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After appearing in many photos over the years, Julia Myers is now reaping a financial benefit. (John Fisken photos)

   After appearing in many photos over the years, Julia Myers (with ball) is now reaping a financial benefit. (John Fisken photos)

Aaron Trumbull works hard for his money.

Aaron Trumbull works hard for his money.

John Fisken came out from behind the camera Tuesday night.

After spending most of the school year clicking away, the Oak Harbor-based lensman swung by Coupeville High School to award his second annual scholarships.

Taking home the honors (and some cash) were Wolf seniors Julia Myers and Aaron Trumbull.

The duo follow in the footsteps of Breeanna Messner and Brandon Kelley, who won the inaugural awards in 2014.

The scholarships, which honor student/athletes who play at least two sports for all four years, are financed by families and fans purchasing photos Fisken shoots, then puts up for sale on various sites.

All those times when I dropped a plug for his work, this is where it pays off.

To be eligible, CHS seniors had to also have a GPA of 3.0 or better, not be getting any financial aid for playing sports from a college program and write an essay.

They then topped things off with a one-on-one interview with Fisken, who alone made the final call.

Myers, who played soccer, basketball and tennis, plans to attend Western Washington and study kinesiology, with a goal of becoming a physical therapist.

She developed an interest in the field after having to undergo physical therapy while rehabbing a soccer injury. Myers hopes to one day obtain a position with a professional sports team.

A fan of her leadership class (Pre-Calculus not so much…), she singled out CHS basketball coaches David and Amy King and soccer/basketball teammate Makana Stone as big inspirations.

Looking back over her busy sports career, Myers remembered a rec soccer game where she stopped every shot that came to her in an OT shootout as her personal favorite highlight.

Trumbull, who played basketball and baseball all four years, was a key player on the Central Whidbey Little League baseball team that won a state title.

Years later, that remains a treasured memory for him.

He plans to attend Olympic College, where he’ll play baseball, before eventually transferring to Central Washington University.

He hopes to earn an engineering degree and go into the military, possibly as a pilot.

Coupeville baseball guru Willie Smith was Trumbull’s favorite coach, while Aaron Curtin, a close friend who also played basketball and baseball, was his pick for most inspirational teammate.

In school he greatly enjoyed Barbara Ballard’s UW English class (a class all of the nominees mentioned), but could have done without taking Spanish.

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Ema Smith (front)

   Ema Smith (front) and Sarah Wright, the future of Wolf softball. (Photos courtesy Ema Smith)

hitter

“They ain’t ever going to find that ball, baby!!”

Ema Smith is living the Peter Pan life.

The exuberant three-sport athlete, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, is fairly new to Whidbey Island, but her bubbly personality and strong athletic skills have already won her a fan club.

It all comes from embracing the philosophy of her favorite film.

“It’s true! Nobody really wants to grow up,” Smith said. “Like why would you, if you could just stay a kid.”

Smith, who is currently playing softball with the South Central Sox little league softball squad, which includes fellow CMS rising stars Sarah Wright, Veronica Crownover and Tamika Nastali, moved to town when her dad was hired as a deputy fire chief.

From the moment she arrived, she jumped full-bore into things, playing basketball for CMS and finding new companions.

“I enjoy making new friends and getting to know them,” Smith said. “Because the more you get to know them, the more you will have a good friend in the future.”

She plans to suit up for soccer, basketball and softball next year, and, while the last two sports are her favorites (“I grew up playing both, so I’ve gotten pretty good at both”), Smith wants to be successful at everything she tries.

“I think once I have a struggle I keep trying harder and harder to get over them and keep getting better instead of just quitting,” she said.

“I would love to be on the varsity team for ever sport I play because I believe the better you do in high school sports the better the chance colleges will pick you for their school.”

One area she wants to work on as she transitions into high school sports is meshing well with her future teammates.

“Being able to communicate with my teammates, without us getting mad at each other, because it takes both of us off our game,” Smith said.

Away from the athletic stage, she enjoys history class (“You get to learn what made your country the way it is and the way everything works”) and listens to a wide range of music, from country to rap.

“The way I spend my free time usually involves friends or family, like just hanging out or even hiking,” Smith said.

Family is huge for her, with the women in her life having made a big impact on shaping her personality.

“My mom has always been a huge influence in my life, telling me what’s wrong and what’s right, but also being a really good friend when I need one,” Smith said.

“My older sister Jessica, she has always been like a mother when my mom was not there,” she added. “She is 10 years older than me, so I have always had that older influence in my life, but she has been a very big role model in my life by the way she acts and the way she always has the best to say about someone.

“She has always told me being positive is the best way to be.”

