Coupeville Sports

   Coupeville High School freshman James Wood scored the tying goal and set up the go-ahead score in his first Olympic League game. (John Fisken photo)

James Wood plays to his strengths.

The Coupeville High School freshman may not be the biggest player on the soccer pitch, but that hasn’t stopped him from being successful.

“My strengths are probably knowing the game and how to outsmart other people,” Wood said. “Something to work on would be my size, because all my life I have been the lighter and weaker kid.”

Wood has grown up in the sport — dad Robert is the president of the Central Whidbey Soccer Club — first taking the pitch at age four.

“I started doing the sport because it was something to do,” Wood said.”I don’t play football since I’ve been smaller than most kids.”

Having devoted much of his time to soccer, he’s made huge strides and is one of two freshmen, with Aram Leyva, who have already scored for the CHS varsity squad this season.

Wood scored the tying goal in Coupeville’s league opener with Chimacum Mar. 14, then set Leyva up for the go-ahead goal in an eventual 4-3 win.

Having that sort of impact right out of the gate in his first season was all part of his plan.

“I enjoy scoring and team plays the most,” Wood said. “Like knowing I helped score that goal.”

Away from the field, he enjoys his English and science classes.

On the pitch, he credits team captain William Nelson as an inspiration.

“A main person that I look up to is Will, because he is a great player and a good friend.”

As he goes forward, looking to be a big part of a Wolf squad which currently sits at 2-2-1 overall, 1-0 in Olympic League play, Wood just wants to do whatever he can to contribute to the cause.

“My goals are to be a key player on the field and to be a skilled player.”