Full Great Women Great Danes Interview Transcript
UAlbany's Great Women Great Danes is a series that will be published during Women's History Month. The series will feature Great Danes, past and present, and celebrate the women of UAlbany.
Q: What is it like being on the same team as your sister?
Hailey: I’d definitely say it's really fun. We are competitive. We've always grown up being super competitive sisters, and it's always nice having a support system with you always.
Madison: I feel like we are always making each other better and challenging each other to do different things. I’m a defender and she is a forward and it's always great to battle with each other and compete with one another.
Hailey: And then just laugh it off later like it’s no big deal
Madison: *laughs*
Q: Why did you both make the decision to come to UAlbany? Was competing together a part of that decision or is it just a coincidence?
Madison: Growing up, we always knew we wanted to go to the same school. We're just such close sisters that I feel like our experience at college wouldn't be as good as it can be without one another. So, our decision was always to go together and UAlbany wanted both of us so it just worked out.
Hailey: Yeah, it worked out perfectly.
Q: Did you guys always compete on the same teams even outside of soccer?
Hailey: Yeah, we played soccer since we were three and we've been on the same team - like always. We've never not been on the same team. It's always been super fun and we've grown up doing it and we still love it.
Q: What about outside of soccer?
Hailey: We played basketball, we were on … *both laugh*
Madison: We were both … we both played basketball. I played JV for my first two years and Hailey was on varsity, so that was a little bit of a change because we weren’t on the same team, exactly. But, our last two years in high school, we were able to play on varsity together.
Hailey: Also, Madison did tear her ACL in high school, so that was a little bit of an adjustment considering I was not playing soccer with her for the first time ever so that was definitely ...
Madison: … I had to change my role into being more of a support system for her, rather than making an impact on the field with her. I had to make it impact on her which was definitely an adjustment.
Q: What was it like growing up spending that amount of time with someone?
Hailey: I know our friends think it’s crazy that [we do] … to even to think about it but I love it and I wouldn’t want my life any other way.
Madison: We always say you have a built in best friend with you 24/7.
Hailey: It's perfect. We get along so well. We're in a good balance of being funny but also being competitive, supportive, happy for each other, always …
Madison: … pushing each other always …
Hailey: … and our parents definitely taught us respect and how to be good sisters to each other. We take a lot from our parents and we thank them for what they taught us and we’re very grateful.
For more content from the Women's History Month #GreatWomenGreatDanes series, click here.
