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Posts Tagged ‘Happy birthday’

Birthday buddies soar sky high!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on May 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Ethan Marx (John Fisken photos)

   Ethan Marx fires in a ball while patrolling the outfield during a CHS baseball practice. (John Fisken photos)

Genna Wright

Genna Wright, surveying her kingdom.

They’re keeping the family business strong.

Ethan Marx and Genna Wright, who celebrate a joint birthday today, are both the youngest in families with a strong Coupeville athletic tradition.

Marx, who just days ago delivered a three-run double to propel the Wolf baseball squad to its first league title in 25 years, follows on the heels of older sister Haley, a star soccer and basketball player at CHS.

Wright is the latest in a long line of super-talented folks from her family, a diverse group that includes a host of older siblings and cousins.

She’s only a 7th grader, and is the youngest birthday celebrator we’ve featured in this series, but she’s already turning heads.

A fiery, fun-lovin’ competitor, no matter the sport (and she plays just about everything plus spends a considerable amount of time on the slopes), Genna takes most closely after older sister Sarah.

Both play at 120 MPH, crashing around and through teammates when necessary and are a lot of fun, on and off the court.

Marx may be a little quieter, but he’s just as dedicated, and, obviously, doesn’t shy away from the spotlight of the big stage.

As the duo hit their cake day, we just want to take a moment to wish them both happy birthday and all the best for their (very bright) futures.

You’re both legacies, and you’re upholding that legacy extremely well.

Good on you.

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We Otto say happy birthday!!

Posted in Happy birthday, Softball, tagged , , , , on April 29, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Melissa Otto (JOhn Fisken photos)

   Melissa Otto will celebrate her birthday playing ball on the prairie today. (John Fisken photos)

Otto

Otto takes a cut during practice.

Melissa Otto is a star.

Now, she hasn’t hit a game-winning home run or pitched a shutout on the softball diamond (yet), so how I can say that?

It’s because Otto, who celebrates her birthday today on the same day her Wolf squad hosts Port Townsend (4 PM), is one of those young women who impress you every day.

She’s fairly new to the game, and playing for a team chock-full of players who are life-long softball vets, which has limited her playing time so far, but Melissa does everything the right way.

Otto is always right in the thick of things on the bench, a loyal, vocal supporter of her teammates.

When her coaches talk to the team, you see her eyes locked on them.

She’s listening, learning, and approaches the game with an eagerness that is nice to see.

I have no doubt she will seize any opportunity given her, and when she does, Otto will more than deserve it.

So, as she celebrates her cake day today, I just want to say two things.

One, happy birthday, Melissa (and PS, your day falls between my mom’s on Apr. 28 and mine on Apr. 30, so you picked your arrival day well).

And two, I hope you know that people on the outside notice how you handle yourself, and that you make fans of your team proud.

I look forward to watching you continue your journey, as an athlete and as a vital part of Wolf Nation.

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Terrific trio just here for the cake!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on April 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Birthday boys (clockwise, starting on left) Tavian Woolett

Birthday boys (clockwise, starting on left) Tavian Woolett, Jakobi Baumann and Jaschon Baumann. (John Fisken photos)

Today is all about the young guns.

Three freshmen who have all made an impact for Coupeville High School sports teams this school year are celebrating a joint birthday.

It’s all about the cake for Tavian Woolett and brothers Jakobi and Jaschon Baumann.

Woolett announced himself on the gridiron back in the fall, terrorizing opponents as a two-way threat.

Whether picking up chunks of yardage as a receiver or runner, or hauling down folks on the defensive side of the ball (where he popped up on the varsity stat sheet), Tavian played hard whistle to whistle.

Often praised in print by Wolf JV coach Ryan King, he has a combination of skills, work ethic and grit, which is always nice to see.

The battlin’ Baumann brothers started on the tennis court and have since taken their skill sets to different sports in the spring.

Jaschon is running the soccer pitch for the Wolves, while Jakobi is just flat out running, as a member of the Coupeville track squad, where he has one of the ten best times among 1A runners in the 3000.

Like their dad, Duane, the CHS Athletic Director and soon-to-be Principal, the duo are low-key guys who surprise with a nice sense of humor.

