This week’s student-athlete feature profiles not one, not two, but three Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity girls soccer players, who also happen to be triplets, playing together on a sports team for the first time since their youth days.
Genevieve, Paulina, and Scarlett Simkowski are seniors who have helped lead the Huskies to a 10-4-1 start. They’re also multi-sport athletes, with Genevieve playing basketball, Paulina field hockey, and Scarlett volleyball.
“The season is going well,” Genevieve, a forward, said. “We’re improving as a team each day and the coaches push us while keeping it fun and competitive.”
“This soccer season is definitely going to be one to remember,” Paulina, a midfielder, said. “Our team has very good chemistry on and off the field, which plays a huge role in our success.”
“I am enjoying it so much and I don’t want it to end,” Scarlett, a goalkeeper, said. “It’s definitely a great experience playing for [head coach Lauren] Zallis, [assistant coach Jason] Fried, and [assistant coach Jonathan] Cummings. They’ve helped me grow as a player and a person.”
The Simkowski sisters were encouraged to get into sports by their parents, especially their father Alan, who played college football at the University of Wisconsin.
“My parents encouraged us to try all sports at a very young age,” Paulina said. “Considering my dad played football, he wanted to keep the athleticism running in the family.”
Of course, any time siblings play with or against each other, competitive pride kicks in, and it was no different for the Simkowskis.
“Growing up with two sisters has definitely made me competitive,” said Scarlett, who will play volleyball at NCAA Division III Edgewood University in Madison, Wisconsin. “It was always about beating the others. Also, the thrill of the game in those tense moments made me continue to play growing up.”
Oak Park-River Forest High School senior Genevieve Simkowski (in white) controls the ball against Fenwick in a girls soccer match earlier this year. (Courtesy of Carol Dunning) 
Genevieve Simkowski (bottom left) with her sisters Scarlett in the middle row on the left and right respectively, along with their friend and Oak Park and River Forest High School classmate Maddy Vizzone in the middle in their youth days at a University of Wisconsin soccer camp, where they met U.S. national team stars Alex Morgan and Rose Lavalle. (Provided by Alan Simkowski)
Genevieve will play soccer at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. She has two goals and five assists for the Huskies. Paulina, who also plans to attend Wisconsin-Whitewater, is undecided about continuing her athletic career, but she’s been a solid contributor to OPRF’s defense.
Scarlett has one full game shutout and shared two other shutouts with sophomore Lily VanderGriend. Her biggest moments came against York on March 24 in a West Suburban Silver match. She stopped a penalty kick in overtime and made two saves in the ensuing penalty kick round to give the Huskies the victory.
The triplets’ love for soccer developed at a young age. They met U.S. Women’s National Team stars Rose Lavalle and Alex Morgan, and the duo made a distinct impression on them.
“Obviously Alex is one of the top USA players ever, and at a [Chicago] Red Stars game, she signed autographs and then asked for a phone so she could take the selfie [with us],” Genevieve said. “It was one of the coolest moments ever from a world-class athlete and superstar, which is great for girls looking for role models.”
“We met Rose at a [Wisconsin] soccer camp and she had a lot of fun trying to remember our names,” Paulina said.
“They taught me a lot about what it means to be a college athlete that I will definitely use the next four years,” Scarlett said. “It was definitely a cool experience being coached by them.”
The Simkowskis know they’re in their last few weeks of being together at school. It’s a bittersweet feeling, but they’re more focused on the rest of the season and helping the Huskies make a run in the upcoming Class 3A tournament. OPRF is seeded second at Downers Grove South, and the sisters are ready.
“We want to finish strong and go far in the playoffs,” Genevieve said. “We believe that working hard, staying focused, and our connection as a team can get us there.”
“As a team, our expectations are to win conference, the regional, and continue the journey down to state,” Paulina said. “We all believe in each other and know we can get there by continuing to support each other from here on out.”
“We all want to go far in the playoffs and we’re trying to stay as focused as we can and supporting each other through every challenge and step of the way,” Scarlett said.
OPRF returns to the pitch at Lyons Township, May 9, then meets Glenbard West in the season’s home finale, May 13, at 7:30 p.m.
