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It’s hard enough for just one family member to move on to college athletics, but Sarah and Emilie Kramer have both made this accomplishment. Sarah finished her soccer career at Penn State Altoona and Emily is just beginning her swimming career at Lycoming College.

Sarah stated that the hardest transition that she had to go through heading from high school to college was, “Balancing my classes with missing classes for soccer.” Emilie echoed that, stating “I would agree with Sarah. Balancing school and swimming [was the most difficult part].”

Academics was a huge thing to both sisters throughout their high school and collegiate careers. At Altoona, Sarah had study hours every week where the team would log in their hours. The captains would host study groups where they would go to the library to discuss classes, and the upper class would help the freshman. At Lycoming, a similar plan was set for the athletes. They also held study hours (for two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays) for the whole first semester, and the students were required to submit English and math assignments to the math and writing centers respectively.

It’s evident from speaking to the two that family is an important part in the sisters’ lives. Both remarked how many family members try to go to their sporting events, whether that be the soccer match for Sarah or the swim meets for Emilie. Emily said she was happy that she got to see her sister go through this process first, being able to learn from her and get support to push through the hard times and to keep going.

As always, we asked to hear advice from the Kramer sisters for any prospective student athletes. “Find something you want to do and do it.” said Sarah. “You have to put yourself out there.” Emily concurred, “putting yourself out there to find that one thing you want to do is the most important advice on this journey.”