Finley Helm, rockin’ a letterman jacket as she prepares to start her high school career. (Photos courtesy Jerry Helm)
Not a day in high school yet, and already Finley Helm is starting to fill up a letterman’s jacket.
The oldest of Jerry and Lindsey’s three talented children, she’ll be a freshman at Coupeville High School this fall yet already has her first varsity letter thanks to playing soccer as an 8th grader.
Helping the Wolves revive their female pitch crew after a two-year shutdown, Finley played multiple positions and was one of eight girls to net a goal last fall.
She also spent a fair amount of time in net, daring other teams to shoot on her, then frequently denying their best efforts.
Soccer is her favorite sport — the super-busy teen also plays basketball, volleyball, and track and field, while competing in taekwondo and race car driving — because it lets her show multiple sides of her personality.
“While playing goalie I get to throw my body around to dominate, and when I play forward, I get to score goals,” Helm said.
“You will not score on me!!”
The daughter of athletes, she’s inherited their drive and work ethic, but is her own person.
And don’t mess with that confident young woman, as evidenced by this direct quote:
“I’m very competitive, so I love the competition … Don’t test me, David Svien.”
During her middle school days, Helm also played basketball at both levels, suiting up with the high school JV, then bouncing back to CMS for a second season.
Away from sports she “love painting and art a lot,” enjoys history class, and spends some of her free time listening to pop and rap or watching horror movies and romantic comedies.
Not that there’s much time “away from sports,” as Helm has embraced every challenge thrown her way.
Along with the traditional school sports, she followed her mom into taekwondo and has racked up multiple awards for her work on the mat.
And then there’s the world of auto racing, where Finley and lil’ sis Scotlyn rip up the track in Washington Quarter Midget Association races.
She takes something from every one of her pursuits, building an impressive body of work.
“As an athlete, my strength is being comfortable with being physical,” Helm said. “Taekwondo has taught me how to battle physically.
“An area I’d like to work on is communication with the defense while I’m playing keeper,” she added.
“And to get better at the sports I enjoy and branch into other sports I’ve never played before.”
Through it all Helm battles for the team name on the front of the jersey, while always acknowledging that the family name on the back has helped shape her pursuit of excellence.
“There are a lot of people who I could name,” she said. “But most notably my parents, from coaching me in sports, to teaching me how to fight.”
Gazing into a bright future.
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