Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘A freakin’ American hero’ Category

Heroes get remembered, but legends never die!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Boys Soccer, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on June 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Sean Donley? He's like a freakin' Greek god, he is. (John Fisken photos)

Sean Donley, operating at legendary status. (John Fisken photos)

We come to remember a legend.

The scrappiest of scrappy booters, the king of hairpin moves on the pitch, a man who could steal a pass, juke a defender out of his shoes, lay in a sizzling line drive for a goal, then go play “We are the Champions” on a baby grand piano on the sidelines while his teammates celebrate.

Sean Donley may no longer be patrolling the grass field at Coupeville High School for the Wolf boys’ soccer team, or be slaving away in the dish pits at Christopher’s on Whidbey, but he left his mark before leaving both locales.

He was the smartest, the quickest and the most talented, yet retained his boyish enthusiasm and laid-back charm.

He was Mr. Donley, living (large) legend, and nothing has changed.

As he celebrates a birthday today, we just want to send him best wishes.

You haven’t been forgotten, Mr. Donley. Your shadow still looms strong over the land.

May it be ever so.

Read Full Post »

Raise a Diet Coke high!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged , , on June 15, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Makana (John Fisken photos)

Makana Stone dominates. (John Fisken photos)

Maddie Big Time gets epic.

Maddie Big Time gets epic.

Nick Streubel, comin' at ya.

Nick Streubel, comin’ at ya.

The Surgeon is here to operate.

The Surgeon is here to operate.

Zane Bundy flies.

Zane Bundy flies.

Judy would like you to meet her elbow.

Judy would like you to meet her elbow.

Birthday boy John Fisken (left) with his family.

Birthday boy John Fisken (left) with his family.

Coupeville Sports wouldn’t be Coupeville Sports without him, even if he does insist on wearing Oak Harbor colors.

Much of the success of this blog can be directly attributed to the zillions of glossy, eye-popping photos we run.

Shelli Trumbull was the first to step up and then, later, John Fisken joined her on the front-lines in clicking away.

Sure, he fits us in around Oak Harbor’s schedule — that whole, I have kids at that school and there’s more students there, so more parents to buy photos, blah blah blah — but he is a constant, welcome presence in Cow Town.

If I ever paid him all the Diet Coke I owe him, Pepsi would just shrug their shoulders and call it a day, cause the market battle would be decided in one fell swoop.

As he celebrates a birthday today (I’m assuming 23, maybe 24…), I’m running a smattering of his snappiest pics.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and by no means meant to represent the best of his work.

Go bounce around Coupeville Sports for the next seven or eight hours and you can pick your personal favorites.

Fisken can shoot action with the best of them and is an absolute pro at getting behind-the-scenes photos that allow Wolf athletes to show off their personalities.

He is the rock, here on The Rock.

Happy birthday, you brilliant whiz kid, you.

Now don’t you have a little league game you should go shoot?

Read Full Post »

Miss Awesome gets her diploma!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Graduation, tagged , , , , on June 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Claire Ure: American Legend. (John Fisken photo)

Claire Ure: American Legend. (John Fisken photo)

This is a brief detour.

We’re taking a moment away from Coupeville, and sports, to pay tribute to one of the nicest people to ever walk the face of this Earth.

Claire Ure graduates from Oak Harbor High School tonight, and, while I won’t be there sweltering with the masses who watch her make the walk to get the diploma, I want to wish her the absolute best.

Because that’s what she is — the absolute best.

Miss Ure … OK, we’ll call you Claire Bear for a second, cause you can’t throw anything at me if I’m not there … always know how much everyone adores you.

You are a bright, shining light, full of goodness and cheer and kindness and wonder, all wrapped up in one intelligent, sweet-natured young woman.

As you move on, finishing your last months at my former employer, Christopher’s on Whidbey, before heading off to hair school and the big world out there, remember this:

You are special, Claire. You are wonderful. You are everything good in the world.

Everyone who has spent time with you loves you and wishes you an incredible life.

Go be awesome every single day. Or, in other words, just be yourself.

Read Full Post »

Let’s make Aimee Bishop cry (just a bit)!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on June 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Breeanna Messner (John Fisken and Shelli trumbull photos)

The many smiles of Breeanna Messner.

You try to be fair.

Try to take all the athletes you cover and regard them as equals, all being worthy of coverage and hyperbole, and sometimes, downright gushing.

But, invariably, a person can’t help but play favorites.

It’s human nature.

So, I will be the first to admit that Breeanna Messner, former four-sport Coupeville High School star, current college student and today’s birthday girl, is higher on my list than most.

Miss Messner is one of the most genuinely sweet, caring, lovely human beings I have ever met, and she has been that way from the first day I knew her to the last time I saw her.

Breeanna the athlete was one of the hardest workers I have seen, the indispensable glue to every team she was on, the one every coach adored.

Breeanna the person is even better.

My lasting image is of her in the stands during JV games, with her varsity teammates, one eye on the game, cheering for the younger Wolves, while simultaneously doing her homework.

Except for those moments when she would spring up to go hug her grandparents, her little cousin, each and every one of her former coaches, when they entered the gym.

When someone exudes love to those around her, takes the time in the middle of her own preparation and concentration, to make sure others feel appreciated, it is a sign that person is special herself.

As a cheerleader, a volleyball spiker, a gritty hoops player, a rock-solid softball catcher, Bree made big plays, won big games.

Off the court, away from the diamond, she won hearts and minds by simply being herself.

As she celebrates her birthday today, I hope life is repaying her big-time for being one truly amazing young woman.

Breezy, you are the best. Always.

Read Full Post »

Rockin’ Robin lights up the universe!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on May 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Rockin' Robin Cedillo (John Fisken photo)

Rockin’ Robin Cedillo lights up the entire prairie. (John Fisken photos)

Strike a pose.

Strike a pose.

Queen of the fish.

Queen of the fish.

Robin Cedillo is like a force of nature.

A really, really, super-friendly, outgoing, sunshine-shooting-out-of-every-pore force of nature, at that.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, who celebrates a birthday today, is an athlete, a softball-playin’, cheer team-screamin’ whirlwind, but what truly sets her apart from most every other athlete is her happiness.

She is a walking, talking, frequently-giggling, epic smile come to life and she makes everyone around her, from family to teammates, at least 17% more joyful on a daily basis.

Seeing her interact with her little niece Charlie, who came unglued and almost stormed the field every time Auntie Robin did something on the softball diamond, would have melted even the Grinch’s heart.

There is a lot to be said for being so full of life, and seeing Robin bop by can’t help but make everyone’s day better.

I hope her birthday is as phenomenal as possible, cause she deserves to be celebrated.

You, rockin’ Robin, are freakin’ awesome, and I hope people tell you that every single day.

May your radiant smile never, ever dim, even for a second.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »