Athletic families are nothing new to WHS. Westfield has a long tradition of excellence in athletics and there are plenty of notable families who have contributed to this success. It isn’t often, however, that you see a family with multiple children all playing the same sport at the highest level available.
Meet the Cadigans.
Senior twins, Patrick and Ella, have played soccer for their entire high school careers. “I started playing soccer from around four years old,” said Patrick. “Originally, I was into baseball more, but then around age six, I started to commit to soccer more.”
This year, they are joined by their younger sister, Emilie Cadigan, who has earned herself a spot on the varsity team as a freshman. To her, this means she is competing with athletes who are “older, stronger, and technically good.” This isn’t something new to Emilie, however. “We play one-v-ones a lot to practice during the high school season and even in the summers before,” Ella said. When asked about the outcomes of these, Ella said, “Usually it’s me, I usually dominate.”
However competitive they may be, Ella and Emilie agree that having a sibling with them on the roster is very beneficial. Their years of being together as soccer players and sisters have helped them form strong chemistry on and off the field. “It’s good to have the support of your siblings and it makes it easier after tough games to just talk it out with them,” said Ella.
“She always gives me advice to help me play calmer and make better decisions on the field,” said Emilie. “My teammates are also very helpful because they have a lot more experience and are very encouraging.”
The Cadigan kids’ love for the game is credited mainly to their parents, more specifically, their dad Rich Cadigan. “My dad played division one college soccer at La Salle, so throughout my whole childhood, he’s always been pushing me to do better at soccer,” said Patrick. “Coaching me to get out of my comfort zone, try different teams, play different positions really helped me be better.”
Rich agreed. “They all tried different sports, but soccer soon grabbed their interest because Mrs. Cadigan and I were always watching their games and we could all play together,” he said.
This influence was not placed solely on Patrick. In September, Ella announced her commitment to La Salle.
“I think that [La Salle] was always a school on my list that I was looking into and just to get the opportunity to play for them is great. I’ve seen some of their games and also seen how he’s influenced the program there back in the 90s,” said Ella.
Rich was thrilled with Ella’s decision.“What I’m most proud of is that she made the decision that was best for her. She did the research and made sure La Salle was the right place to challenge her academically and athletically,” he said. “We’re fortunate because we will get a chance to see her play a lot.”
Soccer is the centerpiece of this family, Rich added that they “make it a point for the entire family to go to every game and that adds to the fun and passion they each have for the game.”
There is certainly no doubt that the Cadigans are a soccer family now, and will be one for many years to come.
