ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
By: Rudy Brandl
Ellyn and Lauren Griggs love being teammates on the Hillsborough High field hockey team. They’re twin sisters who play different sports in the other scholastic seasons but the fall campaign gives them an opportunity to shine together.
HHS sports fans have come to appreciate the outstanding work of the Griggs twins in the last few years. Both are multi-sport athletes who will begin their final year of high school as a starting varsity goalkeeper for the third time.
Last season, Lauren scored the goal and Ellyn posted a shutout to vault the Raiders to a huge 1-0 field hockey victory over Ridge. Both girls recall that game as one of their finest scholastic athletic moments.
The Griggs girls were at it again in last Thursday’s home game vs. North Hunterdon. Ellyn, a third-year varsity goalkeeper, made three saves to register her second shutout of the week. Lauren, a second-year link who is also the starting goalkeeper on the HHS girls’ lacrosse team, scored a late insurance goal to help the Raiders notch a 2-0 victory.
Ellyn and Lauren Griggs are the Hillsborough Beacon Athletes of the Week. It’s fitting that identical twins share this honor.
"We have the same friends, we like the same food, we do the same everything," said Lauren, who claims to talk more and speak faster than her twin sister. "We do everything together. We have to like each other we share a room."
They even share a car and the responsibilities for driving it. Ellyn, who is two minutes older and one inch taller, drives to school and Lauren takes the wheel for the quick spin home after practice.
Another thing the 17-year-old sisters share is a passion for sports and a commitment to winning. They are two of the leaders on a team that won twice last week to improve to 3-4 after a slow start. Ellyn has three shutouts in the last four games and Lauren has two goals and one assist during that span.
"I haven’t had as many shutouts this year, but I try to save every shot that I can," Ellyn said. "We really want to get into the states. It’s our last year and I really want to make it."
The Griggs sisters have fun at practice, especially during shooting drills.
"She always takes good shots at me and it’s always a rivalry," Ellyn said.
"A friendly rivalry, of course," Lauren added.
The Griggs girls hope to take their twin sister act to the college level at Stevens Institute, where both have applied for admission. They certainly would add to the fun and excitement of that field hockey program like they have at Hillsborough.

