Geneva Sinkula

ABSTRACTION Sinkula presents a drawing of a an abstract building made with quill and ink. (Photo by Clare Kimmis)

FEATURES

Double

Team

Sisters Ayiana and Anaiya Uhde explore their passion for basketball together.

BY ANNA TOMKA FEATURE EDITOR

The scoreboard flashes as every remaining second is counted down. The positions, both Uhdes are still able to constantly learn from each other. cheers from the crowd roar louder as freshman Anaiya Uhde dribbles “Anaiya has more of a guard mentality and is not afraid of contact which down the court with determination. Her heart is racing, sweat beading will benefit her in the future,” interim varsity head coach Kate Pilgreen said. down her forehead, eyes darting to her teammates in order to strategically “Ayiana has a post mentality, and we do struggle with a lack of posts so she determine her next move. She finds her sister wide open and swiftly passes definitely helps in the department of having a central presence on the court.” the ball to her. Sophomore Ayiana Uhde receives it and skillfully dodges her As a post, Anaiya said that Ayiana has to have more than height and is opponent before extending her arms to take a shot. The ball soars through the required to be able to drive the ball as well as be willing to work the whole air, hitting the backboard cleanly before falling right through the net with a court. It’s an incredibly physical position that entails protecting the basket. satisfying swish. “They’re both hard-working and take it very seriously,” junior teammate

This scene from Point Guard College Camp at Missouri Western Meghan Frerking said. “I like that they’re dedicated and this motivates the rest State University was where Ayiana said the two grew closest and had the of the team too.” opportunity to build on their relationship through basketball. The Uhde sisters The point guard position, played by Anaiya, must also control the ball and have played basketball side by side since they were merely 4 and 5 years old. essentially direct the offense as a primary leader. Point guards typically happen Their infatuation with the sport initially started with Upward, a “church ball” to be the team’s best ball-handler. league founded for recreation. The atmosphere was “Ayiana plays post, which is how I learned to go up completely carefree and the rules were not enforced. strong to the hoop,” Anaiya said. “Without her, I wouldn’t The league taught the sisters the fundamentals of the be able to play point guard because they have to know how game, but as years passed they wanted to take the to drive and finish.” game to the next level. The Uhdes plan to play in college and are seeking

“My dad was an All-American football player in division one schools in the Chicago area. Their primary college, so hard work has kind of been ingrained into goal is to remain playing together. The sisters created a my family since day one,” Ayiana said. “I wanted to blog almost one year ago called Miss-ScholarAthlete.com be the best, so I said I wanted to play competitive.” to share everything they go through with other athletes.

When Anaiya was 12 and Ayiana was 13 they The blog includes a quote of discovered Eclipse, a Kansas basketball club for girls that focuses on enhancing necessary skills as well as preparing players to compete at a higher level. According to Eclipse basketball coach Joe Erskine, JUMP BALL Sophomore Ayiana and freshman Anaiya Uhde demonstrate their skills and the week, personal advice, daily updates and promotes positivity. The goal was not only to share their athlete the club started with two teams and has grown to face off against each other. perspective but also to accommodate over 300 girls. They are a non-profit (Photos by Anna Tomka) share their experiences organization that stands for giving girls who are as dedicated students. serious about basketball a venue for developing their The girls understand game and showcasing their talents if they have a goal that academics of playing in college. This new team the Uhde sisters are equally became apart of proved to be quite a contrast to their important and former, easygoing league. must be valued in order to achieve their future goal of

“Once we got to playing competitively, I knew playing at the college level. I really needed to catch up and that’s when I started Ayiana spent her freshman year at Shawnee working hard,” Anaiya said. Mission West, and Anaiya attended Westridge

Inspiration to pursue the game came from Middle School. The girls were attracted to Sion watching their older sister, Alexis Dockett, play at because there wasn’t the distraction of boys and Shawnee Mission West in 2014. students took classes seriously.

“Alexis started the whole basketball trend in my “When I went on the tour, I knew this family,” Ayiana said. “I knew I wanted to be just like was the place I wanted to be,” Anaiya said. “I’m her because you just always look up to your older really able to express myself more here and I sister.” felt like I couldn’t do that before.”

Their father, Matthew Uhde, played a major role in their improvement The basketball program was a unique atmosphere and has been training them for four years in Mixed Martial Arts, since he is to them. The Uhdes said they could see players actually a professional MMA fighter himself. He had experienced the high pressure improve from the aid of coaches and the entire team situations in football, which made it easier for him to guide them through radiated enthusiasm. They weren’t afraid to seek assistance tough moments despite the differences between the two sports. Both said he from their coaches or other players. has been their biggest motivator and can relate to what they go through as “They’re intense and gritty players,” Pilgreen said. “Neither serious athletes. of them back down from a challenge which fits in with the

“I hope they can achieve their dreams, and I’ll be happy with whatever competitive atmosphere of the whole team already.” they can accomplish. I’m here to help them, but it’s going to be their own drive In the future, the Uhde sisters hope to continue their partnership with that gets them there,” Matthew said. “I’ve always taught them to be very self- each other through the game and advance as players. Both of the Uhdes are driven.” confident their devotion to the sport will not cease.

The Uhde’s routine involves rising from their beds early every morning “I really just want to continue to play with Ayiana, so we can support each to arrive for workouts in the gym by 6:45, followed by a daily practice after other like we always have been,” Anaiya said. “I’ve never played without her school now that the basketball season has started. Because they play different and I don’t ever want to.”