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Archive for the ‘Happy birthday’ Category

Born to be a leader!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, Girls Tennis, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on August 29, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Sage Renninger: She's kind of a big deal. (John Fisken photos)

Sage Renninger: She’s kind of a big deal. (John Fisken photos)

Ready since day one.

Sage Renninger, who will be a junior at Coupeville High School this year, has been at the forefront of Wolf athletics since her very first day as a freshman.

From the moment she stepped on the soccer pitch and tennis court to rep the red and black, Renninger, who also happens to celebrate a birthday today, has been a leader.

Sage is not a screamer, but her teammates gravitate to her anyway.

She leads by example, by busting her rear on every play, regardless of the score, and by projecting a calm coolness at all times, which always centers those around her.

Renninger’s coaches recognize this rare talent, having given her leadership responsibilities and captain honors at a fairly young age.

That she always responds to the added scrutiny, raising her own game, and helping her teammates lift their own, is a testament to her strength and drive.

Renninger is skilled (she’s a natural athlete, also superb as a runner and, back in the day, a hoops star), she is committed and she is classy.

She’s also smart as a tack, a fixture on the school’s honor roll, and seems to be universally well-liked by all those around her.

A pro at being caring to those she holds close in real life, while also being able to drop the boom on any fool who would dare invade her territory during competition, Sage is a winner, in every way.

So, as she celebrates her cake day, with a season-opening soccer jamboree in sight, we just want to take a quick moment to congratulate her on being supremely awesome and wish her all the best.

Happy birthday, Miss Renninger. May the best be yet to come.

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Welcome to Lippo Land! Population, two stars!!

Posted in Baseball, Boys Tennis, Dance, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on August 23, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Skyy and Joey Lippo, setting the world ablaze. (John Fisken and Connie Lippo photos)

   Skyy and Joey Lippo, setting the world ablaze. (John Fisken and Connie Lippo photos)

One soars, the other scores.

Whether it’s ballet or baseball, or any of a number of other pursuits, the super-powered duo of Skyy and Joey Lippo are busy lighting up the Whidbey sports universe.

The twin terrors, who celebrate a joint birthday today, are headed into their junior year at Coupeville High School, having already made a huge impact in their first two years.

Along the way, they have kept proud parents Joe and Connie jumping in their roles of taxi drivers, team parents, ardent fans (and PR flacks).

Skyy, who started off in sports like softball alongside best friend Katrina McGranahan, settled into her niche when she found the world of dance.

Currently a company captain, a principal in contemporary dance and a soloist in classical dance, she’s achieved rare status by being tabbed for a role in Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s upcoming production of The Nutcracker months in advance.

A veteran of the always-popular production, she hasn’t been told what her role will be this time around, but it’s believed to be the first-time a non-professional dancer has been picked so early

Which probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the elegant, tough as nails Miss Lippo has been abusing her toes twirling to new heights as a dancer all year, when she’s not busy working on rebuilding a ’72 Charger with her dad.

Her other half, Joey, hasn’t exactly been lying around the house, stuffing Cheetos in his face all summer either.

Coming off of a strong school sports season — he combined with Will Nelson to form a deadly doubles duo on the tennis court, then helped spark the Wolf baseball squad to its first league title in 25 years — Joey never put his mitt away as the weather turned hotter.

Instead he started traveling back-and-forth to the big city to play travel ball with the Seattle Bombers in the Seattle Elite League.

After a couple of games bouncing around positions (he was primarily a second baseman/catcher for the high school squad), Lippo ended up a starter in left field.

Once there, he made a concentrated bid for Sports Center-type glory, earning the moniker “The Cannon” for his laser-like throws, one of which doubled a runner off of first.

Now, he’s slid right back into the world of netters, as he and Nelson make a bid for the #1 slot.

After that, a possible return to basketball and then he’ll double-dip the high school and travel ball baseball experience again.

Now, of course, running down the laundry list of the Lippo’s various sports accomplishments only tells part of the story.

The twins are the complete packages, smart, friendly young adults who are fiercely loyal to each other, their friends and their family.

As they sail along setting new highs and making their bid for greatness, both Skyy and Joey brighten up the universe around them, reflecting extremely well on their parents.

Coupeville is lucky to have them, as athletes, and more importantly, as people.

So, from all of us in the peanut galleries, here’s to a hugely happy birthday, Lippo kids.

May you both never stop soaring towards stardom.

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He’s a beast! A beast!!

Posted in Boys Soccer, Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on August 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Uriel Liquidano (John Fisken photos)

Uriel Liquidano, busy being awesome. (John Fisken photos)

First you hear the explosion, then the screams.

Two kinds of screams.

