College team sports are known to unite players through practices, schoolwork and shared experiences. For example, the University of Memphis women’s team is composed of almost 50 percent Canadian athletes. Some of them have instant connections from being from the same area in Canada, but two seniors on the team have had a bond since birth.
Catherine and Marie Levasseur are twins from Stoneham, Quebec, in Canada. Catherine is a senior midfielder who double-majors in journalism and communications, and Marie is a senior forward exercise sport and movement sciences major. They are not twins who are mirror images of each other and act the same way.
“She (Catherine) is more extroverted and outgoing, and I am more introverted and shy,” Marie said.
It has not always been easy for the twins to play together. When the sisters played club soccer in Canada, Marie and Catherine were arguing back and forth on the pitch, and it came to the point where their coach yanked them away onto the bench. Marie remembered her coach’s words: “You are not going back on the field until you get your shit together!”
The bench was surprisingly the secret weapon to solve their scuffle. Marie recalls the day and knows that performing on the soccer pitch was where they belonged.
“I just remember that we looked at each other for about two seconds and both said, ‘We are good,’ because there was no way that we would stay on the bench any longer,” Marie said.
Over time, the Levasseurs played for their provincial team (state team) in Quebec. After that, Catherine was invited to attend the National Training Center for the Canadian National team, so they were separated for a year until Marie joined a year later. The NTC helped solidify their focus on soccer.
“After we both attended the NTC, soccer became a priority in both of our lives,” Catherine said.
Catherine and Marie are both entering their fourth year playing soccer and studying at the U of M. Their adjustment to moving away from home was not the main struggle, but adjusting to new people and a new language was difficult for them, especially for Marie.
“As I am a very shy person in general, the social integration was extremely difficult,” Marie said. “I was barely talking to my teammates or coaches. If you ask my teammates how I was during my first year, they will probably say that I was the quietest player on the team.”
Though Marie struggled, Catherine’s outgoing personality helped her adjust.
They have grown to know each other’s game enough that the Levasseur twins do not have to search the field to find their numbers six and seven jerseys.
“Since we know each other extremely well and we have twin powers, we see each other very well on the field,” Marie said.
Catherine and Marie may have a strong link on the pitch, but they don’t spend all their time digging their cleats in the field helping the Tigers win games. They spend most of their free time shopping together, cooking and working out.
Marie has made the All-American Athletic Conference first team the past two seasons, and they both have continuously made the All-ACC academic team the last two seasons along with the Dean’s List every semester.
Catherine Levasseur examines the field as she dibbles the ball. Levasseur has recorded a goal and an assist during the first three games.
Marie Levasseur dribbles down the field and looks for open teammates. Levassereur has four goals and five assists this season.
