Double Trouble At WSU Two Sports Reap Benefits Of Talented Papke Sisters

A harmony resonates within identical twins, which makes their lives appear to be reflections of reflections.

But at some point, spirit or soul or something surpasses biology.

When genetic heritage includes athletic prowess, like Stephanie and Mykel Papke possess, experience suggests that while DNA influences identity, it doesn’t define it.

The Papkes are among the first families of sports at Washington State University. But their athletic genes are expressed in widely varying sports.

“We may look alike, but we are different people,” said Stephanie, the second-team All-America setter on the Cougars volleyball team that reached the round of eight in the NCAA Tournament last year.

“We were not raised as one person. We were raised as individuals,” adds Mykel, stroke on the women’s crew that won the junior varsity national championship in 1995. “We go through similar things in completely different sports.”

The sisters have lived together throughout their four years at WSU.

“We just didn’t think of doing it any other way,” said Stephanie.

They share clothes, a car, and, apparently, the gene for wearing baseball caps.

“We’ve always been close,” said Stephanie. “We’ve been each other’s biggest supporters from the beginning.” They never set out to be different. But sports put them on separate paths, and then brought them back as equals.

For three years, the Papkes were high school volleyball and softball teammates at Thomas Jefferson High School near Seattle. More single-minded about volleyball than Mykel, Stephanie transferred to play on a powerful Auburn High School team as a senior and led it to the state tournament.

If she did not recede into her sister’s shadow as a person, Mykel certainly did as an athlete. They came to WSU because Stephanie was recruited to play volleyball. Mykel came along to be with her twin.

Cougars crew coach Tammy Crawford had also recruited Stephanie based on her athletic potential, though she had never rowed. Stephanie passed the recruiting literature on to Mykel, who walked on to the team and found herself reborn as an athlete.

“I came (to WSU) because of (Stephanie),” said Mykel. “I don’t want to leave, because of crew. These are the best friends I’ll ever make in my life. I think sometimes how different my life would have been if I hadn’t found crew. If I had continued playing volleyball, I probably would have gone to a community college.”

Their high school experience was reversed at WSU, where Mykel initially enjoyed sports success while her sister was in the background.

As a freshmen, Stephanie redshirted on the volleyball team while Mykel stroked an undefeated novice crew.

“Back in my volleyball redshirt year, I would get frustrated and think ‘I should just go row,”’ Stephanie said. She was nonetheless pleased to see Mykel succeed.

“I always knew she had that potential, when she found her thing to excel at.”

She’s a crew team admirer.

“My sport is stop and go, and it may last 3 hours. Theirs is 7 minutes, and they go till they throw up. I’ve never experienced anything like that, ever. What an amazing sport. If I could do it, I would.

“I’ve watched the video where their team beat Princeton (for the national championship) on the last stroke. Oh my God, they pulled out that last bit of energy. I’ve watched it many times. I’m like ‘Rewind it, let’s watch it again.”’

Said Mykel: “It’s exciting to watch, but when I was there I was dying. I was thinking ‘I am going to die.”’

In a Cougars volleyball match, Mykel’s attention is automatically drawn to Stephanie. “I watch her go around the court.”

She says her sister stars in the sport that enjoys some of the greatest fan following at WSU.

“I love volleyball. I think it’s a great sport, and sometimes I miss it,” Mykel said.

After this spring, they will set off on different paths again. Mykel is graduating this semester. She plans to work in the family insurance agency. Ideally, her last race will be at the national championships, where the Cougars have a chance to reprise their 1995 victory, this time in the varsity boat.

If the Cougars make nationals, Stephanie will be there to watch. She returns to WSU next fall for her senior season. If the opportunity presents itself after that, she would like to play professionally, a career decision that would take her away from Mykel again.

“My goals are other places,” said Mykel. “I’ve reached a lot of the athletic goals I’ve set for myself.”

But she remains a twin, and that won’t change next fall when her sister is playing volleyball.

“I will be here every weekend.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo