Sister Pairs Help Bath Soccer Make Strides with 1st League, District Championships
By
Christine McCallister
Special for MHSAA.com
July 27, 2026
Although it still happens here and there, there once was a time – especially in small towns – when it wasn’t unusual to see multiple siblings on the same high school team.
Part of that was practical. Families were often larger. Opportunities looked different.
But part of it was something deeper: community, continuity, and kids growing up together, not just in school, but in sports.
This spring, the Bath girls soccer team saw it come full circle. The Bees – who finished 15-2 and won Central Michigan Athletic Conference and Division 4 District championships under coach Sarah Murdoch – did so with five sets of siblings on their roster.
From freshmen to seniors, the five sets of sisters weren’t just on the same team – they were actively playing, contributing, and sharing the field together every single game.
“It has been something really amazing,” Bath assistant coach Megan Cook shared along the way. “I think it is really fun to watch how they push and support their siblings in their own unique way.”
The league and District titles were both program firsts for the Bees. Among those taking the field during the historic run were the following:
- The Kotch sisters – senior Angelynn and junior Electra.
- The Hamilton sisters – sophomore Sophia and freshman Ashlyn.
- The Barber sisters – senior Braelynn and freshman Jaydin.
- The Schneider sisters – junior Emily and freshman Isabella.
- The Montri sisters – senior Lydia and freshman Allie.
Together, they helped create a team dynamic that included younger sisters stepping into spaces they’d watched for years, and older sisters leading by example on an off the field. The families had spent seasons together in a way that went by too fast, as part of a program that has created room for connection and not just competition.
There’s something powerful about sharing the same jersey, the same sidelines, the same wins and losses, with someone who knows you beyond the game.
What does it actually look like when five sets of siblings share the same field?
From warm-ups to drills to scrimmages, there’s a rhythm that’s a little different, and a little special. There’s built-in communication, quick understanding, and a level of trust that doesn’t need to be taught.
There’s a balance between familiarity and competition. Cook explained that each sibling set brought different personalities and energy to the field, which helped the athletes grow individually while still sharing that family connection.
“I believe the success of the girls soccer program can be directly attributed to the family atmosphere cultivated at the youth level. We’re very fortunate to have people like Steve Torok who work tirelessly to promote soccer at the youth level,” Bath athletic director Eric Harrelson said. “Younger sisters can see what a positive impact soccer has on their siblings and want to be a part of the program. Many of the younger sisters have watched their older sisters from the sidelines as ball shaggers and aspire to have the same success.
“Having five sets of sisters on the same team has been quite a unique phenomenon. The sense of pride that their parents have while watching their daughters play is obvious and infectious.”
Setting examples starts early
Torok, who directs the community’s youth program, described Bath soccer as something kids grow up around long before they officially join a team.
“A lot of these kids grow up on the sidelines watching older brothers and sisters play, helping at events, kicking balls around after games, and eventually they want to be part of it too,” he explained.
“That kind of thing only happens when the environment is positive, welcoming, and fun for families year after year. To me, it really shows that Bath soccer has become more than just a sports program; it’s a community families want to stay involved with and keep coming back to.”
He also laughed about how younger sisters often end up following the same paths as their older siblings without anyone formally planning it.
“Younger sisters spend years around the fields watching games, hanging around practices, eating concession stand snacks, and tagging along to everything, so eventually they decide they want in too,” he noted.
Carolyn Hoard, who with Torok and others serves on the Bath Soccer Club board, shared that the excitement surrounding girls soccer often starts long before varsity.
She described the culture as “electric and contagious,” explaining that younger players grow up watching older girls compete, celebrate, work hard, and build friendships they hope to one day experience themselves.
“Growing up, my oldest daughter always talked about how she couldn’t wait to play on the varsity team,” Hoard shared. “Little did she know, in the background were her three little sisters watching her grow as a player and talk about her love of the game, which in return fueled their love and desire to play for BSC.”
Sisters tell their stories
When asked what it was like having a sister on the same team, the answers ranged from sweet to honest, with plenty of sisterly love mixed in.
Braelynn Barber shared that it was a good experience, even if her sister Jaydin could be a little annoying at times.
Emily Schneider described it as very eventful, while Lydia Montri said it was definitely entertaining.
