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Posts Tagged ‘Western Washington University’

Wolves whack summer spikes

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , on July 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville High School volleyball players bond at a team camp in Bellingham. (Photos courtesy Cory Whitmore)

The heat is on.

With current summer temps at least slightly warmer than before, it’s the perfect time for volleyball players to fine tune their skill sets.

The Coupeville High School spikers showed up and showed out in Bellingham this week, with 11 Wolves participating in a camp run by Western Washington University.

The chance to get floor time, and build a team bond while doing so, is huge.

“As always, Western Washington runs a terrific team camp,” said CHS varsity coach Cory Whitmore.

“We have developed a strong relationship with them, and it is really beneficial to visit them year-after-year.”

Six of 11 Wolves were making their debut at the WWU camp.

Seniors Alita Blouin, Maddie Georges, Taygin Jump, Ryanne Knoblich, and Jill Prince were joined by junior Grey Peabody and sophomores Mia Farris, Jada Heaton, Katie Marti, Madison McMillan, and Lyla Stuurmans.

“I was incredibly impressed with the group’s ability to handle the strains of camp,” Whitmore said.

“It was much more about learning to communicate productively and blending the group than any one particular skill,” he added.

“With that in mind, I’m really happy with our consistency – the communication strategies worked, and the energy remained high.”

Another day, another round of spikes.

While Whitmore and Coupeville JV coach Ashley Menges were on hand, the duo allowed WWU players to largely take the reins, while giving Wolf players a chance to fend for themselves a bit.

“Coach Ashley and I did a lot of stepping back to let the group problem-solve and look to each other for strength and stability and I’m really encouraged by our growth in that area,” Whitmore said.

“They can be very proud of a hard-fought week that will provide them with a strong foundation to build upon in the fall.”

While all of the Wolves had a well-earned moment or two in the spotlight, Knoblich was chosen to receive the Camp Coaches Award.

“Ryanne has grown so much in a year’s time and really anchors a lot of responsibility on the team now,” Whitmore said. “So, we were so happy to see the coaches recognize the impact she has on this team.

“Definitely looking forward to our fall season.”

On to fall!

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Summer time is spike time

Posted in Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on July 12, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Lucy Tenore and friends participated in a summer volleyball team camp at Western Washington University. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

No off-season.

Coming off a second-place finish in their first season back in the Northwest 2B/1B League, the Coupeville High School volleyball coaches and players continue to put in the work.

Nine Wolves made the trek to Western Washington University recently for the school’s annual summer team camp, and the lessons learned should pay huge dividends down the road.

“We improved our cohesion and ability to play out-of-system, which is always a big obstacle to overcome with any new team,” CHS coach Cory Whitmore said.

“Our communication became more productive and with four seniors from the previous season no longer with us, our new leadership was a huge part of our focus.

“I believe each player that attended camp improved at their particular role.”

Returning varsity vets Lucy Tenore, Jill Prince, Maddie Georges, Alita Blouin, Abby Mulholland, Ryanne Knoblich, and Gwen Gustafson were joined by Olivia Schaffeld and Lyla Stuurmans.

“It’s a relatively smaller group to take to camp and meet the physical and mental challenges of four days of drills and scrimmaging and tournament matches,” Whitmore said. “Very few substitutes and for some, none at all.

“I’m really proud of not only how they held up through the challenges, but how they progressed through them.”

Whitmore praised the effort of all nine players, with a special emphasis on three.

“A couple to mention would be Alita playing virtually non-stop through a back injury that is in rehab,” he said. “Maddie for being the only setter, so scrambling and moving constantly to help her teammates.

“And Lyla, a freshman, having to learn the rotations at an accelerated rate in addition to playing a full six rotations for the team.”

With the pandemic receding, the hope is for a normal fall high school volleyball season to kick off the 2021-2022 school year, with Coupeville chasing two-time defending state champ La Conner.

The battle is eternal, and Whitmore is ready.

“We have a great foundation to take into the fall and we definitely left camp stronger than we entered it,” he said.

“This is a fun group to work with, and I’m looking forward to continue our team development to finish out the summer.”

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Fast to the last step

Posted in Track, Wolves in college, tagged , , , , on May 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Mallory Kortuem, here with mom Heather, competed Friday at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference track and field championships. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

She finished the only way she knows how — setting a PR.

Coupeville High School grad Mallory Kortuem capped her first season of college track Friday in Monmouth, Oregon, competing at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships.

Running in the 400, the Western Washington University freshman hit the line in one minute, 3.07 seconds, beating her previous collegiate best of 1:03.31.

Competing at the NCAA D-II level, Kortuem ran in six meets between March and May, performing five times in the 400, three in the 200, and once in the 4 x 400 relay.

Her college PR’s for the latter two events are 28.28, set at the Ed Boitano Invitational, and 4:17.00, accomplished at the Ralph Vernacchia Invitational.

Kortuem was a standout soccer and track athlete during her days in Coupeville, and still holds school records in the 400, pole vault, 4 x 100, and 4 x 200.

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Kortuem blazing trail of success

Posted in Track, Wolves in college, tagged , , , , on May 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Mallory Kortuem continues to excel in the world of NCAA D-II track and field. (Photo courtesy Kortuem)

Mallory Kortuem had a busy afternoon.

The Coupeville High School grad competed in three events Saturday at the 39th annual Ralph Vernacchia Track and Field Invitational in Bellingham.

For Kortuem, it marked the first time she’s run in a relay while at Western Washington University, and the first time she’s appeared in more than two events during a college meet.

The speedy former Wolf, now a freshman at WWU, ran a leg on a 4 x 400 unit which snagged third place, hitting the tape in four minutes, 17 seconds.

She also stepped to the line in the 400, finishing 5th in 1:03.57, and the 200, where she claimed 13th in 28.34.

Kortuem came dangerously close to breaking her college PR’s in those last two events, with her best times this season being 1:03.31 and 28.28, respectively.

During her time in Coupeville, the standout soccer and track star brought home four state meet medals — despite the pandemic wiping out her senior season — and still holds four school records.

Scan the big board in the CHS gym entranceway and Kortuem can be found atop the standings in the 400 and pole vault, and as part of record-setting 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 teams.

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Two Wolves, one race

Posted in Track, Wolves in college, tagged , , , , on April 24, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Ja’Tarya Hoskins (second from left) and Mallory Kortuem (second from right) are both running track at NCAA D-II schools. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Oval life will keep them together.

Coupeville grads Ja’Tarya Hoskins and Mallory Kortuem are attending different colleges, but NCAA D-II track and field meets keep bringing them to the same stadiums.

Saturday, the former Wolves, who share a CHS school record in the 4 x 100 relay, competed at the Peyton-Shotwell Invitational in Tacoma.

And they did so in the same race, both lining up for the 400.

Kortuem, a freshman at Western Washington University, placed 6th in one minute, 4.27 seconds, while Hoskins, a frosh at Saint Martin’s University, claimed 12th in 1:15.15.

The duo both compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and may come up against each other again before their debut season ends.

WWU is scheduled to host the Ralph Vernacchia Track and Field Meet next Saturday, May 1, and Saint Martin’s is among the schools planning to attend.

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