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Posts Tagged ‘state tourney’

Chris Chan (Photo courtesy Beverly Chan)

   These days he’s a dad, a coach and a member of the school board. But Chris Chan used to be a hoops star. (Photo courtesy Beverly Chan)

The last great run.

This March will make it 37 years since a Coupeville High School boys’ basketball squad won a game at the state tourney.

On Mar. 1, 1979 the Wolves bounced Montesano 62-51 for the second, and, so far, final victory on the big stage for the boys’ program.

The ’78-’79 squad, which was nipped 53-51 by Carroll on opening day, then bounced back for the W before bowing out 65-53 on day three against Nooksack Valley, joins the ’75-’76 team as the only CHS boys hoops teams to win a game at state.

They capped a run in which Coupeville made it to state four times in the 1970s.

Since that time period, only one Wolf boys squad has headed to the big dance, with the ’87-’88 team dropping both games it played.

As we wait for another CHS squad to catch the same magic, marinate in the photo above, which comes to us courtesy Beverly Chan, who ended up marrying the guy cutting down the nets in the newspaper article.

And, this thought just hit me.

The article clearly states the ’78-’79 team was the Cascade League champion.

Where is their banner on the CHS gym wall?

Every time I look up and see the first title banner being from 1990, I roll my eyes a little, because I know for a fact there were great teams well before that.

This is proof.

Dang it CHS, honor your past!

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Central Whidbey sluggers give a thumbs-up to being at the state tournament for the second straight season. (Renae Mulholland photo)

Reunited and it feels so right. Central Whidbey coach Mimi (Iverson) Johnson (left) and Marysville's Natalie (Slater) Maneval were teammates at Coupeville High School and Skagit Valley College.

   Reunited and it feels so right. Central Whidbey coach Mimi (Iverson) Johnson (left) and Marysville’s Natalie (Slater) Maneval were teammates at Coupeville High School and Skagit Valley College.

Win or lose, they were going to end the day in the swimming pool. That was a stone-cold fact.

So, while Central Whidbey’s coaches mull over an opening loss at the state little league softball tourney, their players have already moved on, happily splashing away in Vancouver.

The Pineapple Ninjas, Central Whidbey’s 9/10 All-Star squad, fell 7-1 to Marysville Saturday.

The loss drops the District 11 champs into a loser-out game 4 PM Sunday against East Seattle, which fell 6-0 to Gig Harbor.

Making its second straight trip to the big dance, Central Whidbey came up a bit short, but not for lack of effort.

“We held our own and played better than last year!,” said coach Mimi Johnson.

Central hurler Chanel Sterba “pitched her heart out” while Stella Johnson collected her team’s lone RBI, plating Kaia Richmond in the third.

Marysville jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, then added two more in the third and capped things with another two-spot in the fifth.

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Abby Mulholland (left) and Isabelle Wells are headed to the big time. (Katy Wells photo)

   Softball sluggers Abby Mulholland (left) and Isabelle Wells are headed to the big time. (Katy Wells photo)

They’re on their way.

The Central Whidbey Little League 9/10 All-Star softball squad is packed into cars and on the road to Vancouver.

When they get there, the Pineapple Ninjas, the District 11 champs, will open the state tourney at 1 PM Saturday against the District 1 champs from Marysville.

That game will feature a reunion, since Central Whidbey coach Mimi (Iverson) Johnson and Marysville league official Natalie (Slater) Maneval were softball teammates/roommates at Coupeville High School and Skagit Valley College.

The tourney is double elimination, so Central Whidbey will play again Sunday. District 2 and 8 are on their side of the bracket.

The full state tournament runs through July 17.

To see the bracket, pop over to:

http://www.littleleaguewa.org/washington-state-little-league-tournaments/district-6-tournaments/bracket/631-9_10-Softball-State

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Christine Fields fires away.

Christine Fields fires away.

Christine Fields is the gold standard.

The Coupeville High School senior golfer has advanced to state in each of her three previous seasons, claiming a top-15 finish each time.

Her best performance came a year ago, when she finished fifth in 1A.

During her stellar run, her only Wolf teammate (for a time) was older brother Austin, also a state meet veteran.

Since CHS doesn’t have a golf program, Fields trains and travels with South Whidbey. She reps the red and black in matches, however, with her scores counting as a one-woman Wolf wrecking crew.

That means she’ll still be competing against 1A/2A Cascade Conference athletes this year and not jumping over to the 1A Olympic League like other Coupeville athletes.

As she prepares for another bid at a state title, her thoughts:

I am very excited for my upcoming fourth and final season of golf.

I have worked extremely hard to get to the level of play I am at, and have not gotten to where I am at alone; I have a lot of people to thank.

First and foremost, my dad (pro golfer Mike Fields), who happens to be my coach.

The beginning of this season will be different and difficult for myself since he is still in California working until the end of April or beginning of May, so he will be around for the end of my season just before post season events start (the ones that really count.)

I, as usual, hope to make it through all post season tournaments, giving myself a chance to place well at the state tournament for what will be my fourth time.

I have yet to make a decision on what school I will be at next year; I am close though!

But playing for a university is still in the cards.

Also coach Sage, the SW girls coach, for allowing me to feel the past three years and this year already as part of their team.

My main goal this season is to do well obviously and play at the level that is my best game yet.

But more this year than any other I just want to enjoy every part of it and have a lot of fun!

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Tiffany Briscoe (left) and Jae LeVine helped Coupeville make it to state in 2014.

Tiffany Briscoe (left) and Jae LeVine helped Coupeville make it to state in 2014.

A new season starts in a little over 48 hours.

Coupeville High School athletes will head outside (hopefully not into the rain) Monday to kick off the first day of practice for spring sports.

The new season is the busiest of the three for CHS, with softball, baseball, track, golf, boys soccer and girls tennis vying.

The five Wolf squads (lone Wolf golfer Christine Fields trains and travels with South Whidbey) will be making their debut in the 1A Olympic League.

With fall and winter done, Coupeville has been the second-most successful school in the new league, capturing 23 league wins and a title in girls basketball.

Klahowya, the biggest school (by far) in the new four-team conference, has 30 league wins spread across the six sports (football, volleyball, boys tennis, girls soccer, girls and boys basketball) played so far.

Port Townsend has 15, while Chimacum brings up the rear with 13.

As they head into a new league, the Wolves hope to replicate their success from last spring.

Coupeville sent its baseball and softball teams to state, while Fields, track star Makana Stone and netters Aaron Curtin and Ben Etzell also made the trip to the Big Dance.

It was the first trip to state for a CHS softball squad in 12 years and one of the players who witnessed that never-say-die run up close and personal was Tiffany Briscoe.

As a freshman, she started several games in the outfield for the Wolves and became a more dangerous hitter in the latter stages of the season.

Now, as a sophomore, she will be in a new league, with a new coach, as Deanna Rafferty has replaced David and Amy King, who had to step aside to focus more time on their jobs.

Like her teammates, and fellow athletes in other sports, Briscoe is on the edge of her seat as the hours tick down.

Her thoughts:

“So, I’m super excited for softball to start!

Although all the nerves are starting to kick in with a new coach and all. But so far I’ve heard nothing but great things about her!

This will hopefully be another great season for Coupeville softball.

I’m ready to be back with the team and continue to keep improving our game!”

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