For the first time last year sisters Taylor Ellett and Connie Ellett did not golf together. This season, they are back to their old ways, playing golf together for NIU women’s golf.

Taylor and Connie spent their lives thus far golfing and competing at Hampshire High School in Hampshire, Ill.

This is sophomore Taylor’s second season at NIU, and freshman Connie’s first season. The Ellett sisters are continuing family history of golfing at NIU as their mother Sue also golfed at NIU over 20 years ago.

Coach Kim Kester believes that they benefit from playing with each other.

“Absolutely, I think having sisters on the team make each other better,” Kester said. “Having a sibling on always makes one want to play better than the other one. They both push each other, but at the same time they are very supportive of each other… After their rounds they support each other. It is not a sister rivalry, it’s a love for a game those two share. It is more of a friendly rivalry rather than a competitive one.”

Connie said there has always been a rivalry with Taylor, but in the end she just wants to improve and play the best that she can.

“Playing with Taylor defiantly motivates me to play better and I know it motivates Taylor,” Connie said. “I am a very competitive person and Taylor and I have a little bit of a sibling rivalry when it comes to sports. We are not mean about it; we both want to see each other succeed still.”

As competitive as the sisters are, they are always there for the other and are constantly helping the other improve their games.

“We push each other to be good golfers,” Taylor said. “When it comes to practice we compete against each other, but we both help each other out. It definitely helps when you know someone that knows your swing and can tell you what you are doing wrong. Connie is one of the most competitive people I know.”

The biggest benefit of the two sisters playing together is that they are always there for the other one. They can be there for each other like no one else can.

“The biggest thing so far was when I helped her last week at Chicago State,” Taylor said. “She was pretty down on herself after a bad round, I told her she can pick herself up tomorrow or be upset with the way you played. I helped her realize that you are not going to go out there and play your best every time. She really grew up after that, she turned it around this weekend with her finish.”

Since getting to college, Taylor has helped Connie adapt to every aspect of college life, including golf.

“Taylor has helped Connie adjust to college golf and college life,” Kester said. “They both are right there for each other. They both want each other to do well. They support everyone on the team and especially of each other.”