3 days ago
Twins and Wild FC players Keelyn and Taegan go from grad to game
It's a big day for Keelyn and Taegan Stewart.
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Today, the twins graduate from Bishop Carroll High School, marking the culmination of 12 years of classes, exams, assignments and summer homework but that's not all. Right after graduation ends, they'll be headed straight to McMahon stadium to represent Calgary in tonight's soccer game against the Halifax Tides.
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'I'm pretty excited,' Keelyn said. 'Exciting to be done high school and to be able to walk off the stage and as soon as it's done, shift our mindset to focus on the match tonight.'
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'Exciting, but also nervewracking,' Taegan added.
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The girls are the youngest of the Calgary Wild FC team, joining the roster in January of this year at age 17.
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The sisters have been playing soccer ever since they were three-years-old, starting with kicking the ball in the backyard with parents and making their way rapidly through the local and national soccer season in Western Canada and winning the silver medal at the 2022 Confederation of North, Central America and Carribbean Association Football tournament as part of the Canadian under-15 national team.
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They gained their first international experience at age 10 when they trained with the boys Barca academy in Barcelona and returned a year later to play on an all-boys team at the Barca Academy World Cup.
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Playing for the team while juggling school at the same time has not been without its trials. It has meant missing class time, practices at 7 a.m. and taking tests before the school day begins.
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'It's been a pretty hectic last couple of months trying to get over the finish line with school,' Keelyn said.
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Teachers and school staff have been supportive, checking in on the girls to make sure the schedule isn't overwhelming for them and accommodating their practice schedules to make sure they can finish tests on time. The school's vice-principal, Keelyn said, would show up at the school building early in the morning so the girls can write their tests.
