Coupeville Sports

   Ashleigh Battaglia, who finished with six points on opening night last Thursday, looks for an opening in the defense. (John Fisken photos)

Battaglia flies after a runaway volleyball.

We’re going to do a first today.

We’re swinging down to the middle school level to pay tribute to one of the best and brightest at CMS as she celebrates a birthday.

Ashleigh Battaglia, lil’ sis of CHS football star Chris, beats her brother by a few days (his cake day is coming up in a week or so), so she gets the spotlight first.

Much like her brother, she plays a lot of sports and plays them all well.

At CMS Ashleigh has suited up in every season, whether playing volleyball, basketball (where she kicked off a new season with a strong opening game against Chimacum) or track and field.

Last year she was the sort of indispensable jack of all trades a track coach loves, competing in seven different events during her season.

Want someone to run the sprints, throw the shot put or discus, launch herself in the long jump or take a leg on a relay?

Ashleigh answered the call every time, always with a beaming smile.

From what I’ve seen over the past year and a half, Battaglia seems like a genuine bright spot for Wolf athletics.

A hard worker, a good teammate and a warrior who is not afraid to get in the thick of things and battle.

I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the years ahead, and I already know Coupeville is lucky to have Ashleigh and her family, who have always struck me as a genuinely nice bunch.

Happy birthday, Miss Battaglia! I hope you have a great cake day.