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Posts Tagged ‘Joel Walstad’

Ethan Spark sacrifices his head for the team. (John Fisken photos)

Ethan Spark sacrifices his head for the good of the team. (John Fisken photos)

"Onward!" Joel Walstad leads the charge.

“Onward!” Joel Walstad leads the charge.

Laurence Boado

Laurence Boado dances on the pitch.

Andre Avila

Andre Avila leads a charge down-field.

Connor McCormick

Connor McCormick salutes his effort.

A month is a long time.

But that’s almost how much time will pass between home games this season for the Coupeville High School boys’ soccer squad.

A variety of things have affected the schedule, but the last time the Wolf booters stepped on their home pitch against a real live foe was Mar. 28, when they routed Forks.

The next time CHS will play at home?

April 23, when Chimacum comes to Whidbey for an Olympic League game.

As a public service, we’re running the photos above to remind local fans what the Coupeville boys’ soccer players actually look like in action.

You’re welcome.

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Joel Walstad (left) and Cody Menges celebrate a goal. (John Fisken photos)

Joel Walstad (left) and Cody Menges celebrate a goal. (John Fisken photos)

Hope Lodell, AKA "The Surgeon," about to operate on a pitch.

Hope Lodell, AKA “The Surgeon,” about to operate on a pitch.

Wolf netter Valen Trujillo basks in the glow of being named Player of the Match.

Wolf netter Valen Trujillo basks in the glow of being named Player of the Match.

Track speedsters Lathom Kelley (left) and Jared Helmstadter gaze into a future full of visits to the medal stand.

   Track speedsters Lathom Kelley (left) and Jared Helmstadter gaze into a future full of visits to the medal stand.

Sweet-swingin' Hunter Smith does what he does.

Sweet-swingin’ Hunter Smith does what he does.

The refs stop Abraham Leyva to ask for his autograph.

The refs stop Abraham Leyva to ask for his autograph.

CHS hurler Katrina McGranahan snaps off a pitch.

CHS hurler Katrina McGranahan snaps off a pitch.

The future of Coupeville Sports, the irrepressible Mollie Bailey.

The future of Coupeville Sports, the irrepressible Mollie Bailey.

Of course it’s sunny today.

In typical high school spring sports fashion, a day when nothing is scheduled to be played is balmy and delightful.

Friday saw clouds, rain and the cancellation of both CHS events — a girls’ tennis match at Friday Harbor and a softball game down in Langley.

And now, with spring break upon us, there is a general dearth of games for a bit.

If it wasn’t for a rescheduled (for the 17th time) home softball game against Concrete Tuesday, April 7 (first pitch, weather permitting, 4 PM), no Wolf squad would be playing for an eight-day period.

Both baseball and softball hit the field Friday, April 10 to play La Conner, re-kicking spring sports off.

As you wait out the dry period, here’s a few snappy pics, courtesy John Fisken, to remind you of what Coupeville spring sports would look like … if any of the teams were playing.

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Garrett Compton scored his first goal of the season in a 4-0 win Saturday. (John Fisken photo)

   Garrett Compton scored his first goal of the season in a 4-0 win Saturday. (John Fisken photo)

Maybe the Everett Herald was right when they once spelled Joel Walstad’s last name Walstud.

The Coupeville High School senior threw down a scoreless first half as a goalie Saturday, then moved up front and scored a goal of his own as the Wolf boys’ soccer squad thrashed visiting Forks 4-0.

The non-conference win improved CHS to 1-4 on the season.

A day after signing a college football scholarship, Walstad returned to the pitch and controlled the game on both ends.

The few times Forks made a significant run at the net, he shut them down.

Then, after being relieved by Connor McCormick in goal, he punched in a loose ball after a scramble in front of the net.

The original shot, mishandled by the Spartan goalie, came off of the foot of Abraham Leyva, who was trying for a hat trick.

The Wolf junior opened the game with a run down the right side for a goal, then tacked on a second score early in the second half when he curled a shot from the left side.

That gives him a team-high four goals on the season.

Coupeville’s other score came from Garrett Compton, who, much like Walstad, caught a rebound on his toe and banked the ball back in past a frustrated, vocal Forks goaltender.

The Wolves controlled play from start to finish, with a defense led by Aaron Wright and Oscar Liquidano being largely impenetrable.

Along with the four scores, Coupeville had numerous other shots on goals, as Leyva, Compton and Ryan Freeman attacked at will.

The only bad moment for CHS came early, when high-scoring weapon Zane Bundy tumbled over the prone goalie while trying to convert on a breakaway.

He exited the game and limped on and off the field with two teammates helping him at all times.

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Joel Walstad (John Fisken photo)

   Joel Walstad threw for more than 1,600 yards during his senior season at Coupeville High School. (John Fisken photo)

Walstad signs his letter of intent. (Shawn Walstad photo)

Walstad signs his college football letter of intent. (Shawn Walstad photo)

Joel Walstad is taking his talents to America’s Heartland.

The Coupeville High School senior, a three sport star for the Wolves (football, basketball, soccer) has signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at Midland University in Nebraska.

The school, a liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, boasts 27 varsity sports and has the largest athletic program in the state.

The Warriors, who went 2-8 last season, are an NAIA program that plays in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Walstad is actually the second Whidbey Island player to sign with the school in the past few days, joining Oak Harbor receiver David Ray.

During his senior season at CHS, Walstad was one of the most effective quarterbacks playing at the 1A level in Washington state.

He completed 112 of 227 passes for 1,675 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading Coupeville to a 5-5 record, its best mark in several years.

Walstad came out of the gate with a bang, throwing for 252 yards and three TD’s in a 35-28 win over arch-rival South Whidbey on the season’s opening night.

The Wolves took The Bucket from the Falcons twice during his time as a CHS football player.

Walstad was also Coupeville’s kicker and punter and played in the defensive backfield.

He was the third and final Wolf athletic star in his family, following in the footsteps of older siblings Tim and Bessie.

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Josh Datin

Josh Datin (6) gets mugged in broad daylight. (John Fisken photos)

Ryan Freeman is disturbed.

Ryan Freeman is disturbed.

Aaron Wright, not so much.

Aaron Wright, not so much.

Joel

   And Joel Walstad? It’s possibly the greatest moment of his high school sports career.

Layers.

Lots and lots of layers. Just for moments like this.

Soccer players often wear multiple layers, like spandex under their shorts, for several reasons.

Trying to stay warm in the “spring” weather. Because it looks snappy.

Or, maybe, because sometimes your opponent just tries to rip all your clothes off in the middle of the match.

Yep, that’s a good reason right there.

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