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Posts Tagged ‘Happy birthday’

Birthday twins Lindsey Laxton and Nicole Lester. (Photos by Amy King and John Fisken)

Birthday twins Lindsey Laxton and Nicole Lester. (Photos by Amy King and John Fisken)

Sister, my sister.

Two of Coupeville High School’s brightest young athletic stars, twin terrors Nicole Lester and Lindsey Laxton, celebrate a joint birthday today.

In their short time at the high school, both have dove right in, playing two sports in the first two seasons.

Lindsey was a member of the Wolf girls’ soccer squad in the fall, while Nicole dropped spikes with the volleyball team.

Then, both teamed back up to play for Amy King on the Coupeville JV girls’ basketball team, where they were part of a fun-loving, exciting group of players on the rise.

While both sisters have their own personalities, they do share some characteristics.

Lindsey and Nicole come across as friendly, enthusiastic young women who show great love for their family, who could often be seen at their games.

As we head into spring, the duo have the chance to join a rare club, as three-sport athletes.

I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish, both on and off the field, as they move through their days here in Coupeville.

They have bright futures, as sunny as their personalities, and they are welcome additions to Wolf Nation.

Happy birthday, ladies. I hope it’s a great one!

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Kalia Littlejohn, ready to tear up the pitch. (John Fisken photo)

Kalia Littlejohn, ready to tear up the pitch. (John Fisken photo)

Kalia Littlejohn was born to be a star.

The irrepressible Coupeville High School freshman, who celebrates a birthday today, probably popped out of the womb already looking around for the camera.

She is easily one of the most entertaining of a new wave of Wolf stars, a young woman who excels in every sport she picks up, but also one who seems to be thoroughly enjoying every moment.

Her heart belongs to soccer, and it only took Kalia a year to shatter the CHS single-season record for scoring.

Joining big sis Mia as a First-Team All-League selection after rattling home 10 goals, she helped the Wolves tie a program record for wins and is already hot on the hunt for bigger and better success.

A select team player, she was recently selected for a top-level training program.

In between, she has played some hoops, smashed a volleyball or two, run track and been the focus of about a billion photos.

There is no shyness in the lil’ Littlejohn (or she hides it really, really well) and she loves her photo ops.

Also, having traveled to several games with her and her parents, I can attest to the fact she’s witty, smart and able to go off on eloquent rants on just about any topic.

There are several CHS freshmen with potential to be sports stars, and others who shine in the classroom and boppin’ through the real world.

Kalia is the rarity, a young woman who can, and probably will, conquer every world.

Happy birthday, Miss Littlejohn. I hope your day is as awesome as you are.

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Chris Battaglia (John Fisken photo)

Chris Battaglia, ready to wage gridiron war. (John Fisken photo)

Chris Battaglia is going places, quickly.

The Coupeville High School freshman, who celebrates a birthday today, has already made a big impact in just a short time at the school.

Battaglia was an immediate hit in the fall, when he was a highly-effective starter for the Wolf varsity football squad.

By the time his first go-around was done, he had 56 tackles (2nd best on the team, 10th best in the 1A Olympic League) and a team-leading three sacks (4th best in the league).

A hard hitter who never backed down from the big boys, “The Italian Stallion” looks to be a two-way star as he moves forward.

A solid rusher in middle school ball, Battaglia seems likely to be in the thick of things next season, when Coupeville will have to replace its leading ball-carriers, Wiley Hesselgrave and Lathom Kelley.

Of course, there’s more than just football on his plate, as Battaglia also excelled in track the last two seasons.

As an eighth grader he finished in the top three in four different events (1600, shot put, discus, high jump) at the league championship meet, claiming top honors in the discus.

A solid citizen with huge upside, both athletically and off the field, Battaglia is at the forefront of a new wave of Wolves who have been intent on capturing the spotlight from day one.

I look forward to seeing his story continue to develop.

Happy cake day, Mr. Battaglia.

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Lauren Bayne (John Fisken photos)

Lauren Bayne, a young woman of many talents. (John Fisken photos)

Lauren Bayne is a bit of a Renaissance woman.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, who celebrates a birthday today, is a whirlwind, always up to something, and always doing a pretty spectacular job at whatever she does.

On the soccer pitch she’s one of the hardest-working Wolves, a lock-down defender who helped anchor Coupeville’s often-stingy defense.

Put her on the track oval and there is little she can’t accomplish.

During her freshman season, Bayne Train, Jr. competed in eight different events, going all the way to districts in both the 3200 and high jump.

Once there she PR’d in the running event and just missed tying her best mark — which she had set while winning the event at sub-districts — while jumping.

When she’s not busy blazing a trail of athletic success, much like older brother Josh, Lauren can be seen snapping pics of fellow Wolf athletes.

Or working tirelessly behind the scenes at Booster Club events like the annual Crab Feed.

Or hanging out with her 10,000 friends.

Bayne is a bright, blazing ray of sunshine in Coupeville, and she comes off as smart, well-spoken, deeply caring to those she holds close and a young woman whose potential is limitless.

I always figure we should get in good with people like Lauren when they’re just starting, so that when she’s ruling the world, she might remember us benevolently.

So happy birthday, Miss Bayne.

I hope your cake day is a sweet one, but, then again, I hope all of your days are that way.

You make us better as a town for your presence, and I hope you always know how highly we all think of you.

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Ashleigh Battaglia (John Fisken photo)

   Ashleigh Battaglia, who finished with six points on opening night last Thursday, looks for an opening in the defense. (John Fisken photos)

Battaglia

Battaglia flies after a runaway volleyball.

We’re going to do a first today.

We’re swinging down to the middle school level to pay tribute to one of the best and brightest at CMS as she celebrates a birthday.

Ashleigh Battaglia, lil’ sis of CHS football star Chris, beats her brother by a few days (his cake day is coming up in a week or so), so she gets the spotlight first.

Much like her brother, she plays a lot of sports and plays them all well.

At CMS Ashleigh has suited up in every season, whether playing volleyball, basketball (where she kicked off a new season with a strong opening game against Chimacum) or track and field.

Last year she was the sort of indispensable jack of all trades a track coach loves, competing in seven different events during her season.

Want someone to run the sprints, throw the shot put or discus, launch herself in the long jump or take a leg on a relay?

Ashleigh answered the call every time, always with a beaming smile.

From what I’ve seen over the past year and a half, Battaglia seems like a genuine bright spot for Wolf athletics.

A hard worker, a good teammate and a warrior who is not afraid to get in the thick of things and battle.

I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the years ahead, and I already know Coupeville is lucky to have Ashleigh and her family, who have always struck me as a genuinely nice bunch.

Happy birthday, Miss Battaglia! I hope you have a great cake day.

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