Aaron Wright
Aaron Wright is perfect. Sort of.
If you throw the ball anywhere near the Coupeville High School sophomore tight end, he will find a way to make the catch. So maybe the Wolves need to target him a bit more.
“I have only been thrown to once, by Korbin Korzan, and made a diving catch. So I’m 100%!,” Wright said.
With Coupeville being a run-first, second and third style team and rarely passing, however, Wright has made his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball, where he explodes off the line to help the big boys create havoc for other teams.
On an imposing defensive unit led by seniors Caleb Valko and Anthony Maggio and junior Nick Streubel, Wright has heard his name called over the stadium PA system a fair amount of times this season. Not bad for a 15-year-old who is just beginning to come into his own at defensive end.
While Wolf coaches are happy to see him jumping in to fill the gaps, Wright, who is in his fifth season as a gridiron giant, is just thrilled to be out there on the field.
“I guess what has kept me interested is the intensity and crazy adrenaline rush I get after I make a tackle or catch the ball, plus the long history of the sport in my family,” Wright said. “I believe my strengths are working hard every play. An area to work on is my size, but being in the weight room and still growing will fix that problem.
“My real highlight of the season is starting on varsity, meaning I get to play with some amazing athletes like Brett Arnold, Jake Tumblin, Caleb Valko, Nick Streubel and Ben Haight,” he added. “I’ve also enjoyed going up against bigger upperclassmen on the other teams.”
He credits his parents, Ron and Christine Wright, for being the biggest inspiration in his life, while also acknowledging the positive impact his football coaches have had on him. Even when they push him to the point of no return.
“My parents have always pushed me to do my best and work my hardest,” Wright said. “My coaches have always been there as well. Coach V, Coach Maggio and Coach Smedley have been very encouraging to continue to get better — even when I’m puking during conditioning.”
When he’s away from the football field, Wright is a soccer star, bass player and board addict (wakeboard, skateboard and especially snowboard, which requires him to set up a second home at Baker) who still finds time to excel in the classroom. And not necessarily in the classes you might expect.
“My favorite classes are English, history and astronomy,” Wright said. “People might not know that I love art and enjoy doing it.”
Unless you’ve seen him play on the gridiron, where he brings art to chaos with his inspired play. Then it’s not a surprise at all.
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