Coupeville Sports

Jessica Wood-Hagen

Jessica Wood-Hagen might be able to write this story better than I’m doing.

The Coupeville High School freshman is already an accomplished writer, and that’s just the first of her many talents.

“When I have time to spare, one thing I always love doing is writing books, which I am currently writing one,” Wood-Hagen said. “I plan on taking a creative writing class this year.

“Just preparing for my future career.”

When she’s not writing, she enjoys math (“I can’t say I have a favorite class because I like most of my classes”), the Stephen Hawking movie “The Theory of Everything” and listening to alternative rock bands like Get Scared.

With all of her activities, Wood-Hagen has still managed to carve out some time for sports, however.

She started playing volleyball as an eighth grader at CMS and hopes to play both that and softball as she makes the transition to the high school.

Wood-Hagen first picked up volleyball because she was looking for a way to fill her day.

“I started because I had extra time on my hands and I noticed that I was pretty good at volleyball for someone who has never played,” she said. “So I decided to join and it’s been fun since then.

“I enjoy being able to spend some time with my team and improving on my volleyball skills.”

Like most younger players, Wood-Hagen is hard at work on fine-tuning her game, with plans to keep improving.

“I think I am best at passing, but I think what I really need to work on is getting to the ball when it’s ahead of me and beside me,” she said. “I also need to work on serving overhand. I can get just to the top of the net, but I can’t get it over.

“Some goals I have are to keep improving my skills and to be more fit,” Wood-Hagen added. “I’m hoping volleyball will help me lead a new lifestyle.”

That new lifestyle should send her outside in the spring, as well.

“I was thinking about doing softball,” Wood-Hagen said. “Not only do I want to be more active physically and socially, but I also want to be outside more often!”

Inside or outside, she has plenty of support to draw on, from both family and friends.

“One person who has made an impact on me is my mom,” Wood-Hagen said. “She is always trying to help me get out more and make new friends, and when I told her volleyball was a sport I was in to, she was more than happy to get me signed up.

“She supports me and is very happy for my decision to do a sport, especially volleyball.”

On the court, the young spiker gets a spark from a veteran teammate.

“Another person who has made an impact on me, whether she realizes it or not, is Sarah Wright, one of my classmates and team members,” Wood-Hagen said. “She always encourages me to keep going, and she was happy for me when I decided to join volleyball.

“When I get too tired and have to stop, she’s always running past me and encouraging me to keep going and not to give up.”