By Starr Dove

Charlie and Aleksey Bugg are known across Kernersville for being the lacrosse sibling dream team. The brother and sister combo have grown up playing lacrosse, and their love for it has grown even stronger in support of each other.

Charlie has played lacrosse for ten years now, and Aleksey has played for eight. While Charlie and Aleksey, a senior and junior at East Forsyth High School, both play on their respective varsity team, Aleksey also plays on the NC Elite Team.

They first acquired interest in lacrosse because of their dad. Charlie commented, “Our dad played in college and then he went on to coach high school lacrosse at Bishop McGuiness. When he started the youth program in Kernersville, we just grew up playing lacrosse.”

Their relationship as brother and sister lacrosse players has “grown a lot,” Aleksey said. “We have gotten closer to each other. We do lots of things together and sometimes we go out on the field and practice together. We get along, which is great now, because we used to not get along and did not like each other much. Now that we have a stronger relationship, the lacrosse just comes more easily.”

For the Bugg family, lacrosse is not just another sport, it is their life. “Our mom sacrifices a lot; she has been at every tournament for both of us, not just local either. Since we travel, she has been there with us, whether it is to New York or Maryland or Philadelphia,” Charlie said. Aleksey agreed, adding that “at every single dinner we talk about lacrosse. That is all it is; our whole family is lacrosse.”

They do not just encourage each other on the field, but off as well. Because they both attend East Forsyth, they help each other stay focused on the playing field and with their courses. “Charlie tells me what I do wrong in games,” Aleksey said. “Sometimes our schedules are so busy that we cannot make it to all of each other’s games, but we are always there in spirit. We always tell each other what we need to improve on, during lacrosse and school work.”

The Bugg duo has a ritual to help keep them focused and working hard. Before every game, their teams recite a prayer, and Aleksey said that she “just thinks to [herself] on the side, praying and being thankful for where [she is] in life.”

Aleksey and Charlie wanted to make a final comment about being selected as co-athletes of the month: “Thank you to my family for all that you give us and we want to give a shoutout to all our coaches for their support and effort to keep us striving.”