Malachi Chapa goes flying into action. (Julie Wheat photo)
He’s on the fast track to success.
Malachi Chapa will be a freshman at Coupeville High School this fall but has already made a big impact on Wolf athletics.
He played up as an 8th grader, running with the CHS varsity boys’ soccer squad as a midfielder, and is part of a core group which can lead the program for several years.
Come the spring and Chapa was dominant in the world of track and field, piling up 17 wins, a league title in the high jump, and three school records across three seasons of middle school action.
As he makes the jump from CMS to CHS, he leaves the former holding the school’s all-time marks in the 400, long jump, and as part of a 4 x 200 relay unit.
Gazing into a bright future along with his relay teammates. (Photo courtesy Crystal Carter)
It’s all part of his plan for success.
“My goals are to go to a good college such as Skagit Valley or Cal Poly,” Chapa said. “Hopefully go to state for my track events — 400, high jump, long jump, and just maybe a relay team.
“For soccer, I’d like to play for the major leagues and maybe start a career playing soccer for the state.”
Chapa lives by the words of his mom — “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything” — and enjoys the chance to interact with others through sports.
“I think every single one of my coaches and teammates I’ve played with have made this little spark in me making me to love the sports I play now even more,” he said. “Helping ignite this spark for my passion of these sports day by day which I feel grow bigger.
“I truly think the people who’ve helped me keep that inspiration for continuing the sports I play today are my family, friends, and coaches.”
When he’s not busy on the pitch or around the oval, Chapa looks forward to math, PE, and lunch at school, hails White Chicks as his favorite movie, and listens to music from the ’90s to current day songs.
While he enjoys both of his sports, soccer, where he both plays and refs, has an edge.
“My favorite sport is soccer because I’ve played it for years now and I love playing it with my friends,” Chapa said.
“I really like that I can count on my team to be there for me and vice versa.”
Being part of a successful group is important to the rising star.
“I love the fact we play well as a team and can support each other during our wins or losses, and rain or shine,” Chapa said.
“But my favorite part about soccer was the high school away games when we’d sing songs on the way home; it didn’t matter if we won or not, we’d always have a great time heading home.”
Teamwork makes the dream work. (Photo courtesy Crystal Carter)
While playing sports on Whidbey Island often entails long road trips involving busses and ferries, Chapa doesn’t mind the journey.
“What I enjoy about being an athlete is that I can show to myself I can be a responsible student/athlete doing well both in school and in sports,” he said.
“My favorite part about both track and high school soccer is that I can leave a little earlier, which was fun to me, although knowing I’d have more work to do the next day.”
And Chapa is more than ready to put in that work.
“I think my strengths as an athlete are teamwork and “elite ball knowledge,” as Sawyer Rudat says.
“I like that I can be somewhat easily coached,” Chapa added. “It takes time for me to process things sometimes, but I always manage to figure it out one way or another.
“I do have many areas I need to work on, and I think being a better thinker and or maybe getting better ball control and communication with the team would be nice sometimes.
“But I’d would like to work on my work ethic and being responsible with my time during sports practice.”
