Seniors have a huge influence on their teammates, and Polk County girls soccer is no exception. Gabby Savaia, for example, has had a huge influence on a couple of younger players.
What has she taught them?”
“Oh, everything,” she said. “Everything they know.”
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It only takes a second for Gabby and her twin sisters Kenley and Leah to break into a fit of laughter. But in a way, it’s true. The senior has taught her freshman sisters quite a bit, and now you’l find that nearly a third of Polk County’s lineup at any given time sleeps in the same household. The sisters have turned their bond into success on the field, and they’re soaking up every second of getting to play together.
Gabby and Kenley are strikers. Leah helps to anchor the defense. All three are having a lot of fun.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since we were playing Rec,” Gabby said. “We’ve never been on the same team just because of the age gap, and we love playing alongside each other. Kenley and I are so similar. And Leah just holds back the defense and it’s been so fun.
“I feel like I can trust everyone on the field just knowing that they’re there.”
Wolverines head coach Lennox Charles said the ability to play together is something the sisters don’t seem to take for granted.
“Because Gabby’s a senior, they missed each other in middle school,” he said. “This is their chance. A lot of people don’t get that with their siblings, where they’re all on the field at the same time. I’m sure it’s special to them, to their parents, to see them all out there and all contributing. But they’ve put the time in.
“They work hard in practice, they work hard in the games. They’ve earned the opportunity to have all three of them on the field.”
The girls have adapted pretty quickly.
“Kenley and I play so similarly that we’re on the same page a lot,” Gabby said. “There’s sister drama sometimes, and sometimes it’s hard, but we’re getting to the point that just eye contact can be our communication.”
The twins have that ability as well.
“I think especially because we’ve been playing together for so long, we’re able to do that,” Leah said.
Kenley agreed.
“Sometimes it’s been a rocky road, but I think the chemistry shows,” she said. “And I think the more we play together the more we’ll succeed with that.”
They also practice with each other away from the field, although it can be a little bit one-sided.
“They get to work together and build up their strengths on the field, and I just get to be there as an obstacle, I guess,” Leah said with a laugh.
Gabby said there’s a whole lot more to Leah’s game than that.
“She’s the fastest,” Gabby said. “She should get all the recognition for being the fastest.”
It’s clear when you’re watching the Wolverines that Leah can fly. Charles thinks the twins have the potential to grow over the next three seasons.
“The scary thing is, the twins can both get a lot better,” he said. “You can’t teach athletic ability. You can’t teach speed. You have it, or you don’t. That’s a great starting point.”
They also have an abiding love of the game.
“I’ve watched so much soccer, and most of it has been Gabby’s games,” Kenley said. “Her love of the game has encouraged me.”
Leah said it’s not just her older sister’s performance that has helped drive her, but Gabby’s words as well.
“I’ve watched her play my entire life,” she said. “She played my position, and now she’s playing Kenley’s. I think as much as watching her, even the advice she’s given me after games has helped me grow to where I am now.”
Gabby is embracing her role as a senior teammate and an older sister.
“One of the biggest things I’ve tried to do is maybe take a little pressure off,” she said. “I think they’ve been leading on their teams for a very long time. They’re finally in a place where they can build on that team component, just working together and finding the right passes and not having to do everything themselves because we’re here to help them. It’s been fun to see them adapt to that and to watch them grow.”
They’re clearly having fun on the field, including the Wolverines’ last game before spring break, a 1-0 win over Hendersonville that snapped a decade-long losing streak to the Bearcats.
“That’s the best gift anyone could have ever given me,” Gabby said. “I’ve never done it, and they helped us do it. It’s such a blessing.”
That’s just what the twins have in mind for their sister’s senior season.
“We have to keep her on that winning streak,” Leah said.
Kenley said the win over Hendersonville, and Gabby’s reaction afterward, was the reward for their hard work.
“I love being a part of all of her success,” she said. “I love watching her do her thing. It’s so fun being a part of it with her. I want to keep giving her that happiness.”
