North Carolina State University Athletics
Blood is Thicker Than Rivalry for Home-Town Grads
5/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Garner News
By Correspondent Jim Sands
You won’t find many people that will argue there is no love lost between North Carolina and North Carolina State here on Tobacco Road. But for one family, the rivalry has taken on a new meaning due to a brother and sister that each plays soccer for their longtime arch rivals.
Jacob and Kaitlyn Wescoe, both Garner Magnet School graduates, play division I soccer for North Carolina and N.C. State respectively.
Jacob, a 21 year-old junior goal keeper and political science major at UNC, grew up a die-hard N.C. State fan, just like the rest of his family. As a kid he never could have imagined having any love for the Tar Heels. But time, opportunity and circumstance changed his mind.
During the recruiting process, his parents encouraged him to make his own choice regarding college and said the main thing was to make sure to get a good education and play soccer at a place where he felt comfortable.
He looked at several ACC schools as well as three programs in the Big East Conference before committing to North Carolina, whose combination of outstanding athletics and academics was the perfect fit he said.
Even though he knew his parents would be completely supportive no matter what school he chose, telling his parents, both devoted N.C. State alumni was hard - especially considering his father Kyle played linebacker for the Wolfpack from 1975-78.
His sister’s selection of N.C. State was not quite as controversial in the Wescoe household. For her, there was never a second choice.
The 18 year-old freshman defender for the Wolfpack said growing up an N.C. State fan and now being able to follow in her fathers footsteps as a student-athlete is a dream come true.
She said the family gives her brother a hard time for making the switch to North Carolina but all rivalries aside, they are all really proud of him.
Different colors, same fire
Other than the color of their jerseys, both are remarkably similar on and off the field in terms of style of play and attitude.
Each was a team captain at Garner and both are defenders in college who play with a relentless fire and intensity.
They said part of the competitive drive undoubtedly comes from their father. The fact that he spent years keeping opponents at bay playing college football seems to have seeped into their collective DNA, helping to shape the players they have become.
“I’ve heard from plenty of people that I’m just like my dad and if I’d been a boy I’d be a football player n and I feel like a lot of my identity has come from him,” said Kaitlin.
Both also share similar views in terms of the importance of academics and were recognized for being among the top students at Garner as well as the state of North Carolina.
“The way you perform in the classroom reflects on the way you perform on the field. One thing my mom and dad really stressed to us all in high school is the importance of academics,” Jacob said.
Shared hurdles
One unfortunate similarity they share is that both have had to deal with devastating, potential career ending injuries over the last several years. Kaitlin tore an ACL in her left knee during her junior year in a C.A.S.L. league game. She missed her entire junior season at Garner and had to endure six months of rehab.
Jacob said his sister was very disappointed due to the fact that she wouldn’t be able to compete, but he admired the courage and maturity she displayed in the face of such adversity.
“I saw a different side of my sister that I haven’t seen before. She did everything she could to work and recover. There was a different look in her eye than I’d seen before. I saw some tears and frustration, but she came back strong and had a great senior year. I loved seeing it,” he said.
After recovering she went on to become the all-time leading scorer at Garner with 59 goals and led the Trojans to the state playoffs for the first time in 12 years. She scored 27 goals during her senior year and earned all-conference and all-region honors.
Kaitlin continued to shine after graduating from Garner. The first start of her collegiate career came against none other than North Carolina, where she played the entire game.
“I was at that game when she made her first start and it was awesome. I have to admit that I was a N.C. State fan that day and it was great to see her match up against some of the best female athletes in the country. She held her own and played with a lot of heart while never giving up. It made me really proud to tell all of my friends there that was my sister,” Jacob said.
Following a red-shirt freshman season at Carolina, Jacob was finally beginning to make positive strides on the field, rising on the depth chart to the main backup goal keeper. But he suffered a major setback when he tore all the ligaments in his ankle during spring drills in 2007.
The prognosis was not good. He had a 25% chance of making a full recovery and was supposed to be out an entire year. The staff at UNC put Wescoe on a rigorous rehabilitation training regime and to his surprise - he was cleared six months ahead of schedule after undergoing three surgeries. The rehabilitation has been tough and intense but he feels if things continue to go well, he’ll be in a position to challenge for the starting job later this year.
He said the support he received from family and friends made a big difference in his recovery and his sister was able to offer some valuable first-hand insight since she too had been in the same position recently.
After graduation from UNC in 2009, Jacob plans to follow in his fathers footsteps and pursue a career in law enforcement with the Raleigh Police Department. Kaitlin, who plans to major in biological sciences at N.C. State, wants to attend medical school and work towards becoming a pediatrician.
The Wescoe’s have certainly established an impressive legacy with the Garner soccer program and they said the best may be yet to come.
Jacob and Kaitlin have a younger brother Matt, a sophomore at Garner that also may get a shot at playing soccer at the next level.
“I think he’ll be better than me and my sister to tell you the truth. He’s been around it his whole life. He loves it and has done well. If he does the right things on and off the field, then he can do great things if he has the passion,” Jacob said.
The only question may be, what color jersey will he choose?
