Page 44 - Spring 2022

Kendall Wells had a stellar freshman season for North Oconee, hitting a program-record 14 home runs and leading her team in hits, doubles, RBIs, runs scored and walks.
Kendall had an historic softball season, smacking a program- record 14 home runs and leading her team in hits, doubles, RBIs, runs scored and walks. She and the softball team reached the state championship round. She was a contributor on the North Oconee girls basketball team, which earned a spot in the state playoffs.
“As sisters, it’s cool to succeed with each other,” Kendall said. “At our school, they give boys and girls athlete of the month (awards) and we both got one. They say it over the speaker. Everyone knows that we’re sisters because I’m so loud around the school. But it’s cool to succeed together.”
Part of the reason the sisters thrive in their sports stems from their competitive personalities.
They both say they want to be the best on their teams, but they also want to be the best within their household. The sisters are highly competitive with each other.
“We cannot play a kickball game or anything for fun at our house. It’s serious,” Kendall said. “You’ve got to win, or else it’s no fun.”
Karlee and Kendall constantly push each other with regard to their athletic exploits. And even though they compete in different sports, they always find time to help out one another.
“Sometimes, we’ll go work out together or run together— things like that because I cannot throw and catch to save my life
or dribble a basketball,” Karlee said. “We do workouts together. And I think we motivate each other.”
That motivation has shone through over the years in more ways than one. Kendall motivated Karlee while recovering from a hand surgery, which required several screws to be placed in her hand. That injury, plus others that mounted over the years, forced Karlee out of gymnastics. That’s when she started diving.
Karlee and Kendall may be the only Wells sisters who have competed together in high school, but their relationships with their younger sisters are similar to their own dynamic.
Kamryn and Kourtney are in the seventh grade. Kamryn competes in barrel racing while Kourtney is a softball player who also enjoys horseback riding. Karlee said the more individualistic nature of diving and barrel racing helped forge a strong bond between her and Kamryn. The softball commonality between Kendall and Kourtney brought them close together as well.
Those bonds will be on display at NOHS when Kamryn and Kourtney join Kendall at the school.
But for now, the relationship between the older sisters is center stage.
Karlee will soon attend Georgia Southern University, where she’ll be part of the Eagles’ swimming and diving team after earning NOHS’ first diving scholarship in four years.
“It’s definitely going to be different for me,” Karlee said. “I’m
PAGE 42 | OCONEE THE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2022
Justin Hubbard