From the moment they meet, siblings are built-in playmates throughout their early lives. What happens when they grow out of their childhood playtime?
At Pleasant Valley High School, they become teammates.
When it comes to siblings in sports, sophomore Quinn Vice has a lot of experience. “At times it feels like there is a lot of pressure to be just as good, or better, than your older sibling at what they do because you have to leave the same reputation as them”. Vice has two older sisters, Riley and Halle Vice, both of whom have been continuously recognized for their athletic accomplishments.
Vice currently plays both varsity volleyball and basketball with her sister, Halle Vice. “I will definitely miss looking up to someone on the court and learning from her all the time”. Halle Vice will be attending Marquette University after she graduates from Pleasant Valley and will play basketball there. Vice has very clearly learned from and lived up to her sisters as she demonstrates noticeable athleticism in every game.
Along with basketball and volleyball, siblings are competing with each other in cross country, track, football, and many other sports. Varsity football player, Andrew DePaepe, has been playing football with his younger brother, William since they were in elementary school.
This year, being DePaepe’s senior season, is also the first time playing with his brother since the beginning of high school. “Playing with my brother is awesome because I get to teach him everything I know and watch over him; there’s never any competition between us,” DePaepe shared.
DePaepe and his brother are both defensive ends, and when they are not actively playing on the field, they spend a lot of time talking on the sidelines. Next year, DePaepe is planning to play football at Michigan State University and it looks like his brother will also be a standout player this season.
Whether or not siblings get along at home, their interactions at school make it seem like they enjoy helping each other out on the playing field. From preschool to the pros, having a sibling by their side has been more beneficial to athletes than any kind of coaching could have been. Family legacy is not only a common occurrence for the Spartans, but for the nation as well.
CJ Smith • Sep 16, 2022 at 10:45 pm
I love how you talked about the love they have for each other and not the stereotypical competition siblings are believed to have. I have 6 older siblings and of course we have that competition but as the younger siblings you also look up to them. Showing the younger and older sibling perspectives was a smart way of showing both sides of the story.