OE Student Athletes of the Week-Katherine and Kathleen Sim

Sisters Katherine and Kathleen Sim have been four-year members of the varsity cross country team, and as head coach, Lisa Cook states, "they have been a part of the program for so long that we won't ever be able to truly replace them." While they may be identical twins, their path to success, and the ways in which they have helped the program, themselves, and overcome obstacles are unique, which is why they are this week's Oswego East student-athlete of the week.

Both Katherine and Kathleen decided to give cross country a try in 7th grade. "My friends wanted me to try, and I ended up really liking it as well as having some success," says Katherine. Kathleen's first experience was similar, saying, "I did well and really liked the feeling of finishing workouts."

Their experiences in high school would be different. Katherine ran both her freshman and sophomore year, but it is the summer before her junior year where everything changed. After a mentor of Katherine's graduated, Katherine was out on a run with Coach Cook, and simply said, "Well, it's time for me to step up." Katherine was true to her word, helping OE qualify for state for the first time ever as a program.

"I credit Katherine for having the largest improvement on our team from her sophomore to her junior year," says Cook. She goes on to add, "Katherine is one of the main reasons why our team qualified for State for the first time in school history last year. Her approach to that season was incredibly impressive, as she made a deliberate decision to step up and help lead the team."

Katherine is currently the 9th fastest female cross country runner in OE's school history and is hoping she can get a personal best under the 18:30 mark (her current PR is 18:40). Kathleen's journey took a much different turn after her freshman year. At the end of her freshman season, it looked as though she had a stress fracture in her shin. After 6-8 weeks of rest, the injury had not improved. Kathleen would visit numerous doctors the next two years, finally resulting in a diagnosis of a chronic neurological disorder.

Kathleen's obstacles helped serve as a catalyst and inspiration for her teammates. "Kathleen has refused to stop, pushing past what we know must be incredible amounts of pain on a daily basis," says Cook. She goes on to add, "Despite injuries and high levels of pain, she has contributed to our team in so many ways and has been one of our top 12 runners each year. She connects with her teammates in both subtle and obvious ways, and she is one of the most genuine people around."

Despite having been told she may want to go easy on running, Kathleen's outlook is different. "My family is my main source of support, and I want to continue running for people out there who have much worse conditions in their lives," says Kathleen. Her goal for the end of this season is to achieve a PR under 20:00 and become all-conference in whatever level she runs.

Patrick Sim, Katherine and Kathleen's father, understand just how important the relationship is to the two sisters and their push to make one another better. "After Kathleen found out about her condition, their relationship strengthened," says Pat. He goes on to add, "Kathleen's goal was to get back to running because she loves running and wants to run with Katherine. Katherine was her biggest supporter, encouraging her to get better."

The Sim sisters cite their teammates and the feeling of comradery as reasons they love running so much. Assistant coach Steve Ideran thinks their impact goes much farther than PR's and all-conference selections. "Between the two of them, I don't think there is a single girl on the team who haven't been helped by the Sims," says Ideran. He goes on to add, "Whether it's a partner on a tough workout, a friend on a run, a simple smile or someone to talk to, they bring an incredible energy to our team. They embody the core values of our team."

It is clear OE will be unable to replace both Kathleen and Katherine next fall, but both will undoubtedly continue working relentlessly towards their goals. Katherine would like to attend a school that is within a reasonable driving distance and is hoping to major in physical therapy. Ideran, who also taught Katherine, believes she has the makeup to be successful. "It isn't an easy path to become a PT, but Katherine has the work ethic, intelligence, and discipline to do that job well."

Kathleen is intent on attending Illinois State University next fall and majoring in Psychology. Kathleen was able to use OE's extensive class offering to her benefit, enrolling in psychology I, psychology II, and advanced placement psychology. Her psych II and advanced psych teacher, Tony Giles, says, "Kathleen is a hard working dedicated student who always applies herself 100% in her academic work. She offered great insight to class discussions, and will no doubt be successful in the field of psychology."

Replacing the Sim sisters will be impossible when they move on next fall, but there is no doubt they have a bright future ahead. Patrick Sim is most proud that his daughters, "turned out to be responsible, caring, and respectful (almost) adults." Kathleen and Katherine have similar advice to future Oswego East Wolves, saying, "Get involved because the four years go by really fast." Kathleen urges future Wolves to, "not care about what others think, and find your own path," while Katherine says to, "appreciate the little things." The Sim sisters have certainly forged their own path here at Oswego East, and OE certainly appreciates their hard work and dedication.