Coupeville Sports

Breeanna Messner, always popular with the people. (John Fisken photo)

Messner and the tools of her trade. (Robert Bishop photo)

  Wolf seniors (l to r) Haley Sherman, Messner and Madeline Roberts during their run to the state tourney, the school’s first trip in softball in 12 years. (Fisken photo)

Breeanna Messner is the Al Gore of 2014.

The recent Coupeville High School graduate took the popular vote, but was denied the ultimate crown when the people behind the throne made their selection.

Messner, a four-sport (volleyball, cheer, basketball, softball) star for the Wolves, held off Lakewood’s Kiana Smith to win the public voting for the Everett Herald’s Female Prep Athlete of the Year.

She won 506-464 to best a 23-woman field that included athletes from big-name schools like King’s and Glacier Peak.

But the Herald editors selected Lynnwood basketball superstar Jasmin Edwards, who collected 223 votes in the popular vote, as their top athlete.

It was the same on the boys side of the battle, as Garrett Stich of Snohomish topped Hunter Bingham of Monroe in polling, only to see Bingham be tabbed as the Athlete of the Year.

Coupeville’s Ben Etzell was nominated for the boys’ award.