Coupeville Sports

Jessica Riddle

How do you replace a star like Jessica Riddle?

Simple answer — you can’t. The volleyball and tennis sensation was brilliant for two years at Coupeville High School before a family move took her huge smile and killer skills across the bridge, never to be seen again.

Sort of.

The reality is, Anacortes is not in darkest Africa and Riddle has been able to stay in contact with her friends and former teammates, many of whom she has known for better than a decade. Now a senior, she has become an even bigger star for the Seahawks, a brightly-shining comet of athletic ability streaking across the sky, still visible to Whidbey islanders, just not able to still be repping the black and red.

And who knows? Any day now Wolf volleyball coach Toni Crebbin might finally be able to stop crying over the loss of The Natural. Maybe…

The unexpected transition wasn’t easy for anyone involved.

“Going from CHS to AHS was difficult,” Riddle admits. “I had to leave all of my friends and a town that I had been in since second grade.

“AHS is a lot bigger and it took a whole month before I could find my classes on my own,” she added. “AHS is bigger than CHS, has a lot more classes you can choose from, classes start at 7:30 am, there are more sports to choose from like sailing and bowling and it is a bigger town.”

A natural talent on the volleyball court who sparked the Wolves from the first day she stepped on the court as a raw freshman, playing along side older sister Michelle, Jessica had to face down that most unexpected of things — nerves — during her intro to her new teammates, who she eventually helped finish 5th at the state Class 2A tournament.
 
“In the beginning, it was very scary to be at a different school and not knowing very many people,” Riddle said. “I remember my very first volleyball game as a Seahawk. It was before school had even started, so all of the faces in the crowd were unrecognizable. I didn’t know anybody and it was very intimidating. I was so nervous, which is weird because I usually never get nervous.

“After the game started and I got into a rhythm, my nerves went away and I had a lot of fun,” she added. “When I started school I was known as ‘the girl that hits really hard’.”

Once she settled in, Riddle found Anacortes a nice, welcoming place. But, as much as she likes her new home, she still has fond memories of her years in Coupeville.

“I keep in touch with all of my friends, so that makes me happy,” Riddle said. “I miss almost everything about CHS — how small and friendly it is, how all of my friends are like family to me, the teachers are so down to earth, and how everyone is so supportive when it comes to the sports at CHS.”

Along with lighting up opposing Northwest Conference teams with her high school teammates, Riddle has also continued to shine in both club volleyball and two-on-two sand volleyball, where she teamed with Taylor Rodriguez to take first in her level at the prestigious Alki Beach volleyball tournament. Her club team, Skagit Island Volleyball Academy, finished second in the region.

Now, it’s back to school and preparations for a second run at a state title. After that, college looms, with multiple coaches having expressed interest in her, raising the possibility of getting scholarship offers. Wherever she goes, she plans on taking full advantage of the educational opportunities.

“So far my plan is to get a Ph.D. in biological sciences, then go to medical school. After my schooling I want to be a clinical research scientist,” Riddle said.