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Posts Tagged ‘Spring Sports Preview’

“Sky is the limit for this team”

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on March 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

CHS softball coaches Kevin McGranahan (left) and Ron Wright run players through practice drills. (Photos by JohnPhotos.net)

Mollie Bailey is one of nine returning players from a team which came a win shy of advancing to state.

Third time’s the charm.

At least that’s the hope for the Coupeville High School softball squad, which has fallen a single win shy of the state tourney two years running.

And, while the Wolves will miss a trio of graduated All-Conference players in Hope Lodell, Lauren Rose, and Katrina McGranahan, the roster is loaded with experience.

Seniors Sarah Wright, Veronica Crownover, and Nicole Laxton top a lineup with brings back nine letter winners.

Joining them are juniors Scout Smith, Emma Mathusek, and Mackenzie Davis, as well as sophomores Coral Caveness, Mollie Bailey and Chelsea Prescott.

Having that kind of experience, and having it so precisely balanced between the classes, is huge.

“Returning nine of 12 varsity players will be key to our run this season,” said Coupeville coach Kevin McGranahan.

“My goals for this season are that the team comes together as a fast-pitch family and trusts in the process,” he added. “If we can do that, we should have no problem competing for a league title and going to districts.

“Sky is the limit for this little team that could.”

Rounding out the varsity roster will be junior Chloe Wheeler, coming off a strong JV season, and freshman Izzy Wells.

The Wolves need to replace Lodell in center field, Rose at shortstop, and, maybe most importantly, Katrina McGranahan in the pitcher’s circle.

Smith was Coupeville’s #2 pitcher last season, while Prescott and Wright also saw time flingin’ heat. Wells arrives at the high school level after being a top hurler in little league.

As the pitching situation firms up, the Wolves will be a force to reckon with when they’re up to bat.

Wright and Crownover, who anchor the team at catcher and first base, respectively, can mash with any diamond duo, Prescott combines power and speed, and the rest of their teammates have shown discipline and skill at the plate.

“Strengths will be our speed and ability to push the opposing defense,” Kevin McGranahan said. “Also our mental toughness will get us through the inevitable bad days.

“Things to work on will be just gelling as a team and our communication on the field.”

Coupeville is coming off a league title in a depleted Olympic League, after narrowly missing the crown a year before against a conference at full force.

The past two seasons the Wolves played in a winner-to-state game, but came up a single strike shy of upsetting Bellevue Christian in 2017, then were stung by Klahowya’s bottom-of-the-order hitters in 2018.

Now, CHS is part of the new North Sound Conference, which pits them against Cedar Park Christian, Sultan, Granite Falls, and South Whidbey.

King’s doesn’t field a softball team, so the Wolves will play 12 league games, clashing three times with each conference foe.

South Whidbey has advanced to state in back-to-back seasons, and might appear to be the league favorites, except…

The Falcons lost all-universe pitcher Mackenzee Collins to graduation, and, even with her flingin’ heat, Coupeville crushed the Falcons 12-0 and 10-0 in non-conference games last season.

With a 6-5 win in 2017 and a 4-1 victory in 2016, CHS has won four straight against SWHS under Kevin McGranahan.

Seniors Crownover, Wright, and Laxton have never lost to their Island rivals, and you have to go back to the regular-season finale in 2015, during Deanna Rafferty’s one season of coaching, to find the last time the Falcons beat the Wolf sluggers.

For Kevin McGranahan, though, it doesn’t matter which team is in the other dugout.

He’s been trying (unsuccessfully) to get Whidbey’s third team, 3A Oak Harbor, on the schedule, and looks forward to match-ups with 1A bruisers like Forks and Lynden Christian.

“Teams that stand in our way … well this is a tough question, as you know we will play anyone, anytime, anywhere … unlike our friends to the North, who keep ducking us year after year.

“I think this year we will not take any of our league opponents lightly; never should take anyone lightly,” McGranahan added. “This year in the new league we need to feel it out and put a choke hold on it early.”

Having four league rivals, and 12 conference games, after making do with just arch-rival Klahowya last season after Chimacum and Port Townsend suspended their programs, is just a bonus.

“I like the idea of being in the new league,” McGranahan said. “It gives us a real chance to earn a league title, not that we didn’t last year, but this year we have a better league schedule and not just three games for the title.

