Caroline and Katherine Novak are fraternal twins with a lot of ambition and energy, and little free time to spare. The two are juniors at Crawfordsville High School, where both are involved in sports and multiple extra-curricular activities.
While the Novak sisters may have a lot in common, they also have their differences.
Caroline puts a lot of her focus into playing sports, while Katherine has a mixture of activities, she participates in involving athleticism and academics.
Their coaches say the twins welcome a challenge and excel at anything they try.
The sisters have been involved in sports for several years, but it wasn’t until high school started that they decided to sign up for cross country.
Caroline was already involved in soccer and says she probably wouldn’t have joined cross country if her sister hadn’t. Both had been told on numerous occasions to sign up by one of their middle school coaches.
“I kind of signed up as a joke but then I ended up really loving it,” Caroline said.
Both girls now excel at cross country.
When Caroline told her soccer coach, Alex Ehrlich, she was going to be doing cross country along with soccer, he said it was bittersweet. He was happy to see her trying other sports but not excited about them coinciding. Ultimately, Ehrlich was proud to see Caroline excel at both.
Ehrlich told Caroline she needed to choose which sport would be her top priority. He wanted her to be better prepared for when scheduling conflicts would arise between the two sports. Caroline chose soccer as her primary sport.
While Caroline may be dividing her time between soccer and cross country, she is not dividing the effort she gives.
“They’re currently undefeated in the conference and she is one of the best offensive players in the conference,” Ehrlich said about Caroline’s soccer season this year.
She’s made 17 goals this season and is one of the top goal scorers in the conference, Ehrlich said.
Cross country coach Jared McMurry said Katherine also is exceeding expectations.
“She has been one of the most successful runners the program has had in a few years,” McMurry said. “And it’s all because of determination and she just wants it. She works hard.”
Free time isn’t something the girls are familiar with.
Katherine is Key Club president, editor of the school newspaper, a choir member and part of the fall play.
For Caroline, she has committed herself to two high energy sports at the same time, but she also plays piano and takes lessons weekly.
“To stay on top in classes is a huge sacrifice of time. So, there is no free time. Everything is put into exercising or working,” Katherine said.
The twins say the weekends are for catching up on homework. When they can, they help each other with school work and being in most of the same classes makes it easier.
Both girls have been called leaders by their coaches and they show their leadership in different ways.
Katherine is a supporting leader. As she is always one of the first ones to finish a race, she cheers on her teammates and waits at the finish line for each one with water in her hand.
Caroline pushes her teammates, she expects the same effort from them that she gives.
Katherine isn’t sure of what she wants to do after high school, but Caroline hopes she can continue her soccer career in college.
Ehrlich and McMurry both say they can see a college career in soccer for Caroline.
As for Katherine, McMurry has high expectations for her future.
“Both of these girls are the ultimate competitors and Katherine, she won’t be denied,” McMurry said.
