Steve and Elaina Kiel (top right) are joined by the Bad Boys of Spirit — Kyle Bodamer (in helmet) and Brian Norris. (John Fisken photos)
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that spirit.
Today, as we induct our 67th class into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, we’re focusing on those who bleed red … and black, for their Wolves.
Two couples, one married in real life, one forever united by their history in the student section at CHS, are being welcomed inside these hallowed digital walls.
With that, we welcome volleyball lifers Steve and Elaina Kiel and the Bad Boys of Spirit — Kyle Bodamer and Brian Norris — inducting all four as contributors.
After this you’ll find them at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab.
Which is only appropriate, since the four-pack of die-hard CHS supporters are all legendary in their fervor.
Up first are the Kiels, who join daughter Kacie in the Hall.
The duo are strong fans year-round, but their fervor during volleyball season, both back when Kacie and older sister Katie were active athletes at CHS, and continuing through today, is where they really rock the house.
Elaina is the calm center of the family, a mom to many a spiker, whether they are her own blood or not.
Her battle against cancer united her daughter’s teams, and her loyalty to each of her “girls” through the years is unbending.
While Mrs. Kiel is content to stay in the background, Mr. Kiel is often worth the price of admission (if I had to pay…) by himself.
Watching him work as a volleyball linesman is like gazing upon an artist painting their masterpiece, a mix of theatrical showmanship (especially on the big calls) and impeccable adherence to the rules.
You know it kills him to have to make calls which go against Coupeville, but you also know he would have called a foot fault on his own daughter at match point if they erred.
He’s loyal to his team to the end, but his ultimate loyalty lies with upholding the honor of his sport, which is why the paid refs always smile when they see him taking his place, flag in hand.
When he’s not on the court, Steve Kiel has been known to bellow some encouragement for the Wolves, often playing off of the student section in a concentrated effort to overwhelm the visiting fans, especially when those folks are in an uppity mood.
Two of the best to ever run wild in said student section are Norris and Bodamer, who combined innovative (and often blasphemous) costumes, leather-lined lungs and a willingness to go above and beyond in their fervor for their school.
Now, you will find some (especially back in the day) who didn’t appreciate their vuvuzela horn-backed antics.
Rival schools often complained and school administrators were often on edge.
To which I say, take a chill pill.
The Bad Boys of Spirit, along with other notables like Danny Savalza, Jake Tumblin and Josh Bayne (and his crop tops), made the joint jump.
They were impish, they were entertaining, they were committed and they fully bought in every game.
Which is exactly what the school should want — students actively supporting their classmates and having a fun time doing it.
Did King’s and ATM’s extra-precious, the-world-should-revolve-around-us-cause-we’re-fancy fans get their knickers in a twist?
Did the no-fun-crowd hate their antics?
Yes, yes, and so freakin’ what.
Coupeville should fully embrace the Bow Down to Cow Town concept.
We are who we are, and the Bad Boys of Spirit knew that, loved that and showed that, every game, every night.
So pull your vuvuzela horn out of its hiding place and blast away as Norris and Bodamer crash through the front door of our Hall o’ Fame, ready to rip the joint up and bring the house down.
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