Two generations of Wolf star athletes, Aimee Bishop (left) and daughter Breeanna Messner.
Mother and daughter in earlier times.
Bishop and sisters Christi Messner (lower left) and Barbi Ford (upper left) and father Paul “Santa” Messner.
Aimee Bishop is proof you can go home again.
A successful three-sport athlete during her days at Coupeville High School, she was anxious to flee small town living when she graduated in 1988. So she spent the next seven years seeing the USA, including a stint working at Walt Disney World in Florida (“I had an amazing time!”), before returning to Coupeville.
Now employed by the Coupeville School District, a constant presence at Wolf sporting events and the proud mom of her own three-sport star, Breeanna Messner, Bishop couldn’t be happier to be back in the place she once longed to flee.
“I love this Island as an adult,” Bishop said. “Funny thing is I could not wait to get off “The Rock” when I was in high school.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy her time at CHS, where she played volleyball and basketball and ran track for the Wolves. But, like a lot of other kids, the outside world loomed large and inviting compared to her hometown.
Now married to Island County Coroner Robert Bishop, she worked as a paralegal before making a full circle back, becoming part of a crack team that now runs sports events in the same venues she once called home as an athlete.
The transition specialist for the Island Juvenile Detention program by day, she can be found at virtually every home Wolf game, often hopping between multiple events in the same day.
If someone is shooting a basketball or flinging a football, she and her cohort in crime (“My wonderful friend Kim Andrews“) are there on the scene, making sure the lights stay on, referees show up and Kole Kellison doesn’t fall off of any rain-slicked press box roofs.
Playing a vital role in keeping CHS athletics humming along offers Bishop two opportunities — one, to relive her own high school sports days a bit, and two, to watch her daughter play out her own memories.
Still a strong athlete who runs religiously, Bishop fondly remembers her time on the hard court.
“My junior year in basketball was my favorite. We had a lot of fun that year,” Bishop said. “It was the last year that Coach (Phyllis) Textor coached basketball.
“My favorite sport was basketball,” she added. “I loved the adrenaline and the fast-paced game.”
It was Textor and a young track coach fairly new to the school who inspired her the most.
“Two coaches that stand out are Coach Textor, who coached me in volleyball and basketball and Coach (Ron) Bagby, who was my track coach,” Bishop said. “I remember Bagby making us run the mile at practice. I would complain because I was a sprinter, NOT a distance runner. Now I run marathons. Go figure.”
Regardless of the sport, the life lessons she picked up have stayed with her throughout life after high school.
“What I love about team sports is you learn to rely on your teammates, you work together and NEVER give up!,” Bishop said. “I love pushing beyond what you thought you could do.”
One of her greatest joys these days comes from watching her daughter, a junior who is a standout volleyball, basketball and softball player. While she tried to play fair and offer Breeanna many options growing up, Bishop always hoped the apple wouldn’t fall far from the tree.
“I have an amazing daughter,” Bishop said. “I always secretly wanted Bree to play sports, but I did put her in ballet, tap, tumbling, horse riding, guitar lessons and drama performances when she was little.
“She enjoyed sports the most. LUCKY ME!,” she added. “I love watching her play. I am a very nervous spectator, though. She is super fun to watch play.”
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