You're sitting in the stands at a soccer game and the loud, scratchy voice of the announcer says, "Sweet assists Sweet for the winning goal!" No, the anouncer is not seeing double, he is talking about Melissa and Bobbie Jo Sweet; sisters who both play on W.F. West's soccer team. The girls are so close in age, they are often teammates. Bobbie Jo Sweet said, "When we're mad at each other it's hard because we're on the same teams."

The girls are not alone. Many siblings at W. F. West play the same sports and must deal with the added pressures, but also the sibling comraderie, that comes with playing the same sport as a brother or sister.

Aaron Rinta, a 1996 graduate, says he was pressured to follow his older brother, Joel, into basketball.

"There was definately influence from my family," Rinta said. "But I played because I enjoyed it."

Younger brother Jordan Rinta agreed, "They encouraged me [to play basketball], but I wanted to [play] anyway." Most of the younger siblings agree that although there is pressure to play, the decision was essentially theirs.

Curiously, there is very little competition between the siblings. "I have no doubt in my mind that Jordan will be better than Joel and I, but as long as he doesn't get cocky, I don't mind," said Aaron Rinta.

Some of the younger siblings base their goals on the achievements of their older brothers or sisters. "I base some goals on him, dunking and stuff," said freshman, Phillip Thompson, about his brother, Justin.

Then there are the siblings who don't follow their brothers or sisters. Sheryll Ketchum, a junior, made a point not to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, Stacey Ketchum, "One of the major reasons I didn't do sports is because I don't think I could ever be as good as her. People expect me to be like her."

All in all, the consensus is that siblings are rooting for each other. Jordan Rinta said, "I guess I want to be just as good as they were."