Two sister pairs power Hudson soccer

To sweeper Katy McGee and goalkeeper Jessi Imbimbo, both senior standouts at Hudson High, this song and dance is a mere formality come mid-January.

Roll through the regular season like it's a tuneup, get amped for another district-title push and then prepare again for the ultimate goal of making noise in the state tournament bracket.

This is true for all Cobra upperclassmen - part of some of the most talented and accomplished teams in school history over the past three years - but for McGee and Imbimbo, this potential run has the chance to be even sweeter, yet.

They each have little sis right on the field with them for virtually the first time in their soccer-playing lives.

Forward Logan McGee and goalkeeper-midfielder Toni Imbimbo are part of a strong, eight-deep freshman class learning firsthand what it takes to play varsity at Hudson. Additionally, they have the benefit of grabbing rides home with a team-captain mentor after every game, practice and team meeting.

"Having Toni on the team makes it 10 times that much more fun because I've always wanted to play together but couldn't because of the age gap," Jessi said after a recent practice, extending a compliment followed up precisely with a sisterly poke. "Plus, I've always been looking forward to having fun with that little freshman-senior gap. That's good too."

A brief interaction with the sibling pairs is really all that's needed to recognize the positive relationships. There's some supportiveness here, a few jabs there, laughs all around and everything's all good.

Basically the same style of interaction plays out when on the field - sometimes in a way they can only do with each other - and it appears to be working out quite well itself.

"I can be able to give her a look and she knows that I'm telling her she needs to set something up," Katy said. "You can't always be like that with other teammates. I'll yell at her one way but if I do that with another teammate they might think that I'm really yelling at them. (Logan) knows I'm just pushing her."

The beneficial family relationships certainly haven't escaped Hudson's head coach, Stephen Jones, either.

"They're definitely very competitive with each other and it's a nice thing to have," he said. "They'll bicker here and there, but at the same time both sets of girls drive each other to keep getting better. Sometimes you just can't find that outside of the family."

That added competitive push amongst the four - combined with the rest of Hudson's impressive roster - has succeeded in producing some notable results. The Cobras own a 14-3-1 record and the No. 1 seed heading into this week's Class 4A, District 7 tournament.

Beyond the present winter sports season, though, there's something else that makes this Hudson duo of sisters especially unique.

It's January and it's all soccer right now, but an experience all four got to share together not so long ago on another playing surface may have even further prepared them for what lies ahead on the grass.

Along with soccer, each excelled on the volleyball court as well and helped guide the Cobras to a state final four berth in late November.