Valen Trujillo: one woman, many talents.
The first time I saw Valen Trujillo, she made two girls cry, and it was beautiful.
And we should probably stop right there for a second, cause that makes her sound like a brute, and, in reality, she is as far from that as you could possibly imagine, and then some.
Miss Trujillo, in her everyday life, is a muffin-bakin’, sweet song-singin’, hyper-intelligent, well-spoken, kind and thoughtful ray of sunshine, someone who makes those who know her extremely proud.
And, since she has an ever-expanding group of friends, what with being super friendly to all, it pretty much means the whole world is proud of Valen and all she is accomplishing.
But, back to the crying for a moment.
My introduction to Valen, who celebrates a birthday today, came when she was a middle school basketball player.
Coupeville was playing King’s (the most dastardly of schools) and, in keeping with that school’s time-honored tradition, the Knights were using a style known as “smack your foe with an elbow at all times, then act all pious afterwards.”
Enter Miss Trujillo, who, soft smile still intact, opened a can of whup-ass on King’s.
Nothing illegal.
Just one whirlwind crashing across the court, fighting like a wild beast for every rebound, every loose ball, with an intensity that would have made the Detroit Piston “Bad Boys” of the ’80s and early ’90s weep with joy.
At one point, she wrested a ball from a King’s player with such a determined jerk, she sent the Knight airborne, and then, running out of the gym, sobbing.
That Knight was soon joined by a teammate, followed by Valen politely handing the ball to a ref, the smallest of grins on her face.
For someone who has seen way too many Coupeville kids play timidly on the court, this was a landmark moment.
And then, in what would become her trademark style — though I didn’t yet know it — when the game was done, Valen, on her way up into the stands to see her parents, Craig and Amy, stopped as she passed me.
“Thank you for coming to see my game.”
First time in 20 years a teen athlete had said that to me, and, as I have discovered since, true to how Valen conducts herself every time I see her.
She is as ferocious a competitor as any I have seen wear a Wolf uniform, but she also goes to great lengths to show respect and kindness to her teammates, her opponents and those who come to watch her play.
The day she decided not to play basketball in high school was a dark day, the day Coupeville Sports almost shut down in mourning (am I joking … maybe, maybe not).
But Valen is super-busy and has many irons in the fire, and basketball wasn’t something she wanted to continue. So be it, even if I cry at the start of every new season.
She has taken that white-hot intensity to the volleyball court, where she is the queen of the floor burn, and tennis, where we all fear she will be the queen of the court burn.
We get two more years of her at CHS, and then she’ll be off to impress new fan bases, either as an athlete, or a singer, or a baker, or any of a million other talents she possesses.
Valen is a bright, blazing star, and, from what I’ve seen, all my words won’t make her puff up with pride and start acting the diva.
She is centered and knows herself. She is proud of what she can accomplish without lording it over others.
She is the real deal, and we are all lucky to be a sliver of her life.
Happy birthday, Valen. I hope this day, like all of your days, is wonderful.
P.S. — A new high school basketball season starts Nov. 16. Just sayin’…
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