The ball barrels at blinding speed towards home plate. The athlete, ready and watching, swings at just the right moment. With a familiar ding, the ball flies off in the other direction, past the defense and to the cheers of excited spectators.
While the vast majority of people can recognize this sight, or maybe even have experienced it themselves, it is an all too familiar scene to a pair of WCHS senior athletes: Joey and Maggie King. In addition to the similarities in the sports they play (baseball and softball, respectively), both are captains of their teams, and of course, twin siblings. The Kings have spent four years in WCHS athletics, but their interest in sports stems from personal history.
“I got into baseball by following my brother who I would always watch when I was younger, as well as my father, who used to play,” Joey King said.
Maggie King naturally has a similar origin story, though her and her brother’s paths diverged when she pursued a similar but separate sport. Softball, though similar to baseball at a first glance, has several differences, from the size of the ball to the timing of the games, that end up heavily differentiating the sports by the pacing and even atmosphere of the game.
“My dad played baseball in college, so I was always destined to do the same,” Maggie King said. “When I was little, I played baseball with my brothers, but I decided to go on my own path starting in first grade.”
Since their childhood years, the twins have remained thoroughly invested participants in baseball/softball. Especially as captains of their respective teams, Joey and Maggie are looked up to as the standard-bearers for the team’s successes and struggles. Like all leaders, their roles range from the often-unseen minutiae of management to the open messaging and objectives of the team.
“I think the biggest thing I have learned is that every person on a team serves an important role, some of which are not directly seen on the field,” Maggie King said. “A lot goes on behind the scenes that leads to a team’s success, and I think being a captain has helped me grow an appreciation for these smaller details.”
“I have learned a lot about teamwork on the team and how it is important for everyone to believe in themselves and the role they have been given, as well as to buy into the bigger picture and goal of the team,” Joey King said.
This dedication to others, whether it is in the team or even the wider community, represents the drive behind the Kings’ efforts during their high school careers. The spirit of collaboration and the common love of their respective sports create a unique bond among athletes that has served as a major source of motivation for both Joey and Maggie.
“Something that has motivated me throughout my high school career is wanting to win and be better for my teammates, because I know how hard they have worked and what it means to the team,” Joey King said.
“Something different about high school sports is that you are representing your community as well as yourself,” Maggie King said. “I am always motivated to represent my school well and inspire the younger generation of [WCHS] softball players. I have also always found motivation in chasing records in both the school and county.”
Of course, looking back on all the time spent in their chosen sports reveals how Joey and Maggie have grown in their high school journeys. Playing on a school sports team means a constant effort towards improvement, and serving as captain even more so. From skills in the game to experience in coordination, Joey and Maggie have spent the last four years honing their talents to an exceptional level.
“I think I have developed the most in the mental aspect of the game,” Maggie King said. “Softball is such a mental sport, some will say it is 90% mental, so I have really realized the importance of being intentional with my thoughts, as well as moving on from my mistakes, which has translated into my success on the field. I have also grown such an understanding of the smaller details of softball, which helps me self-adjust throughout games to get better results.”
Joey concurs on the physical improvement aspect, and especially stresses the teamwork aspect of it as well as the constant effort needed to continue the upward progression.
“I think I have definitely improved a lot as a player through putting in lots of time and practice on the field and in the gym with my teammates, trying to get better every day,” Joey King said.
Ultimately, as their time at WCHS comes to a close, the King twins are reflecting on lessons learned, games played and of course, friends made.
“As my time at [WCHS] is ending, I am just trying to enjoy every moment I have left and leave it all on the field,” Joey King said. “I am definitely going to miss the team and the culture we have built.”
“It is definitely a bittersweet time,” Maggie King said. “Being an athlete at [WCHS] for the past four years has formed who I am as a person, and I have built so many amazing relationships with my teammates and coaches that I will cherish forever.”
Nonetheless, they are looking to the future and all the possibilities that come with a wider world. Though they have spent only four years here at WCHS, both Joey and Maggie King leave behind legacies of achievement and leadership, as well as having made some joyous memories that will stay with them for years to come.
“I hope that I was able to leave behind a legacy in my time that will last for many years in the softball program,” Maggie King said. “I am very excited for the future, though and am thrilled to have four more years playing softball.”
