Vivian Farris, who will be a CHS freshman in the fall, soars to make the play during a middle school match. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
A sure shot in everything she does. (Photos courtesy Fred Farris)
When not playing sports, Farris participates in 4H, showing her dog, Maggie.
Vivian Farris is the glue that holds a team together.
Talented, but willing and happy to embrace her role, no matter how big or small, she’s been a key volleyball and softball player for Coupeville teams in recent years.
Now, Farris is taking her skills to the next level, as she’ll step onto the CHS campus as a freshman in the fall.
She just wrapped a successful run with the Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball team, a squad which raked the ball en route to finishing 13-1.
Farris was a strong hitter, while also getting some work in at pitcher, a position she would love to keep playing.
“Although it may not currently be my strength, I would really like to get better at pitching,” she said.
“I really hope to improve on pitching in the next couple of years, and hopefully, I will have the chance to pitch for the high school team at some point.”
While she dreams of stalking the pitcher’s circle, Farris is the kind of player who brings a smile to every coach’s face.
Wherever you play her, she’s ready to go, and committed to doing whatever is best for team success.
“I think that I’m good at being a supporting teammate,” Farris said. “It isn’t my favorite to be in the spotlight all the time.
“I am perfectly happy with helping my team as best I can, without being the greatest player on the team. I want to stay humble.”
Finding the balance between being a supportive teammate and being willing to play big when the spotlight does hit her, is something she admits she’s still working at.
“However, this can sometimes be a weakness,” Farris said. “I don’t put myself out there enough and don’t have enough confidence.
“It’s my biggest pet peeve when people have a higher ego than their skill, so I tend to stay away from that area altogether.”
While Farris embraces working within a team framework, she’d certainly like to do it a high level. She’s just realistic about the path ahead of her.
“I hope to make varsity in all the sports I play at some point,” she said.
“I know hoping for varsity my freshman year isn’t extremely realistic, so I’m hoping for my junior or senior year.”
Away from sports, Farris enjoys language arts class, shows her dog, Maggie, at 4H events, and likes to spend time with friends and family.
Sports are a big part of life for her family, with Vivian’s dad, Fred, and older brother, Keaton, both having been highly-successfully, award-winning high school athletes.
Now it’s time for Vivian, and younger sister Mia, who’s currently playing for a 15-2 CWLL Majors softball squad coached by their dad, to shine.
Having her family always there to support her has been huge for the bright young woman.
“Obviously, my parents have impacted me the most,” Farris said. “My dad was my coach in rookies softball. He has pushed me to be my best in every single sport I have played, even in boys and girls club basketball in second grade.”
“My mom has always been there to root me on, even if I am having a really bad game,” she added. “It’s nice to have someone understanding to vent to, also.”
Farris is quick to acknowledge her coaches impact, as well.
“My coaches, especially my club volleyball coach, have made me the player I am at the sports I currently play,” she said. “My club volleyball coach pushed all of us to our breaking point.
“Without the club experience, there is no way I would have been a setter on the 8th grade varsity team this past year.”
While she’s let basketball go, Farris stays busy with volleyball and softball, and her favorite sport tends to change from day to day, season to season.
“I kinda go up and down with both,” she said.” Sometimes I really want to play volleyball, and sometimes I would much rather play softball.”
Having just finished her diamond campaign, Farris is still basking in the afterglow.
“I like being outside in the sun,” she said. “This softball season, we were fortunate enough to be able to play in super awesome weather.
“I also love playing with my friends. Playing with them makes every sport so much more fun!”
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