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Posts Tagged ‘OHHS Wildcats’

Miss Awesome gets her diploma!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Graduation, tagged , , , , on June 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Claire Ure: American Legend. (John Fisken photo)

Claire Ure: American Legend. (John Fisken photo)

This is a brief detour.

We’re taking a moment away from Coupeville, and sports, to pay tribute to one of the nicest people to ever walk the face of this Earth.

Claire Ure graduates from Oak Harbor High School tonight, and, while I won’t be there sweltering with the masses who watch her make the walk to get the diploma, I want to wish her the absolute best.

Because that’s what she is — the absolute best.

Miss Ure … OK, we’ll call you Claire Bear for a second, cause you can’t throw anything at me if I’m not there … always know how much everyone adores you.

You are a bright, shining light, full of goodness and cheer and kindness and wonder, all wrapped up in one intelligent, sweet-natured young woman.

As you move on, finishing your last months at my former employer, Christopher’s on Whidbey, before heading off to hair school and the big world out there, remember this:

You are special, Claire. You are wonderful. You are everything good in the world.

Everyone who has spent time with you loves you and wishes you an incredible life.

Go be awesome every single day. Or, in other words, just be yourself.

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Softball sluggers find new leader!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on February 7, 2015| Leave a Comment »

(John Fisken photo)

It was all smiles last year for Madeline Strasburg and Co., as Wolf softball went to state for the first time in 12 years. Now they’ll welcome a new coach. (John Fisken photo)

The Wolves will welcome a Wildcat to town.

Former Oak Harbor High School softball player Deanna Rafferty has been tabbed to replace David and Amy King as softball coach at Coupeville High School.

The Kings stepped down to focus more time on their real-life jobs.

They have remained in charge of the Wolf girls’ basketball program, which is currently enjoying its best season in a decade plus.

Rafferty, who played all four years at OHHS, inherits a team in transition.

The Wolves went to state for the first time in 12 years last season, but lost a number of players, including five starters, in the off-season.

Haley Sherman, Breeanna Messner and Madeline Roberts graduated, while family moves subtracted Emily Licence, Emily Coulter and Erin Josue.

Still, Coupeville should return four starters in pitcher McKayla Bailey, first baseman Hailey Hammer and outfielders Madeline Strasburg and Monica Vidoni, while welcoming a strong class of freshmen headed up by Katrina McGranahan, Lauren Rose and Hope Lodell.

The health of Bailey, who threw almost every inning in 2014, is also a question, as she is recovering from shoulder surgery.

She expects to be ready to go on day one of practice, and requests as many cameras as possible be present to document the moment.

Bailey was a member of the committee that chose the new softball coach and she came away impressed with Rafferty.

“She seemed really excited to just get to work with us and one of her goals is to help us reach ours individually, which I thought was really important,” Bailey said. “She played in high school all four years so she understands what it takes.

“She’s very young for a head coach but I think that makes her relatable and approachable,” she added. “Overall, I think she’ll be a good fit for us. She said she’s very competitive and overall I think she’s just a positive person to be around.”

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Let the heavens Rumble!!

Posted in Basketball, Football, tagged , , , , , on December 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Rodrick Rumble warms up prior to the tourney. (John Fisken photos)

Rodrick Rumble warms up prior to the tourney. (John Fisken photos)

We have lift-off...

We have lift-off…

and the rim cries uncle.

and the rim cries uncle.

Old stars. New stars. A possible NFL star.

They were all in town Saturday and gathered in the Coupeville High School gym for the annual Tom Roehl Roundball Classic.

The fundraiser, named in honor of a former longtime Wolf coach, drew a strong group of players, with almost every big name from the past two decades of CHS hoops showing up.

Among them was former Oak Harbor football sensation Rodrick Rumble, who went on to have a stellar career at Idaho State.

He’s currently pursuing an NFL career and had a tour of duty in the camp of the Indianapolis Colts.

On this day, the lanky six-foot-two receiver demonstrated his hops for all to see.

This rim will remember Rumble.

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The student becomes the teacher!!

Posted in Middle School, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on July 10, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Sadi Foltz

Sadi Foltz

Volleyball is coming full circle for Sadi Foltz.

The long-time Oak Harbor resident grew up playing for local teams, and now, as the new 7th grade coach at Coupeville Middle School, she’ll have a chance to pass on the lessons she learned from her mentors.

“I’m very excited to be able to be the new coach,” Foltz said. “I absolutely love the sport!

“I continue to play recreationally weekly here on Whidbey and am so excited to get these girls excited about playing volleyball!”

Foltz replaces Allison Cowan, who left after a season when her husband was transferred by the Navy.

Coincidentally, Foltz originally came to The Rock via the Navy, arriving with her family 22 years ago.

She first started playing competitive volleyball as a 7th grader herself, suiting up for North Whidbey Middle School.

As a high school player, she did double duty, playing for OHHS while also spiking for a select team out of Skagit.

Foltz got her first taste of coaching during her high school days, volunteering as an assistant to North Whidbey Middle School coach Lindsay Brockett for two seasons.

A 2013 graduate of Central Washington University, Foltz is employed as the Development Director for Habitat for Humanity of Island County.

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“I love being a leader and an example!!”

Posted in Girls Soccer, GU18 Whidbey Islanders, tagged , , , on July 1, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Lydia Peplinski

Lydia Peplinski

Lydia Peplinski lives and loves the soccer life.

One of the newest members of the GU18 Whidbey Islanders select squad, she has been playing since she was old enough to kick a ball.

As she heads into her sophomore year at Oak Harbor High School, the center midfielder is as much in love with the sport now as she has ever been.

“I love to run the field; I like having the responsibility of the flow of the game,” Peplinski said. “I love being a leader and an example.

“I enjoy being outside, I enjoy the big team, I enjoy the game, I enjoy everything about it,” she added. “There’s no place I’d rather be!”

The daughter of former OHHS athletes Tony and Amy (Preder) Peplinski (who I actually wrote about back in my Whidbey News-Times days), Lydia brings brains and natural skill to the pitch.

“My strengths would be my leadership, footwork and how, since I’ve been playing so long, I can predict the game,” Peplinski said. “I’m smart on the field.

“I definitely need to work on speed,” she added. “I can be extremely fast if I worked at it; three years ago I’d beat (teammate) Gillian (Crossley), now she’s whooshing past me!”

Peplinski started early (“I’ve been playing since I was a kid!”), and, after several years of rec ball, listened to the urging of coach Troy Cowan, who now calls the shots for the Coupeville High School girls’ soccer team, and moved up.

“He pushed me to join club soccer,” Peplinski said. “I began forming relationships with my teammates and had personally my favorite coach so far, Ryan Baker. ”

Away from the field, she is a strong student (“MATH! I love math! It comes easy to me and they seem to be the best classes”), and is deeply committed to music.

“MUSIC! Huge, huge part in my life,” Peplinski said. “I’ve played piano for eight years now and sax and clarinet for four. It’s my passion beside soccer.”

Now in her fourth season of select soccer, she draws on numerous people, both local and far away, for inspiration.

“Big influences? Everyone,” Peplinski said. “From the people that are on TV that are amazing soccer players, to my mom and dad with all their support, the coaches that made soccer fun and the people who don’t get the chance to play.”

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