Local Sports Highlights: Tough Love

Twins usually have a strong bond and Allen Park’s Lily and Luke MacDonald are no different – just ask their mom.

“They have always been very competitive, both academically and athletically but they also support each other,” said Christine MacDonald. “When they were younger they played sports together. Luke actually gave up a breakaway goal in soccer to pass to Lily so she could score her first goal when they were little.”

Both Lily and Luke have been scoring quite a bit in their respective sports ever since.

Lily, 17, is a senior this year at Allen Park High School and was All-League and All-News-Herald in volleyball for the Jaguars.

“I started playing volleyball when I was 11 and liked that all my friends played it and how fast paced the sport is,” said Lily, who plays libero (a specialized defensive player distinguished by a different-colored jersey, primarily responsible for passing and digging to keep rallies alive) for the Jags and has a 3.5 GPA in the classroom. “We finished third in the league last year and highlights included beating Woodhaven and Trenton at home. Our goal this year is to win the league and districts.”

Lily, who plans on going to college after high school, said her bond with her brother is special.

“We have always been super competitive throughout the years and he’s always made me fight to be better than him at anything, which I feel like translated to volleyball,” she said. “I’ve had to fight for a spot on the team as well as playing time.”

That fight and tough love travels both ways.

“We always have pushed each other to be the best we can be and have always been very competitive with each other since we were little,” said Luke, who plays football, baseball and basketball for the Jaguars and has a 4.2 GPA. “All three sports are so different. I love each one of them and get the most excited for whatever season is coming up.”

The first season is, of course, football, where Luke is a wide receiver for the Jags.

“My favorite thing about football season is just going out and battling with all of my best friends on Friday nights,” he said. “Personally the best thing for me has been seeing myself grow throughout my four years of high school football. We have a lot of returners from last season so there is a lot of experience. Our goal is just to win one game at a time and hope we can make a deep run in the playoffs.”

Luke plays forward on the basketball team and is looking to bounce back after missing his whole junior year with a broken wrist.

“We are bringing back a few starters from last season in basketball so I'm looking forward to my senior season, and we took a tough loss in districts last year in baseball so we have a chip on our shoulder for this year,” he said.

Like Lily, Luke plans on going to college after high school. “I plan to attend college and even if I'm not playing at the next level these sports will still be a part of my life in some way,” he said.

As will his sister.