In her freshman season at Kutztown University, Jess Aponik was part of a championship team — beating Edinboro in the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) final.
On paper, it looked like a dream season. But for Jess, it wasn’t quite that simple.
She didn’t play much, felt out of place, and missed being close to her family.
A city girl from northeast Philly, Jess was suddenly in the middle of Amish country — far from home and far from her twin sister, Jenna, who was playing her freshman season at Neumann.
The Aponik sisters have rarely left each other’s side in their basketball careers. “We’re like built-in best friends,” and “we support each other in everything we do and we do everything together,” Jenna said.
From starting together in fifth grade, to winning their CYO championship in eighth grade, and later a high school championship, their bond has always been evident.
So being apart for college was harder than either of them expected.
Jess went to Kutztown, drawn by a coaching staff that supported her throughout recruitment, while Jenna chose Neumann, where she felt welcomed and found the academic path she wanted.
“It was definitely hard not being on the court with her anymore. I just felt like something was missing without even knowing it,” Jenna said.
For Jess, “it was a lot harder without her.” After a year apart, she made the decision to transfer to Neumann, reuniting the sisters both on and off the court. “As soon as I got here, I just felt at home. I had my sister, which makes it 100% more homey,” Jess said.
Playing together again, Jenna said the chemistry is slowly coming back. “Maybe in the beginning it felt like we lost it for a minute, but it never went away. It’s just getting stronger again,” she said.
Some call their connection “twin telepathy,” as Jess described it.
“We know how we play. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We can tell what the other is going to do next — we just know. We’ve been playing together for so long,” Jenna said.
And now, just like old times, they’re back on the court together. Jess is a big, working down low and contributing offensively, while Jenna is a guard, covering the wings and focusing on defense. Their complementary styles make them a dynamic duo on the court, and their connection hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Our program was thrilled to have both Jess and Jenna,” Neumann coach Mary Beth McNichol said. “They bring not only talent but a built-in chemistry that elevates the entire team. Having them together on the court is a real advantage, and we’re excited to see what this season holds.”
After two consecutive conference final losses at Neumann, the sisters and their teammates are eager to finally get over the hump.
“I seriously think we could make it really far — maybe even the championship. We just have to work hard, but we have all the pieces,” Jess said. “After two close finishes, third time’s the charm — we’re hoping to win it all this year.”
Jenna is just as enthusiastic as her sister. “Our team is young, but we’ve been showing a lot of resilience. At first, we struggled a bit, but now we’re coming together more as a team and just getting better. I’m really excited to see what we can accomplish this season.”
“Winning together is awesome,” Jenna said, and Jess added, “I want to do it again, with her.”
With their bond stronger than ever and a promising team around them, the Aponik sisters are aiming to add another championship to their storied history — from grade school to high school, and now at Neumann.
