Birthday girl Jenn Spark. (John Fisken photos)
Sparky doing what she does best, ruling the soccer pitch with an iron fist (and an explosive leg).
Spark, hanging out with her fan club, lil’ bro Ethan (left) and boyfriend Anthony Bergeron. (Photos courtesy Kali Barrio)
A legend is born.
Without Sparky, would there even be a Coupeville Sports?
Jenn Spark, who hits the big 1-8 today, is part of the CHS Class of 2016, the athletes who were just about to step foot into a high school classroom in August 2012 when I left the newspaper world and kicked off my online adventure.
Over the last 41 months, that batch of Wolves, from Makana Stone to Wiley Hesselgrave, Sylvia Hurlburt to Jared Helmstadter and far beyond, have given me countless stories and put up with my written shenanigans along the way.
Through all the highs and lows, Spark has been one of the brightest-shining of my “stars.”
A masterful soccer player, whether taking the pitch as a Wolf or as a member of various Whidbey Islanders select squads, Jenn has been nothing short of electrifying.
She has a cannon for a leg, and when she launches a ball from deep in her own zone, an entire stadium often goes quiet.
The rare defender who can, and will, score on you from anywhere on the field — she once banked a ball off of a goaltender’s head for a score from almost mid-field — Spark made soccer exciting.
And let me be the first to admit, the “beautiful game” has never particularly been one of my favorites.
Call me a heathen, but the intricacies of the game often fly over my head.
I understand baseball, basketball, football, etc. better, and when I was growing up, youth soccer wasn’t the obsession it is today.
But I can, and do, appreciate, watching a player like Jenn take over a game.
A dominant defender who lifted her fellow players, who held them together even in the face of teams like ATM, King’s or Klahowya, Spark never gave anything less than her best to her beloved sport.
The day she suffered a devastating on-field injury remains a haunting one, but the way she fought back, the way she never gave in, has always been truly remarkable.
Returning to the field, one leg encased to look like a bionic weapon, Jenn never coasted, never played tentatively.
There were countless moments this past season when the greatest entertainment at a soccer game was seeing how many times CHS coach Troy Cowan would hyperventilate as Sparky did the splits or slid under an onrushing player in pursuit of the ball.
Off the field, Jenn always comes across as a genuinely nice person, someone who deeply cares about her family, friends and teammates.
Smart, well-spoken and modest about her undeniable talent.
On the field, Spark, who earned All-Conference honors and deep respect from rival players and coaches, made me rethink the game.
I still don’t understand all the little side rules soccer has, and am still not sure how people can get so dang excited over a scoreless tie, but Jenn Spark made me a believer.
When she was on that pitch, doing what she did, crushing the ball, directing traffic, willing her teams to excellence even when she could barely move, Sparky earned every last cheer.
As she moves forward, I hope she gets the chance to play college ball if that’s what she wants. She has given so much to the game, and I hope it keeps giving back to her.
But, whether it’s soccer or something else, I have no doubt Jenn will leave an indelible mark wherever she goes.
So, thank you, Miss Spark, for four years of teaching me soccer could be entertaining.
For four years of always answering my questions about your injuries, even when you certainly had better things to do with your time.
For helping to make Coupeville Sports what it is, and for always doing it with great grace and style.
Happy birthday, Jenn.
