Coupeville Sports

Tori Wellman and dad Josh.

Tori Wellman wants to go out strong.

The Coupeville High School senior attacks play on the soccer pitch with great passion (“I just love the sport. I’m comfortable wherever the coach puts me and I’m not afraid to take out a girl every once in awhile”) and she’d like to cap her career as a Wolf booter in style.

“My goal this year is to give it all I have,” Wellman said. “This is my last year and I want to give a good example to the underclassmen because I know I looked up to the older girls I was playing with.

“Oh, and, of course, I want us to win, but also have fun,” she added. “That’s the reason these girls started playing in the first place.”

An athlete from an early age — she tried t-ball, basketball, cheer, BMX racing and horse riding — Wellman found her love early, when she first stepped onto the soccer field at six.

“I enjoy the fact that soccer has really motivated me to get out there and do something,” she said. “I just love the sport … I’m not really sure how to describe why.”

While the high school season is still weeks away from getting started, Wellman is playing with the Whidbey Islanders GU18 select squad, a team that boasts players from all three Whidbey Island high schools.

“I’ve been playing for (Islanders coach) Sean (LeVine) off and on throughout the years, and it’s no surprise to me that he is still a great coach,” Wellman said. “I would say playing in select has really helped me improve with the ball and getting comfortable playing all around the field, plus it’s nice that when high school season comes around I won’t be dying on the field from not being in shape.

“But really playing for the Islanders has been such a great experience so far, my only regret is not playing it before this year.”

The extra playing time is helping her fine-tune her already impressive skill-set, while keeping her sharp no matter where she lines up on the field.

“This season I want to focus on the little things like ball control and what not, which is why I was interested in select,” Wellman said. “It is a great way to get in shape and improve on any skills that needed to be worked on.

“I play anywhere. I grew up playing defense but I’ve been moved around a lot,” she added. “I’ve been playing mostly striker for Sean this season. I’m interested where (new CHS coach) Troy (Cowan) will be putting me.”

A big animal lover (“I would probably have 50 dogs if my parents would let me get more”) who hails “Shrek” as her favorite film (“I can still probably repeat every line”), Wellman has also recently picked up baking as a hobby.

“I haven’t burnt the house down yet, so I suppose that’s going well,” she said with a laugh.

As she finds her way in life, both on the soccer pitch and off, Wellman has been blessed to have a number of strong, positive role models.

From her coaches to teachers such as Tom Black and Ken Stange (“They gave me confidence that despite my struggles I can go out and do anything I dream of, and have also showed me to be happy with who I am”) and boyfriend Joey Edwards (“My boyfriend helps a lot when I don’t have any motivation to do anything”), she has a solid support group.

One man though, stands above them all.

“There’s a lot of people that have influenced my life in so many ways. So the answer to this is a little hard,” Wellman said. “I know my dad is my biggest influence. He has seen me at my best and my worst and has continued to support me in everything I do, even when he has the world on his shoulders.

“He’s a great man and I have always looked up to him.”