They have been by each other’s side every step of the way. For freshmen Kyra and Sabrina Brossi, cross country has been a shared success, as the identical twins are the first and second place runners on the team, respectively.

The Brossi twins have always been into sports, playing soccer throughout middle school and enjoying the competitive aspect of the game. As they reached high school, though, their love for the sport started to wane, and they wanted to try something else. 

“I played town soccer throughout middle school, and the reason I switched to cross country is because I thought I could be more competitive with running,” Sabrina Brossi said. 

The transition to cross-country was easy, as running had always been something they enjoyed throughout their childhood. 

“I always loved running the Turkey Trot [Thanksgiving 5k race] when I was little, and over middle school, I started to get more into running,” Kyra Brossi said. 

The transition to high school has been smooth thanks to their teammates, who welcomed them with open arms. 

“All of my teammates are super supportive and are always cheering for people,” Kyra Brossi said. “They are all really hardworking.”

The sense of support has been most evident during high-pressure moments of the season.

“My favorite moment was a league meet when all the coaches were cheering everyone on,” Sabrina Brossi said. “I needed to pass this girl in front of me, and we would win the league. At the end, I gathered all my strength to pass her and cross the finish line.” 

Kyra Brossi shared similar ideas about the importance of their teammates and coaches’ motivation during another unforgettable race. 

“My favorite memory from this season was our Twilight [invitational],” Kyra Brossi said. “It was pitch black out, there were around 50 schools, and I just remember my teammates being so excited for me because I placed 30th. It was magical.” 

According to the Brossis, one of the reasons they have been so successful is because of the competitive yet supportive dynamic that drives each of them to perform at their best.

“It’s been fun to run with [Sabrina], and I think it is great that she’s on the team, “Kyra Brossi said. “When we are running side by side, it’s great because we are both motivating each other to go faster and keep going.”

Head coach Patrick Galvin shares the same sentiment about teamwork in cross country. 

“It’s a challenge to get the motivation to go out and train by yourself, but when you have teammates there with you, it’s kind of like a shared misery experience, where you’re in it together,” Galvin said.

Both Sabrina and Kyra Brossi appreciate Galvin’s dedication and focus on helping everyone on the team succeed. 

“I used to never have a really competitive coach who wanted to see me succeed, but I feel like Galvin has given me a lot of personalized workouts and help that have helped me get faster,” Sabrina Brossi said.

Galvin also respects the high level of commitment the Brossis have brought to the team.

“They love to run,” Galvin said. “[They’ve] been running for several years. They’re happy, they’re positive, they’re unique and they’re still freshmen. They still forget their shoes, they still forget their pants, but they just love to run, which is why it’s so good to have them on the team.”

In their first cross country season, the Brossis have enjoyed the physical and mental challenges.

“Your body is capable of doing so much more than you think it is,” Sabrina Brossi said.  “After each workout or race, it feels so good to have accomplished such a hard task I never thought I could do.” 

Whether it’s on the cross-country team in the fall or the track team in winter and spring, Sabrina and Kyra Brossi will continue to challenge each other and grow together.

“Kyra and I have progressed so far, and we are only freshmen; it makes me excited to see how far we can go,” Sabrina Brossi said.