Kacie Kiel | Coupeville Sports

Posts Tagged ‘Kacie Kiel’

Conditioning? Ain’t no big thing!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged 1st day of practice, Basketball, CHS Wolves, David King, Julia Myers, Kacie Kiel, Lauren Grove, McKenzie Bailey on November 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Some people are star athletes. Others are good at taking photos. Only a few can do both. Kacie Kiel, American Badass, ladies and gentlemen. (John Fisken photos)

Freshman phenom Katrina McGranahan glides through a defensive drill.

McKenzie Bailey, scorin’ buckets all day long.

Julia Myers (right) and Lauren Rose grin and bear it during conditioning drills.

Julia Myers (right) and Lauren Rose can not be broken by mere conditioning drills, fool!

Sophomore sensation Lauren Grove, pretending she doesn’t hear the sound of her kneecap screaming in protest.

CHS hoops guru David King discussing dance moves. Or defensive stances. Yeah, probably dance moves.

B-ball whiz kid Mia Littlejohn has a hop to her step.

“We survived Day #1!!”

“And we still have our smiles!! Can’t feel our legs, maybe, but still smilin’!!”

There is one huge difference between male and female high school athletes.

It’s called a smile.

High school boys have been taught that you need to look tough in your team photos, or else you’ll look weak.

The next guy to ever smile in a wrestling team photo will be the first … ever.

Female athletes, on the other hand, feel no such qualms.

You can put them through the hardest practice, those days of conditioning, running lines and working on defensive positioning and, if they see a camera wandering by, they will still light up like a million Christmas lights.

At least that’s true in Coupeville, where the Wolf girls have never met a photo op they would turn down.

Superstars, one and all.

Read Full Post »

“I always believe in our team!!”

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged 1A Olympic League, Basketball, CHS Wolves, David King, Kacie Kiel, Madeline Strasburg, Makana Stone on November 17, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Wynter Thorne (left) works on her game during an open gym. (John Fisken photos)

Julia Myers (far left), Monica Vidoni (42) and Madeline Strasburg return for their senior season, while Amanda Fabrizi (far right) has left for college.

“As a team, our goals are set high.”

With much of the core of last year’s squad — the winningest of Whidbey’s six high school hoops squads — back for another go-round, this time bolstered by what could be an impressive freshman class, Coupeville High School girls’ basketball coach David King is optimistic.

“We can do some good things this season; it starts with every player dedicating each day to get better as a team and to improve their individual game,” King said. “Our goals, from my perspective, are to compete every game and play hard from the start of each game until the final horn at the end of a game.

“I believe we can finish in one of the top two spots in our league. Getting a home court play-off game is something we are striving for,” he added. “And we coach and play to get to state.”

A year ago, the Wolves won 10 games, including a thrilling home playoff victory over Meridian.

Now, they are primed to kick off their first season in the new 1A Olympic League.

King’s and ATM are gone from the schedule, and Coupeville will play three games against each of its new rivals — Port Townsend, Klahowya and Chimacum.

How that will play out is one of the great unknowns.

“There’s always a learning curve for a team that moves into a new league,” King said. “If we put the effort and work in up front and run our defense and offense like we should, then we will fit right in with this new league.

“We are excited to see how we do against more 1A teams, even though I will miss playing against the bigger schools in the Cascade Conference.”

On paper Klahowya is probably the team to beat, since it’s the biggest school by far and is coming off an especially strong fall season. Of course, the games are played on the court and not on paper.

“I always believe in our team and what we can accomplish,” King said. “Klahowya seems to have done well in both soccer and volleyball, so they may be the team to beat. Port Townsend and Chimacum had good athletes on soccer and volleyball as well.

“I think after we get through a game with each team, then we will have a better idea on who the team to beat would be.”

For now, he and assistant coach Amy King will focus on their own team, one that lost only two players (Breeanna Messner and Amanda Fabrizi) to graduation.

However, those two were battle-tested captains who had started playing for the Kings before high school. Who will step up and take the mantle of leadership is a prime question.

“Both Breeanna and Amanda are going to be hard to replace. They understood what I wanted out of them as players and what we as a team needed to do to get to where we wanted to be as a team,” King said. “Replacing the five years of experience we had together on the basketball court is tough.

