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New year, new boss!!

Posted in Boys Tennis, tagged , , , , on September 5, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Drake Borden roared to a straight-sets win at #2 singles Wednesday, helping the Coupeville netters topple arch-rival South Whidbey. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

This one has been a long time coming.

Ken Stange kicked off his 14th season as Coupeville High School boys tennis coach Wednesday, and then his players stormed the courts in Langley and accomplished something none of his previous teams had.

They beat South Whidbey.

For 14 seasons, whether they were league foes or non-conference rivals, the Falcon boy netters have owned the Wolves.

The CHS girls have beaten South Whidbey under Stange, but their male counterparts couldn’t say the same.

There have been close matches and blowouts, but never once had Coupeville come out on top. Until the magic happened on a sunny early September afternoon.

Sparked by a gutsy comeback win by senior Jakobi Baumann, the Wolves jumped back on the bus with a 3-2 win in a match that doubled as the season and league opener.

Out of six schools in the new North Sound Conference, only Coupeville and South Whidbey play boys tennis, so they’re competing in the ultra-elite Emerald City League this year.

While both might have issues dealing with the private school powerhouses awaiting them, like two-time defending state champ University Prep, for the moment, the Wolves sit atop the league standings.

To get there, CHS got big-time performances from singles aces Baumann and Drake Borden, and first-time doubles duo James Wood and Mason Grove.

“Jakobi was amazing today,” Stange said. “After losing a 5-2 lead in the first set, he persevered, outlasting Levi (Buck) in the second, and playing some of the most consistent tennis in the third.

“Mason and James winning in James’ first match was special and Drake drubbed his opponent.”

 

Complete Wednesday results:

Varsity:

1st Singles — Jakobi Baumann beat Levi Buck 5-7, 6-4, 10-8

2nd Singles — Drake Borden beat Soren Bratrude 6-1, 6-1

1st Doubles — Zach Ginnings/Jacob Burke lost to Brent de Wolf/Joey Lane 6-3, 6-4

2nd Doubles — Mason Grove/James Wood beat Ian Maddux/Brent Batchelor 6-2, 3-6, 6-4

3rd Doubles — Tiger Johnson/Jaschon Baumann lost to Ranger Buck/Max Rodriguez 7-6(7-3), 7-5

JV:

4th Doubles — Andrew Aparicio/Koby Schreiber beat Jordan/Caldwell 6-4, 2-6, 6-2

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Wood a winner, on court and off!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , , on September 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »

CHS freshman Eryn Wood runs during volleyball practice. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

So many sports, so little time.

Coupeville High School freshman Eryn Wood springs from an athletic family, and the middle child of three has dabbled in numerous sports over the years.

As a middle school star, she impressed on the volleyball court and shone while competing in both track and field events.

Now, as a newcomer to the world of high school sports, Wood plans to flip track for tennis, giving longtime net coach Ken Stange another talented young player to take under his wing.

This fall, she’s ignoring the possible anguish of her soccer-obsessed family and staying with volleyball.

At least for the moment.

“I have not decided if I will play soccer next fall instead of volleyball,” Wood said. “I am definitely torn between soccer and volleyball because I’ve grown up around a family that worships soccer.

“But I also really enjoy playing volleyball as an outside hitter,” she added. “I enjoy how competitive and exhilarating it can be. I also love when you receive the perfect set to just kill the ball.”

Wood, whose goal for high school is to eventually earn an athletic letter (“I think that’s a good start, given that I’m a freshman”), considers herself a work in progress on the volleyball court.

Cue hard work and constant effort to refine her skills.

“I would say that I’m a good passer and hitter,” Wood said. “Although this is a very crucial part of the game and it really helps to have this as a strong area, serving is definitely one of my weaknesses.”

When she’s away from practices and games, the young Wolf enjoys a wide range of leisure activities.

“I really enjoy reading,” Wood said. “I think it’s just a fun way to disconnect from reality and get your mind off of whatever is stressing you out.

“I also LOVE to travel. I love to experience new cultures and see new places.”

Whether she’s pounding the ball on the court or off exploring, Wood is part of a tight-knit family, and she hails her parents, Robert and Jill, as well as older brother James and lil’ sis Aby, for the joy they bring to her life.

Even when she’s not playing soccer.

“My dad is a soccer coach, so I’m pretty sure he wants me to play soccer,” Wood said. “But he also encourages me to do something different and play volleyball.

“My mom just tells me that she will support me no matter what.”

Her appreciation for family support also carries over to her siblings.

