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Posts Tagged ‘CHS Wolves’

Willow Vick (John Fisken photos)

   Willow Vick hits all the colors of the rainbow as she patrols the outfield for the Venom this spring. (John Fisken photos)

Vick dares the pitcher to try and throw the ball past her.

Vick dares the pitcher to try and throw the ball past her.

Willow Vick is not afraid of a challenge.

When Central Whidbey Little League was scrambling around this spring, trying to pull together enough athletes to form a Juniors softball squad, she came to their rescue.

And, despite never having played before, she acquitted herself quite nicely, growing in confidence as the season progressed and being a vital part of a Venom squad which finished 13-3.

Now, as she and twin sister Raven head into their freshman year at Coupeville High School this fall, Willow is ready for new challenges.

She plans to play volleyball in the fall, and is debating between a return to softball or heading out to take advantage of the school’s new track come spring.

Sports are just one part of Vick’s life, however, as she enjoys drawing, swimming, sleeping and working out.

Her musical tastes run to Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, while movie-wise she’s fond of Mary Poppins.

So, pretty broad spectrum there.

When she is competing, Vick picks volleyball as her primary sport.

“It’s fun, lots of work, keeps you mentally and physically fit,” she said.

She enjoys how sports help her keep in shape and build muscle, but is always working to become a more technically sound athlete.

“I want to get my serves over the net 95% of the time,” Vick said. “I need to work on being louder and more confident.”

She’s also got an eye on improving her softball hitting, and, away from the arena, would like to sharpen her drawing skills and keep her grades up.

Her positive traits are many.

“My technical abilities, I’m a good teammate, good setter I guess, lots of power,” Vick said. “I’m willing to try new things like playing softball for the first time, not afraid to ask for help.”

Whether it’s something she’s done once or a thousand times, she knows she can always turn to her fan club for support.

“My parents, for always pushing me to be my best and to never give up when things get tough,” Vick said. “Friends who support me.

“Lisa Toomey for giving crazy pep talks before, during and after games,” she added. “And my twin for always being someone to compete with and support me.”

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Kenzi LaRue

Kenzi LaRue charges into each new day with a smile. (John Fisken photos)

LaRue

LaRue shares a laugh with volleyball teammate Katrina McGranahan.

vb

Puttin’ in work as a a photo-bomber.

Kenzi LaRue is not shy.

Or, if she is, she hides it really, really well.

One of the most outgoing of all Wolf athletes, the Coupeville High School junior, who celebrates a birthday today, is a big-energy, big-talent fireball who lights up the universe around her.

When she’s not dropping spikes for the volleyball squad or swatting winners for the Wolf tennis team, Kenzi is a singer and actress who’s busy chasing those dreams with lil’ sis Chloe.

While her older brother, former CHS football legend Caleb Valko, was fairly low-key, Kenzi, without a doubt, is here to put on a show every day.

She seems to enjoy every moment of her life, and she’s entertaining to cover as a reporter, since she’s constantly zinging around, delivering monologues, a bit of smack talk, and a running commentary on life to anyone in her sight.

Will she hit it big in life?

You never know. Acting and singing are tough gigs to break into for anyone, even someone with as much charm as Miss LaRue.

But, regardless of whether we one day see her name in lights, I’m pretty sure she’ll go on to do something to amaze us all.

Kenzi, for all the over-the-top theatrics, seems like a genuinely kind, caring person, especially to her close friends and family.

Take a look at any of the many photos snapped of her in action for the Wolves, and she always (and I mean ALWAYS) looks like she is having the time of her life.

So happy birthday, Kenzi, and keep swinging for those stars.

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Jaden Marrs (Submitted photo)

Jaden Marrs (Submitted photo)

Nothing is slowing down Jaden Marrs.

She’s a type one diabetic, but with careful eating habits and an active sports life, she’s charging full steam ahead, intent on making her mark.

Marrs, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, plans to play soccer and basketball for the Wolves, as well as be part of the CHS cheer squad.

It’s the latter of the three which she enjoys the most.

“My favorite sport is cheerleading, because I get to stand out and show my spirit,” Marrs said. “It helps me keep fit and keeps my blood sugars under control.”

A big music fan (she bounces from hip hop to pop to screamo), who spends her days “sleeping, eating and watching anime,” Marrs also enjoys sketching and hanging out with best friend Jean Lund-Olsen.

One of the standouts on the CMS track squad the last two seasons, the fellow frosh-to-be offered Marrs some advice she treasures.

“He pushes me and tells me that ‘if you try, you won’t succeed; if you DO, then you’ll succeed’,” she said.

Marrs also draws support from her mom, Emili, and praises her 8th grade science teacher, Terry Welch, for always helping her.

Her goals are “to be successful and I want to become an ER nurse when I grow up and graduate.”

Until then, she’s intent on giving her best, regardless of the sport, and always making a concentrated effort to improve her skills in each of them.

“My strengths are good working with others,” Marrs said. “What I need to work on is keeping a steady pace when I run.”

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Aram Leyva (Pat Kelley photo)

  Aram Leyva (middle), destroying the competition on the pitch. (Pat Kelley photo)

Leyva (John Fisken photo)

One of the few moments when Leyva isn’t moving. (John Fisken photo)

The records may seem unbreakable, but not so fast.

As he graduated this spring, soccer sensation Abraham Leyva left Coupeville High School with season (20) and career (45) goal-scoring records.

What he achieved in three years on the pitch was far beyond what any other Wolf booter had accomplished.

But wait, because there’s a new gunslinger in town and he wants all the records.

Younger brother Aram Leyva, who will be a freshman at CHS in the fall, has been tearing up fields at every level he’s played, and he plans to make a run for family honor.

“I want to beat my brother’s score in soccer, in less time,” he said with a smile.

Leyva, who will also be playing basketball for the Wolves, is a hard-charging, super-friendly young man who doesn’t know, or at least acknowledge, the meaning of “down time.”

“I love being active,” he said. “I usually hate when I do nothing. I get bored.”

While he’s participated in a number of sports — Leyva was a strong runner for the CMS track squad this spring — the “beautiful game” has always drawn the most interest from him.

“With soccer I grew up learning at a young age and I just loved it,” he said. “I have plenty of endurance, which keeps me going in a game.”

He credits his father for working with him on soccer (“My dad has had a giant impact on me by supporting and telling me how to improve”), and one of his CMS hoops coaches for helping him improve on the hard-court.

“Coach Ryan King, cause this year was my first and he made it a great year for me.”

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Maya Toomey-Stout (Amy King photos)

Maya Toomey-Stout is a creepin’ and a crawlin’. (Amy King photos)

Ashlie Shank

   Ashlie Shank, on the other hand, is not so sure about potentially being attacked by the Sandy Hand o’ Danger.

sand

An empire rises.

crab

Two crabs, standing in for the CHS coaches, lord over the kingdom.

trench

   Trench work continues as CHS coach David King daydreams of sleeping for 48 hours straight after this 4-day, 16-game marathon ends.

frosh

The freshmen and juniors pose with their work of art.

seniors

The sophomores/seniors squad is confident they have a winner.

Saying goodbye to the beach.

Saying goodbye to the beach.

Basketball camp is not just for basketball.

Every year, when the Coupeville High School girls’ basketball squad heads to Ocean Shores, they go in knowing they’ll be spending a lot of time on the courts over the course of four days.

But they also know coaches David and Amy King will take them to the beach for some down time, and that sand castle-building, team-bonding experience is often the highlight of the trip.

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