“Also the district tournament is A LOT closer!”

Coupeville kicks things off with a home game against non-league foe Friday Harbor Mar. 12, and currently has a 19-game regular season schedule.

After ending March with a four-game road trip, the Wolves get to close with seven of their last 11 games on their own field.

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Terrific trio top Wolf tennis roster

Posted in Girls Tennis, tagged , , , , , on March 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Still on the mend after back surgery, longtime Coupeville High School tennis coach Ken Stange is back on the courts, though not hitting as much as normal. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Junior netters Tia Wurzrainer (left) and Avalon Renninger, the team’s #1 doubles duo, lead the Wolves.

You can’t keep a good coach down.

Though he’s still recovering from spinal fusion surgery after a fall from a ladder, Coupeville High School girls tennis coach Ken Stange is back on the court.

While he’s limited on how much hitting he can do this spring, the longtime Wolf net guru has help from Drake Borden, an ace boys player pulling manager duty.

Also, as CHS moves into a new league, Stange can rely on his top returning players to help guide the newcomers.

Juniors Tia Wurzrainer and Avalon Renninger inherit the #1 doubles slot, replacing the graduated Sage Renninger and Payton Aparicio.

After finishing third at districts during their sophomore season, the duo are back and ready to take the next step on the success chart.

“We have strong leadership in Avalon and Tia. They had a fantastic season last year,” Stange said.

“Depending upon progress made and allocations given, they have an excellent chance to go far!”

Joining them is sophomore sensation Genna Wright, who played #1 singles as a mere freshman.

“Genna should be in position to have a strong year as well,” Stange said.

After the top three, however, the rest of the roster is very much a work in progress.

Only four other letter winners return, and the group of Jillian Mayne, Jaimee Masters, Elaira Nicolle, and Emily Fielder doesn’t feature anyone who played varsity regularly a year ago.

“Our weakness is that we are inexperienced,” Stange said. “With only three full-time varsity players from last season, we have some work to do, if we want to make waves in our league.”

Two freshmen, Eryn Wood and Abby Mulholland, “have shown great promise during the first week of practice,” and Stange always looks forward to seeing who will rise to the occasion with each new season.

“We have quite a few young players this year, so I expect lots of development as the season progresses,” he said.

After four seasons of ruling the roost in the Olympic League, Coupeville has set up shop in the new North Sound Conference in 2019.

Tennis is its own thing, however, as not all of the league’s six schools field a team.

Sultan and Cedar Park Christian sit tennis out, but Friday Harbor, the only Northwest League team to play the sport, has bounced over to join up with Coupeville, South Whidbey, King’s, and Granite Falls.

“We are in a new league with higher standards, and it will make for a competitive group,” Stange said. “I expect South Whidbey to be the gold standard; although, we have been able to stay close with them in recent years.”

Like the best coaches, Stange keeps an eye on the win/loss record, while putting the bigger emphasis on improvement, as individuals and as a team, and how the Wolves conduct themselves.

“(The season will be a success if) we try hard, we are happy with our results, we improve each day, and we demonstrate excellent sportsmanship,” he said.

For longer-term goals, Stange would like his team to finish in the top two in the league standings, advance at least two entries to districts, and get at least one entry to state.

As he rebuilds his own strength, he expects his players to do the same.

“I feel fortunate to have Avalon and Tia leading the charge for me this season,” Stange said. “I am not at 100% this season, and they will be essential to our entire team’s success.

“Luckily the path was laid for them by Valen Trujillo, Payton Aparicio, and Sage Renninger.”

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Back on Track: Boys Blaze

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on March 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville senior Tiger Johnson puts in work during the first week of track practice. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Sean Toomey-Stout is ready to launch.

Now, it’s time for an encore.

Coming off a 5th place finish in the team standings at last year’s state championships, the Coupeville High School boys track and field squad is back for more.

But while last spring played out to perfection, as the Wolves also won league and district titles, the lineup will look a little different this time out.

The biggest loss is Jacob Smith, who became just the second athlete in school history to win four competitive medals at a single state meet.

His running mate, Danny Conlisk, is at the front of the pack when you look at returning runners.

He enters his senior track season having already claimed three state medals, including a 2nd place finish in the 400 last season.

Joining Conlisk are juniors Sean Toomey-Stout, who medaled in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays last season, and Jean Lund-Olsen, who medaled in the 4 x 100.