“My brother James, a junior, knows everyone on the volleyball and soccer team,” Wood said. “So he just gives me the insider information.

“I love my sister Aby; it can be tough sometimes having a little sister with such an incredible personality but she really just keeps me on my toes and she supports me just as much.”

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Faces of Fall: Take the court!!

Posted in Boys Tennis, tagged , , , , on August 29, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Zach Ginnings kicks off our look at Wolf netters. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Harris Sinclair

The net crew at rest.

James Wood

Thane Peterson

They’re ready to swing into action.

The first boys tennis match of the fall is a week away, and Coupeville’s netters are hard at work prepping for that royal rumble in Langley.

In between sharpening their serves and honing their net games, the Wolves stopped long enough to let a wanderin’ photo clicker snap their pics, immortalizing the start of another season on the prairie courts.

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Wolf netters swing into the big time!!

Posted in Boys Tennis, tagged , , , , on August 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Senior Jakobi Baumann heads up a scrappy Wolf tennis squad ready to take on the big boys in the Emerald City League. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“We are the CHS team that has the toughest schedule.”

There is little doubt about that, as Ken Stange’s 14th year at the helm of the Coupeville High School boys tennis program arrives complete with an epic new challenge.

While other Wolf teams will face off with fellow North Sound Conference foes, the netters have a slightly different path to travel.

Coupeville and South Whidbey are the only schools in the new six-team league which play boys tennis, so they are linking up with the ultra-ritzy, ultra-competitive Emerald City League.

That puts the Wolves up against potentially the toughest tennis conference in all of 1A, one where private school players compete year-round in one sport and benefit from ready access to private coaches and indoor courts.

University Prep is the two-time defending team state champs, and the ECL has won five of the last six singles titles.

In four of the past six years, at least two ECL teams have finished in the top five in the team standings at the state tourney, with U Prep being in that exclusive group every season.

In other words, things have changed.

“It was nice winning two of four league titles in our old league (Olympic League), but that was then,” Stange said. “We can either complain about it, or we can work at getting better.

“I choose the latter.”

The new league also brings a format change, as the Wolves go from a three singles, four doubles set-up for varsity matches to two singles, three doubles.

With three fewer varsity spots available, the battle at practice will rage.

“We have quite a few returning players with experience,” Stange said. “There will be some stiff competition this season within our team.

“We lost our top players from last year and we are moving into a new league that is full of private schools. We have our work cut out for us, but we’re working hard to raise our collective game.”

Gone are #1 singles player Nick Etzell and #1 doubles duo Joey Lippo and William Nelson, but nine of the 12 players on the Wolf roster are returning letter winners.

Junior Mason Grove and senior Jakobi Baumann, who both played strongly a season ago, head up the team.

Joining them are Jaschon Baumann, Zach Ginnings, Drake Borden, Tiger Johnson, Koby Schreiber, Thane Peterson and Harris Sinclair, while three newcomers – James Wood, Jacob Burke and Andrew Aparicio – round out the roster.

Through good times and bad, big wins and tough losses, Stange has always approached his time on the court the same way – head up, wicked sense of humor intact and deeply committed to getting the best out of each of his players, regardless of their talent level.

“The new league raises expectations but we haven’t seen the competition yet. It should be challenging and fun,” he said. “I hope we can be competitive and be a solid part of our new league. I also hope we can get a couple of entries into the district tourney.

“This season will be a success if we can win a few matches and have some individual success,” Stange added. “The real success will be in whether or not we are able to improve our results in the second run through our league schedule.”

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New year, same snazzy pics!!

Posted in Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , , on August 20, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Avalon Renninger whispers to her soccer ball. “Hello, my old friend. I’ve missed you.” (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mason Grove is back and ready to unleash some lethal forehands.

Tucked away in the gym, spiker Maya Toomey-Stout heartily approves of the clean air.

Meanwhile in downtown Los Angeles…

Zach Ginnings is in mid-season form.

Fab frosh (l to r) Anya Leavell, Abby Meyers and Izzy Wells ignite their jets.

Maddy Hilkey works on her foot skills, while trying to avoid breathing any smog.

Jaschon Baumann glides into action.

Wolf senior Emma Smith shows the youngsters how it’s done.

Smoke, what smoke?

The skies above Whidbey Island were thick with Los Angeles-style smog Monday thanks to raging fires elsewhere, but the first day of practice for fall sports went off without a hitch.

Battling through the haze, mad photo clicker John Fisken snapped pics of three Wolf teams hard at work, capturing boys tennis, girls soccer and volleyball (which got to stay inside where the air was crisp and clean).

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