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Posts Tagged ‘Happy birthday’

The little brother is alright, too!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on June 30, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Jimmy Myers rips a shot on the tennis court. (John Fisken photos)

Jimmy Myers rips a shot on the tennis court. (John Fisken photos)

Myers (far left) joins (l to r) Jonathan Thurston, Uriel Liquidano and Aiden Crimmins in leading the student cheering section.

   Myers (far left) joins (l to r) Jonathan Thurston, Uriel Liquidano and Aiden Crimmins in leading the student cheering section at a CHS volleyball match.

Myers only needs one hand to hit from half-court.

Myers only needs one hand to hit from half-court.

Proud big sisters Julia Myers (left) and Taylor Herreman.

Proud big sisters Julia Myers (left) and Taylor Herreman.

Jimmy Myers has a tough fight on his hands.

When you come up behind two sisters who are rock stars, it’s easy to get ignored from time to time.

And yet, the easy-going Myers, who celebrates a birthday today, is doing OK for himself.

Even with huge footsteps left behind by the twin terrors, Taylor Herreman and Julia Myers, Jimmy is making his own mark in multiple sports.

The most noticeable of those lately has been tennis, where he showed real spark last year as a sophomore.

Toss in his time on the baseball diamond and his ability to rock a natty ensemble while helping to lead the student cheering section at volleyball matches, and he’s a well-rounded Wolf athlete.

Who also happens to be a strong student and a huge fan of sitting up in trees reflecting on life (or at least that’s what his Facebook profile pics seem to indicate).

As he celebrates his birthday today, young Mr. Myers is, like his sisters, a bright, shining light.

The last name brings a level of recognition, of responsibility with it, and Jimmy is more than living up to those who went down the path ahead of him.

I have no doubt your sisters are very proud of you, and, if you get the stamp of approval from Taylor and Julia, you’re solid.

Happy birthday, Jimmy.

May this one, and all the ones to come, be excellent.

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The awesomeness is strong in this one!!

Posted in Happy birthday, Middle School, tagged , , , , on June 29, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Oliana Stange

Oliana Stange

This? This is one impressive young woman.

That’s the only thought you can take away after talking to Oliana Stange.

She may be young in years — turning 13 today — but she is way, way ahead of the curve when it comes to being smart as a whip, well-spoken, sensitive to others and multi-talented.

The offspring of two educators, CHS tennis guru Ken Stange and my former Miriam’s Espresso colleague, Ericka Cooley, Oliana lights up the world.

Give her a sport, whether it be basketball, track, or especially, tennis, and she will put her whole heart and soul into it.

But, it’s away from the various courts and ovals where she really shines, whether wailing in the band or excelling in the classroom.

And it’s more than that.

Go talk to your average 13-year-old and then go talk to Oliana.

There is a deepness there that exists in few people just hitting their teen years.

I certainly didn’t have it. Still don’t, but that’s another story for another time…

Anyway, back to the whiz kid who’s celebrating her Cake Day today.

During the march to protest the death of former Wolf athlete Keaton Farris in the Island County Jail, I spent some time talking to Oliana and came away even more impressed with her.

Already a veteran of standing up for causes she believes in — she has also marched against Monsanto — Miss Stange is growing up aware of her world and wanting to make a positive impact on it.

Part of that comes from her parents, old-school rabble rousers in the best sense of the words, but she’s not just mimicking them.

She is, even at this young age, finding causes she believes in and becoming passionate about them.

And yes, as we go forward, much of what I will write about her will revolve around how she does as an athlete (it is called Coupeville Sports for a reason), but I will call this now — Oliana is going to make big waves in whatever path she chooses in life.

The kid is smart, quietly feisty and destined for great things.

One day we’ll look up and see the heights she’s reached and, while we’ll marvel at them, we won’t be surprised, because she’s been headed that way all of her young life.

So, this is what I have to say to you, Oliana:

Be proud of yourself, because those around you are certainly proud of you. Be awesome, in whatever you do. Keep impressing all of us just by being yourself.

Happy birthday Miss Stange. You are truly the pride of the pack.

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He’s a miracle, he is!!

Posted in Boys Basketball, Boys Tennis, Happy birthday, Track, tagged , , , , , on June 26, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Jared Helmstadter

Jared Helmstadter

Jared Helmstadter’s grin is epic.

The kid always seems like he’s having fun, no matter what sport he’s playing at the moment.

And he plays a lot of sports.

A true three-sport star, Helmstadter plays tennis and basketball and runs track for Coupeville High School, and he does all three quite well.

To look at him now, a six-foot-one senior-to-be, you’d never guess that he’s a bit of a miracle.

Just two pounds when he was born prematurely at 26 weeks, Jared was not expected to survive.

