Meet Middletown鈥檚 multi-sport sisters Kathryn and Clare DeGrange
MIDDLETOWN, Md. — 鈥淥ne thing I like about being in the same sports as my sister is the bond it has given us through years of playing together, and even when we鈥檙e not on the same team, sharing rides and always supporting each other through it all,鈥� said Clare DeGrange, a sophomore at Middletown High School (MHS), whose older sister, Kathryn, an MHS senior, has also played the same sports with her through the years.
Kathryn has played soccer and basketball for 13 years. 鈥淚 played both sports all through elementary, middle, and high school.鈥�
Clare started dance and gymnastics around the age of three but found them 鈥渂oring.鈥� Like her sister, she has played soccer and basketball since a young age.
Kathryn said, 鈥淚 would describe soccer as my ‘fun sport.’ I am really able to let loose and just have fun and be myself. I love the people that I play with and just enjoy being around them. I love that it is super physical and fast-paced.鈥� Clare said, 鈥淚 like my soccer teammates and coaches. I enjoy being outside and having fun, and I like that the games allow you to be more physical.鈥�
But basketball came out on top for both girls.
Clare said, 鈥淚 enjoy all the team bonding we do during the season, and I like the two-hour practices. I like that the games are a manageable length, and overall, I think the game of basketball is perfect. While I love playing soccer and the people I play with, basketball has always had my heart.鈥� Kathryn said, 鈥淏asketball has in the past couple years emerged as my favorite sport. This is probably because I am naturally better at it than soccer. It is my more serious sport, and I really put my heart into it. I love that it is physical, and the energy in a gym at a good game is electric; playing is nerve racking, but also thrilling.鈥�
Kathryn added, 鈥淭here are definitely ups and downs to playing the same sports as your sister. As the older sister, I have always loved encouraging Clare and giving her advice, because I had to go through everything first. But she doesn’t always appreciate my advice and my sometimes hard style of pushing her to be better. We have attempted to do some workouts together, and some of the time they are fine. Most of the time, we argue and disagree on many things. But I think that is a part of being sisters.鈥�
Clare agreed, 鈥淭he one thing I don鈥檛 like about being in the same sports as my sister is that we are both very competitive, so, often, when playing against each other in our free time, or simply at practice together, we have gotten into a few arguments.鈥�
Kathryn emphasized, however, 鈥淚 would not trade playing the same sports as Clare for anything. I love being able to learn from my mistakes through her and help her to not make the same ones. I think someday she will appreciate that I am always pushing her to be better, and I will appreciate having someone to relate to while playing sports.鈥�
Clare is in numerous school clubs, including FCA, UNICEF, Key Club, Sophomore Executive Board, and Morgan鈥檚 Message. She also volunteers at her church’s nursery on the weekends. After high school, she would like to attend a large college and is considering becoming an orthodontist.
Kathryn will study nursing in college; her top options are York College, Notre Dame University of Baltimore, Wilson College, and Radford University. She also has the opportunity to play basketball (鈥渃ould not be more thrilled!鈥�), or soccer (鈥渟uper exciting!鈥�).
She said, 鈥淢y parents and grandparents are the reason I got into sports and continue to love playing sports, and they have supported me throughout both my soccer and basketball careers.鈥�
Clare concluded, 鈥淚 would like others to know that having a sibling in the same sport as you is the best experience you could have as a sibling and, while it may get rough, my sister and I have a closer bond than I would鈥檝e ever imagined due to our time spent together.鈥�
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