Sophomore Ann and junior Joe Detmer share more than a sibling bond — they also share a passion for the same sport. Growing up in Lodi, Wis., just a half hour away from the University of Wisconsin campus, these two runners did what every sibling does at a younger age, compete and clash. Put their 19-year-old brother Pat who wrestles at UW-Oshkosh into the mix, and you have a breeding ground for family drama.
"[It] was typical brother stuff — never anything too serious," Ann said. "If we fought, it was about petty stuff. We just competed in just about everything, we ran around being kids — a lot of punching, kicking — [but] nothing serious."
Joe insisted, however, that life in the Detmer household wasn't all that dramatic.
"[My sister and I] were pretty good. I actually had a brother (Pat) whom I liked to tease a little more than I should, but pretty much we all got along well; there's just that little kid teasing we had going on when we were younger."
A topic for teasing that Pat and Ann used for a while was directed toward Joe and the fact that he never achieved something his younger siblings can lay claim to — winning state. While Ann won state her senior year of high school in the 800-meter run and her brother Pat won it in wrestling, Joe finished a mere second in the 400-meter dash.
Keeping the competitive spirit, though, Joe has achieved an even greater accolade than his siblings because he has won a Big Ten title. Two years ago he took home the distinction when he raced to a first-place finish in the 600-meter dash.
"There's a lot of give-and-take because he can say that he's been Big Ten champ and we haven't been, so there are a lot of things that we can get back at each other with," Ann said.
Although teasing was a part of growing up, when it comes to school, both Ann and Joe are all business. Track has always taken a backseat to school, the two Detmers said. And between the two, there isn't a lot of time for a social life.
"Homework and a lot of studying — I feel that that's all I've done lately — homework and run," said Ann.
"Basically [I] get up, go to class, come to practice and then study pretty much all night," Joe added. "There's not a lot of free time."
Joe, the two-time All-American, showed his level of commitment in the classroom by earning Academic all-Big Ten for the 2004 season and becoming a member of the Dean's List during the 2004 fall semester.
Yet despite not having the same credentials as her brother, Ann is not to be outdone. Her plans with a biology degree may include a career in medicine or research.
On the field Joe excels as well. His primary event is, well, all of them — he's a decathlete. Literally, he participates in every event from sprinting, throwing and distance to jumping and vaulting. Simply put, he does it all. Some see this versatility as impressive, Joe tributes it to stupidity and acknowledges that there's room for improvement.
"There's a little bit of natural talent, but it's also a lot of stupidity because you don't really want to focus on one thing," Joe explained. "You get bored real quick, so you have to just play around with anything. … We're often teased that we're the people on the team that aren't good at anything but are OK at just about everything, so I just want to get good at everything I have to do."
The area he specifically needs to improve is his field events. His natural endurance and speed allow him to shine in the running portions of the decathlon, but those abilities are rendered useless when it comes to throwing and jumping.
Ann is not quite at the same level as her brother, regarding her laurels on the track, but she is two years his junior. While Joe consistently places among the top five or six at major meets, Ann finishes toward the middle of the pack. Steady improvement over the past two years is a step in the right direction that even her brother compliments on.
"I think that I need to develop my speed a lot more because most runners who come into college tend to move up in college to build more endurance," Ann said. "I'm kind of the opposite; I ran the 800 and mile in high school, and they kept me at the 800 [here], so I think just working on my speed — because the endurance is there."
Track is a good thing for both siblings, and who knows what's in store down the road. All they're thinking about now is finishing the year strong whether it's on the track or in the classroom.
