Coupeville Sports

Payton Aparicio, doin’ work. (John Fisken photos)

Sydney’s little sister has become a star in her own right.

Coupeville High School sophomore Payton Aparicio, who celebrates a birthday today, has fully stepped out of the shadow cast by her successful big sis, more than making a name for herself in the sports world.

A two-sport star (volleyball and tennis) who still has time to return to basketball and make it three (you never know), Payton is one of the true bright lights in Wolf Nation.

She tore up the tennis court as just a freshman, teaming with fellow 9th grader Sage Renninger to play #1 doubles, and play it well.

Now, with a season of experience under their belts, they seem on the verge of having a truly huge breakout season this spring.

If Aparicio sets the tennis world on fire, it will be the second time she’s captured the spotlight this school year.

In the fall, she made the jump from playing JV volleyball as a frosh to being a varsity sensation as a sophomore.

When the stats were added up at the end of the season, Aparicio was one of three Wolves to appear in 10 of 11 categories, cracking the top four in a startling seven categories.

She was second on the team in serving percentage and service points won, third in kill percentage, hitting percentage and service returns and fourth in kills and digs.

Fueled by Aparicio and a roster full of fellow young guns, Coupeville surged from one win the season before to six in 2015, including a playoff victory against Seattle Christian.

Watching Payton fly around the court, two things were obvious.

One, she is a talented athlete (who hails from impressive athletic bloodlines), and, as her confidence continues to grow, I fully expect Aparicio to soar even higher.

And two, she truly lights up the gym and the world around it.

Payton comes across as a thoughtful, smart young woman who has a deep love for her large extended family, both blood relatives and teammates.

As she hits her cake day today, just a few days away from the start of a new tennis season, we want to take a quick moment to wish her the best.

Happy birthday, Miss Aparicio. May it sparkle like you do.