Birthday whiz kids (clockwise from left) Skyler Lawrence, Grey Rische and Dalton Martin. (John Fisken photos)
Heroes are made in October.
That used to be a Major League Baseball tradition, at least until they stretched the season out so far that the World Series started ending in November.
But it’s a mantra that stretches across the sports world, and one which resonates here in Wolf Nation.
As we kick off a new month, we do so by taking a moment to pay tribute to three bright, shining stars who all popped into the world on Oct. 1.
Dalton Martin, Skyler Lawrence and Grey Rische share a cake day, at least one sport (track) and the awesomeness gene.
Dalton is the oldest (by a slim year) and the CHS senior has been at the forefront of Wolf athletics since the day he arrived on campus.
Football, basketball, track, tennis, he’s starred in them all, while also embracing the chance to be a photo star, which endears me to him even more.
Now sure, I may have accidentally referred to him as Dalton Engle once or twice while writing late at night, but he’s a forgiving sort, a laid-back dude off the court and an intense warrior on it.
So, basically, an exact replica of his dad, Bob, CMS football coach extraordinaire, while also capturing a lot of mom Abbie’s innate sunniness.
The two youngsters, Skyler and Grey, are CHS juniors who have both brightened up the campus with their own brand of sunniness.
Grey is a smile machine and an extremely nice guy who can still crack some backs on the basketball court, track oval, or, currently, the tennis court, where he and older brother Jared Helmstadter have become a formidable doubles duo.
Not content to rule just one world, Mr. Rische is also a madman behind an instrument, a key part of the CHS band that often rules the bleachers at Wolf home games.
And then we come to Skyler, who is the very definition of a radiant, super-friendly young woman off the court who will beat the crud out of you once the whistle sounds.
A state meet veteran as a track thrower, she is a rebounding machine during basketball season.
In four years of watching her play (two in middle school, two in high school), I have NEVER seen Skyler lose a rebound that she had a hand on.
If her fingers are starting to curl around the basketball, there’s nothing for the other team to do but cry silent tears of regret.
What’s even more impressive, and has been since the first 7th grade game I saw her in, is Skyler’s motor.
Girl does not stop, and unlike most rebounders, gets out and hauls rear down the court, often leading the play she kick-started.
Not once, or twice. Every play she’s on the floor, Miss Lawrence is deeply, deeply committed to the cause, and it is a joy to behold.
All three of our birthday whiz kids share a lot of the same traits — a love of hard work, dedication to their team through wins or losses, and a serene spirit away from the arena.
They are, as individuals and a group, the best of what Coupeville has to offer the world, and, on their mutual birthday, let’s all take a moment to applaud them for all they do, and all they are.
