Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Volleyball’ Category

Ally Roberts honors family tradition, stays awesome!!

Posted in Cheer, Happy birthday, Horse sports, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on March 26, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Ally Roberts, she was born awesome. (John Fisken and Jennifer Eelkema-Roberts photos)

Ally Roberts, she was born awesome.

She is heir to a pretty impressive legacy.

Her grandfather (Sandy Roberts) was a legendary Coupeville High School coach.

Her dad (Jay Roberts), aunt (Sherry (Bonacci) Roberts) and uncle (Jon Roberts) were all premier athletes during their times as Wolves.

Her older sister (Madeline Roberts) is going to play softball on scholarship in college.

So it’s a good thing Ally Roberts is pretty dang awesome herself. Otherwise, she might not have much to talk about during family get-togethers.

But the CHS freshman, who celebrates her 15th birthday today, has already accomplished much in her short time as a Wolf.

Volleyball player, and sparker of the one-woman “Ally Rally.” Irrepressible cheerleader whose smile lights up the entire gym on its own. Both nice accomplishments.

But put her on a horse, and that’s where Ally really rules.

Her collection of ribbons and trophies is building at a staggering rate, and at the top of the pile is a state championship she claimed in intermediate trail riding at the Washington State Fair in September.

That event is no walk in the park, consisting of a rider taking their horse through a course that can include gate (open and close), bridge walk-throughs (cones or poles), jog- throughs (cones or poles), jog-overs (poles on the ground), back-throughs (L’s, U’s, serpentines), loping (circles, over poles) and sidepassing (i.e. to a mailbox).

What’s next for the pint-sized spark-plug? More ribbons, more trophies, more awesomeness, and then, probably total freakin’ world dominance.

So learn her name now, cause you’ll be saying it a lot over the next few years.

Read Full Post »

Know her name! It’s Maddie Big Time!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Girls Basketball, Happy birthday, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on March 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Madeline Strasburg, AKA Maddie Big Time. (Photos by Shelli Trumbull/John Fisken/Linda Hammer)

Madeline Strasburg, AKA Maddie Big Time. (Photos by Shelli Trumbull/John Fisken/Linda Hammer)

Madeline Strasburg gets visibly annoyed at times when she’s playing.

And that’s a good thing, because when she does, the Coupeville High School junior, who celebrates her 17th birthday today, generally responds by unleashing a butt-whuppin’ on the rival team that has just irritated her.

If she loses the basketball on one play, or gets a foul called on her by a blind ref, she slams down the court like a whirlwind the next and rams the ball right down the throat of the defense.

Twice last season, in back-to-back games that were two weeks apart thanks to winter break, she pulled off the same dazzling play from the very same place on the court — virtual mirror images reflecting Strasburg fully earning the nickname Maddie Big Time.

In both games, she capped the third quarter by stealing the ball, whirling around and draining LONG three-point bombs off the glass, shots that dropped through the twine a mere fraction of a second before the horn sounded.

Then, both times, she spun around, hands slapping her thighs like a gunslinger putting away their six-shooters.

Rival fans and coaches cried softly those days, while Maddie Big Time permitted a small smile to grace her lips.

Even then, it was the smile of a stone cold killer.

CHS has some very talented athletes, but Strasburg is a rarity.

At a time when everyone has been raised to be overly reverent and deferential to the players on the opposing teams, she’s a bit of a throw back.

Volleyball, basketball, softball. Pick a sport. She is here to kick your butt.

That’s a beautiful thing to see.

Read Full Post »

“It’s always fun for me, whether we lose or win!!”

Posted in Girls Basketball, Gymnastics, Track, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on March 7, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Lauren Bayne (left), with CMS track teammates ? and Sage Renninger (right).

Lauren Bayne (left), last spring with CMS track teammates Jillian Pape (center) and Sage Renninger (right).

Lauren Bayne picks things up quickly.

The Coupeville Middle School 8th grader is a multiple sport athlete, like older brother Josh, a star football and baseball player at the high school level.

And, like her sibling, she seems to do well at any sport she picks up.

Case in point, basketball.

While she had played on a rec team when she was little, that team never actually played any games. Jump forward to this year, she chose to return to the hardwood, and bam, has made an immediate impact.

“This year was the first year that I ever played in a game, and I’m on the 8th grade varsity team!,” Bayne said. “I like to exercise and sports are always fun things to do, which is why I started this year.”

