Clockwise, from top left, Valen Trujillo, Lauren Rose, Madeline Strasburg, Jacki Ginnings, Kacie Kiel, Julia Myers, Hailey Hammer, Makana Stone.
Clockwise, from top left, Aaron Curtin, Wiley Hesselgrave, CJ Smith, Matt Shank, Josh Bayne, Lathom Kelley, Sebastian Davis, Joel Walstad.
Wild West rules.
That’s what we’re going with as we kick off our 3rd annual Athlete Supreme battle, honoring those who played for Coupeville High School in 2014-2015.
You can vote as many times as your little voting finger can handle. Seriously.
So don’t complain if someone else goes wild.
Either get in there and scrap or take the high road and lose. Up to each of you.
From the moment the poll opens (that’s now) until noon Thursday, it’s open warfare.
Then we’ll declare a victor and someone will get a brief giddy rush of joy in joining former winners Nick Streubel and Amanda Fabrizi in claiming a contest with no real trophy, but some bragging rights.
In the first two years of the contest I went with 12 nominees (six Wolf girls and six boys), but this year I bumped it to 16.
Even so, a lot of very deserving CHS athletes got left off the list, starting with those who only played one sport or were limited by injuries.
But I had to cut somewhere, and even if I chose 61 and not 16, someone would be snubbed.
So remember, it’s a silly contest. But feel free to mentally cuss me out if it makes you feel better.
The nominees (alphabetically):
Josh Bayne — Olympic League MVP in football. All-State pick on both sides of the ball. Star baseball player.
Aaron Curtin — Going to state for second straight year in tennis. Threw a no-hitter in baseball. Star basketball player.
Sebastian Davis — Very strong tennis season. #2 scorer in soccer in his first season in the sport.
Jacki Ginnings — Team leader in soccer. #1 singles player and winner of league tourney in tennis.
Hailey Hammer — Capping 12-letter career (volleyball, basketball, softball) with another strong year. Hit an out-of-the-park grand slam against Klahowya.
Wiley Hesselgrave — All-League in football and basketball. Led basketball team in scoring.
Lathom Kelley — Big hitter/power rusher in football. Team’s fastest (and most versatile) male athlete in track.
Kacie Kiel — Volleyball and basketball star who played every game with a huge smile. Hit an epically clutch three-pointer in wildest game of the season.
Julia Myers — Anchored soccer’s defense in goal, then dropped elbows (and a lot of buckets) for league champs in basketball.
Lauren Rose — Starter at key positions (setter in volleyball, catcher in softball) for two varsity teams — as a freshman. Helped lead JV basketball squad to 9-0 league record.
Matt Shank — Rock-solid football lineman and basketball big man.
CJ Smith — Fast-emerging star in three sports (football, basketball, baseball).
Makana Stone — Olympic League MVP in basketball. Scored 367 points in 22 games (best by a CHS girl since 2003). Busting records every day as she heads towards a third straight trip to state as a track runner.
Madeline Strasburg — Volleyball star, electrifying force of nature on the basketball court.
Valen Trujillo — Queen of the floor burns as a volleyball player, hard-charging singles sensation in tennis.
Joel Walstad — Put up impressive numbers as starting QB in football (and got a college scholarship out of it), team leader in basketball and soccer.
Coupeville Sports 