No matter what level of sport, or age, team members share a very special bond: the feeling that they’ll do anything for the person lining up beside them. For some Pronghorns athletes at the University of Lethbridge, that bond runs even deeper.
This year, nine pairs of siblings are competing in sports at the U of L. It’s a representation that’s most noticeable on the women’s rugby team, where two pairs of siblings are part of the herd.
Among them are the Hoff sisters, who have gone from tossing the rugby ball around at home to doing it on a much bigger stage at the U of L. When you’re around Siena and Eden it’s pretty clear they like spending time with one another.
“Yeah, we like to talk a lot,” Eden Hoff said with a laugh. Her sister Siena chuckled away right with her.
They have fun, but when they get on the field together, it’s sometimes impossible to stop the sisterly instincts from kicking in.
“She got injured in a game and I happened to be on the field with her,” Siena said. “I started balling on the field and yelling at her to get off, and everyone was making fun of me because I was crying.”
Seven of the nine sibling pairs compete in the same sport at the university, while two pairs play in separate sports. Count Danielle and Mikhaila Lagemaat in the latter group. Danielle plays on the soccer team while Mikhaila plays rugby.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been in school together,” Danielle said. “Five years difference between us. We haven’t been together in school since middle school and elementary school.”
Her sister, who was standing right beside her, jumped in immediately to correct her error.
“It’s actually four years difference between us,” Mikhaila said. “But yeah, math major here.”
They look at each other and burst out laughing.
So make no mistake, if you mess up. A playful jab is coming your way. But the sibling love translates onto the field.
“Sometimes things get tough and she’s right there for me and I really like that,” Eden Hoff said of her sister.
Sentiments echoed by Siena.
“I find more drive when I’m playing, because I play harder for her.” Siena Hoff said. “In order for her to do her job on the field, I try to do mine.”
It’s a deep bond that this year, many Pronghorns teams will share.
Comments