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Archive for the ‘Happy birthday’ Category

Winners, one and all!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on February 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Birthday folks (clockwise, from left) Haley Sherman, Carmen McFadyen and Brian Shank.

Birthday folks (clockwise, from left) Haley Sherman, Carmen McFadyen (and grandchildren) and Brian Shank.

They are the diversity of Coupeville.

Three parts of Wolf Nation, all making impacts in different ways, and all celebrating birthdays today.

Brian Shank is the newbie, a multi-sport athlete (football, basketball, track, tennis) who arrived in town from Utah two years ago when his father, Dr. Jim Shank, became Coupeville’s new superintendent.

An easy-going guy with a quick grin, he, like older brother Matt and younger sister Ashlie, immediately fit in, making friends and becoming an integral part of the school sports scene.

Whether he’s lofting three-point bombs for the Wolves or goofing off with his teammates, he wears the red and black with class.

Carmen McFadyen is the Godmother, a powerful, highly-respected leader in the community, and, someone who tries her best to get me to show respect to all in my writing.

I may not always follow her advice, but I would be smarter if I did.

She has already given Coupeville two standout athletes in son Jason and daughter Aleshia, and has four rambunctious grandchildren who will likely blaze their own bright athletic futures.

Plus, she’s married to Jack McFadyen, a personal favorite of mine since my early days at Videoville.

So, she’s got that going for her too, which is nice.

Our third honoree of the day is a young woman who, simply put, IS Coupeville.

Haley Sherman is connected at the roots to this town, and every time she played volleyball or softball for CHS, her personal cheering section was comprised of a lot of the men and women who have made Coupeville what it is today.

Proud of her heritage, Haley was a talented athlete and a better person. She possesses a radiance that is rare and it has never dimmed, through good times and bad.

This trio, united by their birthday and the town they call home, represent some of the best of what Coupeville has to offer.

They have lived different lives, accomplished different things, but all three represent us extremely well. We’re lucky as a community to claim them all.

Happy birthday and thank you.

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Two stars, one birthday!!

Posted in Boys Tennis, Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on February 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Tyler Cermak

Tyler Cermak

William Nelson

William Nelson

The young guns get a little older today.

A day after his New England Patriots won their fourth Super Bowl title, Wolf football player Tyler Cermak shares a birthday with netter William Nelson.

Two of the more promising young athletes to walk the hallways at Coupeville High School, they have both shone during the start of their days in red and black.

Cermak has fought through health issues to remain a key part of the Wolf football program. Whether on the field or off, he remains as devoted to the gridiron squad as anyone on it.

Plus, he’s the one who first tipped me to the news of Brett Smedley being hired as the new Wolf head coach, allowing me to scoop the Canadian papers.

Well played, Mr. Cermak.

Nelson, younger brother of Wolf netter/booter Loren Nelson, made an immediate impact for the Wolf tennis squad during his first days as a high school student.

Teaming with fellow frosh Joey Lippon, Nelson advanced to the postseason and the duo gave fans a view of the future of Wolf tennis. Spoiler: it’s a bright one.

Since it’s a Monday, they’re back at school (I assume. Cermak may be still celebrating.) and probably are limited on time. So, I’ll make this quick.

Happy birthday, gentlemen. May both of you continue to play out what looks like a bright athletic future.

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Terrific trio celebrate big day!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on January 28, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Birthday trio (clockwise from left), Allison Wenzel, Robyn Myers (with son Sam Wynn) and Erik King.

   Birthday trio (clockwise from left) Allison Wenzel, Robyn Myers (with son Sam Wynn) and Erik King.

Respect.

A trio of people important to Wolf Nation celebrate joint birthdays today, and respect is something all three have more than earned.

The alumni, the current multi-sport athlete and the booster club’s Energizer Rabbit — united by the way they handle their business and the pride they instill in their fans.

Erik King is a chip off the block.

A star baseball and basketball player during his time as a Wolf, he brought the same commitment and unwavering search for excellence to his game that his parents do as CHS coaches.

