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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Three Amigas
Western Arkansas, AR
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By: “I didn’t want to play. But once I found out that my sisters and Becca, who is like our other si
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Fleener sisters get their kicks one last time
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“I didn’t want to play. But once I found out that my sisters and Becca, who is like our other sister, were playing, I decided I had to play.” — Alex Fleener.
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The afternoon sun begins to fade behind the “Field of Champions” as the heat radiates up through the field turf. Few students can be found on this final day of class, the beginning of summer break. For three sisters this is the last time they are together on the same field. Two are packing their things to head north to a new school.
The other is preparing for the next stage in her life — college. For three sisters this field is full of memories and funny moments. Like the time they each received yellow cards for celebrating the first goal with handsprings and round-offs (something NFL players would envy). Or the harassing of, in a ladylike fashion, the referee and goalie for tackling the youngest of the three, even though she still scored. For Shiloh Christian’s three all-state soccer sisters, Ashley, Alex and Mandy Fleener, the field was a place to play together.
Each girl began sports at a young age; with Ashley sticking to soccer while her younger sisters grew to love volleyball. Trading their Bentonville Tiger pride to become Saints, all three sisters took their new school in stride — literally on the field. With 2008 being Ashley’s senior season, all three decided to play one last time together. It wasn’t an easy decision for all three.
“I didn’t want to play,” Alex said. “But once I found out that my sisters and Becca, who is like our other sister, were playing, I decided I had to play.”
“It’s fun because we get to spend more time together,” Mandy said.
“We have practically played every sport together, and we’re really competitive and like to push each other,” interrupted Alex.
Ashley scored her first goal this season while she argued with the youngest sister, Mandy, over a stolen ball.
“We’re sisters, but we’re all best friends,” Alex said.
“It helped us playing soccer because we are so close that we have each other’s back, even if we were mad at each other,” Ashley said.
Throughout the season opponents had to take shelter because when one sister was under attack on the field, the other two sisters made sure the problem was resolved.
For the three, it’s important to stick together and to maintain family as the foundation, and for each of them, this season wouldn’t have been as fun if they hadn’t all been on the field. Lady Saint soccer fans should be thankful, too, because both Alex and Mandy had goals totaling in the double digits, leading the team to a conference championship.
The girls may be moving on to new places, but they are thankful for Shiloh, their teammates and the doors Shiloh opened for them.
“The whole team is like a family, it’s not just the three of us, we love each other,” Alex said.
The girls are also thankful for the lessons they learned from volunteer head coach Todd Pleggenkuhle.
“Coach put up with so much and was the best ever,” the sisters said.
For the Fleener sisters the sun may have set on an empty “Field of Champions,” but you can guarantee the future will be full of laughs and memories to fill it while they’re gone.
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