UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Much like most college student-athletes, the Dhruva sisters on the Penn State women's golf team are adjusting to a new lifestyle away from their usual routine. Isha and Ashni are back home and off the golf course after COVID-19 forced the rest of the spring semester online.
The duo from Katy, Texas also lost what was set to be most of their only season playing together at Penn State. After Isha, a freshman, missed the entire fall semester of her freshman year to injury, she was looking forward to getting back on the course and playing with Ashni, a senior, this spring, an opportunity that was cut short. While their time together on the course was limited; off the course, the support Ashni showed for her sister getting back on the course did not go unnoticed.
"It was helpful to have someone there who I knew would always support me," Isha said. "It was nice to have someone who would have my back and knew what I was going through and share that with me."
Ashni is set to graduate in May with a degree in bio-behavioral health and does not plan on using her extra year of eligibility. She plans on staying close to home and attending Rice University to pursue a Masters and PhD in Biosciences.
As the older sister, Ashni has always been right by Isha's side, and plans to keep doing so as she moves on to her post-golf endeavors. Ashni will always be playing golf, even though her time at Penn State has come to an end.
Now back home, the bond they shared at Penn State this school year has continued through this unprecedented situation. They continue to push each other, getting one another up in the morning to work out and continue to play as much golf as they can.
"We've been going out to the golf course a lot," Ashni said. "We're going to the range and doing what we can. We've even set up a putting green at home and that has been cool."
When she can get on the course, Isha is continuing the get better with the help of her older sister. Right now, the goal is iron accuracy and hitting more greens. So, whenever Isha can return to Penn State for the next season, she is ready to take a step forward between freshman and sophomore year.
While they continue to work at home, Ashni and Isha are still fortunate for the short time they got to spend together at school. They did have some prior experience playing together in high school and cherish the memories they had between playing at home and at Penn State.
"Motivating each other to do better each day is always comforting," Ashni said. "We've been doing that our whole lives."
For Isha, she was still able to enjoy success her freshman year, even though it was cut short. She was able to make it into the lineup and is really excited about her future with the Nittany Lions.
While Isha's plan was not to always go to Penn State, she didn't want it to seem like she was following in her sister's footsteps, after one year Isha thinks it turned out for the best and has no regrets about her decision.
"I went to visit and it's an amazing atmosphere," she said. "My teammates and coaches do a great job at everything they do. I don't think Ashni played a significant role in me going to Penn State, but in the end, it was definitely the right choice."
Throughout her first year, Isha quickly fell in love with the culture Ashni and her fellow upperclassmen created over the last few years. Ashni hopes that the seniors left a message that their team is unbreakable, and her hope is that the amazing team chemistry can keep going.
From the perspective of a freshman, like Isha, it appears the culture Ashni helped create is successfully being passed down.
"Something that stood out from my first year is how welcoming and warm everyone was," Isha said. "You're always kind of nervous going into a new environment and how it's going to play out."
Moving forward, Ashni is set to begin the next chapter in her life, while Isha is just getting started on her journey at Penn State. Even though they will be going different directions, Isha and Ashni will continue to remain right by each other's side.
The competitions between the two will continue. While intense, they always have a lot of fun going up against one another.
"I think it's really fun to have someone that you can be really competitive with without trying to hurt their feelings," Isha said. "We always have fun and try to one up each other and make each other better."
For the sisters, it is always a comforting feeling to have the other one by their side. No matter where they end up on or off the golf course, the support from eachother never will go unnoticed.
While times are not easy right now, there is still a lot for the Dhruva sisters to look forward to. Isha couldn't be more excited for the next three years and Ashni is looking forward to the legacy her sister will create for the Nittany Lions.
"I think it is something we will get through, but I'm excited to see what she has to do for the next few years," Ashni said "I'll be watching and hopefully she will always have a familiar face watching her play."
