Katrina McGranahan | Coupeville Sports

Posts Tagged ‘Katrina McGranahan’

Wrong end of the buzz-saw!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, Katrina McGranahan, Lauren Rose, Sequim, volleyball on October 11, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Lauren Rose, seen here firing off a serve in an earlier match, had a team-high 12 assists Tuesday night. (John Fisken photo)

Some nights you just shake your head and walk away.

This season has been so good for the Coupeville High School volleyball squad that one flat night can’t derail the fun express.

And flat was the key word, as the Wolves, flying high with a five-match winning streak, stumbled against a brutally-efficient squad ready to take advantage.

Falling 25-17, 25-14, 25-13 in a non-conference road match against 2A Sequim, Coupeville took a small step back, dropping to 7-3.

Sequim is 8-1, has won 24 of 28 sets this season and is the only school to blank CHS in a match.

“We played tentative tonight and without fire to take down a very good Sequim team,” said Coupeville coach Cory Whitmore. “We had moments of brilliance, taking aggressive swings, but then would get back on our heels.”

Katrina McGranahan paced Coupeville with four kills and four service aces, while Lauren Rose doled out a team-high 12 assists.

Mikayla Elfrank (four kills), Valen Trujillo (14 digs) and Hope Lodell (seven digs) also dropped their names into the stat sheets with stellar play.

The best news is Sequim, which has given Coupeville two of its three losses this season, is out of sight, out of mind now.

The Wolves, who sit atop the 1A Olympic League at 4-0, close the regular season with five straight conference bouts, starting with a home affair against second-place Klahowya (3-1) Oct. 18.

Having some time off to recover from the crush of Homecoming, Spirit Week and several big matches back-to-back should allow Coupeville to get its mojo back before the matches which matter the most.

“We’ll have a long week of practice to get our confidence back,” an upbeat Whitmore said.

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Big spikes, bigger pics!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, fans, John Fisken photos, Katrina McGranahan, spikes, volleyball on September 7, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Katrina McGranahan contemplates a spectacular season to come. (John Fisken photos)

Maddy Hilkey goes low to keep a play alive.

Zoe Trujillo unleashes a deadly serve.

Older sister Valen Trujillo displays textbook form.

Wolf soccer sensations Avalon (left) and Sage Renninger pause for a family photo.

Emma Smith uncorks a vicious spike.

Hilkey hangs out with her fan club president, fellow Wolf athlete Lindsey Roberts.

Aimee Bishop (left), taking a brief break in her never-ending duties as CHS athletic coordinator, stops to get Mikayla Elfrank’s autograph.

The court is once again alive with the sound of spikes and digs.

Volleyball returned Tuesday night, and with its arrival came wanderin’ photo man John Fisken, who blew in the door to see what was up.

The pics above capture a mix of CHS players in (and out) of action, as well as faithful fans on hand to witness the Wolves sweep varsity and JV matches from visiting Mount Vernon Christian.

To peruse all of Fisken’s pics (purchases fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes) pop over to:

http://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/VB-20160906-Coupeville-vs-MVC/

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Wolf spikers tip off in style!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, jamboree, John Fisken photos, Katrina McGranahan, Oak Harbor, volleyball on September 3, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Katrina McGranahan leans into a new season. (John Fisken photos)

The CHS varsity has a pre-match get-together.

Hope Lodell unleashes.

Maddy Hilkey sets up the offense, under the watchful eye of teammate Allison Wenzel.

Wolf frosh Maya Toomey-Stout elevates.

They stared down the big dogs and lived to tell about it.

Coupeville may be one of the smallest 1A schools in the state, but its spikers showed no fear Saturday, facing off with two huge schools at a season-opening jamboree.

Host Oak Harbor is a 3A school, while Mt. Vernon calls 4A home.

Whatever they lacked in numbers, the Wolves made up in grit and hustle.

