By Jerry Byrd - MileSplit LA
Spectators inside the McNeese Recreation Complex had to do a double take when they looked over the field getting in the blocks before the finals of the Boys 55m at the McNeese High School Indoor No. II on Saturday.
In lanes two and three were the fastest twins in Louisiana--and possibly the nation-Carencro's Kalen and Koen Beavers. Like the day they were born, Koen was first with a time of 6.57. Kalen, who finished third, was right behind him at 6.65. Those times rank No. 2 and No. 4 in Louisiana over that distance.
The impressive results came as no surprise to anyone from Carencro who has paid attention to youth sports for the last decade and some change.
"When we were little, we were fast, so everybody wanted us to play on their team," Koen said.
For Koen, he remembers tee ball being his first team experience. Kalen remembers a Scott Park football team competing in Lafayette's Park and Recreation league where he played quarterback and his brother shared the backfield with him at running back.
"It was easy to score," Kalen said. "We had a lot of fun that season."
For the locals who watched the twins in action, it had to bring back some great memories of watching their father-Derrick- star and lead the Bears to a 1992 LHSAA state championship, beating traditional powerhouse Neville 28-27 overtime win on a blocked extra point.
While Derrick Beavers coached his twin sons on occasion, he preferred to watch from the sidelines.
"He didn't like to coach," Koen said. "We were the fastest, and putting us in he was afraid of someone accusing him of playing daddy ball."
But the fields and courts of Carencro are not the only place the Beavers Twins have excelled. They have excelled in the classroom as well. Both have a 3.4 GPA and are just as involved in extracurricular organizations at Carencro as they are sports.
The GPAs-like their athletic exploits-makes their mother-Jessica, a fourth grade teacher at Prairie Elementary School-very proud.
Not only have they helped the Bears win games, they have helped each other get through the hard times of being multi-sport student-athlete.
"I would say that when you are going through the hardest times of life, Kalen is someone you can always count on," Koen said. "He is always going to be there to help you get through it."
For Kalen, it has been his brother's commitment to excellence which has impressed him the most.
"He holds himself to a higher standard than anyone I know," Kalen said. "He gets frustrated easily when he does not perform up to his standard. It blows my mind how frustrated he gets."
Having two of the state's fastest athletes with their unique gifts is a rare find as Carencro head track and field coach Gavin Peters knows--and appreciates.
"We had our first track meeting and I told coach Karen Campbell, our assistant head coach, that if we do one thing this track season we are going to enjoy every second, every minute, every hour we have with the twins and a few other seniors," Peters said. "They're such a special group of people to work with and be around, and in this day and age that's something of extreme value and significance."
Of course the Beavers Twins are savoring their final semester at Carencro High School as well. You can hear the love they have for their school when they talk about what they will miss the most about being a Bear.
"I'm going to miss the people," Koen said. "The environment is amazing. It's a big family. We pull for each other and we celebrate when we win, and lift each other up when we lose."
Kalen agrees.
"We work hard and we want to see each other succeed," Kalen said.
Finding something they can agree on-like what they will miss the most about Carencro High School-is rare. The twins have been known to argue--usually about who is the best.
Track. Baseball. Cooking. Fishing. It doesn't matter. If they both do it, you can bet there will be an argument about who is the best.
"I'm a competitor, so naturally I'm going to deny that he is better than me--at anything." Kalen said.
For Koen, he gives his brother the edge in baseball
"He couldn't say much about track because I beat him in every race," Koen said. "But if I had to give him the edge in something I would say baseball. He is a better hitter than I am."
Both have plans to go on to compete at the next level. Their plans also include getting the best education they can to set them up for life after athletics. But before they do, they want to bring a state championship home to Exit 4--and like their coach, enjoy every second.