Coupeville Sports

Cameron Boyd (left) and Brandon Kelley pose before taking their dates to Prom.

Never believe the stereotypes.

Cameron Boyd is a metal head, but it’s not just because he likes to lose his hearing.

“I come from a musically-inclined family and my favorite type of music is metal,” he said. “For both the meaningful poetry, mixed in with the harsh and melodic outburst!”

He’s also a successful two-sport athlete, juggling tennis — where he’s playing doubles with fellow senior Jason Knoll — and soccer. But don’t label him a dumb jock, because he’s far from that.

“My favorite class would be psychology,” Boyd said. “With how my brain works, I love contemplating conventional theories in hopes of one day pursuing a career in psychology and bringing my gift forward to help people.

“I’d have to say my biggest interest is to be the greatest person I can, and help people with their struggles.”

After playing football as a freshman, where a hurt shoulder slowed him down, he made the jump to tennis as a sophomore after friends introduced him to the sport. Once on the court, he hasn’t left and is headed into his third season for Ken Stange’s Wolf net squad.

“I have stuck with it because I really enjoy the sport!,” Boyd said. “I like how different tennis is; it’s a rather relaxed and easy-going sport if you let it, which I find pretty enjoyable.”

The honor society veteran is looking forward to one last hard-court tour of duty with Knoll, who’s also a soccer teammate.

“We plan on just having fun this senior year and enjoying playing a sport we love with our friends,” Boyd said. “However, winning a few matches is always nice!”

Not one to toot his own horn, Boyd is always looking to fine-tune his game.

“My strengths? I’m not one to judge, but I believe I’m a rather balanced player; I have a fast reaction time so I can get some tricky balls,” he said. “I could use some work on my form to further excel my technique.”

A video game fan who loves Italian food and going to the drive-in with friends, Boyd also excels at a third, slightly more obscure sport.

“I love playing paintball!,” Boyd said. “My friends and I treat it like a sport. I wish it was bigger on the Island, so we could get more involved.”

Whatever passion he is pursuing, be it a sport or a classroom subject, Boyd has been blessed to have a strong support group comprised of family, friends and coaches. Three in particular stand out.

“I would have to say my parents are a big impact on my life; they raised me and shaped me a lot to who I am today,” Boyd said. “With my mom as a fitness instructor and cheer coach, she’s always advising me to make smart and healthy choices, while my dad is in the Navy and helped build my strong character.

“Over the years in my soccer career, my coach, Jim Copenhaver, has taught me to follow your passion, not to give up on your dreams and keep trying.”

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Ladies and gents, Jason Knoll!!

Jason Knoll is keeping a proud family tradition alive.

The Coupeville High School senior is preparing to launch into a new season on the tennis courts for the Wolves, the second Knoll to stalk the hard-courts at CHS.

“This is my fourth year of tennis,” Knoll said. “My brother (Garrett) had played before me, so I wanted to follow in his foot steps.”

A two-sport star — Knoll was the captain of the Wolf JV boys’ soccer squad in the spring and was voted MVP after netting a pair of goals from his left midfield position — he enjoys the flow of tennis.

“I love the pace of the game, it’s fast and intense!,” he said. “My strengths would have to be my serve and my forehand; I still need to work on my backhand.”

While Coupeville has a roster deep in experienced players, with Knoll one of a group of players with extensive prior varsity playing time, the senior is more concerned with enjoying his final go-around than in setting any specific win totals as a goal.

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