It’s difficult to go through a day at Grayslake North without running into a Roscoe.
Jim Roscoe is in his 12th year as principal at the school, and his daughters, Jeana, a senior, and Lucy, a sophomore, are students there.
“I could not be more proud of them, and it’s especially because of the types of young ladies that they are,” Jim Roscoe said. “They’re respectful. They’re great examples of student-athletes.”
They’ve been busy student-athletes too. Jeana and Lucy Roscoe compete in multiple sports for the Knights. In fact, they were teammates in four sports last school year: volleyball, cross country, basketball and track.
“I know Lucy so much better than other people on the team,” Jeana Roscoe said. “I always know where she is going. And we never get annoyed at each other, like other siblings. We like each other. We’re more like friends than siblings.”
Jeana Roscoe earned all-conference honors in track in the Northern Lake County Conference in each of the past two seasons. Lucy Roscoe was all-conference in track last season, too, and will try to qualify for sectionals in cross country for the second time on Saturday. She finished 17th in the conference meet on Oct. 14 to earn all-conference honors for the second time in that sport.
People ask whether the sisters are twins. But the age difference means Jeana Roscoe has often been in the role of protector.
“Whenever something bad happens to me, Jeana is the first to stand up and say something,” Lucy Roscoe said. “She’ll do anything for me.”
Grayslake North volleyball coach Nikki Kirchway has taken note of the sisters’ connection.
“It’s so cool to see how supportive they are of each other,” Kirchway said. “They’re always cheering each other on. And seeing them last year versus this year, you can tell their relationship has grown.”
The Roscoe sisters grew up playing sports together, routinely suiting up for the same teams despite their age gap. So Lucy Roscoe competed against older kids, and that has continued at Grayslake North, where she made her varsity debut for the girls volleyball team as a freshman.
“It was intimidating at first,” she said. “But once I got used to being more challenged, it made me better.”
In her second varsity season, Lucy Roscoe went into the weekend leading the Knights (17-17, 2-4) with 165 digs and was second with a 1.92 serve-receive ratio.
But the sisters’ volleyball season changed dramatically in September, when Jeana Roscoe tore the ACL in her left knee during a match. It ended her season and will prevent her from playing basketball.
“It was so annoying,” Jeana Roscoe said. “I just want to be in the game now.”
When doctors confirmed the ACL injury, Lucy Roscoe said she couldn’t stop crying for her sister.
“I was really upset because I’ll never be on the court with her again,” Lucy Roscoe said. “At first, I didn’t believe it. I was like, ‘No, she’ll be fine. She’ll play.’ It hit me really hard.”
Jeana Roscoe is targeting the track season for her return to competition. That would be the sisters’ final go-round as Grayslake North teammates. Jeana Roscoe said she hopes to run in college next year.
“I believe she’ll be back faster and healthier for track,” Lucy Roscoe said. “She’ll get through it. I don’t have any doubt that she’ll be back.”
In the meantime, Jeana Roscoe has assumed a new mantle for Knights volleyball.
More Top Picks Best Hidden Wall Safes
“They’re still on the same team,” Jim Roscoe said. “Jeana has had to take a different role. She’s almost a minicoach. She’s more of a mentor. She’s still a high-spirited player, even though she’s not on the court.”
Jeana Roscoe remains a team captain for the Knights, who will begin the postseason on Tuesday with a match on their home court against rival Grayslake Central in the Class 3A Grayslake North Regional semifinals.
“She’s still so active and supporting her teammates so much,” Kirchway said. “I’ve coached a lot of athletes, and both Jeana and Lucy are at the top of the hardworking category.”
Sam Brief is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.