Birthday mates Amy King (left) and Kirsten Pelroy.
They are legends in their fields.
One’s a quicksilver track and soccer star who, at least according to the buzz from her fan club, may want to dip into some mixed martial arts action.
The other is half of a husband-and-wife coaching dynasty that is revolutionizing the biz, the gold standard when it comes to reporting game and behind-the-scenes action.
Heck, she’s even promised to give me a game recap in poem form at some point.
And now, today, the duo share a birthday, separated by a few years but united by a town, a school and the sheer radiance of their awesomeness.
Kirsten Pelroy (the possible future Ronda Rousey) and Amy King (the Robert Frost of Cow Town) are two of the best Coupeville can claim, and we want to wish both of them the happiest of cake days.
Pelroy, lil’ sis to former CHS supernova Mitch Pelroy, has been a bright, shining star in her own right.
One of the quickest Wolves on two feet, she has sparkled on the soccer pitch, the track oval and as a cheerleader, forever living up to her own description of herself — as an “Energizer Rabbit.”
Her skills go way beyond mere athletics, however.
A whip-smart, truck-drivin’, multi-hair-colored-rockin’ whirlwind of fun ‘n sun, she has style for days and her epic smile reaches the field a good two feet before she does.
Wherever she goes in life, whatever she does, I have no doubt Kirsten will kick some fanny along the way, making friends with everyone she meets.
If you want to know who she really is, all you have to do is listen to this second-hand tale from her soccer Senior Night.
Dawn Hesselgrave, mom to Wolf booters Kalia and Mia Littlejohn, and one of the loudest bleacher supporters of Pelroy, smiled and said, “You know what Kirsten wanted for Senior Night? To get a hug from everyone on her team.”
Cue a mob scene down below, as Pelroy’s entire 20-woman team mobbed her in a group hug, Kirsten disappearing into the middle of the giggling, grinning mass before emerging looking like she had won the lottery.
In reality, it’s us, her fans and those who have watched her compete and light up the universe on a daily basis, who really won.
And I could say the same about King.
One of the best coaches I have worked with, she accomplishes amazing things by being a mom to her players — firm and instructive when need be, nurturing and a good listener when required and warm and caring always.
Regardless of the sport (volleyball, basketball or softball) Amy rides that fine line between making sure every one of her girls enjoys — truly, deeply enjoys — their season, while also making sure they emerge as better players and more confident young women.
She takes talented players and helps to shape them into stars, and she takes bench players and gives them memories which will last forever.
There is joy in seeing one young woman take over a game, torching their opponents from buzzer to buzzer, but there is also joy in seeing a different young woman finally put everything together and score the only basket of their high school career.
King knows that both moments are huge milestones, and she treats both with respect and joy, and her players respond in kind.
As these two very talented women mark their big day on the calendar, we just want to take a moment to make sure both know how appreciated they are.
Coupeville is a better place for having Amy King and Kirsten Pelroy as two of our own, and I hope both of you have the birthday celebration you deserve.