“However, we have some very capable players to step in and fill the roles,” he added. “Kacie (Kiel) has been a huge driving force with the off-season open gyms and with the fall team. I expect her to continue to take on a leadership role.

“Makana (Stone) gained experience playing on a club team that traveled to Chicago, Tennessee and California to play against some very good competition. She will be able to draw on these experiences and help guide our program through the learning and playing against tougher competition. Maddie (Strasburg) has been a vocal leader since she stepped onto the court as a freshman; I don’t see this changing with her.

“I have seen a maturity in the other seniors and some underclassmen,” he added. “I can see others emerging as leaders as the season progresses.”

Coupeville returns seven players with varsity experience, led by Stone, a First-Team All-Cascade Conference player as a sophomore.

The lightning-quick junior, a two-way terror who “will see time at all five positions,” will be joined by seniors Kiel (point guard/wing), Strasburg (point guard), Julia Myers (post), Hailey Hammer (post), Monica Vidoni (post) and Wynter Thorne (post/wing).

Along with Messner and Fabrizi, two other varsity players from 2013-2014 have vanished from the roster (McKayla Bailey is injured and Carlie Rosenkrance moved), opening spots up for what could be an intense battle.

“Every player has an opportunity to prove why they should be on the varsity team,” King said. “They have to show this not just during the first week during tryouts, but each and every day throughout the season.

“This is based on the following: attitude, team first, give 100% effort every day, be defensive minded, willingness to learn, make the necessary adjustments to improve your game and, of course, skill.”

Junior McKenzie Bailey and sophomores Lauren Grove and Kailey Kellner are expected to be among the leading contenders for other varsity slots, but, as with the start of any new season, there is always an air of excitement hanging over who might emerge from the heat of battle.

And one of the most intriguing story-lines could emerge from the freshman class and how quickly those players develop.

“There are six incoming freshman that show potential and are athletic,” King said. “Each has something to bring and help improve our program. It will be good to see how they improve over the season against high school competition.”

Read Full Post »

Hoops hopes ‘n dreams: The gals!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged 1A Olympic League, Basketball, CHS Wolves, Hailey Hammer, Kacie Kiel, Lauren Grove on November 16, 2014| Leave a Comment »

McKenzie Bailey is among the returning CHS players excited about a new season. (John Fisken photo)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

If you like basketball, that is. Cause if you’re more of a wrestler, swimmer or gymnast, Coupeville High School is not the school for you.

The Wolves spring from the smallest 1A school in the state and when it comes to winter sports, it’s hoops or start planning for spring.

Thankfully, a lot of CHS students do like basketball. Of course, we’ll see how many when the first day of practice kicks off Monday.

As we sit at this moment — we’ll call it Basketball Eve — let’s take a moment to check in with some of the players planning to lace up their high tops and start running lines.

Everything is fresh and new again and hopes and dreams run wild, tempered with the knowledge that every season is started off with at least a bit of conditioning.

Tiffany Briscoe (Sophomore):

With basketball starting I’m a mess of excitement and jitters.

I think everyone is going in with a really positive outlook for this season. We’re in a new league and it’s a new chance for us to build up a name for Coupeville basketball.

I personally can not wait for the season to start. I’m hoping we can build on all the teachings we went through in open gyms.

I want to make a big impact in this league. We have the potential, the determination, and right now I think it’s really about fine tuning those skills.

Under the coaching of the Kings, I know that they will lead us to that.

I’d really love to take a majority of these games this season. And I believe we can do it!

I am just so excited! Though, I have to say, I know I’ll be hobbling around for the first week due to killer sore muscles, lol.

Kacie Kiel (Senior):

Well, basketball is definitely going to change this culture this year; everyone dreams of going to state, but I can say we are going to state!

I hope to improve my game so others will do the same; we are such a tight-knit group of girls and we are going far!

Basketball is one of the greatest sports ever but it doesn’t start til we are in condition and that’s the only thing I fear this year.

McKenzie Bailey (Junior):

Monday is the day where a new season starts.

I’m so excited to see our team together again. We are a family and it shows when we are on the court.

I’m very excited to get this season underway and excited to be back in the game.

Yes, the conditioning is going to be very intense but anything to make us better will be great.

