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Posts Tagged ‘Happy birthday’

Tori Wellman, kickin' butt and takin' names.

Tori Wellman, kickin’ butt and takin’ names.

Already a gamer in the early days.

Already a gamer in the early days.

She is the unsung warrior.

Coupeville High School senior Tori Wellman, who celebrates her birthday today, is one of those young women who is skilled at everything they do, but don’t always get the full attention they deserve.

Wellman, who can, and has, played every sport you can name (softball, basketball, cheer, BMX racing, gun shooting and horse riding, to name but a few), made her biggest impact on the soccer field.

Playing for both the Wolves and with the GU18 Whidbey Islanders select squad, she was always a key piece of the puzzle.

A hard worker, a scrapper (“I’m not afraid to take out a girl every once in awhile”), a hustler, she made the uniforms better by wearing one.

I can’t say that I know her all that well, but everything I have seen of Tori, on and off the field, speaks of one thing — quiet grace.

Plus she let me use one of her photos for a Throwback Thursday one time, which was super cool of her. So, there’s that, too.

Tori is a class act, day in and day out, and her parents, Josh Wellman and Leona Lidral, should be very proud of the young woman they shared with Coupeville.

Happy birthday, Miss Wellman, and may life continue to reward you.

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Marisa (left) and Lucas EWtzell, the early years. (Kristi Etzell photo)

Marisa (left) and Lucas Etzell, the early years. (Kristi Etzell photo)

Lucas with dad Mike Etzell.

Lucas with dad Mike Etzell.

Marisa, hard at work on the soccer pitch. (John Fisken photo)

Marisa (left), hard at work on the soccer pitch. (John Fisken photo)

Coupeville’s Wonder Twins turn 17 tomorrow.

Marisa and Lucas Etzell will celebrate their birthdays in different countries, but the bond between the siblings never fades.

Both strong athletes — Marisa is a standout CHS soccer player and state meet veteran as a track runner, while Lucas is a Gold Medal-winning basketball player in the Special Olympics — they join older brother Ben and younger brother Nick to form a fearsome foursome.

They each have their own style.

Marisa is quiet but strong, able to hold her own with three brothers, while Lucas can talk to anyone, anytime and works his way through a crowd like a politician on the campaign trail, glad-handing everyone in sight.

They are both making an impact on the world, and it begins with their bond with each other.

May they celebrate many more birthdays together.

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Sylvia Hurlburt -- keeping alive the family tradition of being awesome.

Sylvia Hurlburt — keeping alive a proud family tradition of being awesome.

It’s never been about competing with each other.

Larry and Sylvia Hurlburt are siblings who always seem to be there for each other, the first person to congratulate the other one when they triumph in life — which is often.

Before he graduated from Coupeville High School, Larry advanced to the state meet in track. Last year, in her freshman year, his little sister stepped up and did the same.

Running as part of a very talented pack of younger runners that includes fellow sophomore Makana Stone and junior Marisa Etzell, Sylvia, who celebrates her birthday today, helped break school records and bring home a medal from last year’s state meet.

This year it’s already been more of the same for the sprinter and relay whiz.

She’s a year-round athlete, as well, helping to lead two Wolf cheer squads and carry on the name of her former cheer mentor, Sylvia Arnold, the “big” to her “little.”

Plus, she seems to be a genuinely smart, friendly young woman full of grace. So she’s got that going for her, which is nice.

Remember the name, because you’ll hear it a lot in the coming months and years. And that’s a good thing.

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Lincoln Kelley (beard)

The men with the goatees — Lincoln Kelley (tan shirt) and Jay Roberts (dark blue polo).

Together, they have yet to make me one dang cookie.

But, put that aside, and Jay Roberts and Lincoln Kelley have had a huge impact on Coupeville High School sports and my coverage of the Wolves.

The duo, who celebrate birthdays this week, have sired four children who currently wear the red and black, and all of their offspring excel at their chosen sports.

Whether it’s girls (senior Madeline Roberts is a softball sensation while freshman Ally Roberts is a state champion horse rider and both are loud and proud Wolf cheerleaders) or boys (senior Brandon Kelley and sophomore Lathom Kelley are currently tearing up the track, often together as members of various speedy relay teams), their kids are some of the best and brightest.

Not just good athletes, but good all-around people.

Like their dads.

Jay and Lincoln are the sort of parents you like to see, guys who are always in the stands, supportive and encouraging, proud of their kids in winning times and losing times.

So yes, it has been the CHS and CMS moms (and female Wolf athletes) who have led the way in making me cookies (saints, one and all), but, every once in awhile, it’s good to stop and remember the dads of Wolf Nation as well.

Now, maybe just convince them to get in the kitchen. Maybe not on your birthday, but there are 364 other days in the year…

Chop-chop, gentlemen!

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Jason Knoll -- The Man.

Jason Knoll — The Man.

Jason Knoll doesn’t play by your silly rules.

Crack down on students dressing up at games and cheering for their classmates, and the Coupeville High School senior, who happens to be celebrating his birthday today, will arrive to save the day — and the school year– by dressing up as Batman and popping up at as many games as possible.

A triple threat (tennis, soccer, band) with Jack Nicholson eyebrows, Knoll is the last brave man fighting the good fight.

The Fun Police will never catch him, never shut him down, and his legend builds day by day.

Years from now, when CHS students are allowed to run free again in the stands, they will look back and whisper the name of the man who refused (with a smile on his face) to give in and be quiet.

And he’ll be there in the shadows, watching from above, and a low growl will trickle down on a new generation.

“I’m Batman!”

He fought for your freedom. He refused to bend his knee.

For Knoll lives by the creed you all should remember: “They can take our vuvuzela horns, but they will never take our freedom!!”

Shine on, you crazy genius.

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