House Divided: McLean Twins On Opposite Sides of Michigan-Michigan State Rivalry

Michigan State freshman cross country/track & field runner Avery McLean has always been a part of a package deal.

Avery, and her identical twin sister, Madylin McLean, have been associated and compared with each other for as long as they can remember. They played the same sports, had the same friends and interests, and, most notably, were talented runners for Traverse City Central.

Their distance running talent helped the twins secure spots on major Big Ten cross country teams. When the time came to make a decision, they knew what had to be done.

COVID-19 pandemic derailed many college visits for high school athletes. Despite that, Avery opted for MSU due to family allegiance towards and familiarity with the Spartan program, while Madylin chose rival Michigan to further her running career, picking the Wolverines due to their strong engineering program and the campus lifestyle in Ann Arbor.

For the first time in their young lives, the twins would split. For a moment, imagine having a legitimate other half who has shared almost all of your experiences and then, one day, they are not there. Identical twins who had been synonymous with each other since birth all of a sudden found themselves heading to different schools that share a longstanding rivalry.

"My whole life it has been Avery and Madylin. We have always been the subject of comparisons," Avery said. "Here at MSU, I am just Avery."

For the McLean sisters, this change was much needed. The chance to go their separate ways, for now, gave the twins the opportunity to forge their own path and escape the comparisons that have been following them for years.

Their parents, Eric and Stephanie, made it clear to their daughters that this college decision was theirs alone. Avery said their parents urged them to make the decision based off their individual needs and wants. Eric and Stephanie are both Michigan State graduates, but Madylin said her dad has already purchased his first maize and blue shirt.

It was this urging that in part helped these young women make their important decision.

"We have been together since we went to a small private elementary and middle school and then on into high school and the running team. We knew that we both needed our own thing," Avery said.

Although they are at different schools for the first time, Avery and Madylin do not anticipate a change in their relationship.

"We are still super close, and running in the same conference at schools only an hour away from each other. My dad was able to visit MSU and then on his way back he went to Ann Arbor. I know my parents are happy that they can do that," Madylin said.

Right now, the twins described being apart for the first time in their lives as the honeymoon phase, citing their affinity for the newfound independence.

They both expressed their pleasure in having their own friends and identities and escaping the aforementioned comparisons.

However, Avery admitted that she will miss having someone who knows her so well and completely understands her.

"As time goes on, we will end up missing each other a lot," Avery said.

Madylin also identified this need, as most twins would.

"We definitely needed this to grow individually and create ourselves how we want to," Madylin said referring to their decision to split up for college.

Eric and Stephanie recognized this too and were in full support.

"We are just happy they both found a place they love, and luckily for us it is reasonable to be at both schools in a day," Stephanie said.

With the family on the same page, it was time for a fresh start.

No matter where these sisters go, they will always have each other's support. Each of them knows that.

The quest for individuality is what drove these siblings to where they are now. They found places they can start anew with a different perspective. For that, each of the McLean sisters are grateful.

House Divided: McLean Twins On Opposite Sides of Michigan-Michigan State Rivalry

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