Mike Rice
With a new high school football season ahead of us, let’s take a look at some of the young men who will play for Coupeville High School for the first time this fall.
Mike Rice is putting in the time in the weight room.
And why not? That’s where the Coupeville High School freshman-to-be has gotten a lot of the encouragement which made him want to be a football player.
“I really think coach (Brett) Smedley has helped me to become who I am,” Rice said. “He always helps me to push myself and get better.
“If we’re in the weight room and I’m using a certain weight that looks easy, he’ll tell me to push myself and go up 10 pounds.”
Smedley is entering his first year as head coach of the Wolves, while Rice will be playing in his second season, having started as an eighth grader.
He first strapped on the gear because the sport, which is the only one he’s currently planning to play, seemed like a good time.
“I enjoy football because it’s so well organized and it’s just a fun contact sport,” Rice said.
As he adjusts to the quicker pace and increased power of high school football, Rice is always looking to fine-tune his game.
“I’m not sure what my strengths are, but I do need to improve on my speed a bit,” he said. “My goals are to try to work hard enough to get playing time in varsity games.
“I’m gonna try and be the best every minute of practice to show the coaches I could do it!”
Coupeville Sports 