Coupeville Sports

Ashley Smith (John Fisken photo)

Ashley Smith is jumping right into the high school experience feet first, trying new things.

The Coupeville High School freshman, younger sister of three former Wolf star athletes (James, Megan and Ian Smith), is juggling drama and soccer during her first semester.

And while she played various sports during her middle school days, Smith is stepping back on the soccer pitch for the first time in years.

She played in third and fourth grade (“It was a way to spend time outdoors and it was very fun”), put the sport away for a bit and has now returned.

Smith, who is playing midfielder for the Wolves, is excited about getting back into the “beautiful game.”

“Since it’s really my first year, I am just learning the game right now,” she said. “I am really working on my possession with the ball.”

She is fond of “being part of a team and enjoying the journeys with the rest of the girls” and wants to “play as hard as I can for my teammates.”

Down the road, she would like to rise in the sport, eventually becoming a team captain.

That goal comes directly from the example set by her sister, an Athlete of the Year in multiple years and one of the best all-around athletes to ever wear the red and black.

“My older sister, Megan, has always encouraged me to do my best at things I do,” Smith said. “I’ve watched her play in sports; she was a good leader and I want to be just like her.”

Her life is about much more than just sports, however.

Smith enjoys her science, art and weight training classes and spends much of her free time “working on my artwork, reading tons of books or listening to music (just not classical) and practicing my dance moves.”

She plans to balance sports with academics, to be as well-rounded and prepared for the future as possible.

“My primary interests are keeping my grades up,” Smith said. “So I have more choices of colleges or to join the military after high school.”