Coupeville Sports

        Heni Barnes spends some quality time with local farmer-in-training Henry Purdue. (Julieanna Purdue photo)

Barnes at the center of life in the Wolf ASB.

Heni Barnes truly does it all.

Try to list off all the pursuits of the Coupeville High School junior and you’ll be here for some time.

Jazz Band. ASB class president. National Honor Society officer. Science Olympiad. History Day. Produce picker and baby wrangler for Wilbur and Julieanna Purdue.

Hijacker of PA systems, when she commandeered the sound system at the end of a Wolf boys’ soccer game and diverted Holly Craggs‘ attention long enough to give Brett Arnold and teammates time to unfurl a banner asking Craggs to Prom.

And now you can add the words “highly accomplished track thrower” to the list.

Barnes, who throws javelin, discus and shot put, has placed in the top six at every one of her meets and has three times finished second in the shot. Not bad for a newcomer to the sport.

“I joined because it was a sport that I had never really thought about being a part of,” Barnes said. “It sounded fun, I would have a great experience, and I could be with my friends.”

After being talked into the new opportunity by Wolf coaches Randy King and Ron Bagby, Barnes has come to enjoy the sport. Partly for the competition, and partly for the chance to spend more time with her classmates.

“I enjoy being with my friends and getting to stay outside,” Barnes said. “Also, going to the meets, which are fascinating sometimes.

“I’m pretty good at my events, but for all of them I could improve form,” she added. “Especially form and release for discus.”

A big fan of ’70s music, bike riding and collecting agates at the beach, the bubbly Barnes is a 4.0 student who enjoys calculus and science.

“I’m sort of a nerd that way,” Barnes said. “I like trying to stay outdoors but most of my time is spent with History Day.”

No matter what she is doing, be it sports or academics, she has a strong support group of family, friends and teachers to rely on and inspire her.

“My parents have always had a big impact in my life and have really helped me become the person I am today,” Barnes said. “They support me in track, and in a track sense, Mr. Bagby and Mr. King have had a BIG influence because they were the ones who tracked me down to get me to sign up and since then they have always encouraged me to do better.”