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Wolf defender Tanner Kircher was named First Team All-League. (John Fisken photos)

   Wolf defender Tanner Kircher was named First Team All-League. (John Fisken photos)

Abrahm Leyva, on his way to another goal.

Abrahm Leyva, on his way to another goal.

William Nelson wasted no time, being named All-League as a freshman.

William Nelson wasted no time, being named All-League as a freshman.

The future is bright.

Three Coupeville High School booters were named First Team All-League when 1A Olympic League coaches got together this week to hash out honors, and the trio was comprised completely of underclassmen.

Junior forward Abraham Leyva, junior defender Tanner Kircher and freshman midfielder William Nelson will all have a chance to return and add to their personal and team glory next season.

“A well deserved honor for these three guys,” said CHS coach Kyle Nelson.

Leyva led the Wolves in scoring, peppering the nets with 14 goals, while Kircher was a lock-down beast on ‘d’ and Nelson did a bit of everything, popping up all over the field while always looking at ease.

Coupeville went 3-11 overall, 2-4 in league play, but the record was a bit deceptive.

A string of injuries to key players (Zane Bundy, Aaron Wright, Keegan Kortuem, Joel Walstad, Loren Nelson, etc.) made it difficult for CHS to ever field a full team.

Even down in numbers, the Wolves were rarely blown out and came within a goal or two of being 4-2 in league action.

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Zane Bundy, soccer star, dapper dresser and birthday boy. (John Fisken photo)

Zane Bundy, soccer star, dapper dresser and birthday boy. (John Fisken photos)

Once a Wolf, always a Wolf -- softball/cheer/cookie baking whiz kid Emily Licence.

Once a Wolf, always a Wolf — softball/cheer/cookie baking whiz kid Emily Licence.

There are a million, billion twinkling lights in the Wolf Nation universe, and two of the brightest share a birthday today.

Zane Bundy and Emily Licence are united by the day they popped into the world, and by general awesomeness, if not by a school anymore.

Licence, who a year ago was just about to slap on her face mask and patrol third base for CHS at the state softball tournament, now lives in California after a family move.

But just because she’s in a different state doesn’t detract a bit from the legacy she left behind during her days as a Wolf.

Scrappy infielder and pitcher. Peppy cheerleader. A saint who baked me cookies and presented them to me at one of her softball games.

Emily was all of those things, plus a talented dancer and owner of a serene, sweet personality.

Now, another town, another school, benefits from having her grace them with her presence, but she was a Wolf first, and a pretty darn great one.

One of us, always.

Mr. Bundy is a high-flying daredevil on the soccer pitch who rocks a suit and tie combo like few high school students ever have.

It still throws me off a bit to see him cruising through high school as a matinee idol, since he’s one of the kids who grew up in the aisles of Videoville.

He was always super cool even as a young boy, and, while the hair and clothes have gotten a bit fancier (the guy is the king of slick soccer shoes), Zane is still as friendly and easy-going as always.

Both of today’s birthday cake recipients are good athletes and better people, and should make their parents truly proud.

Whether I’ve known them most of their life, or just for a brief time, they have both impressed me and, I am sure, will continue to do so.

Wherever they celebrate today, I wish them both the best.

Happy birthday Emily and Zane.

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Lindsey Roberts seems to be enjoying herself. (John Fisken photo)

Lindsey Roberts seems to be enjoying herself. (John Fisken photo)

"Begone foul ball. Fly straight to the goal and never return!"

“Begone foul ball. Fly straight to the goal and never return!” (JF)

CHS stars (l to r) Tanner Kircher, Zane Bundy and Connor McCormick bring the gun show to town. (Wendy McCormick photo)

  CHS stars (l to r) Tanner Kircher, Zane Bundy and Connor McCormick bring the gun show to town. (Wendy McCormick photo)

Roberts streaks down the field like the trophy-winning sprinter she is in another life.

  Roberts streaks down the field like the trophy-winning sprinter she is in another life. (JF)

The "old" guys can still kick it, too.

The “old” guys can still kick it, too. (Photo courtesy Sean LeVine)

Cody Menges sacrifices for the beautiful game.

Cody Menges sacrifices for the beautiful game. (WM)

A chunk of the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select squad reunites.

A chunk of the GU19 Whidbey Islanders select squad reunites. (SL)

The soccer ball let out a little whimper moments before it was kicked, but no one was listening...

  The soccer ball let out a little whimper moments before it was kicked, but no one was listening… (JF)

The battle begins. (JF)

The battle begins. (JF)

Soccer stops for nothing.

A bit of rain? Play on.

So that’s just what the mass of teams at Fort Nugent did this weekend, as the annual Rock On 3v3 tourney played out through good weather and bad.

Our severely underpaid camera crew fanned out to capture the soccer smorgasbord pictured above, while I stayed dry at my house.

Nice.

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