Coupeville Sports

Madeline Strasburg, seen here in a picture by Shelli Trumbull shot during last year’s softball season, is a multi-sport athlete who cooks, takes photos of her own and brings a sense of joy to everything she does.

Montana takes and Montana gives.

Three of Coupeville’s best football players from recent times — Dalton Engle, Mitch Pelroy and Tim Walstad — are currently attending Montana Western University, where the trio is putting in time and work in an effort to eventually see playing time on the gridiron with the Bulldogs.

In return, Big Sky Country has given Coupeville High School a key member of this year’s varsity volleyball team in the form of sophomore outside hitter Madeline Strasburg. With her spark-plug play this season (“Madeline is a go-getter and turning out to be one of our strongest, most consistent hitters,” said CHS coach Toni Crebbin), consider it a fair trade.

Strasburg has actually been on Whidbey for a while, also playing basketball and softball for the Wolves, but she first picked up her love for volleyball while living in Montana as a grade-schooler.

“I met the high school volleyball coach (Bill Dirkes) through my mom and he had told me I should play volleyball in the fall. I was only going into the fifth grade and I had never played before so I was very nervous!,” Strasburg said. “He told me I would do well, and I did.

“He was the person who taught me and made me love the sport,” she added. “I loved watching his girls play, and I don’t think it has occurred to me yet that I am now one of those girls.”

Strasburg, who also credits her mom for always pushing her to do her best, while offering tons of support, is still a work in progress on the court.

“I feel I am a very aggressive player,” Strasburg said. “I would really like to work on my back row play, as well as my communication on the court. I would like to get stronger in my position.

“As a team, we are young, so we want to gain experience, learn from each other, and be the best that we can be!,” she added.

A well-rounded student/athlete, Strasburg bounces from love to love, much in the same manner that she flies around the court.

“I love to cook!,” she said. “I also like photography. I am in my second year of yearbook class, and I thoroughly enjoy it, because I can be creative and take pictures.

“I also love watching football and cheering for the guys who come to our games and cheer for us!,” she added. “Plus, if you’re taking pictures for yearbook, you get to be a lot closer to the game!”

Her happiness, which is always bubbling up, explodes when she talks about volleyball. It’s clear she gets a a deep, abiding joy from her time on and off the court with her teammates.

“I am so excited this year to be on varsity and to get to play with girls like Bessie Walstad and fellow sophomore Hailey Hammer,” Strasburg said. “I think it is awesome to be able to play on the same level as girls that are so great at volleyball! I am very excited for this season and the ones to come!”