It’s a family affair in Wheatland, as three sets of sisters have sparked the Wildcats’ 2016 postseason run

Posted By on Mar 3, 2016 | 0 comments


wheatland sisters

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Thursday, March 3, 2016 | BataviasBest.org

 

The Wheatland-Chili Girls Basketball team has been the definition of a family affair this season. With three sets of sisters in tow, one set being twins, the way the Wildcats play for one another on a nightly basis is not only impressive, but it is also admirable – to say the very least.

Coming from a sports family, I understand full well what it means to play alongside your sibling, working together towards a common goal. And to put it plainly, there is no other athletic experience like it. With that being said, I can only imagine what these sisters experience on a game-by-game basis.

wheatland vs york girls basketball 2-26-2016 - 1 (22)“It’s been amazing,” said Abbey Callaghan – her and twin sister Hannah are pictured bottom left in featured photo (Abbey on far bottom left). “I mean, we are all closer than ever and all get along extremely well. It’s just a close bonded team.”

In addition to playing together on the basketball court the Clars (Taylor and Lindsey pictured top left – Lindsey an eighth grader is far top left), along with both Seilheimer sisters Taylor and Alyssa (pictured far right – Taylor standing), and both Callaghan twins, all played alongside the Wildcats’ Sectional Championship Girls Soccer team this past fall as well – adding to their obvious chemistry on the court.

“It brings unity to the team,” said Taylor Seilheimer about the team’s experience playing with each other. “I experienced the same thing this soccer season when we had six sets of sisters on the team. With this basketball team, we can say we are a family – literally.”

Also, Senior leader Taylor Clar also believes her team’s chemistry is what sets them apart from their opponents – especially at this point of the season.

“We’re all best friends on, and off the court,” said Clar. “It makes everything flow so easily and a lot ofwheatland vs york girls basketball 2-26-2016 - 1 (20) times we can anticipate what someone else is going to do from years of being around each other. I think it’s a huge advantage having sets of sisters because it makes our team into a real family.”

Their coach, Todd Grimes, echoed their sentiments.

“It’s been great,” he said about the sisters all being together on one team. “It gives a family feel to our team. They work really well together and they each are able to push the other sister. They really like playing with each other and competing with each other in practice.”

Now that the Wildcats prepare themselves for a Far West Regional matchup with Panama, they clearly have the aforementioned growth of such impressive team chemistry to thank for where they find themselves at this point in the season.

wheatland vs york girls basketball 2-26-2016 - 1 (2)“It absolutely has helped us (reach this point in the season),” added Grimes. “First of all, they push each other at practice (and because of that) you can always see a little more intensity when they are going at their sister. I think that has helped each of them improve individually. In games, I think they have a great comfort level playing together and really work well together.”

Clar agreed with her coach.

“I mean, everyone has arguments and fights,” she said, “But being sisters whenever we get into arguments everyone usually ends up laughing and we work out all of the issues. So this year there was no drama, and no jealousy. We all support each other.”

In the past, the Wheatland-Chili Girls Basketball team hasn’t exactly been the epitome of longstanding success. However, an influx of talent some four years ago has now turned into this year’s Championship squad. And, as mentioned before, the family aspect certainly hasn’t hurt this group reach such great heights. Just ask any of them.

“In the past, our girls basketball program has never been very successful,” said Seilheimer, “Even ifwheatland vs mount morris girls basketball 2-20-2016 - 1 (15) there was talent, drama was always evident. When a team can’t get along on and off the court, it is hard to be successful. However, this year is much different. Having family on this team keeps us together.”

The only set of twins on the team, Abbey and Hannah Callaghan bring a different type of family element to the team, but according to Abbey, that has only elevated the level of play for each of them.

“With my sister and I,” began Callaghan, “I mean, we’re twins so everything’s always been a competition and we push each other. That’s what makes us close.”

Going forward, the Wildcats will bring the entire Wheatland family to Rush-Henrietta High School this Saturday – where they will face-off with the Panama Panthers in the Class D Far West Regional. It may be a tall order to bestow upon this team to think they will win yet another game in the postseason, especially against such a great team, but in the end – I wouldn’t bet against them.

After all, blood is thicker than water.

 

 

Other articles you may like:

Survive and Advance: Wheatland-Chili Girls Basketball defeats previously unbeaten Prattsburgh

Wheatland-Chili vs York – Section V Girls Basketball – PHOTO GALLERY (02/26/2016)

“After all the years of 2-17”, Wheatland-Chili Girls Basketball wins the Sectional Championship

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