STATE COLLEGE - Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics used to sing that sisters were doing it for themselves.
That won't be the case today, when Indian Valley takes on top seed Belleville Mennonite School in the District 4 Class AA field hockey championship. But with all the sisters that will be on the turf at State College Area High School, it may seem like the sport has its own sorority in Mifflin County.
The Trojan roster includes two pairs, Jenna and Kelsey Derstein, and Ashton and Hannah Templeton. Indian Valley has a six-pack of siblings on its team: Kirstin and Tayler Kuhns, Natasha and Whitney Strohecker, and Brittany and Paige Mathews.
Both teams have had sisters play in the past, their coaches say, but both admit this is an unusual situation.
"Two sets this year and we could remember three sets (previously). I'd have to go back through the books to see if there's more," Belleville coach Glenna Young recalled, although this year is special with the inclusion of the Dersteins, who are twins.
"That's right - and I can actually tell them apart now," Young jokes. "I couldn't at first. Not in middle school."
"We're fortunate really to have the amount of sisters we've had through the years," Indian Valley coach Tish Maclay said. "I think they establish a rivalry with one another, it's great camaraderie, it's certainly great for the parents because they can come and buy into the whole program as a package deal."
Both coaches insist that the sibling rivalry is replaced by desire to win when the girls get on the field, although Young said she's seen a few occasions where the Alpha sister stakes out her territory.
"Sometimes when there's an age difference - when it's a senior and a freshman especially - the senior sister may get somewhat bossy," she said. "I've seen that happen."
"Each kid brings their own unique personality to the field. We don't look at them as sisters, we look at them as other players. We really haven't had to deal with issues on the field between sisters at all," Maclay said, adding that she assumes the parents see any rivalry issues off the field.
"I think the parents have to deal with it more than the coaches do," she said.
Young said even the special connection of twins hasn't materialized in the form of any special communication bond between the Dersteins, "although I've seen sisters work well together," she said. "They've matured from middle school through. They are, for lack of a better word, very service oriented and willing to do anything you ask - either one of them. They're ready to get the minor details taken care of. Both of them will do whatever jobs need to be done.
"I'll miss that!"
Maclay points out that a certain level of competition between sisters can be helpful, just as it is between any two members of a team.
"For us it's beneficial because they just make everyone else work that much harder," she said. "A lot of times sisters have different personalities, too. We just kind of work with that however we need to."
The most notable pair on this year's team has to be the Kuhns girls, especially because Tayler - the younger of the two - has been thrust into the spotlight while accumulating scoring records in her first two years on the team.
"Tayler plays a position where she gets a lot of recognition. But her sister Kirstin has been a four-year starter for us also, and started in championship games when she was a freshman," Maclay points out. "It's just that she played a position you don't get a lot of recognition for."
And, in the case of any of the girls, the younger one may benefit from the knowledge and experience gained by her big sis.
"I think they've been real supportive and encouraging of the younger sisters because they've been there," Maclay said.
While the Dersteins at Belleville Mennonite will leave together when this season ends, the Templetons remain together for another year. Hannah, a freshman, has not played as much varsity this season, but already has started to follow in a family tradition.
"She plays defense like her sister, and is very quick," Young said. "She plays fullback mainly, but is not afraid to take the ball right up to the circle."
No difference in the report from Maclay on her other two sets.
"The Strohecker kids are both great athletes, for sure. The younger sister's kind of come along and see the older sister play and see what the program's about," Maclay said. "I think Tasha's been really, really supportive of Whitney and helped her along.
"Bitty does the same thing with Paige. She encourages Paige, says 'Hey, stick with it, work on this.' I think they've all been real helpful to their sisters," she said.
The winner of today's game advances into the state bracket, and will play the WPIAL (District 7) champion in a first-round game Tuesday.
