Coupeville Sports

In this photo by Pam Headridge, Wolf cheerleaders Emily Clay (on left) and Katie Kiel share some love after a paint/water war to end a summer cheer camp.

Katie Kiel is busy.

“I guess I’m just like any other teenage girl,” she said. “I love to talk, I have a Tumblr addiction, I’m always listing to music, and not a lot of people know this, but I’m such a nerd. I love to read. I’m usually in the middle of four different books at a time.”

Oh, wait, did we also mention the Coupeville High School senior plays outside hitter for the Wolf volleyball squad, cheers (that calls for double duty in the fall) and goes hard to the hoop as a post/wing player for the CHS hoopsters? As we said, she’s busy.

“I plan to juggle volleyball and cheer this year, and I plan to do so successfully,” Kiel said. “I have done it in years past, as well as my other fellow team mates.

“I guess it’s hard to juggle it all, from cheering at Friday night football games, volleyball Monday-Friday, and homework, of course, to my home life and my friends,” she added. “It seems like a lot, but staying busy keeps me from making trouble, I guess. The hardest thing to do is find time to eat.”

It helps that younger sister Kacie (“My family means the world to me, especially my sister. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be who I am today!”) is also an athlete, so the entire family can move as one. Both Kiel sisters will be looking to make an impact for Toni Crebbin’s spikers, who lost a chunk of key players to graduation.

“For volleyball, I plan to strive for my best in every way,” Kiel said. “If that’s not missing a single serve or going for every ball I will always try my hardest.

“As for the team, I hope we do as well as I know we can,” she added. “We always work together really well and I hope to keep that up.”

Press the multi-tasker on which of her sports is her favorites, and even the whirlwind Kiel has to take a pause.

“Ohhh … a favorite sport … hmm … that’s tough now. I enjoy so many things about each one,” Kiel said. “I love my cheer ohana. They keep me smiling. Volleyball is just … there’s no words that describe how I feel when I’m on the court with the team and we just have this amazing rally and win the rally. That’s gotta be the best feeling ever.”

And, while she enjoys all of her sports and mentions her appreciation for Crebbin and cheer coach Sylvia Arnold, she gives a (very slight) edge to basketball coach David King as her top mentor. His brand of tough love, with an assist from wife and fellow coach Amy King, has helped shape her as an athlete and a successful young woman.

“I have to thank all my coaches and teachers for never giving up on me,” Kiel said. “Out of all of the coaches I’ve had throughout my life, I think Coach King has stood out to me the most. He doesn’t sugar coat anything. If you need to practice more then he won’t hesitate to tell you. Sometimes he can get on my nerves, but I know it’s all to better myself as well as the team.

“I think the way that he and Mrs. King coach is very helpful,” she added. “They can come up with plays at the snap of a finger and they are so well explained that it’s a breeze to run. I enjoy the way they coach.”

Quick to spread the love, Kiel doesn’t forget her teammates, who she reserves a special place for in her heart.

“Without the help from my teammates I’d be nowhere. We are all like one big family and you can tell just by looking at us,” Kiel said. “They each have their own talent that they contribute to the team and in each way they make us stronger and better. I want them to know how much they mean to me and no amount of words can ever describe how much I’ve loved playing with them these past years.”