Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Happy birthday’ Category

Mary

Mary Massengale

tennis

Massengale flies to the ball during her senior tennis season. (John Fisken photo)

Mary Massengale has always been her own person.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

She started her high school career as a football player and ended it on the tennis court. And never took any crap from anyone along the way.

Whether on the field or operating in the real world (we served time together in the restaurant world), she has always been feisty, independent, outspoken and, under it all, a really sweet-natured, likable young woman.

She may not have gotten the big headlines during her time as a Wolf, but I don’t think that was ever a priority with her.

Mary had talent and skill, but played the game on her own terms.

The one time a photographer was able to snap a picture of her playing tennis, it made her mom, Bobbie, thrilled.

Mary just arched an eyebrow, rolled her eyes slightly and went back about her business.

She declined to re-hash her time as a football player, because, even though others found it note-worthy that a freshman girl had suited up and held her own on the gridiron, it was just a small slice of her life.

As she celebrates her birthday today, I hope that Miss Massengale is fully appreciated by all around her.

She is talented, she is her own woman, and she consistently surprises. There is nothing she can’t do.

While Mary may not waste much time sitting around talking about how awesome she is, it’s a word that fits.

She’s not going to toot her own horn, so we’ll do it for her.

Mary Massengale — a quiet winner who deserves some loud applause.

Read Full Post »

Sydney Aparicio

Sydney Aparicio, an athlete who had fun in every season.

Sydney Aparicio knows a few people.

During her Senior Night festivities for volleyball, family of all shapes, sizes and ages crowded into the Coupeville High School gym. Each one wore home-made t-shirts that identified what their relationship was to the Wolf spiker.

Sydney’s mom. Sydney’s sister. Sydney’s cousin.

There were a lot.

Which is not a surprise, since her parents, Mitch and Tami (Stuurmans) Aparicio united two of Coupeville’s top sports families when they got married.

Sydney, who celebrates her birthday today, played tennis, softball and volleyball, as well as following in her mom’s footsteps as one of the leading CHS cheerleaders.

She did it all well, and always with a huge smile.

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Miss Aparicio frown. Ever.

I’m sure she has at some point in her life, but her smile was always front and center during her athletic days, win or loss.

Sydney always had fun, regardless of the sport, and it was infectious.

Following in the footsteps of her parents, and a billion aunts and uncles, she set the path for equally bubbly little sister Payton, who will be a Wolf freshman this fall.

She kept the family tradition of excellence alive and seemed to genuinely enjoy herself through every season, every game.

That’s a rare quality, and one shown by a rare young woman.

Happy birthday, Miss Aparicio, and may your days ahead be as smile-inducing as the ones you lived out as a Wolf.

Read Full Post »

Paul Messner, with his three daughters, and young guns Wade Schaef (center) and Jared Helmstadter all share a birthday.

Paul Messner, with his three daughters, and young guns Wade Schaef (center) and Jared Helmstadter all share a birthday. (John Fisken photos)

Some days are just bigger than others.

In terms of Coupeville High School sports, June 26 is the real deal.

Two current Wolf stars, junior-to-be Jared Helmstadter (tennis, basketball, track) and just graduated Wade Schaef (football, baseball) celebrate birthdays today.

Topping the list is the patriarch of one of Coupeville’s legendary sports families — the one, the only, the Santa, Paul Messner.

Daughters Barbi (Messner) Ford, Christi Messner and Aimee (Messner) Bishop have all had their moments in the athletic spotlight, and granddaughter Breeanna Messner was just named as the CHS Female Athlete of the Year to cap her senior season.

Whether you’re celebrating your 17th birthday, or your 67th, it’s a good day to be a Wolf.

Well played, gentlemen. Well played.

Read Full Post »

It's the convertible life for me.

It’s the convertible life for me. (Kristi Korzan photos)

"Where's my sword, woman? I have lands to conquer!!"

“Where’s my sword, woman? I have lands to conquer!!”

"And you're comin' with me, Mr. Goat!!"

“And you’re comin’ with me, Mr. Goat!!”

"I can taste the adventure!!!!"

“I can taste the adventure!!!!”

You think you’re cool?

You’re not as cool as a two-year-old celebrating her birthday. Sorry, but facts are facts.

That’s driven home by these photos of the young daughter of former Wolves Riley Boyd and Britnie Korzan, who officially wins the day.

Happy birthday, MeRae!

Read Full Post »

Amanda Fabrizi

Amanda Fabrizi

She was electric.

Capping a stellar athletic career at Coupeville High School, Amanda Fabrizi took a quantum leap during her final season in the red and black.

Fabrizi, who celebrates her 18th birthday today, was always a good basketball player. But as a senior, something new surfaced.

Running along side fellow captain Breeanna Messner, Fabrizi brought the grit, toughness and quiet leadership you knew she would. Then she added some sizzle.

She relentlessly attacked the basket, forcing opponents to backpedal and often foul her, and had no fear, regardless of whether it was the opening minute of the game or the final ten seconds.

Of course, Fabrizi was also her team’s best three-point bomber, which meant you had to guard her everywhere on the court.

With her sudden emergence as a player who was willing to take the scoring load on her shoulders, that opened up the floor for sophomore teammate Makana Stone to run wild and blossom into one of the league’s best players.

With a playoff win at home and a chance to play in a post-season all-star game with Messner, Fabrizi got the sort of ending you always hope for when a player works as hard, overcomes as much, as Fabrizi did.

Poke her in the eye? Slam her to the floor? She never missed a game or a beat, coming right back at you.

Off the floor, she couldn’t have been more different. Friendly, outgoing, extremely loyal to her family and friends, a young woman of amazing grace in everything she did.

Her graduation will leave a huge hole for both the Wolf basketball and volleyball squads. Inevitably, someone else will step up and take the spotlight. Circle of life and all.

But Fabrizi won’t be forgotten.

She accomplished much, and she did it the right way. She is an example to show to future Wolf athletes as they come up.

Here walked Amanda Fabrizi. She was a legend, because she never, ever stopped working.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »