“I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” Richardson recalled. “She’s my teammate?”
Varichak had always been Richardson’s nemesis, but the two quickly got over their high school sports rivalry and took their budding friendship to St. Scholastica, where they look nearly identical on the volleyball court and are nearly inseparable off it.“I have a hard time telling them apart, even on campus,” said former Saints athletic director Tony Barrett. “And then when they pull their hair back and take the court, it’s even harder.”
One thing that is easy to tell is the impact the seniors have had in four seasons with the Saints.
Varichak has gone from 2004 News Tribune Player of the Year to an impact player at the college level. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter was a first-team All-Upper Midwest Athletic Conference selection last season. She leads the Saints with 142 kills and is second with 133 digs. She is third in school history with 1,375 kills and 4,165 attacks, not far off the Saints’ records of 1,641 and 4,376, respectively.
“We never got along because we were just too headstrong,” Richardson said of Varichak, whom she first saw in the seventh grade. “Shawna always had the edge in volleyball, but I had the edge in basketball, although she’ll never admit it. Ever.”
Richardson played sparingly her first two years at St. Scholastica before emerging last season to earn UMAC honorable mention honors. This year, the 5-9 middle blocker is first in blocks (25), third in kills (72) and is third in service aces (10).
Varichak was a polished player coming from the renowned Hibbing High School program, but Richardson had to keep working until she eventually made the progress coaches love to see.
“Dustie didn’t see hardly any playing time her freshman and sophomore year, and that drove her crazy,” Saints coach Dana Moore said. “Then all of the sudden, the light bulb just went on her junior year. She stepped on the court with an attitude that she was going to play. She earned it. She just kept working and working until she escalated her level of play.”
St. Scholastica (3-7) has struggled to win close matches but Moore expects her team to compete for a UMAC title. She said it’s a close group, in particular her five seniors.
Varichak lived with Richardson her freshman year and was roommates with teammate Erin Niles of Grand Rapids another two years after that. Varichak and Richardson play intramural basketball together, which is a far cry from the summers they spent battling each other in 3-on-3 tournaments.
“It’s just so funny that we didn’t like each other at all in high school, and now we’re best friends,” Varichak said of Richardson. “I have family in the Coleraine area and I’d hear stuff. Who knew if it was true or not? But once you get of out high school, you kind of leave it at that and realize there are good people no matter where they’re from.”
Varichak has helped push Richardson in academics as well. Varichak is a biology major who might take a year off to do research before going into medical school, while Richardson is majoring in psychology. But it is outside of class where Richardson has truly learned the most about telepathy.
“We were nemeses in high school, but now we’ve grown to love each other. It’s almost like she’s my sister. For real, we even finish each other sentences,” Richardson said. “We like all the same boys, and it’s hilarious. I wouldn’t know who she likes, but I’m vocal and I’ll end up saying what she’s thinking all the time. I’ll have to learn sometimes not to talk so much.”
When asked if they would keep in touch after college, Varichak said, “absolutely.”
“She’s practically my sister,” Varichak said. “She’s family to me and my parents. My parents always call her, ‘Their other daughter.’ ”
***Article written by Jon Nowacki of the Duluth News Tribune***
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