Time out
Published 8:07 pm Thursday, September 20, 2007
When she’s not playing bass guitar in a rock band or trying a new persona in a school play, Maggie Wicken is proving that height isn’t everything on the volleyball court. The 5-foot-7 Wicken is somewhat short for a middle hitter, but she uses an impressive 20-inch vertical leap to rise high and pound the ball. One of nine seniors on the team, the outgoing Wicken keeps teammates laughing and foes scrambling.
Coach’s corner
Excellent jumping ability and precise timing make Wicken an effective player, Darrington volleyball coach Greg Powell said. Wicken, who started playing the sport in fourth grade, is a friendly, even-keeled leader who “really loves the game and is motivated,” said Powell.
Family ties
The youngest of three athletically gifted siblings, Wicken said she takes after her brother Jake and sister Reiley, who both starred at Darrington. Reiley, also a middle hitter, was just 5-4 but “had hops like crazy,” Maggie said.
Husker hero
Wicken loves watching the University of Nebraska volleyball team. Her idol is Cornhuskers right-side hitter Sarah Pavan, a 6-5 senior who was the 2006 American Volleyball Coaches Association Division-I National Player of the Year.
In it together
Darrington has an experienced team that returns several key players from its 2006 squad that advanced to the Class 2B tri-district tournament. The Loggers recently took a big step by winning a game in a 3-1 match loss Sept. 13 against La Conner, the ‘06 2B state champion. La Conner didn’t lose any games against league foes last season.
Matters of the heart
Wicken plays volleyball despite having tachycardia, a heart-rhythm disorder in which the heart beats faster than normal. As a freshman she had surgery to fix the problem but sometimes it still bothers her. “I just have to play through it,” she said.
Class act
Since the end of her freshman year Wicken has performed in school drama productions. One of her favorite roles was playing Juliet last school year in “Romeo, You Idiot,” a spoof of the famous Shakespeare play. Asked why she enjoys acting, Wicken said, “I just like to portray someone else and get in their shoes and not be (me) for a while.”
Ready to rock
Another outlet for Wicken is music. She plays bass guitar in a four-person Darrington band called Guilty As Charged. The group, which consists of two girls and two guys, plays rock/punk tunes and frequently changes its name, Wicken said.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
