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Classy with a capital C!!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Happy birthday, tagged Abby Parker, Basketball, CHS Wolves, Happy birthday, Track, volleyball on September 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Abby Parker: Supernova with a sweet spirit.

Abby Parker can do it all.

One of the sunniest, sweetest-natured, most talented young women in all of Cow Town, the Coupeville High School sophomore, who celebrates a birthday today, was indispensable last spring for the Wolf track team.

Had an event you wanted to fill? Parker was your woman.

During her freshman season, the list of events she competed in was extensive: 200, 800, 1500, 3000, discus, javelin, long jump and 4 x 400 relay.

And she wasn’t just filling a slot.

Most of her PR’s came late in the season, as Abby continually dropped time and threw further as the season unfolded.

She is one to watch as she heads into her second year of high school sports, and not just in track.

Parker is currently prepping for the start of volleyball season, and there is strong hope she’ll return to the hardwood in the winter.

As a middle school hoopster, she was a relentless ball-hawk with a bounce in her step.

And this is all fine and dandy.

Parker is a talented athlete, one who can often be seen competing in various running events with her aunt, Kathy O’Brien, on weekends.

But the real reason we are here to celebrate Abby’s birthday is she could step completely away from sports, and she’d still be pretty dang awesome.

A freshman Homecoming princess, the impression she gives off to the people on the sidelines is of a very smart, super-friendly young woman who is incredibly devoted to her friends and family.

Seeing her interact with others, watching her quietly sneak onto the softball sidelines after track practice and surprise-hug “second mom” Amy Briscoe, one word comes to mind.

Class.

Abby Parker is many things wrapped in one. Athlete. Student. Ray of sunshine.

But, most of all, she is classy, through and through.

As you celebrate your 16th birthday today, Abby, the world is yours. You are going to accomplish great things, on and off the athletic field, and none of us will be surprised when you do.

So, enjoy your day, Miss Parker, and always know how highly everyone — your family, your friends, your fans — regards you.

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Young, but ready to rumble!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged 1A Olympic League, CHS Wolves, Lauren Rose, Sydney Autio, Valen Trujillo, volleyball on August 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Wolf junior Tiffany Briscoe is a key returning player. (John Fisken photos)

Sophomore Katrina McGranahan is back and ready to unleash her power game.

Never back down.

That captures the attitude shown by the Coupeville High School volleyball squad, which is looking to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the 1A Olympic League last year.

While those Wolves went 1-11, many of the matches were close affairs and CHS was rarely, if ever, blown out.

The loss of five players to graduation will sting a bit, but much of the core of the team was young last year, which bodes well for this season and the future.

“My expectation is that our team competes every day, gives maximum effort for the sake of their team, and challenges each other to become better,” said Wolf coach Breanne Smedley. “Our goals are to improve with each week, earn a league title, and compete into the post season.

“We are out to beat them all! We talk about all other teams as just another jersey,” she added. “We are constantly competing with ourselves and focusing on what is going to help us improve each week.

“All else will fall into place if we are successful in this.”

As Smedley heads into her second year at the helm of the Wolves, she’ll have a roster that is still fairly young, with just two seniors.

Middle blocker McKenzie Bailey and setter Sydney Autio, who was out injured much of last year, are those veterans, and they’ll be joined by juniors Valen Trujillo (libero), Tiffany Briscoe (OH) and Ally Roberts (OPP).

Sophomores Kyla Briscoe (OH/OPP), Katrina McGranahan (MB), Lauren Rose (setter), Hope Lodell (OH) and Payton Aparicio (OH) and freshman phenom Emma Smith (MB) are also in the mix.

It’s a group that has stepped up in off-season workouts and is intent on toppling Klahowya, Port Townsend and Chimacum.

“Our strengths include the ownership the girls are taking over the program, and their competitiveness to continually improve,” Smedley said. “We have depth from pin to pin in our offense, which will prove to become a strength for us if we can focus in on quality first ball contacts.”

As their season opener approaches (Sept. 8 at home against South Whidbey), the Wolves remain hard at work.

“We need to work on controlling the first ball contact on serve receive and in defense,” Smedley said. “We are also working on getting our middles to run quicker through the middle and introducing combinations into our offense.

