STEPHANIE ARDELL

The siblings Friesen.

There must be something in the water at the Friesen family farm because it is producing some of Saskatoon’s top athletic talent.

Mitch Friesen and his younger sister Julene, share more than just competitive spirits and devotion to sweat in their DNA. Mitch just finished his last year of eligibility as a defensive back for the Huskies football team while Julene is heading into another season sprinting laps around her competition on the Huskies track and field squad.

After four years with the Hilltops, Mitch decided to give the green and white uniform a try and quickly built a reputation with the Huskies as an unwaveringly reliable player both on and off the field. Mitch recalls his time at Griffith’s Stadium fondly, regretting only that the team narrowly missed the Canada West title in each of his four years with the club.

“I’ll miss hanging out with the guys, the competitiveness and the fans in the stands,” Mitch said. “There’s nothing quite like that…. You feel like a minor pro athlete for a little bit.”

Not being around the team will be a bit of a change for the 25-year-old Friesen, but he is looking forward to spending time with his wife, Alison, playing shinny, sledding, cross-country skiing and traveling to fill the extra time he has gained since he stopped training for football.

Julene, who is two years younger than her brother, can always be found bundled up in the stands at Huskie football games and is proud to be associated with Mitch.

She too has an impressive athletic record. In 2008-09, her first year with the Huskies, Julene established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the 200- to 800-metre races. In her second year she won gold at the Canada West finals in the team 800-metre relay race and picked up the silver in the individual 600-metre. She did not compete in 2010-11, then finished second in the 800-metre relay last season.

She hopes to reclaim her Canada West championship title this year.

The Friesens’ paths have not been void of the occasional bump, but their parents’ support was always available to supplement any deteriorating drive.

“They’ve always taught us to be committed, dedicated, hard-working and to never give up,” Julene said.

Standing beside the Friesen’s parents in the stands of Huskies events is an equally important source of support, Mitch and Julene’s younger sister Kenzie. Mitch and Julene speak highly of Kenzie, who is currently pitching in the NCAA Division 1 softball league for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

While Mitch is a few steps ahead, his and Julene’s university careers appear to be mirroring each other. With a few years of kinesiology under her belt, Julene is entering her first year of education this year, while Mitch is in his last year and will be graduating from the education program in April.

“No. I have always wanted to be a teacher,” was Julene’s quick reply when asked if her older brother had any influence on her choice of career.

Mitch chuckled in the background, but he definitely agreed with his sister that much of the appeal of becoming a teacher has to do with the opportunity to coach and work with kids.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf