Four years of hard work in athletics and academics paid off for Coupeville High School seniors Vanessa Davis and Eric Taylor, who were named female and male athlete of the year last week.

“It felt nice to be recognized,” Davis, a four-year letterman in basketball, said.

In her senior season on the hardwood, Davis averaged an impressive 10.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and one block per game. She helped lead the Wolves to Tri-District tournament for the third straight year, only to fall victim to a concussion in the opening game of the district tournament.

“The biggest thing that sticks out to me this year is when I got my concussion,” she said. “I didn’t get to finish my season—that still hurts a lot.”

Without the services of their second leading scorer and top rebounder, the Wolves struggled in the district tournament. CHS got eliminated in two games, ruining hopes for a third consecutive trip to state.

Although her senior season may not have ended as desired, some of Davis’ best athletic memories still come from time spent on the basketball court.

“When I went to state for the first time in basketball it was very memorable,” she said. “I had great roommates and it was the experience of a lifetime.”

Davis was also a huge factor on the volleyball court where she lettered for her second consecutive year and helped Coupeville to its third straight trip to the state tournament.

As middle blocker, she had 106 kills and 19 stuffed blocks in just league matches.

Her work ethic and the excitement she brought to the floor was something head coach Toni Crebbin really appreciated.

“It was just a pleasure to coach her,” she said. “She was probably harder on herself than I ever was on her.”

Aside from her athletic accomplishments, Davis excelled in the classroom where she maintained a 3.87 grade point average. She will attend Carroll College in Helena, Mont., next fall and pursue a nursing career.

The determination and focus from Davis comes as a surprise to no one, especially girls basketball coach Greg Oldham, who watched her grow all four years.

“She has been a model student, a great leader and lived her high school years on her own terms—never lowering her standards for herself as an athlete, as a student, or a person,” he said.

As for continuing with athletics in college, Davis plans on possibly joining intramural teams, but keeping her focus on education.

Taylor was equally honored to receive the athlete of the year award, but it caught him a little off guard.

“I was really surprised,” he said. “I wasn’t really expecting it because we have a lot of good athletes in our class.”

Taylor lettered in three sports his senior year, including gathering his fourth tennis letter and his first in basketball and track and field.

Some of his best memories come from tennis, where he advanced to the Quad District tournament for three straight years as a sophomore, junior and senior.

“The competition there is so much better when you go down to Seattle and play, it was just a great experience,” Taylor said.

After playing golf for Oak Harbor High School and lettering his freshman through junior years, Taylor made the shift to track and field this spring, so he could stay closer to home.

The move turned out to not be a bad choice for Taylor, who in his first year throwing a javelin, just missed advancing to the state meet. He placed eighth at the district meet, just two places shy of an automatic state qualifying throw.

“It’s too bad he didn’t play baseball, so he could have lettered in all spring sports,” track coach Greg Oldham said.

Taylor was also a member of the varsity basketball team where he was among the team leaders in points and rebounds.

Next fall Taylor will make his way to Northern Arizona University where he will work toward a bachelors degree and attempt to continue his career in tennis as a walk on.

“It’s a Division I school, so they have some pretty good tennis players, but it’s worth a shot,” he said.