Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Dawn Hesselgrave’

Thrash ’em, then feed ’em!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, tagged , , , , on September 25, 2015| 1 Comment »

Kalia Littlejohn punched home two more goals Friday, giving her six in six games. (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)

   Kalia Littlejohn (right) punched home two more goals Friday, giving her six in six games. (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)

A lock-down defense and an explosive offense are a beautiful combination.

With total control of both sides of the ball Friday night, the Coupeville High School girls’ soccer squad romped to a 5-0 non-conference win over visiting Orcas Island.

The victory, coming in the team’s first game after an eight-day break, evened the Wolves record at 2-2-2.

CHS spread its offense around, with Kalia Littlejohn leading the way. The freshman punched the ball in twice to run her team-best total to six goals in six games.

Big sis Mia Littlejohn tacked on her fourth goal of the season, while Sage Renninger and Jenn Spark each connected for their second.

Spark’s goal came off of a penalty kick, set up when teammate Kirsten Pelroy was roughed up on a play in the box.

“Our ever-ready energy bunny, Kirsten, drew a foul and, of course Jennifer crushed the free look and it was a wrap,” said Coupeville coach Troy Cowan.

“Overall, the team played well and we are really starting to come together,” he added. “Really proud of our intensity in practice, the girls are starting to figure it out. The harder we work in practice the easier the game comes to them; it’s magical!!!”

While the goal scorers get the headlines, Cowan also shone his spotlight brightly on his role players.

“I want to commend our bench players, they all played hard and have really contributed to the team success,” he said. “They are as responsible for our success and those goals as the girls that scored them!!”

While the Wolves rained down goals, their defense, anchored by goalie Lauren Grove, was on point.

“As usual, our rookie goalie was lights out!,” Cowan said. “Can’t say enough good things about Lauren Grove, she is amazing!!!

“Defense was on lock-down, ’nuff said!”

While Coupeville pounded Orcas on the field, the Wolves made sure the Vikings, who had a long trip ahead of them, didn’t go home empty-handed.

The Littlejohn’s mom, Dawn Hesselgrave, initiated a plan to feed all the Orcas players from both the soccer and volleyball squads, who had traveled to Whidbey together.

“Tonight’s MVP, no question,” Cowan said. “Dawn came to me over a month ago with this idea and she took the bull by the horn and got the job done!!!

“Not only did this incredible woman demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship to our Lady Wolves, she embodies attributes of sainthood!!,” he added. “What an amazing gesture of kindness and act of love and all on behalf of our young Lady Wolves.

“It gives me great pride and honor to call Dawn my friend, team mom and tonight’s match MVP. Thank you, Dawn!”

Read Full Post »

Littlejohn’s her name, but her game is big!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, Middle School, tagged , , , , on March 1, 2014| 1 Comment »

Kalia Littlejohn (Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

Kalia Littlejohn (Dawn Hesselgrave photos)

Kalia and Mia hanging out with big bro Zepher Loesch, circa 2008.

Kalia and Mia Littlejohn hanging out with big bro Zepher Loesch, circa 2008.

Kalia Littlejohn, the fiery spark-plug who kick-starts the 7th grade offense. (John Fisken photos)

“This is my court, fool!!” (John Fisken photo)

Kalia Littlejohn never stops moving on the basketball court.

The Coupeville Middle School 7th grader, who is celebrating her birthday today, zips back and forth relentlessly when she is in a game.

Whether running the Wolf offense from the point, where she is a constant danger to slash to the bucket, or playing an elbow-swingin’ defense that results in more than her fair share of picked off passes, balls knocked out of bounds and frustrated foes, she’s dynamic.

It’s a family style, as older siblings Mia Littlejohn (a CMS 8th grader) and Zepher Loesch (a former CHS standout) play the same way.

An in-your-face, what-you-gonna-do-about-it-cry-to-your-momma style that looks like they just stepped off a street court in Jersey, injecting a nice shot of grit and confidence into laid-back Coupeville.

Kalia developed her style trying to keep up with her older brother, who went on to play ball after high school (“I have played basketball for a very long time. Zepher would always play with us outside.”) and has grown to love the game.

“What I enjoy the most about basketball is the feeling you have when you have that lay up or that shot and you just hope it goes in, that challenge to get the ball in that basket,” Littlejohn said. “Oh, and I “LOVE” defending. I think one of my strengths is defending.”

While she’s already ahead of the average player at her grade level, she’s always looking to get better.

“What I want to work on is everything,” Littlejohn said. “Because I think there’s always room for improving.

“What I want to improve the most is dribbling and shooting.”

Basketball is not her only sport, as Littlejohn and her older sister have both played select soccer for many years. She also played volleyball for CMS and plans to run track in the spring.

A big fan of hip hop and country, she picks math as her favorite class “because it’s challenging” and enjoys “spending time with family, listening to music or sleeping.”

With a family full of athletes (step-brother Wiley Hesselgrave, a sophomore at CHS, is a football and basketball star as well), Littlejohn gets tremendous support, allowing her to stay dedicated to her sports.

“My whole family has been an impact on the person that I am today,” she said. “My brother, Zepher, has been a huge impact in basketball. Also my dad was a big impact in my sports.

“My mom (Dawn Hesselgrave) takes me everywhere we need to go and has been a big help in soccer,” Littlejohn added. “But she can still beat me in soccer, sadly.”

Read Full Post »