by Gloria Cowdin

There was a buzz in the hallways of the Bolles School in Ponte Vedra, Fla. A buzz that meant big news. Some people were disappointed by it; others cheered and excitedly spread the word: the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars had been fired. Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter were run amok with thousands of different people’s opinions of the fired coach. This seemingly harmless news eventually sped its way to the ears of juniors Molly and Evelyn Heck. Upon hearing it, however, they knew immediately that their lives were about to change.

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When the head coach for a football team is fired, the entire staff is automatically fired as well, according to Molly. Molly and Evelyn’s father, offensive line coach Andy Heck, was among those fired. In the blink of an eye, the Heck family’s future shifted gears, Molly said. They all knew moving was inevitable, but when it would happen and where they would go was a mystery.

“There was a month of just not knowing,” Evelyn said. “We didn’t know if [our dad] was going to get a job in that period. That was the most stressful time I’ve ever had.”

After the first month, however, Andy was offered a job as offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. This news came bittersweet. Evelyn and Molly agreed they “wanted him to get a job, but at the same time, [they] didn’t want to move.”

According to Evelyn, football had already been the cause of multiple moves in the sisters’ lifetime, from Illinois to Virginia to Florida, but this one to Kansas City would be the biggest by far. Evelyn and Molly were only seven the last time they moved, young enough for it all to be one big adventure, young enough to forget old friends and start fresh with few regrets. But now it’s different, Molly said. Now they have left behind friends, teachers, school, shared memories, everything. Instead of just being the kids next door, or the tall girls who run cross country, Evelyn and Molly are known as the “Florida girls” or the “Chiefs kids.” The spotlight is on the Hecks now and will remain there until the excitement eventually dies down.

A mere month after discovering they would soon be leaving Florida behind, Molly, Evelyn and their triplet brother, Charlie, flew to Kansas City during their spring break to shadow various Kansas City high schools. In May, Molly and Evelyn returned to shadow STA and make their final decision on a school.

According to Molly, STA “stood out academically as the best.”

“We just got a good feeling [at STA] that we weren’t getting at other schools,” Evelyn said.

The Hecks’ life-changing move had the potential to be disastrous, but according to Molly, “Midwestern hospitality” and the “welcoming nature” of STA created the perfect environment for a relatively easy adjustment.

“Since the moment Molly and Evelyn shadowed, everyone was excited to not only have two new sisters, but to have two people who fit so well into our school already,” junior Gracie Fleming said. “Because of their enthusiasm everyone welcomed them with open arms.”

One of the biggest factors that helped make Kansas City feel like home, however, was football. According to Evelyn, when her dad is coaching a team, the team becomes like extended family. During team dinners and games, athletes and their families support each other and build lasting relationships. Being constantly associated with football is something Molly and Evelyn accept now, although according to Evelyn, “there are some instances when it’s awkward.”

“One time in my classroom, the teacher didn’t know I was associated with the Jaguars and he went on a twenty five minute rant about how he hates the Jaguars and how the offensive line is terrible,” Evelyn said.

In instances like these, Molly and Evelyn agree that negativity is just “part of the game, it’s just how it is.”

Although football has been the cause of multiple moves around the country for the Hecks, Molly and Evelyn both said that the sport is a source of comfort. Football is football, wherever you are in the USA, according to the sisters. Despite the negativity sometimes associated with football, Molly and Evelyn admire the sport.

In the end, football is a good thing to be associated with … winning and losing is just part of the game.”