Parlaying the return of a highly talented group of athletes with the christening of a new track this spring, Coupeville High School touts its largest team ever.

Longtime coach Randy King said the squad size swelled to 52 early last week.

“We begin our season with a ton of excitement,” King said. “This is the biggest team that we have ever fielded at Coupeville, and we are hoping to approach the idea of a strong team in the 1A ranks.”

That hope is bolstered by the return of six league champions, three school record holders and eight state participants (four who placed).

The Coupeville girls team was first in the sub-district, fourth in the district and 12th at state last year. The boys placed second at sub-district, second at district and 15th at state.

The girls are led by seniors Skyler Lawrence and Lauren Grove and sophomore Lindsey Roberts.

Two-time state qualifier Lawrence won the league shot put title and finished 12th at state.

Grove and Roberts ran with two seniors on a pair of school record and league champion relay teams, taking third in the 4×200 and sixth in the 4×100 at state. Roberts, the league long jump champion, also took fourth in the 100 hurdles at state; Grove was 15th in the 200.

Junior Jacob Smith, the school’s 200-meter record holder, is back to pace the boys. He placed fourth in the 200 and 11th in the 100 at state.

Sophomore Danny Conlisk, league 800 champion, was 17th in the event at state, and senior Mitchell Carroll, league winner in the triple jump, was 15th at state.

Smith, Conlisk and junior Henry Wynn ran on the state’s 15th-place 4×400 team.

Sophomore Chris Battaglia was 14th at state in the high jump.

“We have a large group of competitors who made great strides last year and, with another year of experience, are primed to be major contributors,” King said.

Key newcomers, he said, are Charlotte Langille and Cameron Toomey-Stout.

With its new track, Coupeville will be hosting at least three meets this spring, something it hasn’t been able to do the past several years. The school is looking for volunteers to work as judges. Those interested can contact King at 360-678-2465 or athletic director Willie Smith at 360-678-2422.

The Wolves will hold an intrasquad meet Saturday, March 11, as a trial run to test the new facilities.

Coupeville opens the season at Oak Harbor’s Island Jamboree at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16.

The first home meet is 3:15 p.m. March 30.