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Posts Tagged ‘tennis’

Joseph Wedekind (John Fisken photos)

Joseph Wedekind lets loose with a serve during practice. (John Fisken photos)

Young man with a horn.

(Super talented) young man with a horn.

Joseph Wedekind is a man of many talents.

The Coupeville High School junior, who celebrates a birthday today, does a little bit of everything, and everything he does, he does well.

On the tennis court he is a favorite of his coach and fans for his strong work ethic — he plays virtually year-round with double mate John McClarin  — and is coming off his best season as a Wolf netter.

He shared team MVP honors with senior Sebastian Davis and, along with McClarin, will be a returning captain next year.

Off the court, if you were to look up Wedekind in a dictionary, you’d find him right there under the term “whip smart.”

A Science Olympiad warrior who also plays in the school’s jazz and pep band, Joseph has talent shooting out in all directions.

Not that he would be the one to tell you that, however, as he’s also a low-key kind of guy not prone to shouting at the world about how awesome he is.

But it’s obvious to those on the outside looking in that he’s going places.

This is the kind of talented, friendly guy who is likely to end up doing big things, both during his remaining high school days and after he departs CHS.

So, we all need to get in good with him now, so he remembers us when he’s all successful.

With that being said, happy birthday, Mr. Wedekind. Enjoy your cake day and keep sailin’ on.

You have always seemed like a genuine class act, on and off the court, and, I guarantee you this, your fan base is an ever-growing one.

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Coupeville HS tennis coach Ken Stange shows off his dance floor-ready moves. (Wendy McCormick photo)

   Coupeville High School tennis coach Ken Stange shows off his dance floor-ready moves. (Wendy McCormick photo)

The dance floor will unite them.

That’s the plan, as Coupeville High School tennis coach Ken Stange welcomes folks to his South End establishment, kicking things up a notch with an appearance by a band that includes a fellow teacher from Oak Harbor.

Stange, who left teaching behind this year when he purchased Bailey’s Corner Store in Clinton, is bringing in acclaimed Island band Jacobs Road next weekend.

The well-known cover band includes drummer Mitch Aparicio (former Wolf sports star turned co-owner of Penn Cove Brewing Co.) and OHHS teacher Erik Christensen.

The group will be playing classic rock (ideal for singing along and dancing) at Bailey’s Corner next Saturday, Jan. 23 from 6-10 PM.

There’s a nominal $5 cover charge, so basically we’re talking $1.25 per hour — not at all unreasonable.

Especially since, if you’re smooth, you can probably fill up your autograph book that night, as well.

If you haven’t been to Bailey’s before, it’s at 7695 Cultus Bay Rd in Clinton.

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Jazmine Franklin, lighting up the universe every day. (John Fisken and Jazmine Franklin photos)

   Jazmine Franklin, lighting up the universe every day. (John Fisken and Jazmine Franklin photos)

Most days at Coupeville High School, it seems like there are two suns hung in the heavens.

There’s the real sun, and then there’s Jazmine Franklin, who easily outshines the star above.

The Wolf senior, who celebrates her birthday today, radiates pure joy every time I see her.

Even when she’s fully invested in playing the role of a stone cold killer while posing for photos with cheer running mate/best bud Maddy Neitzel, Jazmine can’t help it — she makes the world a happier place with her presence.

Frankly, there’s nothing Franklin can’t accomplish when she sets her mind to it (at least as far as I’ve seen).

Bouncing madly from cheer to tennis to guiding the school’s executive board, she nails everything she does, while dispensing dollops of joy everywhere she goes.

Every single time I have seen Jazmine, the first thing you notice is how everyone in her immediate vicinity is smiling. It never fails.

She seems to bring out happiness in others, and she remains one of the most enduring fans her fellow Wolf athletes have.

If there’s an event, she’s there, game in, game out, and not just for a quick moment or two.

She’s loyal to her friends and classmates and backs them every step of the way.

Based on what I see and hear, I can’t help but think that, as talented as she is now, we have only begun to see the tip of what Jazmine will accomplish.