To which he said, screw this, I got stuff to do. And off he went.

As he celebrates his birthday today, Jared has become one of the best athletes at CHS, and a better person.

A hard worker who seems well-liked by all his teammates, he sets an example for others by simply going out there, day after day, and putting every last ounce of himself on the line.

You can’t help but be a bit proud of him and all he has accomplished, whether you’re a friend, family member or, in my case, just an interested fan.

Some people you root for just a little bit harder.

Every time Jared steps on the court or the track oval, he earns that support.

Happy birthday, Mr. Helmstadter, today and for many years to come.

 

To read more about Jared’s life, pop over to this story I wrote when he was a freshman:

https://coupevillesports.com/2012/12/29/lightning-strikes-for-wolf-basketball-squad/

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Bold, vibrant and cake-worthy!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on June 23, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Maddy (John Fisken photos)

Madeline Roberts, college softball slap-hittin’ sensation. (John Fisken photos)

family

Roberts, during her CHS days, with mom Lisa Edlin and lil’ sis Ally Roberts.

Kenzi

Kenzi LaRue operates on the tennis court during her freshman season.

LaRue enjoys her time on the volleyball court.

LaRue enjoys her time on the volleyball court.

Connected by a day, connected by their energy, connected by their spirit.

Madeline Roberts and Kenzi LaRue, who share a birthday today, have both worn the red and black for Coupeville High School, and done it with style and conviction.

Though they didn’t play together, being four years apart and partial to different sports, their paths are not that different.

Both are part of a bold, vibrant group of young women who would make the pioneers of Title IX proud.

The days when female sports teams had a “Lady” slapped on their uniforms are (mostly) gone.

There are no Lady Wolves at Coupeville. Just Wolves.

Boys. Girls. Both are athletes. Both put in just as much hard work, sweat and effort. Both deserve equal coverage for equal play.

For Roberts and LaRue, I doubt either one ever had to think about that. And that’s exactly how it should be.

Maddy strode the softball diamond like a boss, confident in herself and her skills.

A slap-hittin’ sensation, she rode her talents and drive to earn a college softball scholarship, then shocked the world by also playing basketball once she got to Shoreline Community College.

Part of a huge, athletically-inclined family, Roberts was born to be a star and has lived up to that heritage.

LaRue, lil’ sis to former Wolf football star Caleb Valko, is just beginning to seize her moment.

As a freshman last year she played volleyball and tennis and her ease with both games grew as the seasons progressed.

Never shy, she embraced her teammates and the spotlight, and the future is a bright one for the bubbly Kenzi.

As both enjoy their cake day, a quick happy birthday and this thought:

You both are strong, talented young women. Be proud of yourselves, every day, and never stop reaching for more.

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Two sports, twice the awesomeness!!

Posted in Baseball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , on June 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Julian Welling (John Fisken phgoto)

Julian Welling is ready to make the same impact on the football field that he has already done on the baseball diamond. (John Fisken photos)

Welling hangs out at a Wolf basketball game with Katrina McGranahan (center) and Mckenzie Meyer.

Welling hangs out at a Wolf basketball game with Katrina McGranahan (center) and Mckenzie Meyer.

Julian Welling is ready for the spotlight.

Today he celebrates his 15th birthday (happy cake day, Jo Jo!).

Tomorrow, he returns to preparing for his sophomore year at Coupeville High School.

A two-sport athlete for the Wolves, Welling has already been a huge hit for the CHS baseball squad.

Scrappy in the field and at the plate, he started a number of games at third base last season, including the team’s playoff game, joining Hunter Smith as the leaders of an extremely promising group of freshman ballplayers.

And while baseball is his favorite (“It’s what I do!”) and has taken him the furthest so far — he’s been playing travel baseball since he was an eight-year-old in Florida — football is coming up fast.

Welling first stepped on the gridiron when he was five, eventually putting in four seasons before taking a brief break to focus on baseball.

Now, he’s doing both, and doing well at both.

In brief comments fired off from between workouts at a football camp the Wolf team is attending, Welling said he enjoyed playing defense (“Mostly, hitting is my favorite”) and wants to continue to work on fine-tuning his skill set.

“I would like to work on my blocking and speed,” Welling said. “I think my best ability is being able to read the line.”

He credits his parents for shaping him (thereby winning him crucial points at a time when they would be considering getting him birthday cake) and has a wide array of interests away from sports.

If he’s not playing baseball or football, Welling can be found hunkered down playing Halo, smacking the drums or watching funny movies.

Regardless of what he’s doing, the rising young star has a simple outlook at what’s to come.

“Over the next few years, I would like to be a better student and teammate,” Welling said.

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