Seniors Josh Bayne and Aaron Curtin and junior Makana Stone, Coupeville High School’s Athletes of the Year for 2014-15, are, obviously, good athletes.
When discussing this trio, however, their coaches didn’t dwell on the gaudy statistics the three put up. Their descriptions soon turned to a quality that didn’t show up in a Saturday morning box score: humility.
Josh Bayne
Football coach Tony Maggio and baseball coach Willie Smith both called Bayne one of the most gifted athletes they have ever coached.
Bayne’s statistics and honors reflect those comments.
In football, he was named the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player as he rushed for 1,528 yards on 143 carries, a 10.69 average, and scored 25 touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 473 yards and averaged 21.56 yards on nine kickoff returns.
Defensively, he had 91 tackles, two sacks, six interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
In addition to being named the league’s MVP, he earned first team, all-state honors on both offense and defense and will compete in the all-state football game June 20 in Yakima.
Bayne recently signed to play football for Simon Frasier University next fall.
In baseball, Bayne was named to the all-Olympic League first team as an outfielder. He posted a .481 on-base percentage, stole 22 bases and scored 12 runs in 19 games.
Bayne hasn’t allowed those numbers to go to his head.
Maggio called Bayne “a humble young man.”
Smith put it this way: “I was fortunate to watch Josh as a fan during the football season, and I was pretty impressed by his ability to take over a game and, more importantly, his humility. That’s what I would say is his greatest asset, his humility.”
Smith said he never saw Bayne make himself the “focal point” of any of his achievements.
“He is very unassuming and works very hard. He treats everyone the same and doesn’t expect them to do something that he hasn’t already done or is willing to do.
“He’s been a huge part of our baseball and football programs over the last four years, and other student athletes should emulate his work ethic, humility and willingness to do whatever it takes for his team’s success.”
Bayne said the most memorable moment of his high school career was last football season: “It was fun being out there with all my friends. They got me to where I was.”
His success, he said, came from the efforts of his friends, coaches and parents (Brett and Kathy Bayne).
“They helped me get those numbers.”
Aaron Curtin
Curtin, who played tennis, basketball and baseball and earned 11 varsity letters, closed out his Coupeville career with his most impressive performances.
This spring he was chosen to the first-team, all-Olympic League baseball squad as a pitcher.
He posted a 0.46 earned-run average, the best for a Coupeville pitcher in Smith’s 19 years as head coach.
In 46 innings, he struck out 49, allowed only four runs (three earned) and 15 hits and held opponents to a .105 batting average.
He also led the team in hits (21), doubles (six), triples (three) and RBI (13), while batting .350.
Curtin was chosen to play in the district all-star game for the region’s top seniors. After that game, he was one of the nominees for the all-state series.
A week after the baseball season ended, the Olympic League tennis singles champion finished second in the district tennis tournament and went on to place eighth at state. He also qualified for state as a junior, playing doubles with Ben Etzell.
Curtin was a three-year starter in basketball, and coach Anthony Smith said, “Aaron was a real positive person on and off the court; he practiced hard every day.”
He called Curtin the “glue of the basketball team.”
Baseball coach Willie Smith said, “He is a tireless worker who really pushes himself and expects a lot out of himself. He makes kids around him better just by watching how hard he works and his focus during games and practices; I don’t think I ever saw him take a day off during this year.
“(He has a) great work ethic, great attitude, is accountable and a kid that had a lot of heart and love for the game.”
Tennis coach Ken Stange said, “As an athlete, Aaron speaks softly but carries a big stick. As a person, Aaron has always been much more wise and mature than other kids his age. He’s kind and sensitive, and he’s always found time to work with the younger players. He takes his academics as seriously as he does his athletics.”
Curtin said being remembered as a good athlete would be nice, but he wants “to be remembered for being a good person, being a nice guy, being able to help others.”
He said his most cherished moments weren’t the no-hitter he threw this spring or the eighth-place in state tennis, but state tennis last year when he could share the experience with Etzell and going to state with the 2014 baseball team.
Strong coaches and his family (parents Ed and Judi and brothers Adam and Travis) helped him become a successful athlete and person, he said.
Curtin will attend Central Washington University next year and try out for the baseball team.
Makana Stone
Stone was the Olympic League’s most dominant player in basketball and track.
During the hoop season, she averaged over 15 points per game and amassed one of the highest point totals in school history. Along the way, she helped the Wolves to a 9-0 league record and conference title, Coupeville’s first since 2002. That, in return, helped her win the Olympic League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
In track, she won the league 200- and 400-meter titles and teamed with Marisa Etzell, Sylvia Hurlburt and Lauren Grove to win the 4×100 and 4×200 relays.
She holds the school 200 and 400 records, and she placed fourth in the 400 at last weekend’s state meet.
Also at the state finals, Stone helped set a new 4×200 school record as the Wolves placed third in the event.
With these honors and the mountain of awards she has gathered over the years, she said her favorite is a citizenship award she received in middle school.
“It was for helping others,” she said. “I don’t like focusing on myself.”
With that statement, it is not surprising to hear basketball coach David King say, “Besides being the best athlete in Coupeville, Makana is well grounded and very humble. The team and her teammates success are very important to her.”
Stone’s greatest concern after a game is “how well did the team play,” King said.
Track coach Randy King said, “She is kind of refreshing. She handles her success the right way. She is the go-to person I use for relationship issues on the team. Makana makes sure everyone feels like part of the team.”
David King said, “Besides being an outstanding student and athlete, Makana gives back to the community in many ways. She is part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, along with coaching a youth basketball team.”
Stone’s success, she said, comes from the encouragement of her family (parents Joshua and Eileen) and the support of her coaches, her classmates and the community.
“I pretty much think the whole school has helped me. They are always telling me ‘good job.’ And the support of the community, that’s great; you don’t get that kind of support in a big city.”
Other awards
Several other student-athlete honors were awarded by Coupeville High School May 27.
Bayne received the United States Marine Athlete Award, and he and Hailey Hammer were given the WIAA Cliff Gillies Award.
Aaron Trumbull and Marisa Etzell were recipients of the Army Reserve National Honor Scholar-Athlete Award.
(Aaron Curtin and Makana Stone put together solid performances this year. Photos by John Fisken.)
