win.

The results pleased CHS coach Cory Whitmore, as the Wolves continue to show growth as they prep for the start of regular season play.

“Today went well for what we went in hoping to come away with,” he said.

“The jamboree was about going out and gaining competition-experience, connecting as a team through that experience, and starting to settle into new roles and responsibilities.

“We definitely know more than what we did prior to today,” Whitmore added. “And the jamboree is always the first look at where our strengths and weaknesses lie.”

Coupeville’s varsity opened against Oak Harbor, showing “disciplined and tenacious defense, then turning it into brave offense.”

The Wolves followed up by clashing with South Whidbey, who they host next Wednesday, Sept. 6 in the first match that counts in the win/loss column.

“We took all three sets staying pretty focused and on top of the pace,” Whitmore said. “It’ll be fun to see them on Wednesday at full force and at our place.”

More important than the scores were showcasing growth — individual and teamwise.

“A lot of individual efforts stood out,” Whitmore said. “It was fun to see a few of them grow throughout the progression of the day and lessons learned in a jamboree really have that early impact.”

Wolves (l to r) Aby Wood, Chloe Marzocca, and Carly Burt wait for their turn. (Jennifer Marzocca photo)

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“Where do you think you’re going, young man?!?” (Nikki Breaux photos)

The warmups are done. On to the main event.

Coupeville High School football players have turned their attention to the season opener, which arrives this Friday, Sept. 1, when Klahowya travels to Whidbey for a 6:00 PM kickoff.

But first the Wolves ventured down to the wilds of Sultan for a jamboree, getting a chance to hit and be hit in live action against rival teams.

Along for the trip was Coupeville mom Nikki Breaux, who delivers the pics seen above and below.

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Taylor Brotemarkle has a big bat, and she’s not afraid to use it. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The season opened with a bang.

Or several bangs.

Playing in a three-team jamboree Friday in Oak Harbor, the Coupeville High School softball squad brought out the big bats, bashing the ball under cloudy skies.

The Wolves started against South Whidbey — the team they face Wednesday in their regular-season home opener — and rolled to an 11-0 win.

“We got off to a fast start,” said CHS coach Kevin McGranahan. “Seemed like everyone was hitting and hitting it hard.”

Sophomore Madison McMillan delivered the game’s biggest bash, launching a two-run triple down the left field line, while the Wolves were effective in all facets of the game.

“We were aggressive on the bases and at the plate, something we have been working on,” McGranahan said. “So it was good to see them translate it to a game.”

In the nightcap, Coupeville squared off against their hosts, but the teams were only able to put up an inning and a half of play before darkness sent everyone home.

The Wolves got just one round of at-bats in the bottom of the first inning, but made it count, with sophomore slugger Taylor Brotemarkle tagging a two-run inside-the-park home run to kick things off.

Coming on a line drive to deepest, darkest (for real) center field, it bodes well for the season ahead.

Coupeville opens the regular season Monday on the road against always-tough Meridian, then plays eight of its next 10 at home, offering Wolf sluggers plenty of opportunities to send balls screaming down towards Prairie Center.

As he prepares for his seventh season at the helm of the Wolves, McGranahan is ready and rarin’ to get going.

“All in all, very happy with how we played and are gelling as a team,” he said. “Everyone is contributing, and the girls are excited for the season.”

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CHS football manager Melanie Navarro enjoys her job. (Nikki Breaux photos)

Big hits, big pics.

The Coupeville High School football season has been filled with plenty of both.

The Wolves have roared out to a 5-1 record as they head to Leavenworth for a Friday Night Lights matchup with Cascade.

Things started strongly back in the waning moments of summer, when the CHS gridiron squad excelled at a jamboree in Sultan.

The photos above and below, which come to us courtesy Wolf Mom Nikki Breaux, are from that event.

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