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Posts Tagged ‘Happy birthday’

Clockwise, from lower left, are DeAndre Mitchell, Jessica Bester, Dante Mitchell and Clay Reilly.

Clockwise, from lower left, are DeAndre Mitchell, Jessica Bester, Dante Mitchell and Clay Reilly.

Two days, four birthdays, many happy wishes.

Today and tomorrow mark the birth of a huge chunk of Coupeville High School’s athletic future (and present).

Sunday gave us twin basketball wonders Dante and DeAndre Mitchell, as well as Wolf cheerleader Jessica Bester. Monday brings with it the big day of football/basketball/baseball sensation Clay Reilly.

There’s actually another Wolf birthday on Monday, but we’re saving that one for her own article. Tune in Monday to see why.

For now, though, we honor this foursome, who have all made a quick impact in the red and black.

The Mitchell brothers, younger siblings of former Wolf dunk king Anthony Bergeron, were breakout players for the CHS boys’ JV hoops squad last season.

If they follow in the footsteps of Bergeron, who took a huge leap between his first and second seasons at Coupeville, expect the duo to set the nets on fire this year.

Bester joined the Wolf cheer squad as a freshman this year.

The cousin of fellow CHS cheerleader Ciera St Onge, she immediately fit in and shows great promise in the years to come.

Reilly, younger brother of lights-out basketball gunner Amanda Fabrizi, is an athlete for all seasons, and a talented one at that.

Whether flying around the gridiron, the hard-court or the diamond, where he saw varsity playing time last year as a freshman, he brings the same inner drive and flair for the dramatic that marked his sister’s stellar career.

Combined, the four represent the exciting future of Wolf sports.

To all of them, good luck, enjoy your big day, and continue to kick butt and take names.

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Monica Vidoni

Monica Vidoni

Dear Monica Vidoni,

As you celebrate your 18th birthday today, I just want to pass on a few thoughts from those of us in the stands at your games.

We are proud of you and the confident young woman you are becoming.

The growth you have shown in the past year, in all your sports and in life, is impressive.

Seeing you walk tall, more sure of yourself, of your value in this world, is reassuring.

Never doubt your self-worth. You are capable of great things in life, Monica.

If there are those who make you doubt this, even those close to you, they are wrong. They underestimate you and that is their problem, not yours.

Life is not always easy, but you are strong and will survive. You will thrive.

I believe, and so do many others, that you are a wonderful young woman. Give others a chance to see that side of you on a daily basis, and it will come back to you.

Never stop believing in yourself, Miss Vidoni. Rise up and reach for greatness, both on the athletic field and off.

You have far more fans than you may believe. And we all want to see the best for you, both as a Wolf and in the days afterwards.

May you have an awesome birthday, Monica, and always know that you are valued.

Sincerely,

Wolf Nation

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Haley Marx (left)

Haley Marx (left), still smilin’ at Wazzu.

With dad Steve.

With dad Steve.

Haley Marx puts sunshine in the world.

The former Coupeville High School athlete (a team captain in both soccer and basketball), Homecoming royalty and Senior Class President was rarely without her smile.

Through big wins and tough losses Marx remained as upbeat as they come. The smile never flickered and it always seemed very genuine.

Her teammates gravitated to her and she never shied away from being a leader, on or off the court.

Supremely sweet to all around her, yet tough as steel in the heat of athletic battle, she remains one of my favorites of recent years.

Haley was always easy to root for during her time in the red and black, and I doubt anything has changed.

These days she’s repping Wazzu colors and turns the big 2-0 today.

Marx may be gone from Cow Town, at least for the moment, but she’s never forgotten.

Happy birthday, Haley! May your special day be as awesome as you are.

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It's raining birthdays for Amy King (top, second from right)

   It’s raining birthdays for Wolf superstars Amy King (top, second from right), Kirsten Pelroy (bottom, far left) and Drew Chan.

Birthday cake will be eaten today at some point. That much is for sure.

Three of Coupeville’s finest — coach extraordinaire Amy King, track speedster/soccer booter/cheerleader Kirsten Pelroy and former basketball/baseball spark-plug Drew Chan — are hitting joint milestones.

All have made positive impacts, both on the field of play and off, and we send best wishes out to them all.

Chan was a team leader during his days in the red and black, whether patrolling second base or running the point.

A fiery, never-say-die guy, he had memorable moments as a Wolf, but none showed his willpower more than the time he overcame severe food poisoning.

A day prior to the season opener of his senior year, many of the Wolf hoops players ate at a burger joint.

The next afternoon was a horror show, as those who could stand spent more time throwing up on the sidelines than I want to remember.

The Wolf JV only had five players that day and during that game, Chan, a team captain for the varsity, lay under the bench, bright green and possibly dead.

And yet, when the opening buzzer sounded, he was on the floor and played almost the entire game, staying upright as most of his teammates weaved and dropped like zombies.

Kid had no quit. Ever.

Pelroy, much like older brother Mitch, has natural speed to burn, something she’s used to her advantage both as a track star — where she teamed with Makana Stone to anchor successful relay teams — and on the soccer pitch.

She’s also dabbled in cheer, where her megawatt smile lights up the field by itself. Blessed with talent and a serene spirit, Kirsten has no limits.

If a talent scout doesn’t snatch the genetically-gifted Pelroy up first and get her work as a model, she should continue to excel for years, regardless of which sport she chooses at the moment.

And then we arrive at King, a star athlete in her day (not that long ago) who has teamed with husband David to form a rock-solid coaching unit.

Bouncing from solo work in volleyball to team work in basketball and softball with her other half, she is a rock star.

Coaches vary wildly on how much effort they go to when they report facts, figures and statty info to the unwashed media hordes.

Some will give you two words and (maybe) a score, while others will practically do your work for you.

King is firmly entrenched in the latter camp, waging a friendly war with CHS tennis coach Ken Stange to be the ultimate in telling a story with their beautiful, extensive post-game emails.

But King has also hand-delivered fresh-baked goodies to me at work after her team’s season-ending banquet. Your move, Stange.

Whether they’re coaching, playing or cheering, the birthday trio represent the finest of Wolf Nation. Here’s to a happy day, today, and every day.

P.S. — If you have leftover cake, you know where I work…

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Joel Walstad

Joel Walstad

Kyle King

Kyle King

They are old school (well, not that old…) and new school, united by a love of athletics, an alma mater and a birthday.

Kyle King is the grizzled vet, a former state champ track star at Coupeville High School who went on to run, very successfully, at two D-1 colleges.

Joel Walstad is the current leader of the pack, a heat-flingin’ quarterback who’s currently putting up sweet numbers for the Wolf football squad. After that, basketball and soccer seasons beckon.

Both are part of successful athletic families, with King’s siblings Brianne and Tyler and Joel’s bro and sis Tim and Bessie forming potent trios in CHS sports history.

The two guys celebrating a joint birthday today also share a laid-back attitude (the dudes abide) and a penchant for being at the forefront of cheering on their fellow athletes.

If there’s a student section rocking the house, King is smack dab in the middle of it, a trait shared by Walstad, who’s quite fond of the face paint and screaming like a banshee.

While they’ve followed different athletic paths (though Kyle did suit up as a gridiron warrior for a bit), and only one of them has sported a spectacular porn star-style ‘stache for a bit (spoiler: it was the college guy), the duo both deserve big props.

Strong athletes and students who happen to be quality people, they give Coupeville a good name.

Let’s return the favor and wish them well on their big day.

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