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Posts Tagged ‘Willie Smith’

So, you’re saying there’s a chance?

Posted in Middle School, tagged , , , , on May 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director Willie Smith. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Anything is possible.

When school sports return, there is a chance 6th graders at Coupeville Middle School will be allowed access to the same athletic opportunities currently afforded to Wolves in 7th and 8th grade.

Maybe.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association passed an amendment Monday which allows 6th graders to participate in all WIAA sports with the exception of football.

Previously, they only had the chance to try cross country and track, which were used as test sports for the idea.

The amendment, one of 18 to be OK’d, received the absolute minimum “yes” votes needed for approval in a 32-21 tally by members of the WIAA’s Representative Assembly.

To be implemented, the plan must be approved at the local level by school officials (principal, superintendent, and school board), while also garnering a thumbs-up from a school’s league and district.

Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director Willie Smith is all for 6th graders hitting the field and court, though he acknowledges there could be issues which prevent the change.

“We would be interested in having our 6th grade participate fully,” he said. “However, our middle school league is a bit all over the map.

“Mostly because some schools don’t have sixth grade on the same campus, and are not 6-8 … so there is no definitive plan as of now.”

While CHS was part of the North Sound Conference the past two years, CMS plays in the Cascade League, which includes South Whidbey, King’s, Granite Falls, Lakewood, Northshore Christian Academy, and Sultan.

With the high school moving down from 1A to 2B for at least the next four years beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, it’s bouncing over to the Northwest 2B/1B League.

CMS is expected to remain in the Cascade League, and currently fields teams in volleyball, boys soccer, cross country, girls and boys basketball, and track.

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Willie’s got a way with wood

Posted in woodworking, tagged , , , , on May 8, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director Willie Smith handcrafted this beauty. (Photo courtesy Smith)

He’s got skills.

Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director Willie Smith is staying busy even while schools across the state are shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to doing all his sports stuff, he’s also found time to craft the kitchen island seen in the photo above.

Made from madrona wood, with a maple top, it’s a Willie original.

“All lumbered by me and finished in my garage with my own two hands!”

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Be the Light this Friday

Posted in School spirit, tagged , , , , on April 14, 2020| Leave a Comment »

High school stadiums across Washington state will light up this Friday to honor senior athletes. (WIAA photo)

So, it’s back on.

This Friday, April 17, schools across Washington state plan to honor senior athletes who had spring sports erased by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 8:20 PM (20:20 military time for the Class of 2020), schools including Coupeville will fire up their stadium lights and let them burn for 20 minutes.

The event was previously announced, then bumped by worries it would violate Governor Jay Inslee’s Stay at Home order.

The thought was it would happen in May or later.

Apparently, things are OK now, as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association is leading the promotion of the event.

But, and we want to stress this, in the words of Coupeville Athletic Director Willie Smith, this is “a drive-by event, not a come and sit at the stadium event.”

Senior athletes and their families, or supporters, are invited to swing past the CHS stadium (behind the Elementary School on S. Main) between 8:20 and 8:40, honk, then go back home.

While staying in your cars!

Mark the moment, honor the seniors, but be freakin’ responsible.

PS — Idle too long in your car, or get out and mill about, and guys in HazMat suits will tase you, bro. Seriously.

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Light the night for senior athletes

Posted in School spirit, tagged , , , , on April 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville’s stadium will light up April 17 to honor senior athletes. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

UPDATE:

This event has been postponed at all sites until the Governor’s Stay at Home order is lifted.

 

The lights will blaze one more time for Coupeville High School senior athletes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced school closures and cancelled spring sports, but the Wolves and their counterparts across the region will still be honored.

And it’s going to come in a unique fashion, as schools plan to turn on their stadium lights Friday, April 17.

The event starts at 8:20 PM (20:20 military time), and lights will remain on for 20 minutes.

During this time, seniors and their families are encouraged to drive by and honk, while remaining in their vehicles at all times.

 

PS — If you leave your vehicle, CHS Athletic Director Willie Smith, wearing a Hazmat suit, will tase you, bro. 

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

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“I wish nothing but the greatest to all of you”

Posted in Everything changes, tagged , , , , on April 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville High School/Middle School Athletic Director Willie Smith (middle) and CHS Principal Duane Baumann (right) in happier times. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Washington is the 14th state to shut down in-person learning for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That decision ends any hope of spring sports being played.

Coupeville Athletic Director Willie Smith issued the following statement:

 

Wow, I don’t even know how to address the news that Governor Inslee just gave: the closing of our school year…

It goes without saying, and I’m actually entirely tired of saying or hearing this, that these are unprecedented times that we are living in right now.

My greatest concern, once school first got cancelled was would we come back, and if so, would we get to have any type of an athletic season.

And yes, I am a teacher and before any of you think why those would be my first thoughts, it’s because athletics is, and always has been part of my education.

It is a massive tool that teaches our students a myriad of lessons and I’m extremely proud to be an advocate of athletics and the role that athletics plays in our educational system.

Our league Athletic Directors, both at the middle and high school levels, began working on alternative seasons in case we came back and the WIAA was going to continue to try and have state championships.

As the second extension came out from Governor Inslee, we quickly moved to playing just within our league and not even considering the state-level competitions as time became our biggest obstacle.

And then today happened.

We had nearly 150 students out for high school spring sports and another 40-50 middle school students that were ready to begin track.

We were, literally, days away from our first contests when COVID-19 necessitated the closure of our schools.

I can’t even begin to express my sadness, disappointment, disbelief, and yes, anger at what has transpired.

Do I disagree with any of the closures? No, I do not.

It was the right thing to do and I think we are fortunate in our state to have a process in place that is forward looking and proactive rather than reactive.

But does it suck? Yes, yes it does, completely and without question.

To the underclassmen: you still have opportunities ahead of you.

Continue to work hard, stay active, get focused on what you can prepare for and not what you didn’t get to have this spring.

To the seniors: there’s nothing I can say that will make you feel good about any of this.

However, I do want to let you know that you have been one of my favorite classes of young men and women in my 25 years in Coupeville.

You are driven, funny, down to earth, high achievers, great friends to each other, and have represented our school in the highest manner.

I have no doubt about the successes you will have because I’ve witnessed the successes you’ve already had; this pandemic may have taken your spring seasons away, but it can’t take away your contributions to our athletic programs and our school culture.

It has truly been my pleasure and my honor to have been a small part of your school lives and I wish nothing but the greatest to all of you.

Mr. Willie Smith
Athletic Director, Coupeville Middle & High School

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