Coupeville Sports

Kirsty Croghan

The Queen of Videoville.

Kirsty Croghan has always been the exception.

She’s been the only Coupeville High School coach who could also claim they once worked at Videoville, my home-away-from-home for 12+ years — at least until Hall of Famer Ashley (Ellsworth-Bagby) Heilig returns to her Wolf roots and picks up the coaching mantle.

So, there’s that.

I went from goofing around with her behind the video counter to (sort of seriously) asking her questions after volleyball matches, a journey I never shared with say, Ken Stange or Randy King.

Give me a moment. I was just reflecting on what it might have been like to have Mr. King transplanted from the basketball court to the video store floor.

“This movie is three minutes late! You’re killin’ me, Smalls!!”

Yep, would of worked out just fine…

But anyway, back to Kirsty Sue (unlike with other coaches I can use her middle name cause I actually know it!), who celebrates a birthday today.

How many? Um…

She’s somewhere in her twenties, I know that. And getting more awesome by the second.

Kirsty had to give up the Wolf spiker job after just a season, when the commute from La Conner proved to be too much, but it was a thrill to see her get a crack at the position.

A star player in her day, she lived and breathed for CHS, and it’s a shame it didn’t work out for her to pass on her skills and knowledge to generations of Wolf players.

But, wherever the coaching life takes her, I know she’ll be successful.

More than that, she’ll continue to spread joy everywhere she goes.

The woman is one of the friendliest, most likeable people to ever walk this Earth, and her spirit is infectious.

She came to work at Videoville during a tough time, when the store was being moved and (eventually) sold to new owners, and there were many days when she was the one thing that kept our spirits up.

Here’s a message for Kirsty Sue — Miss Croghan, you are freakin’ amazing and I enjoyed every second I had with you.

I hope your day, your week, your year is as sublime as you have always been.