Estefanny Liquidano (right), who celebrates a cake day Wednesday, is joined by Thursday birthday buddies Amber Benway and Mason Grove. (John Fisken photos)
I’m using my time wisely.
As I try to keep from being swamped by a non-stop deluge of Wolf Nation birthdays, I’m taking the easy way out and pulling off a three-for-one celebration.
We’re here to send best wishes to CHS track star Estefanny Liquidano, who hits her cake day today, while jumping the gun (just a bit) to hail Mason Grove and Amber Benway a day early.
Up first is Miss Liquidano, who debuted as a shot put and discus thrower for the Wolf track and field team last spring.
The younger sister of CHS gridiron/pitch warriors Oscar and Uriel, Estefanny is part of one of the best families we have in Coupeville.
Like her brothers, she is a hard worker, committed in the classroom and in the arena, and just a genuinely nice, positive young woman, which can never be underestimated.
At a time when pathetic, Cheeto-encrusted con artists posing as political candidates are quick to dismiss the positive impact immigrant families can have on our country, the Liquidanos are a perfect response.
Justifiably proud of their heritage and of the life they are building for their family in their new country, they are the American dream coming true every day.
I am proud to claim the Liquidanos as my neighbors here in Coupeville, and stand with them, always.
Joining Estefanny on the birthday beat (in a few hours) are two other bright lights in our community.
Miss Benway, who joined the CHS cheer squad this season, is, like everyone in her family, as friendly and outgoing a person as you are likely to meet.
Amber shares a special trait with siblings Hannah and Zaine, and that is the ability to light up any room they enter (even when they’re outside).
It serves her extremely well as a cheerleader, but also in real life, where she, like Liquidano, is a strong, bright young woman headed to big success.
The same could be said of Mason, the middle one of Mindy Grove’s three athletically-talented, big moment-loving children.
Like uber-talented older sister Lauren before him, the floppy-haired one is quickly carving out a name for himself in Wolf athletics.
A talented football, basketball and track supernova at the middle school level, the CHS freshman picked up a tennis racket for the first time this spring, and has already played #1 singles for the Wolves.
Showcasing an ability to learn quickly, and then quickly kick butt, Grove likely warms the heart of Wolf tennis guru Ken Stange, who can already see years of future success playing out on the hard-court.
For me, I’m looking forward to winter, when the three-point-bomb-heaving sniper returns to the basketball court.
As a middle schooler, Grove was unafraid to shoot, and showed a genuine flair for dropping treys on backpedaling fools, which will fit perfectly into the scheme round ball coach Dustin Van Velkinburgh is concocting.
Like his sister, and like his birthday buddies, Mason is far more than just an athlete, also showcasing major skills in the classroom while being a people person in the everyday world.
As all three of our cake-eating celebrators hit their big day, whether it’s today or tomorrow, we, the fans, just want to wish them all the best.
Enjoy your day, and thank you, one and all, for putting such a positive spin on Wolf athletics.
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