Birthday buddies Skyler Lawrence and Grey Rische at work. (Amy King and John Fisken photos)
One day, two superstars.
Oct. 1 delivered us a pair of top Wolf athletes in Skyler Lawrence and Grey Rische.
Actually three, if you count former CHS track and field sensation Dalton Martin.
But, once you graduate and move on to the real world, you generally lose your birthday celebration privileges here on Coupeville Sports (I need some time to myself…), so today the focus is on the terrific twosome still repping the red and black.
And they are two of our best, strong on the athletic field and winners in the classroom and out associating with the general public.
Skyler and Grey are easy to root for, and their continued success in all their endeavors reflects quite nicely on their town and their school.
Lawrence has been a beast on the boards for the Wolf basketball program and was part of last year’s team, the first to qualify for state in a decade.
I remember the first time I saw her play, back in middle school, and how impressed I was with her hustle.
She would sweep the boards clean, then beat the guards down the floor, every time without fail.
Not a straggler whatsoever, Skyler goes full tilt and is quite willing to get down and dirty in the dog-pile when necessary.
She also seems to have a great sense of humor, as she and running mate Allison Wenzel are usually giggling about something when not on the floor.
You scan the bench and there the two of them are, poking each other and exchanging private jokes, regardless of the score.
Skyler is also a supremely accomplished thrower for the CHS track team, a two-time state meet qualifier in the shot put who’s gunning for the school record.
Grey joins her on the Wolf track team, where he’s a jack of all trades, seeing time as both a thrower and a runner.
Toss in a stint as a basketball player (maybe he’ll return to the hard-court for his senior season?) and Rische is a well-rounded athlete.
His biggest success, though, has probably come on the tennis court, where he shines as both a doubles ace and a singles sniper.
For much of his career, he teamed with brother Jared Helmstadter, forming the Thunder and Lightning combo, until Jared’s graduation split them apart.
This season, Rische has teamed up with fellow Class of 2017 netter Jimmy Myers to form one of Coupeville’s most dependable doubles duos, and the one which remained undefeated the furthest into the season.
With CHS coach Ken Stange juggling a young lineup this year, Grey has also slid into a singles slot at times, and he’s more than held his own.
Providing a nice dose of leadership and calmness on the court, Rische is a key part of why the Wolves are circling their second straight 1A Olympic League title.
As the birthday buddies play out their senior year, I hope they both continue to accomplish great things and stay true to the classiness both have shown on a daily basis.
Happy birthday to both of you. May your cake day be awesome, and your final year at CHS even better.