“It is all dependent on the first ball contact, though.”

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Halpin keeps family cheer tradition alive!!

Posted in Cheer, tagged Cheer, CHS Wolves, Gaby Halpin, music, Robin Cedillo, volleyball on August 28, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Gaby Halpin (center) with some of her CHS cheer teammates.

Gaby Halpin (center) hangs out on the ferry with her CHS cheer teammates. (Photos courtesy Halpin)

Halpin (center), already a key member of the Wolf family.

Halpin bonds with Wolf vet Robin Cedillo.

She’s young, but already a veteran.

While Coupeville High School freshman Gaby Halpin will be in her first year as a member of the Wolf cheer squad, she’s been doing this for quite some time.

“I started in grade school, like a little league cheer-leading thing,” she said.

A multi-sport threat (Halpin played volleyball in middle school and is interested in running track in the spring), she was introduced to the cheer life by her family.

“Everyone on my mom’s side of the family did cheer, so I was interested in it,” Halpin said.

A dancer since age three who loves history and hanging out (“I’m always listening to music, usually chillin’ with friends”), she enjoys cheer for the way it combines athleticism with spirit.

“Cause it’s dancing and yelling and supporting our school, which is really fun,” Halpin said. “It’s definitely a sport. It’s way more difficult then it looks.

“It takes long hours of practice and a lot of strength to throw someone up in the air!”

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Back to the gym!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged CHS Wolves, John Fisken photos, Kyla Briscoe, Sarah Wright, Valen Trujillo, volleyball on August 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Kenzi LaRue has eyes only for the volleyball. (John Fisken photos)

Payton Aparicio launches herself skyward to save the day.

Kameryn St Onge demonstrates a laser-like focus.

Tip-toeing across the court, Kyla Briscoe sneaks up on the ball.

Hope Lodell, AKA “The Surgeon,” gets ready to operate.

Sarah Wright is one of several 9th graders looking to make an immediate impact for the Wolves.

Wolf junior Valen Trujillo, here laying down some flawless form, will be one of Coupeville’s captains this fall.

Freshman Ashley Menges reaches for the heavens as teammate Allison Wenzel looks on.

Fall is upon us.

Well, fall sports, at least.

Monday brought the first official day of practice for the Coupeville High School volleyball, boys’ tennis, cheer and girls’ soccer squads. Football kicked off Aug. 19.

Travelin’ photo man John Fisken, whose work has been shortlisted for this year’s Washington Newspaper Publishers Association awards (classy!), strolled through town and snapped some pics for us.

First up, the Wolf spikers, led by second-year head coach Breanne Smedley and returning stars like Valen Trujillo and Sydney Autio.

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Lester combines hard work, fun!!

Posted in Volleyball, tagged Basketball, CHS Wolves, country music, Grease, Nicole Lester, Softball, Track, volleyball on August 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Nicole Lester

Lester (center) goofs off with teammates during her 8th grade basketball season. (John Fisken photo)

Sports are a perfect outlet for Nicole Lester.

The Coupeville High School freshman, who will be kicking off her school year as a member of the Wolf volleyball squad, plays multiple sports and has always been drawn in by the opportunity to spend time with friends, new and old.

“This season will be my second season playing (volleyball),” Lester said. “I started playing in eighth grade because it looked like a lot of fun and my friends played too, so I wanted to try.

“Things I love about volleyball are you make new friends and bond with the friends you already have, while working as a team.”

Lester, who also plays basketball and is trying to decide between track and softball for spring, is hard at work on fine-tuning her skill set for all of her activities.

“I don’t think there is a skill that I am the best at, but I am always motivated in working on all of my skills and not quitting when it gets hard,” Lester said. “My goal for this season is to make new friends and become a better player.

“I love to spend time working on basketball and volleyball skills,” she added. “I also love to work out.”

Away from the athletic stage, Lester enjoys country music and loves her some Sandy and Danny in “Grease.”

Family plays a big part in her life, and she knows she’ll always have fans behind her, no matter the sport.

“My mom and grandma really encourage me and help me become the person I am.”

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