“We did well – I’m very optimistic about our starting point this early in the season,” said CHS coach Cory Whitmore. “It was great to get playing someone other than each other and come together to showcase what we’ve worked hard on so far.”

As the Wolves sparred with the Wildcats and Bulldogs, they stayed focused on the areas their first-year head coach had outlined for them.

“I was happy that we left each game with something specific we improved upon,” Whitmore said. “Our passing was a big focus and by the end that was a skill I felt like saw the most growth.”

Coupeville got plenty of floor time, with both its varsity and JV getting two matches each.

“We remained competitive with everyone; we even took a game from Oak Harbor,” Whitmore said. “I’m pleased with the two squads’ baseline that we set today.

“Now it’s about taking steps forward in each contest and practice.”

The Wolves open regular season play Tuesday (4:30 JV/6:00 varsity), with the first of five straight home matches.

Their foe on opening night is Mount Vernon Christian, which went 18-5 and finished fourth at state in 1B last season.

To see more photos (purchases help fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes) pop over to:

http://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/VB-20160903-Jamboree/

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Suds ‘n shenanigans!!

Posted in Softball, tagged car wash, CHS Wolves, Jae LeVine, John Fisken photos, Katrina McGranahan, Softball on July 9, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Jae LeVine gets extra close to make sure the car window is as clean as possible. (John Fisken photos)

Tamika (left) and Heather Nastali, with way too much enthusiasm for this early in the morning, wave signs at passing cars.

Katrina McGranahan, justifiably proud of her polish job.

Lauren Rose. A hose. Shenanigans in three, two, one…

Not the first time Wolf coach Kevin McGranahan has seen that.

Sarah Wright has a song in her heart and a smooth touch with the brush.

Looking like they stepped out of a glossy ad for a cleaning company …

and back to shenanigans.

They walk the walk, talk the talk and scrub the cars.

Intent on getting home and away uniforms for next season, Coupeville High School softball players hit the pavement at Whidbey Island Bank Saturday to hold a fundraiser car wash.

Wandering paparazzi John Fisken was in the vicinity and was nice enough to swing by and snap the pics above, which capture the Wolf sluggers hard at work and hard at goofing off.

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The coolest Kat in town!!

Posted in Happy birthday, Softball, Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, Happy birthday, Katrina McGranahan, Softball, volleyball on May 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Katrina McGranahan: Mellow Superstar. (John Fisken, Joe Lippo and Justine McGranahan photos)

McGranahan (far right), during her earliest days on the diamond. (Connie Lippo photo)

She is a serene superstar.

When she’s competing, either on the softball diamond or volleyball court (or, back in the day, the basketball court) Katrina McGranahan burns with passion.

Of that there is little doubt.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, who celebrates a cake day today, has never given less than everything she has, at least in the many games I’ve witnessed.

She wants to win as badly as anyone who reps the red and black. Of that there is no doubt whatsoever.

But Katrina can flip that on and off, which bodes well for her.

She knows when to be fired-up and when to sail through life Matthew McConaughey-style, calm smile lighting up her face.

It’s a style she shares with older brother Wade Schaef, who operated in much the same manner during his time as a baseball and football player for the Wolves.

Hugely supportive of her teammates, whether it be with a grin, a hug or grabbing Lauren Rose and giving her a loving noogie, McGranahan is a true leader who has earned her captaincies.

She may not scream and holler and kick people in the rear, but not every captain leads that way.

Katrina leads by example, by not shying away from putting in work, by playing through pain, by always being accountable.

Others follow because they want to play LIKE her, and they want to play FOR her.

I have seen her devastated after a playoff loss and through the roof after winning a game on the final swing, and she was, in both cases, a sterling example of what we all hope to see in a young student/athlete.

Miss McGranahan exudes class every day, in every way, and having her as one of the most prominent faces of Coupeville sports is a genuine blessing.

Happy birthday, Katrina.

I hope you know how highly you are thought of by the fans you play in front of, and I hope today, like every day, is a great one for you.

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