Xavier Murdy, the modern-day gold standard. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Now, it’s very likely Xavier Murdy knew what his personal stats were.
He just didn’t seem to waste much time obsessing over them.
What mattered most to the Class of 2022 grad was whether his team came out ahead in the end.
That was what earned the biggest of his grins, as he basked in the afterglow of everything he and his friends accomplished.
Like Coupeville all-timers such as Hunter Smith and Sean Toomey-Stout before him, Xavier has the kind of mentality which would allow him to be a star in any decade.
Old-school guys, whether they hail from the ’70s or the ’50s, would appreciate his utter commitment to putting team above self, to the way he works his rear off, and the way he always stops to acknowledge his fan base.
Xavier’s young cousins, and their friends and teammates, all clambered for his attention.
Like The Man himself, Keanu Reeves, does on an international basis, the lanky Wolf superstar always gave of himself, even when at work.
A smile to the stands, a high five delivered to his coach’s young sons, a hug and a conversation for his niece — a generation of Coupeville kids will head into their own athletic heyday having learned being a good dude is the way to be.
Across the past six years, and numerous teams, Xavier carved out a considerable body of work — one appreciated by coaches, teammates, fans, and even rivals.
There was football and tennis for a moment, and then the three sports he settled on.
On the soccer pitch he was a calm and composed team leader who earned First-Team All-League honors, his impact felt both as a scorer and as a guy willing to do all the dirty work to make sure teammates such as his brother Alex reached their full potential.
First to the ball, always. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
When spring rolled around, Xavier anchored the Wolf baseball team as a tough-nosed catcher who always had a good word for everyone, but also wasn’t afraid to stand in the line of fire and absorb pain while blocking the plate from incoming runners.
He swung a solid stick, was a smart base runner, and again received notice from league coaches when it came time to tally up year-end honors.
But it was on the basketball court where Xavier soared the highest.
Part of a tight-knit band of Wolf players who worked their way up a daunting hill to achieve greatness as seniors, he was the guy who did everything.
Ready to attack. (Mandi Murdy photo)
Xavier could torch the nets, three-balls droppin’ like manna from the heavens, but it wasn’t until his senior season, when Covid threw things asunder, where he really showcased his offensive skills.
He finished his prep days with 482 points, putting him #51 all-time for a program which began play in 1917, his scoring totals going up each season.
But his game was always about much more than just making the nets flip.
Xavier seemed determined to snatch every rebound in sight, come up with every loose ball, take on the toughest defensive assignment, and do all the nitty, gritty little things which are often the difference between wins and losses.
The Marauding Murdy boys delivered 32 minutes of defensive Hell, giving rival ballhandlers PTSD as Xavier and Alex forced turnover after turnover to spur the high-flying Wolf attack.
“You shall not pass!” (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
X faced off with guys who were taller, guys who outweighed him, but none who were as mentally and physically tough.
Sliding his wiry body into tiny gaps, he had an uncanny knack for always getting to the ball, and once the orb was on his fingers, rarely would he lose control of it.
A smart passer who often seemed to take his greatest delight in setting up others for buckets — especially if the guy slapping the ball home was his brother — Xavier is a case study in what it means to be a selfless player.
Fighting through a pandemic, with multiple Covid tests, masks, and players often yanked from the lineup at the last moment, Murdy and Co. crafted a hoops season for the ages this past winter.
The checklist is impressive.
The first league title for a CHS boys basketball team since 2002.
The first district crown since 1970.
The first trip to the state championships since 1988.
Marinating in the moment. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Xavier earned well-deserved MVP honors from Northwest 2B/1B League coaches and became the first Coupeville male hoops star to be tabbed for the All-State game in a decade-plus.
His performance at that all-star contest, where he rattled the rims for 10 points thanks to offensive rebounds, steals, and hustle plays, was vintage X.
A few of his big-name All-State teammates seemed to be preening for the cameras after every shot — even when they clanked the ball off the front of the rim.
Xavier?
One of the few guys on the floor playing full-out defense, taking advantage of every bit of floor time awarded, and earning respect from coaches, who, prior to the game, couldn’t have told you where Coupeville was even located on the map.
As Wolf boys basketball builds a new legacy of success, evoking the play of legends who strode the hardwood in the ’70s, Xavier provided a template for the players coming up behind him.
You might not all become a two-time CHS Male Athlete of the Year like he did, but you can strive to reach for the high bar of success he set.
Hard work isn’t always fun, but making the Coupeville gym rock again for the first time in years makes the toil and sweat worth it.
Be like X.
Play your heart out. Play for team. Play for the name on the front of the jersey.
Doing that has carried Xavier to a destination known as the Coupeville Sports Hall of Fame, and the decision to grant him entry to that hallowed digital shrine is a remarkably easy one.
After this you’ll find him hanging out at the top of the blog under the Legends tab, awaiting the likely arrival of his brother a year from now.
You make the joint classier for your presence, Xavier.
Sharing Homecoming honors with Noelle Daigneault. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
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