HELENA — It's 363 miles between Boise, Idaho and Missoula, Montana. But for Paige and Dani Bartsch, the distance doesn't even matter. Paige Bartsch, a volleyball player for Boise State, and Dani Bartsch, a basketball player for the Lady Griz, are identical twins.
After spending nearly all their time together growing up, the Helena natives and sisters who boast a laundry list of athletic achievements, now see each other for maybe a week — the entire year. Christmas is the only holiday the twins are guaranteed to spend together. Distance is a factor, but a bigger impediment than the miles are schedules that overlap and conflict.
Yet, the time apart hasn't been all bad. "I love the time that we get to see each other," Dani said. "But I definitely think the space apart — in the life aspect and sports — allowed both of us to grow in both areas.
" "It was perfectly what we needed," Paige added. "We did everything together growing up. It was really nice for us to find out who we are individually, not just together.
We text all the time, each day and definitely stay in contact." Dani Bartsch, left, is pictured next to her twin sister Paige at one of their rare chances to see each other over the past three seasons as college athletes. The twins are as close as ever, but their relationship is different and the way others see them is different, too.
"It was good for us but it's weird when I say I'm a twin and people don't know that," Paige said. "I just forget people don't know.".