We are such a good team and I know that these seniors want to go out with a bang, and I want to make that happen for them. We all do.

We are in a new league and this is our chance to prove how great we are. We want to start at the top and stay at the top.

Hey, maybe even make it to state; anything is possible with this team because we have so much heart and passion for this game.

It’s going to be a great season!

Lauren Grove (Sophomore):

I can’t wait for the season to begin.

Of course the main goal is always to win games. Another goal of mine is for Coupeville girls basketball to pose a threat to the other schools.

With hard work and dedication I know that we can accomplish great things and have a very successful season.

The conditioning isn’t always fun, but it’s what makes us better.

With that being said, I encourage my teammates to give it their all and come ready to work hard everyday.

Madeline Strasburg (Senior):

Senior year basketball, where do I begin?

Well, first, I am so amazed at how fast everything has progressed and that it is already time to kick start basketball season again, for the last time.

Also, I could never ask for a better group of girls to spend my last season with.

My sophomore year, when the Kings took over the program, our motto was to change the culture; honestly, I believe that we have undoubtedly accomplished that goal, and even taken that challenge to the next level.

With continuing hard work and the hunger to succeed, I personally believe that our team is the next STATE bound group of athletes!

I am so amped to get back in the gym and play with my girls!

I said it already, but our team has an enormous potential, we just have to get in touch with it.

My excitement to dominate the floor and our new conference is practically overflowing. We just have to go after it!

Hailey Hammer (Senior):

My hopes for this season is to come as one and win of course!

Basketball is definitely not my favorite sport, hurting my ankle is always in the back of my head, which sucks.

I am both excited and not excited because I don’t always enjoy basketball because it’s not my sport, but I’m excited to play with my senior girls one last time.

Monica Vidoni (Senior):

My hopes for the season is that we will be first in our league.

We have a lot of potential this year with our returners and some new upcoming people; our team is very talented and I believe that we will go very far this season.

I am very excited for the season; I have been waiting since the season last year.

Julia Myers (Senior):

I’m looking forward to basketball season with the girls a ton this year!

We have so much potential and I’d like to see us go to state this year. I have a feeling this is the year!

Also, the Kings are awesome, and I’m looking forward to having them coach me one last time!

Read Full Post »

Spikers tip off awards season!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged 1A Olympic League, awards, CHS Wolves, Hailey Hammer, Kacie Kiel, Valen Trujillo, varsity letters, volleyball on November 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Kyla Briscoe serves up another winner. (John Fisken photos)

The 2014 Wolf varsity spikers (minus the injured Sydney Autio).

Defensive Player of the Year Valen Trujillo moonlights as a lineswoman.

JV today, potential varsity stars tomorrow.

Kacie Kiel hauled home some hardware.

The Coupeville High School senior was selected as team MVP, won the “Pack Pride” Award and shared the Captains Award with Madeline Strasburg when the Wolf spikers kicked off the fall awards season Thursday night.

Strasburg was also a two-time winner, being honored as Best Teammate, while freshman Lauren Rose was tabbed as Most Improved.

Senior Hailey Hammer (Offensive Player of the Year) and sophomore Valen Trujillo (Defensive Player of the Year) rounded out the varsity award winners.

Hammer and Trujillo were also honored by league coaches, being picked as First-Team All-Olympic League performers.

Big-hitting freshman Katrina McGranahan was picked as the JV squad’s MVP, with Claire Mietus (Most Inspirational), Sofia Hassapis (Most Improved) and Lauren Grove (Coaches Award) also being honored.

Letter winners were McKenzie Bailey, Kyla Briscoe, Tiffany Briscoe, Miranda Engle, Hammer, Kiel, Ally Roberts, Rose, Strasburg, Trujillo and Monica Vidoni.

Receiving letters of participation were Payton Aparicio, Maggie Crimmins, Grove, Hassapis, Jae LeVine, Hope Lodell, McGranahan, Mietus, Abby Parker, Brittany Powers, Kayla Rose, Kameryn St Onge, Mackenzi Valko and Allison Wenzel.

The awards banquet wrapped up the first season for varsity coach Breanne Smedley and the last one (at least for now) for departing JV coach Amy King.

Read Full Post »