Coupeville Sports

   Katrina McGranahan: Mellow Superstar. (John Fisken, Joe Lippo and Justine McGranahan photos)

   McGranahan (far right), during her earliest days on the diamond. (Connie Lippo photo)

She is a serene superstar.

When she’s competing, either on the softball diamond or volleyball court (or, back in the day, the basketball court) Katrina McGranahan burns with passion.

Of that there is little doubt.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, who celebrates a cake day today, has never given less than everything she has, at least in the many games I’ve witnessed.

She wants to win as badly as anyone who reps the red and black. Of that there is no doubt whatsoever.

But Katrina can flip that on and off, which bodes well for her.

She knows when to be fired-up and when to sail through life Matthew McConaughey-style, calm smile lighting up her face.

It’s a style she shares with older brother Wade Schaef, who operated in much the same manner during his time as a baseball and football player for the Wolves.

Hugely supportive of her teammates, whether it be with a grin, a hug or grabbing Lauren Rose and giving her a loving noogie, McGranahan is a true leader who has earned her captaincies.

She may not scream and holler and kick people in the rear, but not every captain leads that way.

Katrina leads by example, by not shying away from putting in work, by playing through pain, by always being accountable.

Others follow because they want to play LIKE her, and they want to play FOR her.

I have seen her devastated after a playoff loss and through the roof after winning a game on the final swing, and she was, in both cases, a sterling example of what we all hope to see in a young student/athlete.

Miss McGranahan exudes class every day, in every way, and having her as one of the most prominent faces of Coupeville sports is a genuine blessing.

Happy birthday, Katrina.

I hope you know how highly you are thought of by the fans you play in front of, and I hope today, like every day, is a great one for you.