Fraternal Bond

The bond between sisters Mimi and Maytal Shvartz, standouts on the El Camino Real High girls’ soccer team, has been evident since they were toddlers.

While playing on a slide with Mimi, Maytal fell and needed stitches to close a gash on her chin. Soon after, Mimi, while pushing Maytal down a hill on her tricycle, tripped over the trike and required stitches to mend her chin.

The fraternal twins have been through everything together, all the cuts and bruises, laughter and tears, good and bad times. But nothing could prepare the seniors for what happened in August.

While sitting in a parked car in Hollywood, their father Aron was killed by a man who crashed into the car and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

The tragedy presented the twins with the difficult task of coping without their hero.

“You just kind of have to live with it and deal with the fact that our lives are different and try to live a normal life without forgetting everything he taught us,” Mimi said.

“Although it’s hard to face the fact that our lives will never be the same, the reality is that even though we don’t have his physical presence, his memories are always with us and we are learning to turn our anger and hurt into motivation to achieve goals that would make him proud.”

The incident has strengthened the bond between Mimi and Maytal, the same bond that has fueled their continued success and has the El Camino Real soccer team contending for its first City Section championship.

“We were always taught that family is No. 1 and we know that we are always there for each other,” Maytal said. “This has taught us that no matter what happens, we have each other to depend on.”

No longer is Aron there to cover the girls with plastic bags before getting into the car after a wet and muddy practice, or to provide support for his daughters at games.

The sisters no longer hear their father’s encouraging words, but his inspiration remains with them.

“We know that we will always have his support whether he is here or not,” Maytal said. “He has given us inspiration since we were little to always be the best we can be, and his competitive drive is always in our hearts.”

Motivation has helped Mimi, a defender, and Maytal, a midfielder, lead the Conquistadores to a 9-1-1 record.

They were born in Israel and are fluent in Hebrew, English and Spanish. They excel in nearly everything, each carrying grade-point averages of at least 3.5 and earning All-City soccer honors last season.

“From the time they entered the ninth grade, they’ve always been respected by their teachers and peers,” said David Hussey, the girls’ counselor and the El Camino Real boys’ soccer coach.

“Beyond athletics, they are very nice and caring young ladies. They are the type of girls that will make any parent proud. They go out of their way to help other people and don’t ask for anything in return.”

Competitive leaders, the sisters have never accepted second best.

Until they were 10, they competed in gymnastics before switching to soccer.

“I couldn’t do gymnastics because I was scared of the balance beam,” Mimi said. “I was scared of heights. Our parents’ love for soccer and desire for us to play a team sport rather than an individual sport made it clear that we would be soccer players, not gymnasts.”

Until last spring, the girls played on the same soccer team and were regulars at the Maccabi Games, where they helped Los Angeles capture the championship in Seattle in 1997 and in Detroit in ’98. Maytal helped the L.A. Force club soccer team win the state championship in May.

The girls volunteer with the Special Olympics, coach youth soccer and help out at the Jewish Home for the Aging.

“We have always been immersed in love and we wanted to share it with others by giving back to our community,” Maytal said.

Although success has become routine for Mimi and Maytal, they have never defeated rival Chatsworth.

In their four years as varsity starters, El Camino Real is 0-6 against the Chancellors.

“Beating Chatsworth has always been a goal of our team,” Maytal said. “Our school has never beat them, so a victory would be like rewarding all the players who have ever played at El Camino Real.”

This is probably the last year the girls will attend the same school. Maytal has committed to Pepperdine. Mimi is unsure of her plans, but probably will end up at a different college.

“Even though we are going our separate ways--it will be hard at first not having her around to argue with or to just eat lunch with--but it will be a positive experience for the both of us,” Mimi said.

“I know that if I ever need anything or want to hear a familiar voice, she’s just a phone call away.”