(Fremont County, WY) – There is something magical about the link between brothers and sisters playing on the same team. Whether it’s football, basketball or volleyball the connection is a tangible one.
Usually, the older sibling dominates, but often the younger one becomes the better player by the end of their respective careers.
The younger one gets the benefit of much tougher competition at an earlier age. Most older sisters, and every older brother won’t give the younger one a break, preferring to block shots, hit hard ground balls at them, and generally enjoy the benefits of birth order.
That is until the younger one gets competitive, then it gets interesting.
Fremont County with a full complement of small schools, often sees brothers and sisters taking the floor or the field at the same time. For those that consider Riverton or Lander “big schools,” well no, they’re not. There are five schools in Riverton’s Class 4-A division that have more sophomores alone than the Wolverines have in grades 9-12, and even Natrona County, Kelly Walsh and Rock Springs are considered smaller division schools when you look at Texas, California or even nearby Colorado and Utah.
Fans have enjoyed watching siblings play at the same time for as long as there have been competitive sports.
At Shoshoni, junior Alex Mills was the key to the Wranglers advancing to the state tournament this season, but his freshman brother Braxton improved all season, hitting key 3-pointers along the way, and developing into a solid perimeter player. A look at the pair at a recent track meet revealed that Braxton may end up taller than Alex, a fate older brothers sometimes don’t handle gracefully.
The Wind River crowd roared each time Wambli Romero took the floor in a varsity game last fall. Wambli is developing into a great player, but whether he can beat his all-star brother Chaumbrey in a game of one-on-one is a big question mark. Chaumbrey has been the man for the Cougars the last three seasons, and with his departure to graduation, Wambli is heir apparent to take his role on the team.
Sometimes you can see similar styles of play reflected in older and younger siblings. When Ryan Bell drove to the basket with a determined, “won’t be denied” look, it was mirrored in her younger sister Taline Tendore.
The duo were dynamite guards for an outstanding Lady Tiger team. You could probably sell tickets and draw a sizeable crowd if they decided to play one-on-one with an audience. Their intensity is reflected in their similar styles of play.
The last of the Guina boys graduates next month, but first Wind River fans, and then Lander fans after the family moved were treated to their exploits on the football field and the basketball court.
Tisso, Julian and Jaren epitomized sibling athletic rivalry. Each was better at certain positions in football and basketball than the other two, but as a whole, they way they delivered a vicious hit, caught a ball in traffic or hit long range jump shots might be an indicator of a genetic bond only brothers or sisters can have.
Jumping back to Shoshoni, the Lady Blue have a pair of sisters with infectious smiles that are the nicest kids you ever want to meet, that is until the ball goes up in the air. Then the Donelson girls aren’t so friendly. Junior Hailey and freshman Morgan are intensity encapsulated while also being the most encouraging teammates you could ask for. There is something even more special in the relationship of siblings growing up on a farm or ranch where helping and challenging each other are just facets of everyday life.
When an athletic family has an older sister and a younger brother it’s interesting to watch them grow up. The older sister dominates in the early years, but the younger brother always catches up. You can’t avoid the advantage boys get as they mature.
Demi and Brenon Stauffenberg, a senior and junior at Lander Valley epitomize this. Demi approached 6-0 when she entered her sophomore year, Brenon quickly caught up, and now has a solid three inches, and at least 40 pounds on his sister.
The one-on-one games must have been epic in middle school and through their first year in high school. Many would still take Demi in a game of horse, but maybe not one-on-one on the low block.
The bond between siblings sometimes extends beyond the playing days.
At Wyoming Indian, you’ll find big brother Craig Ferris and younger brother Michael Hiwalker diligently working together season after season to develop the Chiefs into a championship squad. They’ve worked their magic together six times in bringing home state championships to Wyoming Indian.
Both outstanding high school and college players in their own right, they extended that competitiveness to the coaching box.
Rivalries are a big part of athletics, but rivalries of the sibling kind are even more special.