Nick Streubel (left) and Caleb Valko, back when they terrorized the gridiron together. (Katie Smith photo)
Friday night will be a whole new experience for Caleb Valko.
“I have actually never seen a high school football game from the stands. I’ve always been on the field,” he said. “That should be a nice experience.”
After years of rampaging across the field, the former Coupeville High School gridiron star, who was a team captain as a senior last season on the Wolf squad that reclaimed The Bucket by beating arch-rival South Whidbey on its home turf, is now a fan.
And a very dedicated one at that.
“I’m so excited for this game, almost as excited as if I were to be suited up,” Valko said. “Probably because these are the guys I played with. I want them to succeed and I don’t have any doubts that that’s what they intend on doing.”
Coupeville opens with a home game Friday (7 PM) against non-conference foe Bellevue Christian. This time around the team leaders will be newly-minted seniors such as lineman Nick “The Big Hurt” Streubel and wing Jake Tumblin.
Watching his close friends go into battle without him at their side will be a new feeling for Valko, who, while not as physically big as Streubel, was the mud-stained soul of Wolf Nation.
“The transition of me playing to me watching is pretty difficult,” Valko admitted. “I know I can’t call out names or get somebody back into the game.
“It’s not my job anymore,” he added. “I’m a fan and an alumni now, not a player. It’s the captain’s jobs to keep the players in line.”
Which doesn’t mean he won’t be screaming his head off. Just from a different part of the stadium.
“Coupeville’s gonna kick Bellevue Christian’s ass!” Valko said. “Last year was a fluke. We almost beat them with 18 kids, half JV, last time.
“They better come ready to fight because I guarantee Streubel will be throwing punches and making tunnels for Jake to pass through!”
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