Sister Act

You often hear sports teams being described as family, but Highland girls basketball is taking this concept to a new level. It is a literal sisterhood.
There are four sets of sisters, including two coaches. This unique dynamic is not only contributing to the dynamic on and off the court, but the teams hope it will contribute to a positive performance in the 2024-25 season.
The siblings include senior Kennedy Gurgel and sophomore Taylor Gurgel, senior Kaylynn Mitchell and sophomore Heidi Mitchell, Coach Misini Fifita and her sisters senior Sisinau Fifita and junior Lavinia Fifita, and Coach Lana Vimahi and senior Katinia Olevao.
The presence of multiple sets of sisters on the team is a rare and special phenomenon that adds a layer of depth to the team’s chemistry. Siblings often share an unspoken understanding and trust that can be a significant advantage on the court. At Highland, this sibling synergy has become a defining feature of the team, as well as affecting the chemistry overall.
“Having a bond with a sister is already strong, and people around you can see that and want to have the same effect,” Lavinia Fifita said. “Last year, everyone was in their own groups and as individuals, but this year everyone is together as one. It makes it a much more enjoyable and fun experience. ”
At Highland, the sisters are not just teammates but also close friends who have grown up playing together. This familiarity breeds a level of comfort and trust that is hard to replicate with non-related teammates and fosters friendly competition. For older sisters leaving legacies for their younger sisters to uphold, dinner table bragging rights are on the line.
“I push myself hard just so that my sister won’t beat me! There is definitely a competitive drive when you are competing against your sister, and it doesn’t feel like we are competing against each other a lot of the time,” Kennedy Grugel said. “I feel as a team, it’s important to put those sibling rivalries aside. Although that is easier said than done!”
Despite the natural bond, siblings don’t always play nice. Turning off-court synergy into an in-game strategy can still be a learning curve, resulting in the team’s current 0-5 record.
“We need to work on trusting each other in the game, because we all have good friendships, and we love to talk and have fun, but we need to translate that into the game,” Kaylynn Mitchell said. “A lot of us have played together before and now we have a lot of new people playing together, so sometimes it’s hard to trust each other and work as a team.”
To overcome these obstacles, players and coaches alike are going above and beyond to create unity among all teams.
“My coach has really emphasized not being segregated. Like, in St. George, we really focused on coming together as a team and not just spending time in our individual friend groups. At practice, we rotate with who we warm up with, older girls with younger girls, and with girls you just don’t really talk to,” Kaylynn Mitchell said.
The natural dynamics between younger and older siblings has produced a strong mentoring relationship within the teams.
“I definitely felt inspired to play because of Kennedy,” Taylor Gurgel said. “She loves the game and she’s really shown me how to be a leader and have a good time while playing. She makes me want to do my best and get better every day. I want to create a positive impact like she has.”
The team isn’t just relying on sisters to determine this season. Incoming freshmen are proving to be promising additions and future leaders.
“There are a lot of players, but a big one that comes to mind is Lavinia Tongia. During our game against Pineview, we used her quote, ‘let it bounce off your chest and don’t let it sink in’. If we made a mistake, it just bounced off our chest and we moved on. She was that energetic person for morale,” Lavinia Fafita said.
With so many sisters on the roster, the team hopes it will soon come together and play as a family on the court.