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The rivalries began in high school. Who gets the better grades on tests? Who gets the highest GPA? Who makes the varsity basketball team? Who gets the most playing time during a soccer game?

Stephanie, Megan and Paige Lankford, STA students and one alum, are sisters who have these rivalries but say they are best friends.

“I would say that Megan is the smartest, she gets better grades than I do,” said Paige Lankford, “I wish that I was as smart as her.’

Ms. Stephanie Lankford, a sophomore at Rockhurst University is the oldest sister, who graduated from STA is 2009. Megan Lankford, a junior, plays basketball, soccer, and does well academically. Paige Lankford, a freshman, plays basketball, soccer, and is very good at academics as well. The Lankford sisters do not just compete in school related events, but at home, play a pick up game of soccer in the back yard, is just as fun.

“I would say we have a rivalry at least everyday, maybe more depending on the day,” said Megan.

These sister rivalries started at the beginning of high school, and they are going to last throughout the rest of their academic life. Who has better grades? Who has a better score on tests? Who has the best GPA?

“I get the better grades, of course,” Megan said, “But Stephanie gets better test scores.”

Since Stephanie is in college, she does not go to the same school as Megan and Paige. Stephanie is not around as much to have a true rivalry with her sisters, but she does have her moments with Megan and Paige.

‘Stephanie is normally chill about things, but when we do get on her nerves, she blows up, but it never lasts,” Paige said, “A few minutes later she will be the coolest sister ever.’

While Paige and Stephanie are close, the two oldest sisters [Megan and Stephanie] are the closest.

“I have always been closest with Stephanie, but until Stephanie left for college and has not been around the house as much, I have grown with Paige over time,” Megan said.

The sisters do not keep the rivalries quiet and to themselves. They sometimes get into arguments out loud.

“The experts always say to let kids argue with each other so that they learn how to problem solve,” The girls’ mother, Ms. Janie Lankford said. “But it is sometimes too hard to listen to them argue so I will usually tell them to stop and try to mediate the situation between each other.”

Researchers from the Kids Health website show that parents should just let their kids resolve their problems on their own. It will teach them to have confidence in one another.

“I don’t think [parents] really take notice of it and if anything, I think they like it,” said Megan. “Just because it pushes us to make each other better than what we can do on our own.”

The sisters have their bad moments and good moments. But the girls’ love to spend time with one another.