Twins don’t often get to play college basketball together, but it has unexpectedly worked out for Fenwick’s Jennifer and Jessica Mackowiak.
The senior twin guards from Cicero signed Nov. 12 to play next season at Southeast Missouri State. That scenario didn’t seem likely months ago as the Cape Girardeau school was recruiting only Jennifer Mackowiak, who is a four-year varsity player for the Friars.
Jessica Mackowiak said the Southeast Missouri coaching staff became interested in recruiting her after seeing the twins play together for the Illinois Elite over the summer.
“They were not looking at me, just Jennifer,” Jessica Mackowiak said. “My summer was going pretty good and [the coaches] knew me. We knew each other from Jennifer’s recruiting. They asked Jennifer for my phone number and we kept in contact.”
The Mackowiak twins became two of the Redhawks’ four recruits signed for 2015. The Ohio Valley Conference school also signed their club teammate, Elk Grove’s 6-4 center Amber Lindfors.
Jennifer Mackowiak said the signing of three Illinois Elite teammates was just a coincidence.
“We didn’t work it out together,” Jennifer Mackowiak said. “It just happened. After I committed, [Lindfors] committed in the summer.”
The twins traveled to Peoria Nov. 30 to attend Southeast Missouri’s 70-65 victory at Bradley. The trip gave the sisters an opportunity to get to know Southeast Missouri coach Ty Margenthaler and their future teammates.
“It’s very cool,” Fenwick coach Dave Power said. “I’m happy for the both of them. They have put a lot of time into basketball.”
Jennifer Mackowiak, who is three minutes older than Jessica, selected Southeast Missouri over Indiana State and Illinois State. Jennifer Mackowiak plans to study criminology while Jessica is undecided.
The twins’ commitments give Fenwick back-to-back seasons with Division I recruits. Jade Owens is a reserve freshman guard at Creighton this season. Entering the week, Owens has played in all 10 of Creighton’s games and is averaging 2.6 points.
The Mackowiak sisters are good friends with Owens and keep in touch with her.
“It has been great,” Jessica Mackowiak said. “When we told her [about Southeast Missouri], she was so excited. Everyone has been cheering us on. We’re so excited and we’re close to Jade. We talk all the time.”
