March 4, 2015
By Maria Canales, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Although the win against Penn on Saturday was much needed for the Nittany Lions, for some members of the crowd the win was bittersweet. Kim Kreinz, mother of junior faceoff specialist Drake Kreinz, was in the audience cheering on not one, but two of her sons.
Drake's younger brother Austin is a sophomore on the Quakers' lacrosse team, and Saturday's matchup was the first time the two brothers, only a grade apart, have played against each other.
"[This game was] bittersweet," said Kim Kreinz. "It's tough, knowing there will be one winner. They played on the high school team together and my best memory is of them playing against the rival high school that was more dominant than them and Drake had the OT winning goal. They worked together. After that I thought I never had to see another game, but this is a whole new level now."
Also in the crowd were Drake and Austin's younger siblings, along with many members of their extended family. The Kreinz family had known saw this matchup on the schedule over 18 months ago, and had been preparing since.
The family had designed matching T-shirts for the occasion, which made their large group stand out in comparison to the sea of people in attendance. What made the shirts special however, was what was on the back. Drake Kreinz wears number 38 for Penn State, and in a twist of fate, so does Austin for Penn. On the back of the family T-shirts was the number 38, recognizing both brothers, and bringing the occasion full circle.
"Whenever you have that many Kreinz's in one place too long it's nothing but trouble, [laughs] but it was great to see them," said Drake Kreinz. "They were cheering for both sides. It's just always good to see family, there's nothing like them coming twelve hours to see a game."
In the end, Penn State came out with a victory, but both brothers embraced each other after the game knowing an opportunity like this doesn't happen often. The family aspect of the lacrosse is nothing new to the Kreinz brothers, but competing against each other added something special to a matchup the family would never forget.
"[Austin's] one of my fiercest competitors," said Drake Kreinz. "I'm kind of bummed we didn't go against each other at the faceoff, but just having the opportunity to compete against him there's no better feeling."