Children show their athletic prowess on fields, courts

Lakeside High School Athletic Director Randy Hill is a busy man.

Hill coaches varsity football in the fall and wrestling in the winter, and will head the newly formed varsity boys lacrosse team this spring. On top of the coaching duties, Hill's athletic director responsibilities put him over all sports at Lakeside.

He's got nothing on his kids.

Kyle, Kaitlin, and Scott pull a full workload as pupils at Lakeside High School and Riverside Middle. They also are athletes staying busy year-round with high school, middle school and club sports.

Combined, the three Hill kids have played on at least 14 sports teams over the years.

"Every night of the week there's something going on," Hill said.

Kyle, a senior at Lakeside, is a starter on the football team and competes on the wrestling and soccer teams. He's also delved into baseball and diving and plans to take his football game to the college level next season.

Kaitlin, a Lakeside freshman, plays basketball and soccer. As a starting pitcher on the Lady Panthers softball team, Kaitlin recently earned a complete game win in the AAAA Softball State Sectionals.

Scott, the youngest Hill, recently wrapped up a two-year run in middle school football that saw his Riverside team go an undefeated 12-0. He also competes in soccer, wrestling, and baseball.

Athletic director, coach, and dad Randy said three kids and so many sports teams add up to an active household.

"It's a zoo," he said. "For years my car was on automatic pilot to Patriots Park."

The children's interest in sports and their competitive nature run in the family. Randy and his wife, Martha, both were three-sport athletes at Georgetown College in Kentucky.

"Our kids have grown up around the gym and the football field," Martha said. "We knew it was a positive experience for us."

The Hill children also sport above-average grades.

Hill said getting his kids involved in sports at an early age played a big role in their development.

"It's a key part of life," he said. "It teaches you a lot of things. They have a great work ethic."

As competition in high school sports increases, parents are turning toward the growing trend of making their child concentrate on playing only one sport.

That trend is the opposite of the Hill family's philosophy.

"I think diversity is the best thing for any child," Martha said. "Being able to switch your athletic abilities is important. I think you'd be extremely bored if you didn't."

Who's the most competitive person in the family?

All the kids agree: It's mom.

"She won't play any board games with us any more," Kaitlin said. "She's too competitive."

"I probably am," Martha said. "I do like to win, but I like to watch them succeed and do well, too. I wouldn't want it any other way."