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Posts Tagged ‘Mica Shipley’

Wolf grads prep for college sports action

Posted in Wolves in college, tagged , , , , on August 14, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Mica Shipley, seen here in her Coupeville days, is an NCAA D-1 cheerleader. (Photo courtesy Tammy Akard)

Fall creeps closer, and with it the return of high school and college sports action.

Several Coupeville High School grads are confirmed to be in the mix to play at the next level when leaves start to fall.

Topping the list is Mica Shipley, an NCAA D-1 cheerleader at Eastern Washington University.

She’s a junior and is headed into her third season on the sidelines with the Eagles.

EWU football, backed by the high-flying Shipley and her teammates, kicks off a new season Sept. 3 at Roos Field in Cheney, when Tennessee State University visits.

At least two other former Coupeville athletes are chasing college football dreams.

Purple pride. (Chelle Herbruger photo)

Sean Toomey-Stout, a sophomore, is listed as a safety and sports the #30 for the University of Washington.

“The Torpedo” has been participating in fall practices and is fighting for a chance to make his debut as a D-1 gridiron star.

The Huskies begin play Sept. 3 at home against Kent State.

Football has carried Ben Smith from Coupeville to Illinois. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Toomey-Stout’s former Wolf teammate, Ben Smith, has landed at Eureka College in Illinois, where he’s listed at outside linebacker.

The Red Devils host Nebraska Weslyn Sept. 3 in their season opener.

Lucy (red) and Sophie Sandahl row for Seattle Pacific University. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Coupeville sisters Lucy and Sophie Sandahl return to the Seattle Pacific University rowing program, which will compete in fall regattas before conducting the majority of its season next spring.

With the departure of several strong seniors, the boat lineups for the Falcons are still being determined.

Rounding out the Wolves participating in fall college sports — at least as far as I know at the moment — is Joey Lippo, who confirms he’ll be back on the links at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

It’ll be the second college golf campaign for the lanky duffer, who has also played two seasons of baseball at UMPI.

Coupeville alumni Joey Lippo (far left) plays multiple college sports. (Photo property University of Maine at Presque Isle)

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Former Wolves chase college athletic dreams

Posted in Wolves in college, tagged , , , , on December 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Chelsea Prescott and former Coupeville High School classmates competed in college sports in 2021. (Photo courtesy Josie Prescott)

Busy year on the Island, busy year off.

While Coupeville High School athletes competed at one level, several of their predecessors continued their athletic careers on bigger stages.

How Wolf alumni did in 2021:

 

Ja’Tarya Hoskins (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Ja’Tarya Hoskins:

The middle of the three Hoskins sisters ran in four track meets as a freshman at Saint Martin’s University.

Also a standout cheerleader during her time at CHS, she saw action in the 200 and 400 during the outdoor season.

 

Mallory Kortuem (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mallory Kortuem:

The speedy one competed at nine meets for the Western Washington University track and field team, vying in the 200, 400, and 4 x 400.

Kortuem, a two-sport star during her Coupeville days, capped her freshman season with a strong showing at the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

 

Joey Lippo – center. (Photo courtesy Connie Lippo)

Joey Lippo:

Skyy Lippo’s twin brother stayed busy, playing two sports at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

On the baseball diamond, he recorded a team-high 57 at-bats for the Owls, hitting .263 with 15 hits, seven RBI, eight runs, four walks, and two stolen bases.

Lippo then mixed things up, joining the Presque Isle golf team for its season.

 

Chelsea Prescott (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Chelsea Prescott:

Coming off of an impressive run at CHS which was capped by her selection as the school’s Female Athlete of the Year, Prescott was an immediate hit at the next level.

Playing volleyball for Medaille College in Buffalo, she started all 21 of her team’s matches, and played in all 70 sets.

Prescott finished her frosh campaign with 116 kills, 165 digs, 24 aces, 12 assists, three solo blocks, 11 block assists, and 148.5 points.

That left her #2 among all Mavericks players for kills, digs, and points, #3 for block assists, and #4 for aces.