When Uriel Liquidano unloads on a ball carrier, roaring across the football field and spearing them like a runaway missile, there’s often an audible boom.

Then, while his foe screams “Why? Why me?!?!?” through mouthfuls of turf, the Coupeville fans scream, just a lot happier.

Liquidano, who celebrates a birthday today, is a rampaging beast on the field, and we would have it no other way.

Cracking heads and blowing up blockers, Woody is a weapon, and it’s awfully nice to have him on the side of the good guys.

Following the example set by older brother Oscar, who rocked a few would-be rushers in his day, he has carved out a niche for himself.

As he gets ready for his senior season, the multi-sport wonder (he’s also a strong midfielder/defender for the Wolf boys’ soccer squad and could possibly return to basketball after some time off) is a key player for the CHS gridiron squad.

With the Wolves trying to bounce back from a 1-9 season, and with their third head coach in four years, elder statesmen like Uriel will be looked to as leaders and role models.

It’s a job he should fill nicely.

During his time in Coupeville, Liquidano has earned much love and respect from his teammates, and admiration from his fans.

He’s a rock-solid guy, well-liked by all it seems, and as talented off the field (where he sits on the honor roll) as on.

Our town got lucky when his family moved here, not just in picking up three athletes (Oscar, Uriel and younger sister Estefanny), but in nabbing a quality family.

From Uriel’s parents on down, the Liquidano clan is the best of what Coupeville is, and we wouldn’t be the same without them.

So happy birthday to a rampaging beast with a heart of gold, from all your many fans.

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She’s just kinda awesome, you know?!

Posted in Cheer, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on August 16, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Kaela Hollrigel (and cheer buddy Mckenzie Meyer). (John Fisken photos)

Kaela Hollrigel, the serene star of the cheer world. (John Fisken photos)

She’s a bright, shining star on a rocket ride to Amazing Land.

Kaela Hollrigel, who has lived on Whidbey Island for a little less than two years, has used her time here wisely.

The Coupeville High School senior, who celebrates a birthday today, jumped right in and made an impact on multiple fronts.

She came out swinging for the fences as a first-time Wolf cheerleader last year, taking home the Wolf Award for football season and Most Spirited while rooting for Coupeville’s hoop squads.

Now Hollrigel is set to be a team leader in her final go-around in the red and black, just as little sis Natalie joins the squad as a freshman.

While Kaela fits perfectly as a cheerleader — she was just born super-cheerful, I bet — her time spent working the sidelines is just a small part of her busy life.

Go down her list of accomplishments and it’s one high point after another.

An ASB leader.

Proud member of the National Honor Society.

A key contributor to Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

The brains behind a super-successful community blood drive.

Hollrigel is one of our best and brightest, a kind, genuinely sweet and friendly young woman who mixes academics and sports and emerges as a strong, committed leader with boundless upside.

She is going places, and while it’s her remarkable brain which is driving the car, it’s her serene, welcoming nature which makes others cheer for her along the way.

You can’t help but like Kaela, whether you’re part of her inner circle or just a fan in the stands.

Happy birthday, Miss Hollrigel.

May your senior year, and all the years to come, be as awesome as you are.

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A little late, but not forgotten!!

Posted in Baseball, Boys Tennis, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on August 15, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Nick Etzell gets ready to mash a return. (John Fisken photos)

Nick Etzell gets ready to mash a return. (John Fisken photos)

Etzell comes up gunning during summer ball.

Etzell comes up gunning during summer ball.

In my defense, Nick Etzell is not on Facebook.

Without the social media monster alerting me every 13 seconds that it’s someone’s cake day, the birthday beat gets a lot harder to properly run.

But, having been relentlessly prodded by Wolf fans who noticed me “slipping,” let’s take a few moments (a day late) to commemorate another trip around the sun by the youngest Etzell.

The Coupeville High School junior is the kind of easy-breezy dude who probably couldn’t care less I missed his actual birthday.

Nick has never seemed all that preoccupied with tooting his own horn, letting his play on the courts and field speak for itself.

And the kid’s got talent, just like all of his older siblings.

The lanky one may not be as willing to rip chunks of flesh from his knees as older brother Ben, but he’s still a deadly racket-wielder on the tennis court.

The top returning singles player from a year ago, after the graduation of Sebastian Davis and Connor McCormick, Etzell has the kingdom lying at his feet as he enters his third campaign under Ken Stange.

Toss in basketball, where the Wolf fan base hopes he returns after taking a year off, and baseball, where he’s a strikeout-hurling mound ace, and Nick is a star on the rise.

And one who just happens to be relentlessly smart and a great guy who lights up every room he enters.

So, a day late, happy birthday, Mr. Etzell!

PS — If you want to pretend I wrote this all yesterday, that would be sweet.

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