Having spent a soccer game or two up in the press box with them, I can attest both Baumann brothers can crack jokes (and good ones) while still keeping the scoreboard and iPad hummin’ along. They got skills.

So, as all three of these young Wolves hit their milestone day, we just want to take a moment and wish them the best.

Happy birthday, guys. Keep flying high.

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Twice the talent, twice the class!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on April 21, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Birthday buddies Jacob Martin (left) and Gabe Wynn. (John Fisken and Shelli Trumbull photos)

   Birthday buddies Jacob Martin (left) and Gabe Wynn. (John Fisken and Shelli Trumbull photos)

They are truly birthday buddies.

Coupeville High School juniors Jacob Martin and Gabe Wynn, both multi-sport stars for the Wolves, were born on the exact same day.

At the time, no one probably had the slightest clue they would one day unite at CHS to rep the red and black, but it’s worked out quite nicely for both of them, and for us, their fans.

The duo are superb athletes, with Gabe having suited up for tennis, football, basketball and baseball, while Jacob has been a rock on the football field and a fleet-footed runner on the track oval.

If you have to pick one sport for each, Martin’s biggest impact has been on the gridiron, where he hits with a cold fury (while smiling) and is a dangerous runner.

During a down season for Wolf football last year, he was one of the true shining stars, a guy who went flat-out every snap they let him on the field.

I fully expect him to be a leader as a senior next year, both in piling up stats and in keeping Coupeville moving back up in the standings.

With Gabe, it’s hoops.

The first time I ever covered him in person was during his 8th grade season on the hardwood, when he was a one-man wrecking crew.

In one game against Sultan, the Wolves were being smacked around pretty good, until Wynn, devilish grin creeping across his face, went absolutely bonkers and blew the Turks sky-high.

He’s continued that style of play through his high school days, where he has been, without a doubt, the player most likely to collect bruises from diving for balls, fighting through screens and, occasionally, flipping completely over the defender’s head while wrestling for rebounds.

Take both Jacob and Gabe off the gridiron or hardwood, though, and they really shine.

While they have made their name as athletes, both guys come across as quality young men in everything they do.

Well-spoken, smart, considerate of others, loyal to their friends and family, outgoing. The list of positive attributes could go on and on.

But, they have cake days to celebrate, so let’s just wrap things up simply by saying this — they’re as good as it gets, and Coupeville is blessed to have both of them.

Happy birthday, gentlemen.

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A winner in every way!!

Posted in Happy birthday, Horse sports, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on April 13, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Ashley Menges

Ashley Menges: pick a sport, she’s a winner.

"Hey, it's my birthday!!" (John Fisken photos)

“Who’s gettin’ cake? This girl!!” (John Fisken photo)

We are in a new golden age for young female athletes right now in Coupeville.

Both the freshman and sophomore classes at CHS boast exceptionally strong groups, while the elementary and middle school levels are bursting with talent, as well.

One of the brightest and most successful is Wolf frosh Ashley Menges, who celebrates her birthday Thursday.

A standout volleyball spiker and competitive horse rider, she’s following in the successful footsteps of older brother Cody, a dazzler on the soccer pitch.

Ashley has quickly become a star in her own right, however, blasting to the forefront along with pals Emma Smith and Maddy Hilkey while juggling select and school volleyball.

When she’s not setting up the big hitters with her pinpoint passing, she can usually be found astride her horse.

A veteran of the state meet in Puyallup, Menges‘ ribbon collection is staggering and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

In the time I have covered her athletic endeavors, she has been everything in a teammate a coach would want to see — loyal, supportive, enthusiastic and highly devoted to her squad.

You can be a successful athlete and be rude and dismissive, but Menges is a prime example of living your life the opposite way — being successful while treating others with kindness and approaching each obstacle with a can-do attitude and a shining spirit.

Win or lose, Ashley has a charisma and a sunny nature that wins her fans everywhere she goes.

That she backs it up with strong athletic ability is just a bonus.

So, as she heads towards her cake day, we just want to take a moment to wish her the best, and thank her for making her school and her town look so good.

You’re a winner, Miss Menges, in every way.

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