DECATUR -- Over the last four years, the Decatur Bulldog sports program was blessed with Victor and Mario Urquidi, a set of twins that transformed a small high school program into a powerhouse in basketball and track in the state of Arkansas. But as both Mario and Victor Urquidi were reaching their prime, another set of twins began their rise.
Cameron and Ryan Shaffer, now juniors at Decatur High School, were freshmen when Decatur won the 2A4West district championship in 2014. Ryan was on the bench, like several of his classmates, when the team won that title. More so, Ryan was an active member of the 2015 2A4West regular season championship team and contributed to the 10 and 1 conference record.
For Cameron, who is her second season at the center position, playing on the football team is no different then any of the other sports she participates in.
"I don't feel any different from any of them (boys)," said Cameron. "I feel like I am one of them and I don't feel they treat me any different."
Shane Holland, who is in his fifth season at Decatur, admits to being a little skeptical when he was first approached about having a girl in the program who would be a position player and not just a kicker.
"My initial reaction was, 'Oh my, oh my,'" Holland said. "I had a girl when I was at Jay (Okla.), an exchange student from Australia that was a kicker. But Cameron showed up and she's not just a kicker. So you don't know about that right at the first."
Holland tried several other players at center, but none of them worked out. That's when he broached the idea to Shaffer, who had played both offensive guard and tackle previously. Holland said Shaffer has been one of the team's best offensive linemen and often calls for adjustments and moves her teammates into the right formation.
"She's very intelligent," Holland said. "And she's a good lineman."
The center is not only responsible for handing off the ball to the quarterback but for holding the defense at bay to allow the quarterback time to complete the play. Only a handful of females play football on a high school team.
"It is kind of stressful," she said. "In softball, when I am the pitcher, I don't like to touch the ball on every play it makes me nervous. It depends on me getting the strikes and it depends on me getting a good snap to the quarterback."
Cameron proved that she was up to every task that Holland asked of her.
What is unique to the Shaffers is that both Cameron and Ryan play on the same offensive unit for Decatur. While Cameron plays on the offensive line, Ryan is in the backfield playing in the wide receiver's position. Only a very small percentage of brothers and sisters, twins or otherwise, made this distinction.
Ryan is not too concerned about playing with his sister on the same team. He focuses on the task at hand, which is getting the ball into the end zone.
"I really don't think much of it," he said. "She does what she does and I do what I do. It all goes toward the same goal, to win the game."
But Cameron also plays a dual role in another sport played at the same time as the football program.
The Decatur Bulldogs started their first volleyball team this season. For Cameron, who is a member of this historic team, it offered a unique and different challenge.
Ryan, like Cameron, is a well rounded athlete. In addition to playing varsity football, he also plays basketball, baseball, runs track and is a member of the Decatur trap shooting team.
Of all the sports Ryan participates in, track is his favorite. Earlier this year, Ryan, along with teammates Tyler Riddle, Taylor Haisman and Mark Guadarrama, won the state 4x800 meter rely race and went on to compete in the Meet of Champions in Russellville, where they ran against some of the top schools in the state. They finished ninth against schools such as Pine Bluff, Conway, Bryant and Rogers Heritage.
Ryan's interest does not end with sports. On occasion, after team warm ups, he will walk across the field toward the home bleachers and grab his saxophone and help the Decatur High School band play the National Anthem. In fact, Ryan has become an accomplished musician earning a spot on the all-region and all-state jazz band.
Ryan and Cameron Shaffer have been a real asset for the Decatur Bulldog sports program. Their continuing commitment to each of the sports in which they participate helps to fuel the Bulldog winning spirit.
What is next for the twins? Basketball.
Sports on 11/04/2015