MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- Two sisters and a brother; three siblings from a rural farming community in central Iowa. These siblings are strong students, quality individuals and solid athletes. They are a close knit family brought even closer by a shared experience. That experience is suiting up in the Navy and Vegas Gold of North Central University Athletics.

In the fall of 2000 oldest sister Michelle Beichley (Sieh) came to North Central from Gladbrook, Iowa, a small town of 1000 about 90 minutes northeast of Des Moines. She came with a solid resume as a distance runner in track and cross country along with several years of basketball experience. Her plans did not initially include continuing to compete in college while pursuing a journalism degree.

"North Central was an easy choice for me, but I had absolutely no intention of playing sports during my college career." The oldest of four kids, Michelle offered.

But the Rams were starting up their first full varsity season of cross country after a successful launch of the Track program the previous spring and she was persuaded to join the team. A few months later she became the first NCCAA Division II Women's Cross Country All-American in Rams history. She would go on to be the first NCCAA National qualifier in the women's 5k in track & field and until this fall was the most decorated female track & field/cross country athlete in Rams history.

During her time as a student she also started working in the Athletics Department as an administrative assistant before moving to full time upon graduation in 2004. She was also serving as the Women's Cross Country coach during the team's first NCCAA DII National Championship in 2005. The team has gone on to win every NCCAA title since then including this season.

But during her final year working and coaching at North Central a special moment game when her brother Jay decided to attend NCU. With such a successful older sibling the legacy could have been filled with pressure. Now with his final year of cross country in the books and in the midst of his fourth and final baseball campaign Jay reflects on the influence Michelle's experience had on his own.

"I enjoyed coming to NCU and hearing people say, 'yeah that's Michelle's brother.' I love her and look up to her. Since people loved her so much it automatically put me in a great light," the senior education major said, "It was fun coming to a place where people knew my name."

Jay has since created his own legacy as a two year captain for a squad that won three NCCAA DII national championships in cross country during his career. He also a four year athlete for the Rams baseball squad that got back to the NCCAA DII World Series in 2011 after a several year absence. He is slated to graduate next spring.

Both Jay and Michelle were multiple year captains, claimed multiple NCCAA National Scholar Athlete awards and were recognized with various leadership accolades following their respective sports seasons. It would have been easy for the third Beichley sibling to stray away from the shadow cast by her older family members. However, the experience of her older siblings created an interest that resulted in 2011 freshman Sonya Beichley heading to North Central this fall and joining the Rams softball team.

"One thing that really drew me in was seeing how much Jay had grown in Christ. I could tell in his actions, his speech and every other aspect that his experience had changed him." Sonya explained.

Like her sister Sonya had run cross country in high school but decided not to run in college. Through the fall she realized that she missed the team atmosphere and with the encouragement of sophomore Hannah Gordon (Boise, Idaho) she came out for softball this spring.

"I was not even planning on playing sports but Hannah recruited me during intramural football. I realized how much I missed being a part of a team. It took me a bit to understand how much playing sports meant to me." She said.

All three siblings state that the relationships developed are key to their NCU experience.

"I will come away from NCU Athletics having close brothers and sisters that I have worked my tail off with and have bonded with in ways that cannot be formed without being on a team working towards a common goal." Jay said regarding his experience.

"Athletics to me was my family away from my family. It was a group of people who I worked hard with and who I knew supported me on the course, court, or field as well as off it." Michelle offered. "It allowed me to experience sports in a way that was healing and transforming- doing everything for the glory of God."

Sonya echoed that experience in her first year as a Ram.

"My favorite thing about athletics is definitely the people. The coaching staff has helped me with my confidence and made me feel I can execute what they are asking me to do. I have enjoyed the relationships that my team has fostered."

For the eldest sibling its been a rewarding experience seeing her family enjoy their NCU careers.

"It gives me great joy to watch my siblings experience the privilege of playing college sports at NCU. Its a unique time in their lives. I'm so proud of Jay and Sonya for giving their time and talent to the program."

That sentiment has already taken root in the youngest sibling who is in the midst of her young Rams career.

"I just love North Central. Its the perfect place for me and I'm thankful for such wonderful siblings who lead me here so that I may be grown in Christ and in athletics just as they have."