Ashlyn Hamilton said it was fun, but as she passed the microphone to her goalie sister, Sophia, she admitted it could also be annoying sometimes. Sophia quickly added that it was frustrating being with your sister all day, every day.
Jaydin Barber summed it up simply as, “okay.” Meanwhile, Allie Montri said it was pretty cool.
As for their favorite memories, the answers were exactly what you might expect from a group of sisters – some funny, some sarcastic, and some simply different perspectives on the very same moment.
Jaydin Barber shared that one of her favorite memories was scoring a goal and celebrating with a hug from her sister afterward. Braelynn Barber remembered that play a little differently, laughing that she passed the ball to Jaydin, who then kicked it right to the goalie – meaning no goal and no assist.
Allie Montri’s favorite memory came with a smile as she recalled being on the verge of scoring when sister Lydia swooped in and stole the goal. Coincidentally, that was Lydia’s favorite memory too (although Lydia remembers it as a great moment and was thankful for Allie’s assist).
Ashlyn Hamilton shared that scoring a goal and celebrating with a “scuba” was one of her favorite moments of the season. Sophia Hamilton quickly pointed out that it was her favorite memory too, joking that her little sister had stolen it.
For Isabella Schneider, a favorite memory was simply seeing one another on the field and sharing sister hugs afterward. Emily Schneider agreed, saying those moments stand out for her as well, while also looking ahead and noting that there are still more memories to be made.
And when asked whether she mostly sees sisters or simply one connected team when she looks out at the field as their coach, Cook’s answer was immediate:
“One team for sure,” she said.
“This team feels like they all are sisters together. I think that dynamic has helped lead us to so much success this year.”
PHOTOS (Top) Bath players, including the Schneider sisters Emily (20) and Isabella (23), celebrate their District championship win May 31. (2) From left: Lydia Montri, Allie Montri, Jaydin Barber and Braelynn Barber. (3) Angelynn Kotch, right, jumps into sister Electra’s arms. (4) From left: Emily Schneider, Isabella Schneider, Ashlyn Hamilton and Sophia Hamilton. (Photos by Click by Christine McCallister.)
Gull Lakes Builds on Variety of Experiences
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
April 25, 2016
RICHLAND — Military training is not the usual workout for the Richland Gull Lake soccer team.
But that was just one of the girls’ team-building exercises this month to prepare for their run at a fourth consecutive MHSAA Division 2 title.
The players, along with the Portage Northern soccer team, traveled to Fort Custer in Battle Creek where they were put through a rigorous 3½-hour Leadership Reaction Course led by soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard.
“The LRC challenged the mental and physical abilities of the players,” Gull Lake coach Jeff Corstange said. “The situations tested the players’ problem-solving abilities and leadership skills.
“It was great to see how each team worked together to complete each task as a team.”
Team bonding exercises are a way of making the players a family. That’s one of the keys to the team’s success, said Corstange, now in his fifth season.
If the Blue Devils win a fourth straight title, the seniors will graduate without a season-ending loss. But they insist that’s not their focus.
“It’s not what I need,” said Blue Devils senior goalkeeper Regan Troff, who has committed to play collegiate soccer at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. “We have goals, just like every team.
“Winning a fourth straight title would be awesome … but it’s not something I need to happen to have fun my senior year.”
Strength of community
This was the second year at Fort Custer for the Gull Lake players.
“The coaches divided us into groups with girls we usually aren’t with,” Troff said. “We all worked well together so there wasn’t any fighting.”
On the first of two courses, the girls worked in groups of six or seven, rotating through five stations in a timed exercise, Corstange said.
At each station, they had to move a 50-gallon drum or 40-pound box, along with other equipment such as ropes or boards, over various obstacle courses.
“The second was a land obstacle course which tested individual strength and speed,” he added. “Each athlete completed two courses which ranged from hurdles, rope swings, climbing to balance and speed.”
Gull Lake will give back to the military when the Blue Devils face Portage Northern in Richland on May 9 for a Military Appreciation Night. The 110th Attack Wing Honor Guard will present the colors at halftime, and active and veteran military personnel including those representing American Legion posts, the Michigan Army National Guard, Air Force, Blue Star and Gold Star mothers will be honored.
“We will serve dinner during the varsity game to the military and their families,” Corstange said. “Each team will wear special jerseys along with a military name on the jersey to honor the military.”
But that will be just one way Gull Lake gets involved with the community this spring.
