The Bawanan sisters have set a new standard at El Diamante High School.
In the fall, identical twins Brooklyn and Kai anchored the Miners to the school’s first Central Section girls cross country championship, winning it all in Division II.
El Diamante placed first in the 22-team field at that November 3.1-mile race, scoring 44 points behind three top-10 finishes. Brooklyn and Kai helped lead the way with personal-best performances. Brooklyn turned in a fourth-place outing (19:16.01), and Kai finished eighth (19:40.94).
That championship mentality carried over to the winter sports season.
The sisters followed an outstanding cross country campaign with another record-setting run — this time on the soccer field.
The Bawanans, once again, helped No. 6 El Diamante make school history on Feb. 25, guiding the Miners to a Central Section Division II championship in girls soccer with a 4-1 win over fourth-ranked Tulare Western. That section title marked the school’s first soccer section championship in school history, boys or girls.
During that championship march, Brooklyn, a forward, led El Diamante in points with 13 goals and eight assists. Kai, a central defender, was the veteran leader on a backline that allowed just 27 goals in 27 matches.
“It’s amazing having those girls on the team,” El Diamante head girls soccer coach Spencer Vandergriff said. “They’re some of the most positive people that I have ever come across, legitimately. They care for everybody. They’re the genuine article when it comes to, ‘Hello. How are you?’ Taking an interest in your day, what’s going on in your life. That’s just the kind of people that they are, apart from soccer. They’re awesome human beings.”
The Bawanans played their best soccer in the section playoffs.
In four postseason games, Brooklyn delivered two goals, one each in victories against 11th-seed Kingsburg and No. 3 Bakersfield Christian, and also fired three assists, including one in a section championship 4-1 win at Tulare Western. She also had the game-winning assist in the Miners’ 1-0 shutout victory of two-seed Hanford.
Defensively, Kai and the Miners surrendered a goal or fewer in three of the team’s playoff victories, and even posted a clean sheet against a Hanford squad that averaged 3.3 goals per match, shutting down Bullpups star striker Kensyn Laird, who entered the semifinal with 67 career goals, including 36 this season.
“As far as the soccer goes, the athleticism that they possess, it’s just nuts,” Vandergriff said. “It takes our team to the next level. Brooklyn is a nine, so she is a striker up top, and Kai is the four or the five; she’s the central defender. So when you have both of them on opposite ends of the field, and they’re both moving up and checking down, there’s not an inch of the field that you are leaving uncovered if you need something to be covered. We don’t necessarily want them to move into those spaces, but we know they can and will, and also get back and do their job when they’re doing the other as well.”
Hard work pays off
The Bawanan sisters’ success is driven by hard work, which was instilled by their parents, dad, Lee, and mom, Marcy.
Before every practice, cross country and soccer, the twins run a mile together on the school’s track.
That’s a tradition the girls, who are part Filipino, started as freshmen when they realized they were just waiting, standing around, and not doing anything before practice.
The original idea was not to waste any time and get in a workout — all within 10 minutes.
And some days, depending on how many homework assignments they have, the sisters also sneak in another mile after practice.
Today, that extra work has paid off with two section titles in two different sports.
“Even when people aren’t looking, Brooklyn and I, we’re always going on runs,” Kai said. “We’re always working, training on our off days. All those things. We’ve definitely put in a lot of work when people aren’t looking. I don’t think many people see that, but it’s expected. Long nights, especially after cross country practice, where we drive to Fresno, and have practice there, too, late. It’s long days.”
Brooklyn agreed.
“Absolutely,” Brooklyn said. “It definitely has. We have a lot of unseen work, a lot of stretching done at home, recovery days, training when we don’t actually have practice. Extra sessions. Double sessions. There’s a lot that goes into it that has gone unseen.”
‘A built-in best friend’
The Bawanan sisters are almost inseparable.
They’ve played on the same sports teams since they started competing, and have even been in the same classes together. Kai is the older sister by a minute.
What’s it like growing up with a twin?
“It’s like having a built-in best friend,” Kai said. “I love having a twin. I’ve never been alone. I’ve always had that built-in bestie, whether that’s in school or sports. I’ve always had someone who has my back.”
Brooklyn echoed her sister’s sentiments.
“It is such a fun experience,” Brooklyn said. “I love having a twin. … You always have a built-in best friend. You’re never lonely. You always have someone there. It’s like, I don’t know, almost like having yourself because they’re part of you, so it’s so much fun.
“I am extremely lucky. It’s such an amazing experience. Just growing up, we’ve always done the same extracurriculars, been on the same sports teams, so being able to be each other’s teammates, classmates, best friends through it all is such a fun experience because not everyone gets to experience that.”
The Bawanan twins have inspired each other their entire lives.
What’s it like to have that connection in sports?
“It’s honestly such a beautiful thing,” Kai said. “I love my sister. I want to work for her. I know she wants to work for me. So we just have this bond. Like in cross country, for instance, that was definitely a really hard race. Cross country is a matter of points, right? And we had to work hard for each other to get that title, so we really had to push ourselves, and we both PR.”
Brooklyn was also named El Diamante’s 2025 homecoming queen in the fall.
“My senior year has been so special,” Brooklyn said. “I’ve had so much fun. I genuinely do think I’m living my high school dream. I’ve had amazing team experiences with both of my teams so far. I know that track will be the same as well, very successful, lots of growth has been made, and I’m very excited to know that I got to help build a program that is going to continue after me.”
One last hurrah
The Bawanans will likely go on their own journeys in college.
Brooklyn has signed to run track at Fresno State. Kai is currently undecided but plans to play college soccer.
Before the two depart for college, though, they still have the spring track and field season.
Brooklyn qualified for the state meet last year in the 300-meter hurdles after winning the East Yosemite League and Central Section Division II championships in the same event.
Kai also advanced to last season’s Central Section Masters Championships in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.
The sisters are expecting similar results for their one last hurrah.
“It’s the senior dream,” Kai said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Two hats. Two rings. I’m excited. I can’t wait to see what it brings.”
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Bawanan twins lead El Diamante to historic cross country, soccer titles
Reporting by Vongni Yang, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