We turn around a few years from now, as she wows the entire world, and it will be easy to say, “Told you so.”

I don’t see any limits on where she goes and what she accomplishes.

Miss Franklin is truly one of those rare people who will soar as high as she chooses to reach.

And the best part is, how happy all of us will be for her, because she emits such serene joy into the universe and deserves to receive it back.

Happy birthday, Jazmine.

I hope your cake day is an awesome one, and I hope you keep spreading joy for many more.

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Julie Bucio (John Fisken photo)

   Wolf freshman cheerleader Julie Bucio takes a break from performing at a CHS basketball game. (John Fisken photo)

Bucio hangs out with

   Bucio (left), hanging out with fellow cheerleader Brittany Starr. (Photo courtesy Bucio)

Being a cheerleader has been a life-long dream for Julie Bucio.

Now, the Coupeville High School freshman is living the dream on a daily basis, and it’s been everything she hoped for, and more.

“I’m doing cheer because I wanted to meet more people and always wanted to do cheer ever since I was young,” Bucio said. “I always thought it was the coolest thing to do.”

She’s one of 10 Wolves who made the jump from the fall cheer squad to the winter team, taking her spirit and hard work indoors for basketball season.

A firm believer in the CHS cheer program’s dedication to Ohana, being a family, Bucio has picked up a ton of new sisters along the way.

“The thing that I mostly enjoy about doing cheer is all the wonderful new friends I have made,” she said. “They always seem to put me in a good mood.

“Also, I enjoy pumping up the crowd!”

While her school still considers cheer an activity, as opposed to a sport, Bucio, having gone through the behind-the-scenes work, begs to differ.

“I feel like it’s not a activity, it’s a sport because we actually work as hard as all the other sports,” Bucio said. “Cheerleading is not all about wearing cute uniforms; we actually work out and try to perfect our routines, which is a lot of work, if you ask me!”

When she’s not cheering, Bucio is involved in choir (“so that kind of keeps me busy, too”) and enjoys science class (“I just love science and I think it’s very interesting”).

She also plans to cap a busy first year of high school by possibly playing tennis in the spring.

Whether it’s sports, class work or day-to-day life, Bucio is grateful for her friends and family, who are always there to support her.

Her parents have always been her biggest boosters.

“I have to say a person who has really impacted my life is my mom!,” Bucio said. “She is always there for me, no matter what, and she supports my decisions and is always by my side and I love her for that.

“My dad also has been there for me too,” she added. “He always supports my decisions too and has my back!”

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Wolf sophomore Nick Etzell earned his first varsity letter. (John Fisken photos)

  Wolf sophomore Nick Etzell earned his first varsity letter. (John Fisken photos)

Joseph Wedekind

Doubles ace Joseph Wedekind shared MVP and captains honors.

Psst. Wanna know a secret?

Sure you do, and Coupeville High School boys’ tennis coach Ken Stange knows you feel that way.

So, with his team’s season-ending awards banquet not hitting until Dec. 1, he’s decided to relieve the tension and release a list of the honorees early.

Everyone goes to the tennis shindig for the food, anyways, so now they can all relax and plan their noshing without being on the edge of their seats for the next two weeks.

So, drum-roll, and our awards begin with Sebastian Davis and Joseph Wedekind sharing MVP honors, while the duo are joined by Connor McCormick and John McClarin as Captains.

Jimmy Myers snagged Most Inspirational while Jakobi Baumann and Santiago Ortiz share Most Improved in voting by their fellow teammates.

Earning varsity letters:

Sebastian Davis
Nick Etzell
Jared Helmstadter
Joey Lippo
John McClarin
Connor McCormick
Jimmy Myers
Will Nelson
Cole Payne
Grey Rische
Lilan Sekigawa
Joseph Wedekind

Certificate of participation:

Jakobi Baumann
Jaschon Baumann
Nick Blalock
Garrett Compton
Aiden Crimmins
Tiger Johnson
Nile Lockwood
Santiago Ortiz

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