Bigfork soccer's triple threat

By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle

For many sisters sharing a house while growing up is enough to keep their relationship tense, but for Ariana, Kaitlyn and McKinze Shults it's just one of the many things they share.

The Shults girls are all members of Bigfork High School's girls soccer team. Although they've been playing soccer since they started elementary school, this is the first time that their ages have allowed them to be on the same team.

"Soccer is all about teamwork," said Kaitlyn, who will be a junior this year. "You pass the ball to other people. I don't think it is any of our personalities to be like, 'I won.' It's a team win, not any one individual."

Soccer isn't the only activity the girls share. They are all also involved in Lakeview Livestock 4-H. Ariana, a senior, and McKinze, a freshman, both play on the BHS basketball team and Kaitlyn is there on the sidelines as a Val cheerleader. McKinze and Ariana are part of the Book Club. Ariana is also on the tennis team and is a member of National Honor Society. Kaitlyn and Ariana are both in the school band, on the newspaper staff and in a Bigfork community program called Leadership.

"I think we get along because we're so close in age," Kaitlyn said. "We're all going through the same things at about the same time."

Although they do admit that Kaitlyn gets picked on the most both on and off the field.

"It's the middle child thing," Kaitlyn said. "I'm a little different in how I play. I get pushed around a lot. I'm not as aggressive."

Ariana and McKinze play defense for the Vals soccer team and Kaitlyn plays midfield.

"If I make a mistake I know they'll be there for me on defense," Kaitlyn said.

There are other benefits to sharing a team with your sisters, such as carpooling. Ariana drives the girls to all of their practices and games. Also, for the first time their parents won't be running to multiple games all season. Knowing each other so well has it's perks too.

"It's family so you know some things you do they'll understand," Ariana said.

The Shults girls come from athletic parents. Their dad, Bud, was an assistant coach for the Vals soccer team for the last two years. Their mom, Trish, teaches first and second grade Montessori at Bigfork Elementary School.

Even though this is McKinze's first season at BHS, she is already familiar with the team having attended many of their practices and games last year, but she is looking forward to getting to be out on the field this year.

"It's exciting," McKinze said. "I used to keep book for them and I would be yelling from the sidelines, and now I actually get to be out there."

McKinze's sisters are happy to have her on the field this year too.

"I'm looking forward to winning some games," Ariana said. "I think that McKinze is a great addition to the team and Kaitlyn played well last year."