Senior throwers Ryan Labrador (shot put) and Chris Battaglia (discus) also competed at the state meet as juniors.

Other Wolves to keep an eye on include Keahi Sorrows, Kyle Burnett, Koa Davison, Jakobi Baumann, Thane Peterson, Chris Ruck, Jaschon Baumann, and Tiger Johnson.

Freshmen Brian Casey and Logan Martin could have an impact as well, with Martin already among the team leaders in the discus.

Coupeville coach Randy King, entering his 14th year with the track program, likes what he sees.

“This first week they have proven to be a fun group with good leadership and a great positive vibe,” he said.

Coupeville’s biggest strength could be its sprinters, led by Conlisk and Sean Toomey-Stout, with King hard at work trying to find the right mix with the relay teams after losing Smith and Cameron Toomey-Stout.

“Probably our most talented group is our sprint group,” King said. “It will be a challenge to find that fourth member for our relays, and we look forward to figuring out if we will have a team with a good chance of state-qualifying in the 4 x 1 or 4 x 4.”

Labrador leads the throwers, with Sorrows pushing him hard in the shot put, while Battaglia and Toomey-Stout both topped 130 feet in the javelin a season ago.

Battaglia, who went to state in the high jump as a freshman, leads a group trying to step up and replace two-time state meet participant Ariah Bepler in the event.

Logan Martin and Davison are both in the mix in the high jump, while Toomey-Stout and Lund-Olsen are at the forefront in the long jump and triple jump.

Jakobi Baumann, a sub-district champ in the 100 hurdles last season, will be clearing the obstacles again, with Peterson and Burnett sailing through the air in the pole vault.

Track opens its season Mar. 14 at the Oak Harbor Jamboree, and Coupeville hosts three meets this season, its most in years.

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Back on Track: Girls Glide

Posted in Track, tagged , , , , on March 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Raven Vick fires the javelin during the sunny, but chilly, first days of Coupeville High School track and field practice. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mallory Kortuem (left) and Maya Toomey-Stout seek a third-straight trip to state.

They’re ready to rock.

Led by two school record holders, the Coupeville High School girls track squad is primed for success in the new season, individually and as a team.

The headliners are senior Lindsey Roberts, and juniors Maya Toomey-Stout and Mallory Kortuem, but the Wolves have exciting athletes up and down the roster.

Roberts and fellow senior Emma Smith top a list of nine returning letter winners, with juniors Ja’Tarya Hoskins, Raven Vick, Kortuem, Willow Vick, Toomey-Stout, and Lucy Sandahl and sophomore Catherine Lhamon rounding out that list.

Toss in promising freshmen like Alana Mihill and Ja’Kenya Hoskins, and life is good for CHS coach Randy King.

“We got off to an excellent start this week, and while it was a bit on the cold side, we are out and running!,” he said. “This first week they have proven to be a fun group with good leadership and a great positive vibe.”

Roberts, by virtue of her past body of work, including a school record in the 100 hurdles, earns the biggest spotlight.

A five-time state meet medalist, including a 2nd place finish in the hurdles as a junior, Lou has brought hardware home after every one of her three trips to the state championships.

As she enters her senior season, Roberts is hot on the heels of Makana Stone (seven medals) and Natasha Bamberger (six), the only Wolf girls to have claimed more state meet success.

Kortuem, who shattered the school record in the pole vault last season, and Toomey-Stout, have both been to state twice, winning 5th place medals as part of a relay team their freshmen seasons.

“On the running side for the girls, we return three girls who have been to state each year,” King said. “They have had a lot of success and are all capable between 100 and 400 and are anxious to compete.”

Ashlie Shank, who ran a leg on two relay teams (4 x 100 and 4 x 200) which went to state last season, is in a different state after a family move, so the hunt for a fourth relay runner is on King’s mind.

“It is hard to say at this time who a fourth participant on relays will be and what distance we will be best at!,” he said. “So far it looks like it will be one of the Hoskins girls.

“Ja’Tarya and Ja’Kenya have both shown good speed in practice so far, and so it looks like we will have five girls sprinters.”

The battlin’ Vick sisters will also be busy, with Willow the team’s top high jumper, and Raven out in front in the javelin, having hit almost 90 feet as a sophomore.

