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Posts Tagged ‘Happy birthday’

Kalia Littlejohn

Kalia Littlejohn

The only thing little about Kalia Littlejohn is her last name.

The Coupeville Middle School hoops sensation, one half of the Shake ‘n Bake Sisters with CHS freshman Mia Littlejohn, Kalia brings it big everywhere else.

Big game, on and off the court.

I’m not going to tell you the CMS 8th grader, who celebrates a birthday today, is guaranteed to be an all-star at the high school level or beyond.

Judging middle school athletes is a tricky business, at best, and a lot can happen over the ensuing years.

Growth spurts, changing priorities and on and on.

Some talented youngsters end up deep on the bench as they get older, while some scrubs suddenly morph into super stars in their teen years.

Based on Mia, who has already lettered twice in her freshman year, I think Kalia is probably as sure a shot as we will find.

But, you never know and I don’t want to put too much pressure on her.

Either way, though, I will guarantee you this — Kalia will be one of the most entertaining athletes we’re likely to see in Cow Town over the next few years.

She plays all her sports — volleyball, soccer, track, but, most of all, basketball — at a frantic pace.

Like her sister and their brother, Zepher Loesch, before them, Kalia delivers a jolt of electricity every time she steps up to compete.

What puts her further out in front of the crowd is her personality, which is one part sunny, one part mischievous.

Kalia has yet to meet a camera she can’t pose for, and she and fellow young guns like Lindsey Roberts and Sarah Wright seem primed to claim the throne of lens-lovin’ Wolf legends like Kacie Kiel, Julia Myers and McKayla Bailey.

So, on this, her big day, all my best to the littlest Littlejohn.

I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish in the coming years, Kalia.

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Brian Norris, ladies and gentlemen.

Brian Norris, ladies and gentlemen. In all his glory.

He is a scamp.

A walking, talking, joybuzzer-wielding whoopee cushion come to life.

During his time at the center of Coupeville High School sports, few could match the spirit and joy Brian Norris brought to the stage.

He had fun as a baseball and tennis player, taking the sports seriously, but himself and his teammates not so much.

His greatest accomplishments may have come, however, when he stepped to the sideline, and along with other legends like Danny Savalza, Jake Tumblin and Brenden Coleman, goosed Wolf Nation and anyone he could get his hands on.

A loud ‘n proud vuvuzela horn-blowing mad man at a time when the school administration frowned on spontaneous (or choreographed) inanity of any kind, he fought the good battle.

Norris honored those who went before him, the mythical legends like Will Butela and Mike Duke, and, thankfully, seems to have inspired those behind him.

Even as he is off in Colorado matriculating at the University of Denver (and creating havoc on the radio Mondays 4-5 PM and Thursday 2-3, streaming at http://du.orgsync.com/org/kxdu/home), the seeds he helped plant locally have begun to take root.

The CHS sophomores have brought the costumes back out this year, got a little wild at times, staged a rebirth of the lively student section Norris and the lads once made bounce.

He may be gone, but his legacy lives on.

I know he’d be proud of that, and it makes for a nice birthday present as he celebrates his big day today.

So, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing today, make some noise for Brian. Let the sounds of Cow Town wash across the USA and land on his ears in Colorado.

If he can hear them above whatever mischief he’s up to himself, of course.

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Lauren Bayne (John Fisken photos)

Lauren Bayne (John Fisken photos)

There’s more than one superstar in the Bayne house.

While older brother Josh gets a lot of the publicity, what with being the Olympic League MVP in football and all, it might be easy to forget that lil’ sis Lauren is no slouch herself in the sports world.

Basketball, soccer, track — toss an athletic event at her and the junior version of the Bayne Train can more than hold her own.

Zipping across the soccer pitch, or around the track oval, she’s got speed to burn and a positive attitude that will carry her far.

She’s also branching out these days and working as a sports paparazzi, snapping photos of her CHS fellow athletes.

As Lauren celebrates a birthday today, we want to send her best wishes.

Whatever sports route she takes over the next few years, I have no doubt she’ll be aces at it.

That’s just a family tradition, and one Lauren upholds quite gracefully.

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Ashlyn Miller

Ashlyn Miller (John Fisken photos)

Miller unleashes the javelin during her junior track season.

Miller unleashes the javelin during her junior track season.

Hanging out with lil' sis Mattea.

Hanging out with lil’ sis Mattea.

All cheerleaders smile.

Few radiate the warmth that Coupeville High School senior Ashlyn Miller does, however.

Through rain, wind or fog on the football sideline, her spirit never flagged.

Her voice never wavered, her spirit never broke, and, most of all, she sent a genuine sense of happiness out to everyone who surrounded her.

That’s a personality trait that carries over in her non-cheer life, as well.

As part of a dynamic duo with younger sister Mattea, Ashlyn is one of the best and brightest the Wolves have to offer the world.

Alaska’s loss is Coupeville’s gain.

As she celebrates her 18th birthday today, a week away from what I anticipate will be the start of her final high school track season (she was a sprinter/thrower/relay whiz as a junior), here’s best wishes to a truly talented, radiant young woman.

Happy birthday, Miss Miller! Never stop being awesome.

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Colin Belliveau: The Dude abides. (John Fisken photos)

Colin Belliveau: Man of many faces. (John Fisken photos)

Colin Belliveau just seems like a good dude.

A friendly, easy-going guy, he fit right in after moving to Cow Town from Republic High School in Eastern Washington during his junior year.

Since becoming a Wolf, he’s tried his hand at football (transitioning from the 8-man game to the 11-man game) and soccer, and is a frequent presence at CHS events, loudly and proudly rooting for his classmates.

Belliveau also holds a place of distinction for the fact he’s VERY animated in the photos he pops up in. Take a look at the collage above and you’ll see what I mean.

That alone makes him a huge favorite here at Coupeville Sports headquarters.

After the basketball photo ran, he walked past me at a game, grinned broadly and said “Man, that camera knows just when to go off with me.”

Some guys try to be cool. Others just are.

Colin, who celebrates a birthday today, is obviously one of the latter kind.

So, a quick shout-out to our version of The Dude in “The Big Lebowski.

Like Jeff Bridges, Belliveau abides and makes it all look easy-peasy.

I know Republic misses him, but he’s a part of Wolf Nation now, and we’re very happy we got the chance to meet him.

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