 

Mica Shipley (Photo courtesy BreAnna Boon)

Mica Shipley:

One of two CHS grads involved with NCAA D-1 athletic programs, she was front and center for the Eastern Washington University cheer squad.

The Eagles finished 10-3, while Shipley flew through the air, achieving a childhood dream of reaching the top rung in her favorite sport.

 

Ben Smith (Deb Smith photo)

Ben Smith:

Coming off a strong senior season in Coupeville, the durable running back redshirted at Culver-Stockton College in Missouri.

Now, he’s entered the transfer portal, and is likely headed to Eureka College in Illinois, though there is a chance he may make a detour and end back up in the Northwest at the University of Puget Sound.

 

Makana Stone (Photo property Loughborough University)

Makana Stone:

It was a busy year for the two-time CHS Athlete of the Year winner, as she signed her first pro contract with the Leicester Riders in August.

Before earning that first paycheck, Stone, as a non-European Union player, needed to qualify for a work permit before being eligible to play in the Women’s British Basketball League.

So, she suited up for Loughborough University, where she finished second among all players in voting for the Women’s National Basketball League Team of the Year.

Stone averaged a double-double, pouring in 270 points and snatching 231 rebounds across 17 games.

She added 33 assists, 58 steals, and eight blocked shots, had the third-best efficiency rating in the league, and delivered one of the year’s best performances.

Matched up against Gonzaga-signee Esther Little, the former Wolf ace went off for 20 points and 21 rebounds, handing previously-unbeaten Ipswich a 77-76 loss when she banked in a buzzer-beater.

 

Sean Toomey-Stout (Photo by Chelle Herbruger)

Sean Toomey-Stout:

“The Torpedo” beat the odds, making the University of Washington football roster as a walk-on.

The former CHS Male Athlete of the Year redshirted, but was in uniform every game for the D-1 Huskies.

 

Sarah Wright (Photo property Sewanee University softball)

Sarah Wright:

The exuberant softball slugger hit .407 during her sophomore season at Sewanee: The University of the South, collecting 11 hits, including two doubles, while driving in five runs.

Thanks to the pandemic, the former CHS valedictorian and her teammates have been limited to 26 games across the past two seasons, but that hasn’t stopped Wright.

Through 26 college games, she sits with a .309 batting average, 68 at-bats, 21 hits, including two home runs and two doubles, and 12 RBI.

Wright has walked nine times, come around to score six times, and anchored the Tigers with her quick glove and explosive throwing arm behind the plate.

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“Mica killed it!”

Posted in Cheer, Wolves in college, tagged , , , , , on September 3, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville’s Mica Shipley cheered in front of 21,000 fans Thursday in Nevada. (Photos courtesy BreAnna Boon)

Mica Shipley went to Paradise.

The Coupeville High School grad officially kicked off her second season as an NCAA D-1 cheerleader Thursday, as Eastern Washington University topped host University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Playing in front of 21,000 fans at the still fairly-new Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, the Eagles held off UNLV 35-33 in double overtime, denying a game-tying two-point conversion on the final play.

The game was held in a $1.9 billion arena, known informally as “The Death Star,” which also houses home games for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Shipley’s high school cheer coach, BreAnna Boon, was thrilled to see her high-flying star holding down the big-time spotlight, a payoff for all her hard work.

“Mica friggin killed it!,” Boon said. “Her coach said that she had the most infectious spirit on the team.

“I am so proud of her! She’s living proof that you can do anything you set your mind to.

“She has dreamed of being a college cheerleader for so long, so to be able to see her living her dreams out, it’s just completely heart warming!”

Shipley fires up Eastern Washington University supporters.

The Eagles cheer squad, livin’ large on the turf at Allegiant Stadium.

Shipley touches the heavens.

“Farewell until next time!”

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9 for 9: Cheer loud ‘n proud

Posted in Cheer, tagged , , , , on August 5, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Maddy Neitzel, a high-flying Wolf cheer hero. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

This blog turns nine years old August 15, and to mark the occasion, I’m picking what I view as the best nine Wolf athletes from each active CHS sport.

