Q & A With Ashley and Brittany Bares
12/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Belgium, Wis., natives Brittany and Ashley Bares are about as close as any siblings can get. The two are only a year apart and have played soccer together for most of their lives.
Now both Marquette soccer players, they are able to continue their on-field chemistry in the BIG EAST Conference. Brittany, a sophomore, was followed to Marquette this year by her sister Ashley, who as a freshman stands fourth in the BIG EAST among goal scorers with eight tallies.
What caused you to be interested in coming to Marquette?
Brittany: She was more interested in Marquette, this was actually the last place I looked at. She wanted to go here and I was looking to go out of state. I came here on my last visit and just fell in love with it. When I told her that I was going here... I don't know how did you feel?
Ashley: I thought it was funny that she decided to come to Marquette. We joke about it now. I think it was the right decision because now we are both here.
Your family now has two Division I soccer players. Were your parents big athletes growing up?
Brittany: Mom was a cheerleader. Dad played sports like wrestling and basketball. Mom was into gymnastics too.
You two are so close but do you have any other siblings?
Brittany: I am the oldest, then Ashley, we have a brother, Dylan, 15, and Chloe whose 14. Dylan is going to be the best boyfriend/husband because he knows how to react to having all of us girls around.
Brittany, you are a biomedical sciences major, where do you see that taking you?
Brittany: I want to get into the PA (Physician's Assistant) program which is really difficult, especially with the soccer season when you have to volunteer all those hours. The program itself takes a little longer than I would like as well.
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Ashley, have you decided on a major?
Ashley: I am still undecided on what I want to do. I'm in the college of Arts and Sciences and just getting my basic core requirements out of the way. I could see myself in business.
You both have tattoos of the word "Love" on your right wrists when did you get those?
Brittany: We got them last March when she turned 18. I was waiting to get mine and then I was like "lets get them together." So I made an appointment, surprised her and picked her up. Probably not the best decision as my mom would say, but we don't regret it now. Now our mom thinks their cute, but she was surprised when we got them.
When did the two of you start playing together?
Ashley: When she first tried out for club I was on the sideline and the coach (Marquette volunteer assistant Rob Lestina) asked if I would try out or practice. So I got to play with her for three more years before I played with my age group.
Brittany: In high school we played together and then obviously here we both are.
Do you ever think about what it would be like if you chose different schools?
Brittany: It would be weird if we didn't play together. One of our teammate's sister plays at Louisville and she met up with her when she went down there. It was so weird seeing them talk because they haven't seen each other in a while. I couldn't imagine not seeing her. I definitely think we take it for granted.
Is there anything that Brittany has been able to help Ashley deal with the new pressures of college life?
Brittany: Staying on top of schoolwork. It rough because you are on top of the world as a senior and then you come here and your on the bottom as a freshman and some people take that hard. Carrying the bags and stuff like that, but she has done a great job fitting in.
Ashley: It helped having someone here to go talk to. If I have any problems or just need someone to go talk to and tell me how I should handle things. Definitely helped.
Brittany is the older sister but is there a mother hen among the two of you?
Ashley: Both of us play that role but it depends on the situation. I do think its more like Brittany though. On the way home on the bus she's always like " Time to get that homework out, Ashley. Get to work."
Brittany: Since we're so close its nice to have each other around. We pull on each other in all circumstances.
Your favorite moment so far at Marquette?
Brittany: For the alumni game, when we grabbed onto the rope and lean back signifying unity and birds flew overhead in a flying "V" it was a neat feeling. When she first subbed in to a game here for me and I wished her good luck, she handed me the penny, and I think I dropped it too.
Ashley: Stepping on the field for my first home game and you realize what everything is all about. When I scored my first goal I got goose bumps. I have obviously scored before but that feeling was intense.
And in high school?
Brittany: My senior year we won state and I remember passing the ball and after Ashley scored I ran over and jumped on her.
Ashley: In the state tournament my sophomore year in the state semi-finals it was so hot and we were down 1-0. I kept scoring and Brittany kept coming over telling me to keep going but I was exhausted. That game I ended up scoring seven goals.
Ashley is the all-time leading goal scorer in the state of Wisconsin and eighth nationally. Brittany do you ever get sick of hearing about all her records?
Brittany: The only people that were above her were people who played out east and they play all year round. So it was very impressive. I was surprised.
Ashley: Gee, thanks.
Brittany: I like to lay low, more so than she does.
What makes your relationship so unique?
Ashley: People think we are crazy they don't understand how we can be this close.
Brittany: She says she gets a sixth sense about me sometimes. Ashley: We have a strange special bond.
Has the proximity to home been a hinderance or a positive on your experience at Marquette?
Brittany: I was worried about that because my mom and I are really close. I thought she would try to get involved a lot. Its been good. She lets me do my thing and e-mails me. Its nice to be able to go home for home cooked meals.
Ashley:She definitely gives us our space. I have been home once so far for like two hours. But they are here if we need them.
Brittany: I like it a lot. Its far enough away but not too far.
Ashley: Seeing faces you know in the crowd is nice too.
Brittany: Some of our teachers come to our games. One of them graduated from here so he is always checking in to see how the team is doing.
