Two generations of Wolf volleyball stars (and family friends) — Sydney Aparicio and Sherry Roberts (right).
Superstar.
Bob Barker and his Wolf hoopsters, including the future Mrs. Roberts (31).
There is no doubt who has the best memory in the Roberts family.
Jon Roberts would be the first to admit that wife Sherry (Bonacci) Roberts remembers their glory days on the athletic fields and courts at Coupeville High School with much more clarity.
It’s a testament to both her sparkling intelligence and to the large box of clippings, programs and school newspapers that she has held on to — a box her husband refers to, light-heartedly, as the Sherry Loves Sherry box.
The box merely backs up her stories, however, with the pictures capturing a bright, vivacious young woman who always seemed to have a smile on her face, even when she was clocking an opponent in the back of the head while fighting for a rebound.
That image — of hard work mixed with joy — perfectly captures a player who lettered all four years in volleyball and basketball before going on to play a bit of volleyball in college.
“I would hope that my teammates and Coupeville fans would remember me as being a dedicated hard-worker while having fun and smiling,” Roberts said. “I also hope to be remembered as being a positive influence and an encourager to my teammates.”
Roberts has remained life-long friends with many of the girls she suited up with, and remembers their high school days fondly.
“I was really lucky to play with some amazing and talented athletic gals! Everyone always seemed to get along and sincerely encourage one another; I don’t ever remember any drama,” Roberts said. “I had the privilege of playing with Marlene Grasser, Tina Barker, Terri Perkins, Sarah Powell, Aimee Messner, Carol Estes, Shannon Sherman, Sally Biskovich, Aleshia McFadyen, Trudy Eaton, Georgie Smith, Jennie Cross, Kara Harvey.
“Marlene was my athletic role model though,” she added. “She was such an amazing and gifted athlete and one of the nicest people ever. She always helped me and encouraged me to strive for excellence and become the best I could be.
“She was the female athlete TWO years in a row … WOW!”
Roberts is being a bit modest, since she herself won the Female Athlete of the Year in 1987-1988, added an MVP award in volleyball, a Miss Hustle award in basketball and the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award.
Even though she loved basketball (“There is something about that game — the squeak of shoes on the court, the ball in your hands, hearing the net swish…”), she followed the advice of volleyball coach Phyllis Textor and accepted a room/board scholarship to play that sport at Yakima Valley Community College.
“I sat the bench a lot, little playing time each game. It was hard to do that, especially when you were a “star” in little ol’ Coupeville,” Roberts said. “Needless to say, I learned more in one year from my awesome coach, Al Rogers, than I did in four years of high school.
“Amazing experience I wouldn’t ever change.”
Another, earlier coach made a huge impact on her, as well.
“My all-time favorite coach was Mr. Bob Barker. He became the girls basketball coach the beginning of my junior year when Ms. Textor stepped down,” Roberts said. “Mr. Barker was one of those influential people that made a difference in my life. When you were struggling or making errors, Mr. Barker would pull you aside, tell you what was going on, how to change this, and then send you off with positive reinforcement, which I responded to much better than being yelled at.
“I still exchange a Christmas letter with him every year,” she added. “Love, love, LOVED Mr. Barker!”
Her time with Barker produced her favorite athletic achievement, as well. More than 20 years later, she can remember it with perfect clarity.
“My best memory was my senior year — Coupeville Wolves vs. Lopez Lobos, December 1988,” Roberts said. “Back in the day when the games were free, it was cheap entertainment for my whole family. I had my own personal cheering squad which consisted of my dad, mom, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt and cousins. They were always in the stands cheering me on.
“This particular game was a painfully slow and LOW scoring game. We were down 30-25 with two minutes left in the game. I made a basket and my teammate Trudy Eaton scored two at the foul line, which brought us to 30-29 Lobos, 1:20 left in the game.
“I rebounded a miss from Jennie Cross and put a shot back up with 16 seconds left in the game. Lobos fouled me so I went to the line, down by one. The gym at this point was PACKED because the boys were playing immediately after us and EVERYONE came to watch the boys.
“At the free throw line I was so stressed with everyone cheering and yelling. Swished the first one which tied us up with the Lobos 30-30. Second shot — nothing but net! I swear the only person I heard in the whole gym was my quiet, reserved Grandpa yelling his head off!!
“We won 31-30 and it was also my career high in points. I scored 15 of the 31 points. It was my glory game! Ha ha ha!”
Having reunited with Jon, who graduated several years ahead of her, the pair were married and produced two athletes of their own in 11-year old Lindsey and five-year old Landon. The star now watches a new generation play and seeing her own kids blossom has been her true favorite moment.
“We hope we have passed our athletic genes on to our kiddos,” Roberts said.”Lindsey, our soccer superstar, has a goal to be on the CHS High School gym wall Hall of Fame with her dad and mom. So cute!
“She is a MUCH better and talented athlete than I ever was, and I LOVE to watch her play even though soccer is so foreign to us,” she added. “Landon is all about baseball and hopefully will carry on his dad’s baseball legend.”
And no worries. Mom will treasure every clipping along the way.
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