ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – It’s not uncommon to see two of the same last name on a team, especially in high school sports. Seeing three is rare. Four of the same almost never happens. But Five? That sounds nearly impossible. The impossible happened this week at Ishpeming High School when five Gauthier’s took the court.
The Gauthier’s are made up of Senior Preston, Juniors Parker, Connor and Tremon and finally Freshmen Grady. Preston, Parker, and Connor are brothers and Grady and Tremon are their cousins. Last night, the 5 checked in to the varsity Ishpeming basketball game against Hancock in the fourth quarter.
While this is the first time the family has played at the varsity level together, it’s far from the first time they’ve been on the same court. Parker said “In my papa’s front yard he has a basketball court. We go there every summer, every day.”
The years off of playing pick-up in front of their grandparents house has been beneficial for the Gauthier’s and they say their bond between them goes beyond sharing the same last name. Connor says “People say we have a special connection, like telekinesis. We can call plays without telling each other.”
According to Ishpeming basketball coach Christopher Magnuson, the Gauthier’s are good on and off the court. Magnuson says “They’re fun kids; they show up to everything; they make coaching easier, especially here.”
The family took over the court on Preston’s senior night, meaning the last home game of the season is possibly the only chance the 5 will have to share the court. Preston says “to be honest, it felt like a movie when we all got checked in, in front of the crowd, the student section was going crazy.”
The Gauthier’s still have a few more cousins that will be in high school in a few years, so the possibility of seeing another all Gauthier lineup again is a likely one.