While the Wolf boys have no distance runners, the girls are upholding their school’s long and hallowed tradition in the events.

Lhamon, coming off a strong cross country season, and Sandahl are back for year two in the 1600 and 3200, while Mihill and Makaela Labrador join them.

While the sprinters and relay runners have the most state meet experience, senior thrower Emma Smith could soon join them in making the trip to Cheney.

A standout in volleyball, she has consistently improved her distances in each previous season, coming dangerously close to qualifying for state. This year could be her year, said her coach.

“We have a lot of potential in this area,” King said. “Emma has really worked on her strength and appears set to make significant improvements in shot and discus.”

Smith and her teammates open the season Mar. 14 at the Oak Harbor Jamboree, then host the first of three home meets Mar. 21.

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New league, new challenges for Wolf booters

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged , , , , , on March 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Senior defender Uriah Kastner is one of nine returning starters for the Coupeville High School boys soccer squad. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Freshman Xavier Murdy (left) leads a pack of promising newcomers.

It’s a whole new world.

When the Coupeville High School boys soccer team steps on the pitch this season, they’ll be in a new league, and powered by a new mix of players.

The jump from the Olympic League to the North Sound Conference brings a different set of rivals, including South Whidbey, which reached the state quarterfinals last season.

The Falcons upended Coupeville’s former #1 nemesis, Klahowya, in the first round of the state tourney, while new league opponent King’s fell a game short of advancing to state as well.

Toss in Sultan, Granite Falls, and Cedar Park Christian, and Coupeville’s 10-game league schedule gives the Wolves new challenges.

“It has been quite a few years since we have played any of the teams in our new league,” said CHS coach Kyle Nelson. “So it is hard to tell going in what the competition will really be like.

“My feeling is that the league will be competitive from top to bottom, with no easy wins for anybody,” he added. “I guess we will find out.”

Nelson enters his fifth season at the helm of the boys program, and his first without son William anchoring the team on the field.

A four-time First-Team All-Conference player, Will the Thrill and the rest of the Class of 2018 have left for college, jobs, and the real world.

Which doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare.

Most of the firepower is back, and still has multiple seasons to play, as the team’s leading scorers, junior cousins Derek and Aram Leyva, are still front and center.

In his first season in a Coupeville uniform, Derek torched the nets for a program-record 24 goals, while Aram tallied 13 during his sophomore campaign, running his career total to 19.

Both are chasing Aram’s older brother, Abraham, who hit the back of the net 45 times during his three-year run as a Wolf.

The Leyvas are part of a strong group of returning varsity starters, topped by seniors Dewitt Cole (goalie), Uriah Kastner (defender), and Teo Keilwitz (defender).

Juniors James Wood (midfielder) and Chris Cernick (midfielder) join the Leyvas, while sophomores Sam Wynn (defender) and Sage Downes (forward) are also back.

While it’s still early, and roles are in the process of being defined, several newcomers are expected to have an impact on this year’s squad.

Sophomore midfielder Alex Jimenez, junior defender Jonathan Partida, and junior goalie Simon Socha make the jump from JV, while sophomore defender Owen Barenburg and freshman midfielder Xavier Murdy top the newcomers.

However the lineup eventually shakes out, Nelson will have a team full of potential.

“We are returning some experience, but the core of our team will be juniors and sophomores,” he said. “So we will start the season a little young and not with experience in all parts of the field.

“On the flip side, I feel we are a well-balanced team that is bringing talent to all parts of the field, and should grow together throughout the season.”

While the goal-scoring aces are solid vets, the back part of the field is still a bit of a work in progress.

“On the defensive side, while they are bringing some experience, this is where we have the least amount,” Nelson said. “We will be looking to incorporate some new players who look to be important to our team, but it can take a while for both the defense and the new players to fully integrate.”

Coupeville opens the season with four non-league games, the first two at home (Mar. 9 vs. Chimacum and Mar. 11 vs. Mount Baker).

After that comes a stretch in which the Wolves play 10 of 11 matches against North Sound Conference foes.

As the 15-game regular season plays out, Nelson will be looking for improvement, with an eye on having his team playing at their best as the postseason nears.

“My goal is to form a well-organized, disciplined, exciting to watch squad,” he said. “I would like to finish with a winning record and a berth to the district playoffs.”

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