Minnetonka's Kane Twins Keep the Fun in Competition

Carolyn and Liz Kane never take swimming too seriously. 

The Minnetonka girls swimming and diving team’s twin sisters are equal parts competitors, equal parts “goof balls.” It’s what makes them successful in the pool and unforgettable out of the water.

Just ask Skippers first-year coach Dan Berve, who met the Kanes several years ago while working a summer swim camp.

“I remember them because they are the exact same way they are today,” Berve said. “It’s been fun watching them. I’m happy to have a chance to work with them this year because they’ve been a big part of our success.”

Natural leaders with an ability to make even the most laborious practices fun, the Kanes make up at least a share of seven entrants Minnetonka will send to the Class AA state tournament this week at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Swimming prelims begin at 6 p.m. Friday and finals take place at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The Kanes will be making their first official trip to the state high school meet together—excluding years spent as alternates—and they’ll be busy. Carolyn will swim the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay. Liz will swim the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 medley relay.

Fortunately for the juniors, who began swimming at age 6, they have mastered a formula for success. From requesting certain songs during warmups to asking permission to use the diving board before practice, anything goes when it comes to keeping the mood light.

“I always seem to have high energy, and to swim I realize that I need to be happy so I need to do something that makes me happy,” Carolyn said. “And that’s goofing around and having fun with the team.”

Berve said he’s seen the pair grow from a competitive standpoint this season. They’ve always had the talent, but he said this year the sisters have realized they have the tools to win each night.

“Not only have they gotten better, but I think how they approach their races (has changed),” Berve said. “I think they think of themselves as some of the fastest swimmers in the state now, which I don’t think was the case maybe in past years. They have a confidence about them, which I think is really good. They get up to the block and they know they’re going to go fast.”

The secret? Making the sport fun.

“You have to make it fun for yourself,” Liz said. “You have to come up with your own little games or things to do to make it exciting.”

That’s the case these days. Carolyn and Liz have perfected their approach to the pool through years with the Aquajets club program and the Skippers’ high school team.

It’s an evolution that led them to this week’s state meet.

“As you grow up, you learn to have fun and swim fast at the same time and train hard,” Carolyn said. “That definitely makes a difference, and you see yourself getting better.”

Class AA state swimming and diving

University of Minnesota Aquatic Center

Diving prelims: Thursday, 6 p.m.

Swimming prelims: Friday, 6 p.m.

Championships: Saturday, 6 p.m.