Helping her succeed is a natural sense of drive.

“I’m a competitive person, and like to push myself to do new things,” Bayne said. “It is always fun for me, whether we lose or win.”

While she’s not sure if she’ll stick with the sport when she moves up to high school — she also plays volleyball, runs track and is on a competitive gymnastics team outside of school — she’s intent on building her game as this season plays out.

“I want to play hard and improve my all-around skills,” Bayne said. “I think that I am a team player, and can play many positions — except post, because I’m not that tall. I need to work on my ball handling skills and shooting.”

When not playing one of her many sports, she enjoys geometry and gym class.

Following in the successful athletic footsteps of her brother, a junior at CHS, comes naturally to her. Having him, and her parents, to help and support her, is a key.

“My brother Josh is very good at a lot of sports, and my whole family is active,” Bayne said. “It is usual for me to play multiple sports, and get good grades, because of my help from family and friends.”

Read Full Post »

Math or hoops? It all adds up to success for Lauren Rose!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , on March 6, 2014| 1 Comment »

Lauren Rose, a key member of the CMS 8th grade varsity, looks to pass in an earlier season game. (John Fisken photos)

Lauren Rose (30), part of the bright future of Wolf basketball. (John Fisken photo)

Safe at home.

Safe at home.

Lauren Rose has a jump shot that most high school players would envy.

With a quick release and a soft follow-through, the Coupeville Middle School eighth grader is money when it comes to nailing other teams with pull-up daggers.

Playing with a talented point guard in Mia Littlejohn, who can drive and dish, Rose makes the most of her opportunities when the ball comes her way.

Part of a talented group of CMS girls, which also includes post players Katrina McGranahan, Sage Renninger and Kyla Briscoe, she is the future of Wolf basketball, and it’s a bright future.

Not bad for a softball junkie who only started playing hoops a season ago.

“Before that I was never really interested, but I decided to give it a shot,” Rose said. “There were a lot of new players on the team so I didn’t feel like I would be inferior skill-wise.”

While she has confidence in her ball-handling and enjoys being a team player, it’s her shot-making (which has been flawless in games I’ve seen) that still concerns her.

“I would really like to work on my shots. I would also like to be more aggressive,” Rose said. “What I enjoy most about basketball is the team effort. Everyone on the court has a specific job and when everyone does that job, points are scored. It’s like a well-oiled machine.”

Whether it’s on the playing field (she’s a third-baseman/shortstop in softball and also plays volleyball) or the classroom, Rose is all about putting the work in.

“My goal for this season is for our team to have more wins than losses,” Rose said. “Last year we won four and lost four. This year we are well on our way to beating they record, but we still need to play our hardest.”

A straight-A student and math whiz, she’s one of just 11 CMS eighth graders to have started in geometry this year.

Finding the balance between being a three-sport athlete and getting her classroom work done is never easy, but she enjoys the challenge.

“I am a very hardworking student,” Rose said. “I don’t have a lot of free time with all my sports, but, when I do, I love to spend it doing something outside or just relaxing.”

Supporting her along the way have been her family and coaches, all of whom have drawn out something special from within her.

“My parents encourage me to strive for my goals, whether it’s sports or school related. They come to almost all of my games to cheer me on,” Rose said. “My coaches have shaped the kind of player I am.

“I have never had a coach that didn’t improve my skills as an athlete.”

Read Full Post »

Throwback Thursday: The Crafty Ones!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Softball, Throwback Thursday, Track, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on February 27, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Makana Stone (left) and Hailey Hammer (right), the early days. (Photo courtesy Hailey Hammer)

   Makana Stone (left) and Hailey Hammer (right), the early days. (Photo courtesy Hailey Hammer)

Hammer (center) during this year's basketball season, with teammates Amanda Fabrizi (left) and Breeanna Messner. (John Fisken photos)

   Hammer (center) during this year’s basketball season, with teammates Amanda Fabrizi (left) and Breeanna Messner. (John Fisken photos)

Makana Stone: track supernova.

Makana Stone: track supernova.

They’ve been skilled all their lives.

It used to be arts and crafts, and now Coupeville High School three-sport stars Hailey Hammer and Makana Stone excel on the playing fields and hardcourts.

Basketball, softball, track, volleyball, soccer — it doesn’t matter the sport, pick one and they’ll dominate.

The hand-eye coordination and attention to detail? It came at an early age.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »