Coupeville Sports

Ayanna Jeter (John Fisken photos)

Mckenzie Meyer

Tony Maggio

Tomorrow, somewhere in Coupeville, birthday cake will be eaten.

With three prominent Wolves — Tony Maggio, Ayanna Jeter and Mckenzie Meyer — sharing July 19 as the day they entered the world, that’s a given.

While the trio all hail from different sports, they share some common traits — friendliness, serenity of spirit and undying commitment to perfecting their craft.

Maggio ran the CHS football program for three years, increasing the school’s win total each year and beating South Whidbey twice.

And while he’s stepped aside now, to spend more time with family and focus on his job at Sherwin-Williams, the ol’ ball coach will still have an impact on the Wolves for years to come.

He helped stars like Josh Bayne, Nick Streubel and Jake Tumblin to reach their full potential, while also not forgetting the last guy on his roster.

One of those coaches who always seemed to genuinely care for all of his players, taking a personal interest in their lives off the field as well, he attended more games than any other coach at CHS.

If there was a volleyball match, or a baseball game, he was there, to root for every kid who wore the red and black.

And, while he won’t be mashing his ball cap into the gridiron on any more Friday nights after a ref tries to screw his team, I expect we’ll still see a lot of him out and about. As always, he’ll be a welcome presence.

Jeter, like a lot of cheerleaders, is an irresistible force of nature.

Quiet and composed off the field, but loud ‘n proud on the sidelines, Ayanna won Rookie of the Year honors during her freshman season last year, and it’s easy to see why.

A flier, she would go airborne with a smile splashed across her face that could light up the entire prairie.

A genuinely sweet young woman, Miss Jeter radiates intelligence, warmth and spirit in everything she does, and if you want to put a face to Wolf spirit, you couldn’t make a better choice than Ayanna.

And then we come to the final member of our trio, and the one I’ve actually seen grow up before my eyes.

Long before Mckenzie Meyer became a tennis hot shot, a soccer sensation, and, if recent photos of are to be believed, a cheerleader, she was the little girl who hung out sometimes at Videoville and Miriam’s Espresso.

The granddaughter of Miriam, the woman who paid me to goof off for 12+ years, Mckenzie went from stalking the gumball machine at the store I called a second home, to being the brilliant ball o’ fire she is today.

Smart as all get out, prodigiously talented (both as an athlete and on the stage), fiercely loyal and protective of her brothers Caleb and Kyle, the little girl has grown into a remarkable young woman.

Her aunts and uncles, who I worked with, have all grown up to be strong adults, and I can see some of all of them in Mckenzie.

She has Mike’s strength, Jenn’s pluck, Kathryn’s feistiness and Megan’s compassion and Mckenzie makes it all work, boppin’ through life and leaving a trail of happiness behind her.

Our birthday trio are united by many things — a school, a fighting spirit, a desire to make life happier for those around them — and we are lucky to claim all three.

They’ll celebrate birthdays Sunday, but the real winner every day? Us.

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