At Shadow Ridge High School, senior twins Emma and Camden Finlinson have each taken on the responsibility of captaincy. Emma leads the cheer team and Camden captains the volleyball squad. Though their sports are vastly different, the sisters share more than just a last name; they share leadership, motivation, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.
“It’s super cool. I absolutely love it!” Emma said. “Yes, we’re very competitive, but it’s a good competition. It shows how hard and far we’ve come in our sports!”
Camden echoed her sister’s enthusiasm. “We both want our teams to do the best they can. Sometimes that means being competitive with our sports, but it’s all out of love and care.”
Balancing two leadership roles with overlapping schedules isn’t always easy, but the twins make it work. Emma shared, “If there’s a home game for Cam, I always come after practice to watch, and Cam rushed from her tournament to come to my senior night!”
Cam added, “Since my twin is a cheerleader, it’s easier to support her because she already goes to my games. I try very hard to make it to her cheer competitions, too, though those happen later in the year.”
Leading a team has taught both girls important lessons about responsibility and resilience. Emma explained, “Being punctual matters a lot. This is my second year as captain, and it’s made me better at managing my time and understanding that leading is hard but rewarding.”
Camden reflected on leadership challenges as well. “You have to prepare for failure and stick to your gut. Sometimes your plans don’t go as expected, so having a backup plan is key. Also, as a captain, you want to please everyone, but you have to trust your instincts because you were chosen for a reason.”
Their leadership styles also borrow inspiration from each other. “Cheer loves the volleyball hype cheers, and sometimes we use them at games,” Emma laughed. Camden added, “We share ideas about promoting our sports on social media. It’s funny when one of us tries something new and the other follows.”
Being seniors and captains brings its own set of emotions. Emma said, “The best part is knowing everyone well after four years. The hardest part is balancing school, social life, and practice. We’re always tired. Also, leaving my team is really hard because I love them so much.”
Camden shared similar feelings. “It’s tough leaving so many friends behind. Volleyball is family, and I hope they keep that energy going after I graduate.”
Finally, when asked if they could switch sports for a day, Emma joked, “I think I wouldn’t do too badly since I used to play volleyball. But no one could be as good as Cam as volleyball captain. She’s in a league of her own.”
Camden laughed, “I took some tumbling classes once, so maybe not too bad! But for chanting and stunting, Emma’s the expert. She leads with so much authority and kindness.”
Emma and Camden Finlinson prove that leadership runs in the family. Whether on the court or the mat, their competitive yet supportive twin bond pushes them to lead with heart at Shadow Ridge.
