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INDIANOLA, Iowa – There is no sibling rivalry between Simpson College senior Matt Winegard and his freshman sister, Chelsea.

The two Muscatine graduates recently completed the fall soccer season for the Simpson men’s and women’s soccer teams.

After three years of coming to see her brother play for the Storm, Chelsea decided Simpson was where she wanted to play college soccer, too.

“I always knew I wanted to play soccer,” Chelsea said. “I’d been coming to see Matt play since I was a freshman. I liked the campus, the fact the buildings are so close together.

“Simpson has good academics, and with my brother’s influence — since he and I are so close — I got a good vibe out of it, also.”

Matt added, “Soccer has always been our favorite sport. She’d been coming the past three years to see me play and in seeing the campus, the experience of being here, she decided to come here, too. We weren’t pressuring her because she’ll be here for three more years on her own.”

According to Matt, the two have always been close.

“Most brothers and sisters won’t say this, but we’ve always gotten along,” Matt said. “We know people from soccer, and we all eat together and see each other all the time.”

That closeness has carried over to the soccer field where both Simpson teams qualified for the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. It was the first conference tournament berth for both Winegards and both said the experience was “cool.”

“We thought it was cool that both Simpson teams were in the tournament,” said Chelsea, whose women’s team finished 11-8-0. “We got to ride on the bus up together and watched the other team play. I was glad I got to see him play in his final game.”

Matt added, “It was kind of cool for each of us to make it. It was my first time being there and obviously it was Chelsea’s. It was a good experience and we got to enjoy it. It was neat to get see each other play and spend time together.”

While the women’s team fell in the conference final to Dubuque,

1-0, the men’s team lost in the semifinal round to Loras.

“It was very exciting,” Chelsea said, “but also nerve-wracking. Most of the team was freshmen, and at the start of the season we never thought we’d be in the conference tournament finals.”

Though Matt has received honors and accolades throughout his career, the biggest thing for him was when the Storm, who were

6-9-4 this fall, upset fourth-ranked Luther in penalty kicks during the IIAC tourney.

“I really enjoyed (being named to) the ESPN the Magazine (district all-academic team),” Matt said, “that is nice to have your name attached to, but I don’t care about that as much as seeing the team excel.

“In the conference tournament, when we won in a penalty-kick shootout at Luther, everyone stormed the field and we got to celebrate with the team – that was the biggest thing.”

In addition to adjusting to the college game, Chelsea has had to adjust to a new position. After spending most of her high school career as a forward, she was a defender this season.

“In high school, I played lots of different positions,” Chelsea said. “I was open to it (the change), but what I had to get used to is the game is played different in college.”

This fall has been a chance for the two to talk about soccer and support each other in school one last time.

 “Chelsea asks me for advice,” Matt said. “We used to play the same position. I think she looks to me for a mentoring role, but not for any particular thing. She

doesn’t come to me regularly, just some advice.

“She’s supportive just the same. She provides a supporting role, and we’re always there for each other in that respect.”

Chelsea agreed.

“My brother always motivates me in my soccer career,” she said. “It’s always good to have him to talk to.”

Matt Winegard

- School: Simpson College

- Sport: Soccer

- Hometown: Muscatine

- Parents: Chad and Diane Winegard

- Year: Senior

- Height: 5-foot-10

- Weight: 170

- Position: Defender/Outside Midfielder

- Major: Biology. He’s currently applying to physical therapy schools.

Chelsea Winegard

- School: Simpson College

- Sport: Soccer

- Hometown: Muscatine

- Parents: Chad and Diane Winegard

- Year: Freshman

- Height: 5-foot-5

- Position: Defender

- Major: Undecided

- Quotable: My brother always motivates me in my soccer career. It’s always good to have him to talk to.” — Chelsea Winegard