Schneider sisters on different paths but supporting each other
For as long as she could remember, Erin Schneider admits to wanting to do the same things her older sister Carly did.
Erin even jumped a grade to make it easier.
Now, the senior siblings, who are Elgin residents, are ready to embark on their final run in the IHSA state girls golf tournament.
But unlike most sisters who play high school golf, the Schneiders will be taking different routes to what they each hope is a spot in the state final field in southern Illinois Oct. 16-17.
Carly Schneider is the actual older sister, a natural senior who attends the gifted academy at Streamwood High School, the academy for foreign language and international studies. She plays for the South Elgin/Streamwood/Bartlett co-op. Erin attends St. Edward High School, where she carries a 4.14 GPA and is ranked 15th in her class.
So, since the two attend different high schools that play sports in different IHSA classes, they won't even have a chance to meet on the course in the postseason. Carly will play in Wednesday's Class AA Prairie Ridge regional at Prairie Isle while Erin and the Green Wave compete in the Class A Rock Falls regional at Rock River Country Club.
Their cell phone carriers might want to give them a text message extension.
"We're just wishing the best for each other and we just hope we both make it downstate this year," Erin said. "It would be more fun our senior year if we were able to battle it out a little but it's probably better that we can't. We're excited for each other."
Downstate has eluded the sisters thus far. St. Edward advanced to sectionals as a team last year but the road ended there, just as it did for Carly and her co-op teammates.
"Last year I missed the state cut by one so I definitely want to get downstate this year," Carly said. "I just want to get better. That's what it's all about in the big tournaments."
Carly started playing tournament golf when she was 13 and Erin, who skipped eighth grade, quickly followed.
"I always wanted to do the same thing as Carly," said Erin, who is 11 months younger. "We played in the same golf camps together and we've always supported each other."
Carly has had a mild bit more success on the links, and definitely says she wants to play golf in college, although she hasn't decided where that will be yet. She carries a 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the gifted academy and says she wants to be a doctor someday.
"How I've grown as a golfer is incredible," said Carly, who as a freshman had to play with the Streamwood boys team. "I've been able to become a role model for the younger girls and I've always wanted to help people. Being on the co-op team has given me a lot of opportunities. The way everything has worked out is perfect for me. I love going to school and if I wouldn't have gone to Streamwood I'd be at St. Ed's."
Carly, admittedly, is a little more serious about golf, but she and Erin share a lot about the game nonetheless.
"We talk about our games and what we can work on," she said. "It's fun being competitive with a sibling and we really support each other."
South Elgin co-op coach Tim Prendergast says having Carly on the team is like having another coach.
"I've been coaching for 17 years and I don't think I've ever met anyone who has worked as hard as her," Prendergast said. "She's so determined and so professional. She's so good because she puts so much time into it. She's a great kid who just has outstanding work ethic. She's like an assistant coach. She works with our young kids a lot. It's been a lot of fun coaching her."
For Erin's part, making it downstate is a goal. She hasn't decided where she's going to college yet and playing golf in college is also not yet decided, so making it to the state finals her senior year would be a positive finish to her high school career.
"My biggest thing is keeping my short game up," she said. "After that everything else will fall into place."
And if they each play the game they're capable of, most everything should fall into place for the Schneider sisters this week.