Sibling athletes finding ways to stay competitive, in shape during lockdown

Social-distancing is as novel a term in the American vernacular as the virus that created it. But the concept of creating 6-foot spacing between people can be a challenge in a full household.

What about a home filled with aspiring college and high school athletes who otherwise at this time of year would be miles away from each other?

The only solution is for them is to get along and make it work.

Surprisingly, the issue has not been as difficult a challenge for a number of area sibling athletes as you might think.

“We’ve been able to catch up and work out together daily,” said Collin Liberatore, a redshirt senior pitcher at Indiana State who is home with his younger siblings, Jack and Sarah. “During these unprecedented times, it’s bringing many families closer together. The silver lining for me is being home with the family in times where I wouldn’t normally be home because of the rigorous baseball season.”

Isolation is not a problem for athletic families quarantined by the coronavirus. Individuals aren’t exactly drawing faces on volleyballs like Tom Hanks’ buddy, “Wilson,” in the movie, “Castaway.” With their seasons erased and schools closed, brothers and sisters are running and lifting weights together, competing and training in groups and keeping their competitive juices flowing as they bide time.

It is terrific empathy.

“To get our competition fix, we do anything from playing Uno and checkers to seeing who can run the fastest mile or hold a plank the longest,” said Bubby Scherer, a junior wrestler at Virginia and a Burrell graduate. “We argue a lot, but we haven’t killed each other yet. For the most part, we enjoy getting to hang out with each other.”

Scherer doesn’t wrestle with his sister, Nikki, because he can’t catch her. Nikki is a junior track standout at Pitt. She also is a Burrell alum.

OK, maybe the races are tightening up.

“Bubby and I go for long runs around our neighborhood and work out every day together,” Nikki said. “I was surprised initially because I thought I would smoke him in the long run, but he actually pushes me to the point that I have trouble keeping up with him.”

The Scherers also help each other with homework.

A third brother, Michael, a freshman football player at Edinboro, also is passing the time at home.

“He can beat Bubby in a wrestling match, and Bubby doesn’t want to admit it so we always make fun of him about it,” Nikki said. “We have made some funny TikToks that we are too afraid to post because we are both really bad dancers. My mom has only had to referee a few fights between us.”

Proper perspective is perhaps the driving force that keeps athletes motivated. The idea things will change and give way to some form of normal is their only leverage at this point.

“It’s definitely frustrating, but I understand the most important thing right now is health and getting our country through this pandemic,” said Jack Liberatore, a junior pitcher at Ohio U. “On the other hand, being able to grow and learn more about the game from someone (Collin) who has played at one of the highest levels you can in college baseball is always valuable. Plus, with each other being home, it gives us the chance to compete against in each other in things outside baseball.”

That includes golf chipping contests in the backyard, some driveway basketball or a friendly game of cards.

“I absolutely love when my brothers are home,” said Sarah Liberatore, a senior basketball standout at Hempfield. “Collin and I have been working out together every day, which is really nice because he has so much good input on workouts and the college experience.”

The basketball, not the golf, is where it gets chippy.

“Very competitive,” Sarah said. “I can tell you sweatpants have been ripped. At night, we all like to sit together and play card games, like gin rummy, while watching ‘Shark Tank.’ ”

“We just make sure we break a good sweat,” said Collin Liberatore, who hopes to hear his name called in the MLB Draft, traditionally set for June.

The Dlugos family not only has to share space in their house, but they can cause quite a dust-up when it’s time to raid the fridge.

There are five siblings, ranging from 10-16, and football rules supreme. Zach Dlugos will be a senior football player at Greensburg Central Catholic next fall. His brother, Nate, saw time at quarterback last season as a freshman at GCC.

Nick Dlugos will be a freshman next year and join them in football. They also have a cousin, Danny, who will be a junior linebacker.

GCC coach Bret Colbert affectionately calls the brothers, “Dlugi.”

“There’s going to be four of us on the football team,” Zach Dlugos said, “one for every grade.”

Two more siblings, Tom and Annie Dlugos, are students at Queen of Angels. All five are multi-sport athletes.

“We’ve been lifting, running and throwing the football,” Zach Dlugos said. “It’s a packed house. There are definitely days when you get cabin fever. It’s been tough. I’m not going to lie. We’ve found ways to stay active and busy, and we’re making the best of a rough situation.”

The O’Shea sisters, Moira and Delaney, also have learned to work together to stay in shape during the lockdown.

Moira is a GCC grad who runs track and cross country at Oregon, where she is a junior. Delaney is a senior at Hempfield and is set to play volleyball at Cal (Pa.).

Their father, Terry, was a football star at Cal and played tight end for the Steelers.

Moira runs so fast, Delaney can’t quite keep up, so she bikes alongside her sister.

“This is now her third year in college, and it is like she does not live with us anymore,” Delaney said. “I really do love coming on her runs with her because we get to talk, and that is rare for us because she does live in Oregon or spends a lot of the day doing school work.

“I think, though, that the longer this quarantine goes on, the closer we get and the less quarrels we have.”

Quality time with family for college students usually is reserved for summers, weekends, holidays and other select times. Now, it’s been a month-long gathering of families with students, who feel like they’re on a bottomless semester break. And there certainly are not many signs that colleges or high schools will reopen any time soon.

“I haven’t gotten to see my family much this year so it’s been nice to be back and spend some quality time with them,” Moira O’Shea said. “A lot of my teammates are European, so they can’t go home and see their families. I feel lucky to have the option to be with (family) through this crisis.”

Delaney O’Shea otherwise might call her sister for mental support during a tense time, but now she is a shout away.

“Emotionally, she has helped me deal with some rough times during this quarantine by being a shoulder I can lean on or someone I can get advice from,” she said. “She always brightens my day when we make TikToks together or share funny TikToks with each other that will make us laugh-cry.”

TikTok is a short-form music video app. Tick tock is more like the name of the theme for this virus.

“I’m not sure when things will return to normal, but I really hope we’re able to have in-person classes and a cross country season in the fall,” Moira O’Shea said. “I hope we can find a way to bring everyone safely back together soon.”