To be eligible, you had to play for the Wolves between Aug. 2012-Aug. 2021, AKA the “Coupeville Sports” years.

So here we go. Each day between Aug. 2-15, a different sport and (probably) a different argument.

 

Cheer is a sport.

So, now that we’ve ended that discussion, who are the best nine athletes to wear the uniform during my blogging years?

That’s a really tough one, as how do you grade a sport where, most times at least, no one is scoring points?

I guess, in the end, you (with you being me) flip a coin and pick those young women who stood out for being truly loud ‘n proud, the ones whose work on the sidelines lingers the longest in the memory.

You could make a case for a lot of Wolves who aren’t on this list, but in this brief moment, here’s nine who I think could bring as much spirit as need be, regardless if Coupeville was ahead or behind.

Mica Shipley, forever chasin’ that cheer life, from little girl to college superstar.

Nicole Becker — My former co-worker at Christopher’s, a bright, personable ball o’ fire who devotes countless hours to working with Special Olympics athletes in honor of her sister.

Kiara Burdge — The first freshman cheerleader ever awarded the Wolf award, and a team leader from day one.

Kylie Burdge — Big sis could light up a stadium like few others, a brilliant young woman who soared in the classroom and on the field.

Emilee Crichton — My next-door neighbor for many years, as bright and personable as anyone you’re likely to meet.

Sylvia Hurlburt — She was born to be a star, and never let her fervent fan club down. Always front and center. Always.

Breeanna Messner — A four-sport sensation, she played volleyball and cheered during the same season, and was awesome at both.

McKenzie Meyer — So much energy and excitement crackling through every atom in her body, plus she’s a true-blue Videoville alum, which gets her extra props.

Maddy Neitzel — She touched the heavens as a flier, and brought grace and style to her sideline work, a perennially-positive cheerleader if there ever was.

Mica Shipley — A high flyer who led CHS cheer back to competition (and a 3rd place finish at state). Now she’s an NCAA D-1 cheerleader, possibly a first for Wolf alums.

Look up spirit in the dictionary and you’ll see a photo of McKenzie Meyer.

 

Next up: We head to the pitch to honor the best male booters.

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Shipley achieves D-I college cheer dream

Posted in Cheer, Wolves in college, tagged , , , , on April 12, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville grad Mica Shipley made her debut as an NCAA D-I college cheerleader Saturday afternoon. (Photos courtesy Shipley)

Shipley (front row, far left) with her EWU squad.

She was born for this.

Mica Shipley has been a cheerleader most of her life, winning awards and soaring high into the air.

Now, the 2020 Coupeville High School grad has reached a new level of achievement, performing for an NCAA D-I school.

After being denied a chance to perform by the pandemic, the cheer squad at Eastern Washington University finally got to go live Saturday at the regular season home finale in Cheney.

Shipley and her teammates worked the sidelines as the Eagles beat the University of Idaho 38-31.

The victory avenged an earlier loss to the Vandals, and lifts EWU to 5-1 on the season.

While she didn’t get to fly Saturday, Shipley was just thrilled with the chance to achieve at least a part of her college cheer dream.

“No stunting, but I’m glad to be out there!,” she said.

During her days at CHS, Shipley was a cheer captain for the Wolves, helping lead the program’s return to competition after nearly a decade away from the blue mats.

During her junior season, Coupeville qualified for state in its first attempt in eight years, then claimed third-place at the big dance.

The next season, Shipley and fellow captain Ashleigh Battaglia led the Wolves to nationals.

The cheer supernova, who first made headlines when she earned her way onto all-star teams at age six, also modeled for Glitter Starz.

That Illinois-based company is a national leader in custom all-star uniforms, warm-ups, and other cheer essentials.

Shipley, who is one of two Wolf athletes at D-I schools (with classmate Sean Toomey-Stout competing for a spot with the University of Washington football team) is studying nursing, with plans to become an OBGYN.

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