Brooklyn Becher, business management junior, and Lauren Becher, psychology junior, both play for the IUS women’s tennis team.
They may be twins but that is not as obvious as people think.
Although the women have similar features and interests, they are very unique individuals.
Both started playing tennis when they were 5 years old.
Inspired by their three older sisters, Brooklyn said tennis was a sport they could play with just each other.
“Almost every other sport you need more than two people to play,” she said.
The Bechers are natives of Jasper, Ind., and attended Jasper High School where they played for the tennis team.
“Our tennis program in Jasper is one of the top 10 best in the U.S.,” Lauren said. “It’s a big girl and guy sport there.”
Brooklyn played tennis for the Jasper Wildcats for four years, while Lauren only played for three years. She quit the team her senior year to run track.
“I loved running and always wanted to quit tennis and run track,” she said.
Brooklyn was given the honor of being the Wildcats’ Most Valuable Player her freshman year.
Her senior year she was able to go to the state tournament where she and her team finished third, in doubles play.
The Bechers are attending IU Southeast on athletic scholarships.
This is the Bechers’ third year on the tennis team. They will play singles and doubles.
Lauren will also be on the Grenadier cheerleading squad for the first time this year.
While the Bechers will participate in doubles play this year, they will not be partners.
“I don’t want them together, because they do offer a lot as far as ability, but personality too,” said Jenny Walters, the IUS women’s tennis coach. “Lauren leads by mouth and Brooklyn by example. Lauren is the more talkative one and Brooklyn does what needs to be done.”
Brooklyn’s doubles partner will be Britta Oliver, business junior, and Lauren’s partner will be Abby Enteman, business junior.
This will be the third year for Oliver and Brooklyn as partners.
“I am more of a singles player,” Oliver said. “But Brooklyn is a great doubles player and she really helps me out.”
Oliver said Brooklyn is everyone’s friend and a great teammate.
“Brooklyn is very laid back, and does not show much emotion on the court,” Oliver said. “But she is a sweet girl. She is just a sweetheart.”
This will be the third year for Enteman and Lauren as partners, although they only played half a season together their freshman year.
Enteman enjoys having Lauren as her doubles partner.
“She is a person everyone gets along with,” Enteman said. “She is out there to win no matter the situation. She’s really fast and goes for every ball.”
The Becher’s have very different personalities.
“Lauren and Brooklyn are opposites,” Enteman said. “Brooklyn is shyer, and Lauren is more open.”
The Bechers have big plans for when they graduate college.
Brooklyn said she hopes to own an athletics store.
“I want to do retail trade, I kind of want to do like a sporting goods store,” she said. “I think that would be fun.”
Brooklyn said she would also like to do some traveling and has thought about studying abroad.
She said she wants to go to Hawaii more than anywhere, and possibly continue to further her schooling after starting her own business.
Lauren hopes to have a career in Sports Medicine.
“[Psychology] is just a degree to graduate with,” she said. “Then I want to continue my education in Physical Therapy.”
Although the Bechers have long term goals they are focused on this year’s tennis season.
“I am hoping to win almost every match,” Lauren said.
“We want to be undefeated as a team and individually,” Brooklyn said.
By CHERYL SCROGGINS
Staff writer
clscrogg@gmail.com