A week ago, the players hosted several Special Olympians for practice and drills. On Friday, prior to Gull Lake’s game with Kalamazoo Central, the Special Olympians warmed up with the team and each player walked out with one of the Blue Devils with her name announced over the public address system.
At halftime, the Special Olympians played the Blue Devils’ junior varsity team.
Gull Lake’s varsity defeated Kalamazoo Central, 8-0, and takes a 5-1 record into this week’s action. The only loss so far was 3-1 to DeWitt, ranked second in Division 2. Gull Lake is ranked fifth.
Many ways to win
Gull Lake’s girls won each of their MHSAA championships in a different way.
Taking a 25-1-1 record into the Division 2 Final last year, the Blue Devils faced Fenton – with regulation ending 0-0. Gull Lake finally won 1-0 on penalty kicks.
Choosing which girls to take penalty kicks does not come by happenstance.
“We do a drill toward the end of practice,” Corstange said. “The girls come up to me and tell me and the assistant coaches where (into the net) they’re going to shoot their PKs.
“One of the reasons we do that is to put pressure on them because if they miss, the entire team has to run. If they tell us where they’re going to place their PK and do put it there most of the time, then we know who are our good PK shooters.”
Troff said last year’s title was most stressful, especially with PKs deciding the game
However, “They are all special,” she said. “I remember every single one.
“I can tell you when people scored, when there was a breakaway, how many corner kicks. I have it all written down. I have the videos.”
For the team’s first MHSAA title, the Blue Devils defeated Bloomfield Hills Marian, 1-0, in two overtimes.
Corstange knew the players would have targets on their backs in 2014, and once again scheduled a tough nonconference schedule.
“We took it game by game in the regular season, setting out to win the (Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference) first before thinking of the postseason,” he said.
Gull Lake faced Marian again in the 2014 Final, winning 2-1 in regulation.
Emma Hanna, a freshman on this year’s squad, said the younger players feel some pressure to keep the winning trend alive.
“I do feel a little pressure. But I do feel like if we do win it, it will be good. But if we don’t win it, it will still be a good time,” she said.
“I’m having a lot of fun. I’m glad for the experience and what happens, happens.”
Hanna, who plays midfield, said the older players help out a lot.
“The older girls give you a lot of advice,” she said. “I like (practicing against senior) Maddie Fouts, and that helps me a lot.
“They talk to you and let you know what you need to do better. You look up to them because they’ve been doing this for four years, and it helps you a lot prepare for the other teams.”
Like previous champs, this year’s team has its share of interesting back stories.
Senior Lauren Nusbaum broke her foot her sophomore year and was team manager. Her junior season, “I sat,” she said. “It was very nerve-wracking (watching the MHSAA Final) but I knew we were in control.
“When you’re not playing you can see everything, the little mistakes that are made, and you can think, ‘Oh I would have done this or I would have done that.’ I really trusted those girls who were playing.”
And the last line of defense, Troff, was a forward until high school.
“I wanted to try something new,” she said. “I was athletic enough. I didn’t have the technical skills per se, but because I was so athletic I seem to fit pretty well into it.
“I think playing forward helps me now because I know where they’re going to shoot. I know what I would do so I judge what other people will do.”
After losing eight seniors to graduation, this year’s varsity again features eight seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and six freshmen.
Other seniors are Chloe Lipovsky, Lucy Sandell, Anya Jennette, Kenzie Harney and Braedan Snow.
Fouts, Sandell and Troff are team captains. Juniors are Grace Clancy, Elise Blakely, Grace Lehman and Autumn Hoyt. Sophomores are Nicole Miller, Taylor Wesley and Kelsey Jacobs; and other freshmen are Mackenzie Wank, Sophie Tilbury, Avery Cook, Lindsey Buckhout and Maddie Rossen.
“The talent here at Gull Lake, we’ve been gifted with athletes and with (local clubs) Midwest United and Kingdom in the area, for them establishing the girls to where, when they come into the high school season, they are excited about playing,” Corstange said. “We continue to grow soccer players.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Gull Lake's Lucy Sandell (9) works for control of the ball. (Middle) Jeff Corstange and Regan Troff, Lauren Nusbaum and Emma Hanna. (Below) Nusbaum prepares to move the ball upfield for the Blue Devils. (Action photos by Cindy Corstange, The Open Shutter.)