Wolf freshman Mattea Miller sizes up a shot. (John Fisken photo)
Family is everything for Mattea Miller.
The Coupeville High School freshman, a member of the Native Alaskan Chugach tribe, has a large support group. It’s made up of immediate family, extended family and the coaches, teachers and friends who she encounters on a daily basis.
It’s a group she’s eternally grateful to have.
“We have a real strong family support system. Everything I dream of doing, and want to do, is supported by my large extended family and my immediate family,” Miller said. “My sister (CHS cheerleader Ashlyn Miller) and my grandparents have supported me from the very beginning.
“I am also lucky to be going to Coupeville, with coaches like Mr. (Ron) Bagby, Mr. (Brett) Smedley, Mrs. and Mr. (Amy and David) King and my teammates,” she added. “I also would like to mention coach Scott Hay, who is always here to give me advice.”
And Miller’s support group isn’t just limited to humans, though she “has a blast with some of my closest friends.” Her canine companions also brighten her life.
“My dogs are a big part of my family,” she said. “One is a goof ball and can be a little mentally challenged and the other one is incredibly grumpy, but has the biggest heart.”
A three-sport threat, Miller plays soccer and basketball and will run track for CHS in the spring after being a top runner for the middle school team last year.
In between her times on the athletic field, she also finds time to participate in Natural Helpers and works with the Coupeville Lions through their Leo Club.
On the basketball court, she is a tireless worker, a scrapper and hustler with skills on both ends of the court. One of the real bright spots on a talented Wolf JV squad, she seems to have a boundless future.
Miller is in her third season, having started in seventh grade (“It looked like something I would enjoy”) and her love of the game continues to grow.
“What I enjoy about basketball is the exercise, the chance to test my own abilities, the team and the excitement of the fans,” Miller said. “Some of the strengths I think I have are speed, endurance, agility and I hope I grow a little taller.
“Some areas I would like to work on are my dribbling, passing and aggressiveness,” she added. “My goals for the rest of the season and seasons to come are to improve my overall abilities, and mostly, to help the team become better to the best of those abilities.”
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