Nicole Becker (right) and friend and fellow Christopher’s on Whidbey employee Shelby Nell.
Two celebration of life services will be held for the sister of Coupeville High School cheer captain Nicole Becker.
Victoria Becker, 24, passed away June 16, 2013 at Whidbey General Hospital.
The first service will be 2 PM Sunday, June 23 at Burley’s Funeral Chapel in Oak Harbor. The second will be 3:30 PM Monday, June 24 at Living Hope Foursquare Church in Coupeville.
Nicole Becker (right) and best friend Jai’Lysa Hoskins.
Becker, her parents and her sister at Nicole’s graduation.
We are all one.
There are good things and bad things about small towns, but one thing defines a town like Coupeville, and that is that we all pretty much know one another.
Our paths cross at work, in the grocery store, at games, on the street. We know people even when we don’t know them.
As a community, as a town, as Wolf Nation, we pick each other up in our lowest moments. There is no other way.
Nicole Becker needs our help right now, our prayers (if that’s how you roll), our thoughts, our support.
Whether you know her personally and can reach out to her, whether you know her in passing, as a Wolf cheer captain and track runner, or as an eternally upbeat veteran of the dish pit at Christopher’s on Whidbey, whether you have never met her, we need to be there for her in whatever way we can.
Losing your older sister to death, as Nicole did Sunday, can be shattering.
But the darkness can be eased, a bit, by the knowledge you are loved, others think of you and want to take some of that pain away. That you are not alone as you head down this path.
Nicole is one of the most genuinely sweet people I have met in my time covering sports in Coupeville. Working with her at the restaurant has reinforced that belief.
In one of the many track photos from her senior year, she’s with her relay teammates, and, having spotted the camera, she’s grinning and waving the baton at the photographer, while her partners remain basically oblivious to what’s going on.
During basketball season, when the little elementary school cheerleaders came in for a halftime performance, there is Nicole, front and center, smiling down at one of the little girls, making her feel like she’s the star of the evening.
She is a wonderful young woman, one who seems to have a deep faith in God, and I hope that helps her through this time.
Her sister will live on through her, through her memories.
But we can not forget about Nicole herself. Let her know, in whatever way you can, that we are here for her, today and forever.
As spring volleyball practice kicks into high gear, we’ll be taking a look at a variety of players from Coupeville High School, with an emphasis on younger players and rising stars.
Ally Roberts is a busy young woman.
As befits one of the younger members of one of Coupeville’s top sports families — dad Jay, uncle Jon, aunt Sherry and grandfather Sandy all made big names for themselves as Wolves, while older Madeline is a CHS softball sensation — Ally plays multiple sports, and is talented at all of them.
A competitive horse rider, she’s juggling that with training for being a two-sport athlete when she becomes a freshman in the fall. She’ll join Madeline, a senior, on the Wolf cheer squad, while also playing volleyball.
“This will be my third year in volleyball,” Roberts said. “I started in seventh grade and I wanted to do a winter sport while I couldn’t ride my horse. I love to be active.”
While playing for Amy King’s Coupeville Middle School squad, Roberts was a setter. She enjoys the position, but would like to continue to expand her game.
“I love to be a setter,” Roberts said. “I think my strengths are probably setting and passing.
“I need to work on my overhand hitting and serving,” she added. “I hope that I can become a better hitter and I want to learn how to jump serve.”
A huge Macklemore fan (“Because he inspires me!!”), Roberts picks language arts and science as her favorite classes in school (“They really are a lot of fun”) and is grateful for the support and help of her family and teammates.
“My older sister has definitely helped me become a better cheerleader and she helps me when I have fallen,” Roberts said. “And I definitely think that I can and have already learned a lot from McKenzie Bailey and Haley Sherman.”
The Coupeville High School junior excels at whatever sport you put in front of her, and, in 2012-2013, she was the only Wolf to play four sports, with volleyball, cheer (it’s a sport, so suck it!), basketball and softball.
Before basketball games, as her teammates bounced around in the stands, Messner always seemed to be locked-in on her school work. She seems naturally smart, but it’s obvious she puts a lot of work in as well.
Which would also describe her on the playing field, where her talent is only topped by her work ethic and an utter commitment to her teammates. From starter to fringe bench player, she reaches out to them all.
If she is not a captain in all of her sports as a senior, I will be shocked. Who would you want to lead your team more?
The daughter of a legendary Wolf athlete (Aimee Bishop), Breeanna has a large cheering section of family and friends at all of her games, and she deserves it.
At 17 she is a great athlete, a strong scholar and, most of all, as classy as they come.
Thursday night Coupeville High School will hand out its Male and Female Athletes of the Year. A week later we’re gonna top ’em.
Over the next week, you, my fervent followers, are being called on to vote for the first-ever winner of the “Coupevillesports.com Athlete Supreme.”
To be eligible, you had to play for Coupeville High School in 2012-2013, and, after much heated debate (between me, myself and I, and yes, fisticuffs were involved…), here are your 12 candidates. But, just in case you think I’m a complete moron, I also am offering a 13th slot for write-ins.
So, think I was wrong to leave out Amanda d’Almeida, Madeline Strasburg, McKayla Bailey, Brett Arnold or someone else? Your voice can still be heard.
The winner will be announced Friday, June 7 at 10 AM. Why? I don’t know, it just sounds official that way.
The nominees:
Aaron Curtin — #1 player on tennis team. Key basketball player. All-Conference honorable mention as baseball pitcher.
Ben Etzell — Went to districts in tennis. Second leading scorer in basketball, despite missing a chunk of time at start and end of season. First Team All-Conference as a baseball pitcher.
Austin Fields — Medalist five times during golf season. Went to state for third straight season.
Christine Fields — Strong soccer player. Claimed 15th at state golf tourney, a year after finishing 8th as a freshman.
Hailey Hammer — Starter in volleyball, basketball and softball. First Team All-Conference for softball, Second Team for volleyball.
Breeanna Messner — School’s only four-sport athlete (volleyball, cheer, basketball, softball) and a star in all of them.
Makana Stone — Strong soccer player. Battled for team scoring title in basketball despite missing games with illness. Made her high school track debut by winning first 32 races. Broke school records in 200 and as part of two different relay teams. Finished 5th at state in 4 x 200. Named First Team All-Conference in four separate track events.
Nick Streubel — One of two best offensive linemen in league during football. Team’s leading scorer in basketball. Went to tri-districts as a track thrower.
Madison Tisa McPhee — Strong soccer player who battled injuries. Undefeated in 100 and 300 hurdles all the way up through two final postseason track meets. Broke school records in 300 hurdles and as part of 4 x 200 relay team. Only Wolf to win two medals at state track meet. First Team All-Conference in three events.
Jake Tumblin — Led football team in virtually every offensive category; led baseball team in steals while anchoring defense as catcher.
Caleb Valko — Team leader and captain in football and basketball. Threw shot put and discus in track. Gave great smack talk.
Bessie Walstad — Captain for all three of her sports (volleyball, basketball, softball). Leading scorer in basketball. Second Team All-Conference in volleyball.
Coupeville Sports 