David and Amy King are the coaches every school hopes for, and the lucky ones get.

Working together in basketball and softball (with Amy soloing in volleyball), they have built strong programs that allow each of their young women, stars or scrubs, to blossom to their full potential.

There never could have been any doubt as to who Erik’s parents were, as he approached every game the same way they do.

He left every bit of himself on the field or court and handled himself with class every step of the way.

Allison Wenzel is also following in large footsteps and making her family (starting with parents Susan and Tim) justifiably proud.

Older sister Rachel was a fleet-footed track runner and whip-smart scholar and Allison lives up to the family legend.

Born in Japan in the Year of the Dragon, “The Beast” is a sweet-natured young woman with a smile that stretches from one corner of the Earth to the other.

Unless you try and take a basketball away from her.

Her long braid slashing through the air, sending death from above to anyone whose face wanders into her area of the court, she is a defensive demon. Mess with Wenzel and feel the sting!

That’s sort of how Robyn Myers played back in the day, when she attended Oak Harbor and still had her maiden name of Seth.

These days she’s a vital part of the Coupeville Booster Club, married to Rob Myers and helping lead an epic family that includes Wolf athletes current and former (Katelyn, Sam and Gabe Wynn, Julia and Jimmy Myers, Taylor Herreman).

All three share more than just a birthday.

They all conduct themselves with class and style, show complete commitment to their pursuits and have sunny, outsized personalities.

Together, or separately, they have made, and will continue to make, a huge impact on their school and town.

We are lucky to have all three of you. May your birthday be worthy of your awesomeness.

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Always busy, always a legend!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on January 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Brandon Kelley, doin' work.

Brandon Kelley, doin’ work.

If he has time, Brandon Kelley has a birthday to celebrate today.

I hedge my bet, because the 19-year old former Wolf has always been a busy, busy man.

During his days at Coupeville High School he was a successful track and tennis star, played in the band and competed in Science Olympiad.

In track, especially, he was a major threat, whether running in the hurdles or on winning relay squads, where he often was teamed up with younger brother Lathom to give the Wolves a double-whammy of Kelley speed.

And that was just the tip of the iceberg for a guy who always got a lot accomplished.

He also traveled to Mexico with his church group and, very deservedly, received one of the first two college scholarships financed by sales of CHS sports photos last year.

Honored along with Breeanna Messner, the duo were flawless fits when you looked at the criteria for the award — which honored student/athletes who did well in the classroom and on the field and stayed at both for their entire high school run.

Brandon (and his lil’ bro) are both class acts, hard-working guys who represent their parents (Lincoln and Shawna Kelley), their school and their town extremely well.

He may be off in college now, but BK will always be a Wolf and Wolf Nation will always be proud of him.

So, if you have the time, Brandon, take a moment for yourself today. You’ve earned it.

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Big smile, big hits — only one Big O!!

Posted in Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on January 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Oscar Liquidano and friends.

Oscar Liquidano and friends.

He couldn’t stay away.

A family move to Vegas threatened to break up the love affair between Oscar Liquidano and Cow Town, but things eventually came back around and Big O was returned to the town he was meant to be in.

His return to Whidbey, in time to join his teammates on the Wolf football squad in the early days of practice, was cause for universal joy.

A big, bad man on the gridiron who anchored the CHS line while also acting as a team captain, Oscar crushed hapless foes while always sporting the biggest smile in all the land.

The dude is that rare combination of a guy who has the imposing build of an enforcer, while being the first one to reach out to others with a smile and a joke.

He’s as rock solid as they come, and it’s great to see him getting the chance to finish his high school career where it started.

Whether competing — a three-sport athlete, he’s brought his power game to basketball and soccer in the past — or showing up for every game with girlfriend Ashlyn Miller to support his classmates, Mr. Liquidano is a class act.

He might have spent a bit of time away from The Rock, but we will always claim his as one of our own.

As he celebrates a birthday today, all the best, man. Good to see you home.

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