The Herchenroder triplets (and their cousin) have all been playing sports since they were young, and they're all part of the Silvers Streaks team that has started 11-1 on the season.
It’s a question the Herchenroder triplets hear all the time, from classmates, some friends, and even their uncle.
“Now, which one are you again?”
“If not for their number on the back of their jerseys, sometimes I might even be in trouble,” said Corey Herchenroder, the father of Galesburg High School juniors Grace, Ella, and Taylor Herchenroder, all 16.
All three are varsity athletes in basketball, volleyball, and track and field. They were born one minute apart, with Grace the oldest. Ella and Taylor are “mirror” identical twins and are most often confused for one another. Grace looks a lot like her sisters, too, but her voice has a slightly different tone than the other two, so she’s easier to identify.
Not only are they excellent athletes, but all three have grade point averages of 3.7 and above. There are, however, differences among them when it comes to personalities and interests.
“I would definitely say that I’m more outgoing. I’m not shy,” said Grace, a shooting guard on the 11-1 Silver Streaks hoops team.
“I would say I’m more quiet. I’m still outgoing, but not as much as Grace,” Ella said.
“I would say I’m the quietest of us,” Taylor said. “But I’m kind of the mom of the group.”
This is recruiting season in basketball, and all three are starting to get some interest from colleges. But basketball coaches might get some competition from volleyball or track coaches at the next level, too.
The three are all in the 5-foot-8 range, with Ella being the point guard for the Silver Streaks since her freshman year. Like Taylor, Grace is a shooting guard who can post up occasionally. Taylor is left-handed, while Grace and Ella are right-handed.
There is another Herchenroder on the Silver Streaks, too: Cousin Lily is 17 and a starting small forward. Lily, Taylor and Ella are starters, and Grace is often the first player off the bench. Their basketball coach, Lexi Demott, says she had “no clue” who each other was when they were eighth-graders, but now can tell them apart at first sight.
Well, most of the time anyway.
“We had a practice the other day, a layup drill, and Ella ran by me, but I only saw her at a glance, and I said, ‘Good job, Taylor.’ She laughed it off,” Demott said. “But they all have very much their own identities and they all bring different things to the table. Ella is the floor general and kind of gets us flowing, but they all can shoot and run very well.”
Demott also coaches the Herchenroders on their summer travel team, and won’t be surprised if any or all play at the college level.
“Absolutely. Any coach at the next level would be happy with their work ethic,” said Demott, in her second year as the Silver Streaks' leader. “They want to be coached, and always want to learn more about how to be better.”
Two years from now, the triplets could be split up for the first time in their lives. Would it be hard for them?
“Yes,” says Taylor, whose mother, Heather, ran track at Monmouth College. “But if we have to, hopefully it won’t be too far away.”
If they don’t become professional athletes, Grace may go into cosmetology. She already runs something of a nail technician business on the side. Taylor still has “no clue” what she might want to do, while Ella has some interest in sports media and sports medicine.
The triplets are also strong golfers, swimmers, and tennis players.
“When we were real little kids, they put us into sports and from that day on, we just all fell in love with it,” Taylor said. “We kind of all know where each other is and what they’re going to do. We all push each other and can be tough on each other and argue sometimes. We’re all very competitive. But overall, I think we know we’re very lucky to have each other.”
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Galesburg girls basketball leaves opponents seeing triplets
Category: General Sports
