This season’s finest: Serepca’s sibling rivalry fuels their success
By Jay Edwards CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
Correspondent
Ashlynn Serepca, Hough Girls’ Soccer/Joel Serepca, Davidson Day Baseball: Davidson Day senior Joel Serepca had a career day May 3, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a grand slam, home run and six RBI in the Patriots’ 16-1 win over Lake Norman Christian at Torrence Chapel Park.
Just 4 miles away at the same time on the same day, his younger sister, Hough junior soccer player Ashlynn Serepca was busy scoring a goal and dishing out three assists in a 9-0 victory at home over Vance.
While the Serepca siblings’ May 3 performance may seem like just one big night, it’s another part of what has been a special spring season for the brother-sister duo.
Joel Serepca, 18, is batting a career-best .641, as he leads the Davidson Day baseball team (7-6) in nearly every category with 22 runs scored, 21 RBI, four doubles, three triples and three home runs.
Ashlynn Serepca, 16, has 22 goals and a career-best 27 assists for a Hough team (17-1-2) that just earned the No. 1 seed in the 4A West playoff bracket. Ashlynn Serepca, the reigning N.C. Gatorade (soccer) player of the year, is also a part of the U18 U.S. National team pool, and competed with the squad in England in February.
“It’s been a great season for both Ashlynn and Joel and it’s really cool that they are doing it all at the same time and we don’t want to miss a minute of it,” said Dave Serepca, also a Davidson Day baseball and football assistant coach, who tries to catch every game he can along with his wife, Gina.
“We’re so used to seeing Ashlynn get a lot of deserved recognition, and it’s great to see that continue. But, it’s also fun to see Joel have so much success and get a taste of the spotlight. He’s always been the underrated guy, and he’s never had a problem with it.”
Both Serepca siblings admit they push each other on a daily basis and have their entire lives.
Joel says they compete in everything from sports to board games to working out, and he jokingly takes credit for his sister’s success.
“For me, being the older brother, I kind of got the short end of the deal, because I was the big brother beating her up, making her work harder and get better,” said Joel Serepca, with a big laugh. “Now, she’s really tough. It’s kind of funny to go to her games and see her pushing people around. …
“I’m Ashlynn’s biggest fan. She’s an exciting player to watch, so even if I’m playing baseball, I try to know where she’s playing, and the score, and my dad usually gives me updates.”
Ashlynn Serepca says she wouldn’t be the same player without her big brother.
“I definitely wouldn’t be the player I am today without Joel and all the neighborhood boys growing up,” Ashlynn Serepca said. “I always wanted to play at a ‘Boy level,” and be as good as my brother. So, I had to work twice as hard. …
“People ask me a lot where I got my competitive drive, and I always says it starts with a little girl trying to play with the boys.”
This spring season will be the last for Joel Serepca, as he got an academic scholarship to Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, turning down several college baseball and football opportunities.
Ashlynn Serepca still has one more year at Hough, before taking her academic and athletic talents to the University of Virginia.
While the sibling rivalry as high school athletes is coming to an end, a whole new rivalry is beginning with their college choices – Virginia and Virginia Tech.
“I tell Ashlynn every that she’s going to the wrong school,” Joel said, with a chuckle. “But I guess I’m going to have to cheer for her when Virginia plays Virginia Tech in soccer.”
“It’s already fun to talk about the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry and we always talk about who is better in sports,” Ashlynn Serepca said. “This is going to be another competition for us for the rest of our lives. Because if UVa wins, I’m going to rub it in. And if Virginia Tech wins, I know he’s going to be the first one to let me know about it.”
By Jay Edwards CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
Correspondent
Ashlynn Serepca, Hough Girls’ Soccer/Joel Serepca, Davidson Day Baseball: Davidson Day senior Joel Serepca had a career day May 3, going 4-for-4 at the plate with a grand slam, home run and six RBI in the Patriots’ 16-1 win over Lake Norman Christian at Torrence Chapel Park.
Just 4 miles away at the same time on the same day, his younger sister, Hough junior soccer player Ashlynn Serepca was busy scoring a goal and dishing out three assists in a 9-0 victory at home over Vance.
While the Serepca siblings’ May 3 performance may seem like just one big night, it’s another part of what has been a special spring season for the brother-sister duo.
Joel Serepca, 18, is batting a career-best .641, as he leads the Davidson Day baseball team (7-6) in nearly every category with 22 runs scored, 21 RBI, four doubles, three triples and three home runs.
Ashlynn Serepca, 16, has 22 goals and a career-best 27 assists for a Hough team (17-1-2) that just earned the No. 1 seed in the 4A West playoff bracket. Ashlynn Serepca, the reigning N.C. Gatorade (soccer) player of the year, is also a part of the U18 U.S. National team pool, and competed with the squad in England in February.
“It’s been a great season for both Ashlynn and Joel and it’s really cool that they are doing it all at the same time and we don’t want to miss a minute of it,” said Dave Serepca, also a Davidson Day baseball and football assistant coach, who tries to catch every game he can along with his wife, Gina.
“We’re so used to seeing Ashlynn get a lot of deserved recognition, and it’s great to see that continue. But, it’s also fun to see Joel have so much success and get a taste of the spotlight. He’s always been the underrated guy, and he’s never had a problem with it.”
Both Serepca siblings admit they push each other on a daily basis and have their entire lives.
Joel says they compete in everything from sports to board games to working out, and he jokingly takes credit for his sister’s success.
“For me, being the older brother, I kind of got the short end of the deal, because I was the big brother beating her up, making her work harder and get better,” said Joel Serepca, with a big laugh. “Now, she’s really tough. It’s kind of funny to go to her games and see her pushing people around. …
“I’m Ashlynn’s biggest fan. She’s an exciting player to watch, so even if I’m playing baseball, I try to know where she’s playing, and the score, and my dad usually gives me updates.”
Ashlynn Serepca says she wouldn’t be the same player without her big brother.
“I definitely wouldn’t be the player I am today without Joel and all the neighborhood boys growing up,” Ashlynn Serepca said. “I always wanted to play at a ‘Boy level,” and be as good as my brother. So, I had to work twice as hard. …
“People ask me a lot where I got my competitive drive, and I always says it starts with a little girl trying to play with the boys.”
This spring season will be the last for Joel Serepca, as he got an academic scholarship to Virginia Tech’s Pamplin School of Business, turning down several college baseball and football opportunities.
Ashlynn Serepca still has one more year at Hough, before taking her academic and athletic talents to the University of Virginia.
While the sibling rivalry as high school athletes is coming to an end, a whole new rivalry is beginning with their college choices – Virginia and Virginia Tech.
“I tell Ashlynn every that she’s going to the wrong school,” Joel said, with a chuckle. “But I guess I’m going to have to cheer for her when Virginia plays Virginia Tech in soccer.”
“It’s already fun to talk about the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry and we always talk about who is better in sports,” Ashlynn Serepca said. “This is going to be another competition for us for the rest of our lives. Because if UVa wins, I’m going to rub it in. And if Virginia Tech wins, I know he’s going to be the first one to let me know about it.”
