Whether it is through a takedown or a backflip, Pat (’12) and Sara (‘10) Fitzgerald have captured LHS’s attention.
Practicing sports together has always been a tradition for the close-knit Fitzgerald family. As children, they practiced soccer and softball as a family. Growing up practicing together, the two both run Cross Country and do gymnastics. They still eat dinner together as a family almost every night, a tradition that few families practice today.
This 103-pound sophomore wrestles on Varsity, a rare thing at LHS. Pat wins majority of the matches he wrestles in, something that can be said for few athletes.
"My dad coached Pat in middle school, and he has grown into a really strong wrestler. He caught on really fast, and he has become a very aggressive wrestler. I think he has a lot of potential," senior Isa Ayala said.
Pat, the LHS Athlete of the Week for the week of February 8th, wrestled at State as an individual on February 19th and 20th. Both of his parents went to cheer him on. Sara stayed behind to go to Turnabout.
"Between both my parents, I don't think they've missed a single meet of ours," Sara said.
Truly an underdog story, at the beginning of the season, 122-pound Pat beat out Kyle May for a spot on Varsity. Pat says he "loves the experience of getting all this Varsity time at a young age."
Since the beginning of the season, Pat has lost a total of 19 pounds. Many wrestlers cut weight because it is easier to wrestle in a lower weight class. Pat says that cutting weight was extremely difficult at the beginning of the season but has gotten easier.
"The first time I dropped [weight], I was completely dead," Pat said.
Pat tries to eat light but drink a lot of fluids. He weighs himself daily, like many wrestlers, and even works out in the mornings in addition to the daily after-school practices. Sara jokes that the real reason Pat goes into the weight room every morning is his love for junk food.
The Fitzgerald family doesn't force Pat to eat with them during wrestling season because it would be hard for him to watch everyone eat when he cannot.
Sara "wishes that he would cut weight by eating smaller meals through the day because the way he has to do it doesn't seem healthy."
Barely five feet tall, Sara is built like a gymnast and has been one since middle school. Participating all four years of high school on the JV team, Sara does most of the events.
Being a three sport athlete like her brother, Sara knows a lot about how athletes interact within a team. She cherishes the close bond that teammates share. The thing she loves most about gymnastics is "how the whole team gets along together."
"I love being involved and meeting all of the people that I otherwise wouldn’t meet," Sara said.
Running is Sara’s true passion. Running for both Cross Country and Track, Sara is dedicated to the pastime. She was a mere half-second away from being an alternate at sectionals for Cross Country, but you’d never hear her whine about it. She has won various awards for her running including Most Improved from her coaches and the prestigious North Suburban All-Academic award.
Sara's three mile time is 20:04. Pat’s is 23:30. Though both times are incredibly good, the gap might ensue some sibling rivalry.
"We joke around a lot and pretend to be really competitive with each other, but we really aren't," Sara said.
Physical similarities aside, the two siblings have very different personalities. Sara is more cautious while Pat is sort of a daredevil. In middle school, Pat taught himself how to perform a backflip. Sara doesn't like to try new things in gymnastics without the coaches being present and encouraging.
Despite their basic personality differences, the two siblings share some things in common. Pat also runs Cross Country and does Gymnastics. The two run together in the summer, though they have little time during the school year to practice together.
Sara and Pat are incredibly close. They enjoy spending time together when their busy schedules allow it.
"It’s hard because I barely get to see him in the winter because of wrestling," Sara said.
The two siblings differ in their views about homework. While Sara claims that she is better at completing her homework during sports seasons, Pat finds it difficult to do his homework with all the time spent at practice. He manages, though. Despite this difference, the two do agree on their favorite subject.
"With a dad who is an investor and a mom who is a retired microbiologist, it is pretty hard not to be strong in math," Pat said.
For the Fitzgeralds, LHS sports truly are a family affair.
Photo by Erica Morozin
[LHS school policy does not allow the identification of a student through name and photography on an LHS website.]