Coupeville Sports

Josh Wilsey and Bessie Walstad

Caleb Valko is a talker.

His non-stop patter was enough to get lifelong soccer fiend, and best bud, Josh Wilsey to finally take up a second sport and hit the basketball court last season. Now a senior for the Coupeville High School boys’ basketball squad, Wilsey will have plenty of time to listen to Valko as the duo help lead the Wolves into a new season.

“I got talked into it (basketball) by Caleb; I wanted to play for more reasons too, but his constant nagging helped,” Wilsey said. “But I’ve always enjoyed playing basketball; since I’ve played soccer my entire life, actually being able to use my hands in a sport is fun.”

Wilsey expects to see most of his playing time on the wing and at point guard this season, areas where he could have an impact for a team looking to bounce back after a winless 2011-2012 campaign.

“I’m a good defender, I’m fast and can rebound pretty well; I have good ball handling when I’m focused,” Wilsey said. “I want to work on my long range shots. I can hit them well, but I’d like to become more consistent.

“My goals as a player are to be the best player I can be, and help out my team as much as possible,” he added. “And for the team, I’d like to see us go far in postseason play, go out with a bang!”

Valko and Wilsey’s basketball connection extends off the court, as well, where the pair are deeply committed Los Angeles Lakers fans.

“We’re pretty diehard fans. That’s one of the reasons we became friends in middle school and we’d get in trouble during science class … but that’s a different story,” Wilsey said. “I am bummed we couldn’t get Phil Jackson back, but I am hopeful that the Lakers can settle in with (Mike) D’Antoni and get some wins and hopefully bring the trophy home.”

While he enjoys basketball, it will never fully claim his heart, however. The soccer pitch has called to him since he was a wee lad.

“Soccer is definitely my number one sport. I’ve been playing ever since I was little, and I’ve just grown to love the game,” Wilsey said. “It’s always grounded me; the game comes natural to me, and I just feel at home when playing soccer.”

That’s the sport he intends to stay with as he makes the jump next year from high school to college.

“I’d love to take soccer to the next level — playing at the college level,” Wilsey said. “I plan to attend college for four years and go into marketing if I can’t make it in soccer, but I’m pretty optimistic about soccer.”

A movie fan (“Funny movies are my all-time favorite. I just love a good laugh”) who has developed a taste for country music recently, Wilsey was an ever-present fan during the fall sport season. Cheering on his girlfriend, fellow Wolf senior Bessie Walstad, at her volleyball matches, he often waved signs for her, ran errands and was a vocal part of the student cheering section led by Danny “Shaman” Savalza.

Walstad, a three-sport star, may not get a chance to see all of Wilsey’s basketball games, since the Wolf boys and girls spend most of their league season with one team playing at home while the other hits the road, but her presence will always be there with him.

And while he’s quick to acknowledge friends like Valko and the impact his father has had on him (“My dad has always been a big motivator for me and always helps me with my game”), it’s obvious who he plays for.

“Bessie has been my number one fan and motivator; she motivates me to do better in everything I do on and off the court,” Wilsey said. “She makes me want to be a better person and more sportsmanlike.”