Raven (left) and Willow Vick – bright, shining superstars. (Maria Reyes photo)
Kindness matters.
Long after the memories of their high school athletic achievements fade, Willow and Raven Vick will be remembered for the grace they showed others.
Through their schools days in Coupeville, from little tots to whip-smart high school grads, the twins amazed and dazzled.
As they grew up, they each found their own path, forged their own personalities, reached their own goals.
But, together or apart, they have one thing very much in common — the way they treat those around them, in good times and bad.
Willow and Raven benefit from having great parents, and Brian and Maria have much to be proud of when they watch their daughters.
That extends to the community which has helped shape them, and been shaped, in a very positive way, by the duo.
As they have followed their path through Cow Town, the Vick sisters have excelled in the classroom, in the music world, and on the sports field.
Always up for a photo shoot with dad. (Brian Vick photo)
They both played volleyball, finishing their prep careers as part of a highly-successful Wolf team which tied the program record for wins a year ago.
Coupeville started 12-1, won 14 matches in all, and claimed its fourth-straight top-two league finish and 10+ win season.
Along the way, the Wolves benefited from Raven’s crackling serves and Willow’s hustle and heart.
While the Vicks were denied a senior track and field season by the COVID-19 shutdown, they both took advantage of their time at the oval in previous seasons.
Raven celebrates after a successful track meet. (Brian Vick photo)
As a junior, Raven threw the shot put, discus, and javelin, competing in the league championships in all three events, and making it to bi-districts in the latter event.
Willow rounded out what would turn out to be her final track season by vying in the discus and javelin as well, along with performances in the 1600 and long jump.
And, like her sister, she qualified for the North Sound Conference Championships in three events.
Earlier in her track career, Willow, who also played for a Central Whidbey Little League juniors softball squad which went 13-3, made a splash.
As a freshman, she bounded past the competition to claim the title in the high jump at the Olympic League JV Championships.
Willow, ready to crank it. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
So, there’s ribbons, and memories, and moments which mattered to Willow and Raven, and to their family, and to their fans.
Add in all the high points in the classroom and with a musical instrument in hand, and you have a pair of young women who exemplify a lot of really great attributes.
They’re strong, they’re committed, they’re smart, they carry themselves with a sense of grace.
But, and in a world where things are out of sorts and 10,000 different versions of suck, Willow and Raven are kind.
Not because they have to be, but because they want to be.
I have seen it in public, with how they interact with their teammates on the court and around the track oval, and I have seen it in private, while sharing a car with them while driving back from volleyball postseason tournaments.
They are the same serene spirits when people are watching, and when they aren’t, and that goes a long way to why I have been so impressed with the twins.
So today, as the duo jointly celebrate their 19th birthday, I want to give back at least a little to them by inducting them into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame.
After this, if you pop up to the top of the blog, under the Legends tab, you’ll find them there.
Our Hall of Fame, since it’s picked by one person, has no set rules for who gets through the doors.
Sometimes, selection is for awe-inspiring play and big stats. Other times, it’s for being the absolute best you can be, in whatever way you can be.
Willow and Raven make Coupeville a better place. It’s as simple as that.
Through their actions over the years, the twins have soared as high as any prep athletes I have written about, and I know, without a doubt, their accomplishments in the future will likely be extraordinary.
So, Miss Vick, and Miss Vick, thank you.
Thank you for choosing to reach for greatness, and for always being the best of what Coupeville has to offer.
Coupeville Sports 