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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Three’s Company
Collin County, TX
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The Curtis Triplets are big players in Wylie’s game-day experience thanks to some help from Mom and Dad
No, you aren’t seeing double. Mary, Michael and Steven Curtis are 17-year-old triplets heavily involved with diverse extracurricular activities at Wylie High School.
Mary was recently named co-captain for the varsity cheerleading squad. Steven plays left and center field on the varsity baseball team. Michael serves in a number of varsity bands, including playing upright acoustic bass in the jazz band, percussion for the marching band, and playing with the wind symphony and orchestra.
For the Curtis kids, supporting the family at events is vital, and a practice made easier by common ground.
“It`s great to be at a game [with the marching band] and seeing Steven on the field and Mary on the sidelines with the squad doing their own thing. I`m really proud of them,” Michael said.
Likewise, Steven appreciates the difference in interests and believes it has helped define each triplet’s personalities. Mary enjoys watching her brothers at work and in true cheerleading spirit recognizes the effort of these groups as a whole. “I really enjoy watching Steven play baseball,” she said. “I admire the band program because the people involved in that activity really put in 100 percent and they all seem to have the time of their lives doing what they do best.”
The Curtis trio loves being part of the school community. Steven enjoys the support of the student body when he is playing and is glad to reciprocate during the baseball team`s off-season. “I think school spirit is key to having a great school. Everyone comes together as one and it brings fun and excitement to the school,” he said.
The triplets` level of commitment and appreciation of their siblings` involvements are rooted in family philosophies started by parents Phil Curtis, a police officer, and Lynne Curtis, an information account executive. “With the crew, every day is an adventure of logistics, planning, patience, love and sacrifice,” Lynne said. “We approach it is as a team. And the head of that team is their dad. If our home did not have a strong, committed loving husband and father, none of this would be successful. I truly believe that the presence of our family is a result of that. He takes care of all of us so we can be who we are.”
Mary said, “We just do our best to take it as it comes and work together. My parents’ patience with us also helps. Family support is very important. At our house that’s what it’s all about and without it, our family would crumble.”
The Curtis clan has often been the inspiration for discovering a new passion – and in one instance, a forgotten one. At the start of their high school journey, Steven and Michael were both on the baseball team. Although they greatly enjoyed playing together, Michael found that his priority was music while Steven had fallen in love with baseball. Both want to pursue a higher education and careers involving baseball and music, though Steven has also considering following in his father’s footsteps by joining law enforcement.
Another formative influence was Mary seeing her older sister Sharon cheer when she attended high school. “I remember watching her from the stands and marveling at all the cool things she could do. I thank Sharon for my inspiration,” she said.
After years of playing classical instruments, his father recently gave Michael a guitar. Michael mastered the instrument, currently playing in an outside band called Under Fire, and the experience has reignited Phil’s desire to play guitar as well.
The Phil and Lynne Curtis are also a key fixtures at school events: they chaperone band competitions, show up at Friday night football games, work concession stands, help with banquets and host parties. “Phil and I find great pleasure that our children actually like us to be involved,” Lynne said. But she also knows the key to family togetherness is something away from school. “Most important to us is dinner,” Lynne said. “Dinner time allows us to share our day and catch up. There is nothing more priceless than watching the boys in all their animation talk about their day and Mary try and get a word in.”
While the Curtis triplets head toward their senior year, they are contemplating the future. Lynne said, “I remember one time talking with all of them; talking about us always being around and trying to get a pulse on how they felt about that. All were sad at the thought of us not being there at any one time. It is funny; we don't talk or mingle with them much when we volunteer. But for them just knowing we are there means so much to them. And it blesses us to feel that. We can stand back and watch our children from afar and see them blossom into wonderful young men and women.”
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You’ve Been Served
by: Steve Hunt
Frisco Wakeland made huge strides in just its second season. After finishing near .500 in 2007, the Wolverines won the...
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