Twin Towers: Freshman twins dominate school’s sports teams

 

Freshman twins Varandré and Deandre White have their coaches seeing double.

The brothers both run track, play football and play basketball for Southfield High teams.

The twins’ track coach, Richard Crist, says the twins are “talented and full of energy.”

It all began with the two trying out for the freshman football team and making the cut. Both became captains of their team, which went undefeated with a 9-0 record.

After football, the twins joined the freshman basketball team, which also went undefeated, finishing off with a 17 – 0 record.

Now the twins have joined the track team because both ran track for Levey Middle School and plan to continue running track and playing football through college.

The twins run in events that include the 300 hurdles, 100, 4 by 1, 4 by 2, and the 4 by 4. Deandre’s best times are in the 100 and 4 by 4. His time for the 100 is 12.2 seconds and 57 seconds for the 4 by 4.

Coach Crist says he plans to continue training with Deandre and Varandre to improve their speed and prepare them for the 300 and 400 events.

Athleticism seems to run in their family, the twins say. Their cousin is senior Brandon Watkins, who recently signed his letter of intent to play football on full scholarship for Notre Dame College of Ohio next year.

The twins’ older brothers also plays sports, making them a family of athletes.

What keeps Deandre and Varandré motivated to play sports? Their team, coaches, and the pressure from within themselves keep them going, they say.

One of Varandré’s mentors is junior Jeffrey Madison, who also runs track and plays football. Madison says he tells Varandré to keep his grades up and stay positive.

Freshman English teacher Karen Melton says the only way she can tell the twins apart is by a slight scar on Deandre’s face. Melton has both of the twins in her class. She says they’re both fun-loving and outgoing students who have “playful” personalities.

Though the two look strikingly similar, they have athletic differences, they say. “We have different skills and I’m more of a runner while Varandre is stronger,” says Deandre.

Deandre considers football to be his main sport and prefers to play that sport. Varandre likes track but prefers basketball, something different between the two.

Varandre says that he loves sports but ultimately would like to be a scientist one day. His twin, by contrast, says he is aiming for a professional football career,

Track coach Crist says he’s glad the White twins play sports for Southfield High and not a competing school. Otherwise, Southfield High would be in double trouble against the two of them.