OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Chloe and Ellie Kuckelman are twin sisters who were born two minutes apart from each other. Ellie is the oldest of the two. And, they do just about everything together. They sing and play the guitar in their spare time. They attend the same schools.
And, they both play tennis—really, really well.
"It's really nice having [Ellie] because I always have someone to hit with. And, just I always have someone supporting me throughout everything. So, I'm glad she's there with me," Chloe said.
Chloe recently won the Kansas Class 6A girls tennis individual championship. She won the title by beating her older sister and defending champion, Ellie in the championship match in two sets, 6-4 & 6-4.
So, it was only fitting that they both earned Athlete of the Week honors.
"I feel like [winning the award] was extra special that I get to have it alongside Chloe because I feel like she's a part of me whether in sports or in life," Ellie said. "Yeah, I just feel really honored especially [in] my senior year to get this award. And, I just so proud of everyone. And, I'm thankful for the coaches and the teammates that have made this all possible."
Both girls were part of a juggernaut Blue Valley North girls tennis program that's won four-straight overall state championships. Chloe is a two-state individual state champion. Ellie won her title last year in 2017. And, both will attend the University of Nebraska, in the fall, on a tennis scholarship.
Blue Valley North boys and girls tennis head coach Tracey Johnson has been the coach at the school for almost nine years. And, she has coached the sisters all four years they have been there. She knows that while the girls are competitive, they cheer for each other's success.
"Watching them is like watching the love of tennis right in front of you," Johnson said. "They want to be good. They push each other so hard. And, they give everything they have back to it."
NOTE: The Hy-Vee 41 Five-Star Athlete of the Week segment airs every Wednesday during the 10 p.m. sportscast for the entire school year.
