By Jake Sutera

It’s probably fitting that they’re Pisces.

Middlers Alexis and Victoria Kalevich, March-born fraternal twins from New Providence, N.J., have more in common than a couple of chromosomes. They are also members of the swimming and diving team, a squad that went undefeated last season and placed fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, Northeastern’s best ever showing.

The pair said they are lifelong swimmers and considered swimming an integral part of their lives. Swimming together at Northeastern, however, happened by chance.

“We just love to swim. We both have been swimming practically our whole lives and I could not imagine life without it,” said Victoria, who is blonde and 40 seconds older than her redhead sister. “It wasn’t the plan to go to college together; that just happened. We did know we were going to swim when we got there.”

The twins, who turn 21 in 2009 and are the youngest of four siblings, said swimming took up a large part of their childhoods. They have participated in the sport for the past 17 years, they said, and were inspired to get involved by their older sister, Allyson.

“We saw her doing it and we wanted to do it too,” Alexis said.

They said they were introduced to the water at a young age.

“At five years old we were already in the pool competing in eight and under swim meets on a club team,” Victoria said. “We really have been competing for as long I can remember.”

In addition to several club teams, including the Madison YMCA Mariners, they were part of the New Providence High School squad where they both swam all four years. In their senior year they were named co-captains and co-MVPs of their team.

Was there any rivalry between the two? Not as much as one might think.

“We were competitive when we were younger, and a little bit in high school because we were competing in the same events. But for the most part we wanted to see each other do well,” Victoria said, as Alexis agreed. “Now that we are a little older and aren’t swimming the same events anymore, any rivalry we had has basically diminished.”

People close to the twins, such as swimming head coach Roy Coates, said they notice the duo’s closeness more than any kind of rivalry.

“They are more than just sisters. The unique bond they share is very special,” Coates said. “Although they swim in different events and are in separate practice groups, they still have such a connection with each other.”

Middler Jennyfer Roberts said it didn’t take long for her to notice the interaction between Alexis and Victoria after she joined the swim team last season. Not only were these swimmers beneficial to the team, she said, but their relationship was special to see.

“They are the best of friends,” she said. “I’ve never seen them fight or argue and they constantly push themselves to be the best they can be. This helps the team out. It makes us work harder.”

Their bond was forced to grow even closer when Alexis’ and Victoria’s mother died during their senior year of high school.

“There was a moment when I didn’t want to swim anymore,” Alexis said. “But of course I had to step back and realize what my mom would’ve wanted me to do, which would be to keep swimming. She was so supportive.”

When it came time to apply to colleges, they said they originally agreed to go their separate ways. Alexis, who was accepted early, said she liked Northeastern for the co-op program and urban campus. But Victoria considered the University of New Hampshire, she said, before ultimately deciding to go with Northeastern because of the swim team and the athletic training major, a program that was rare among schools she was interested in.

However, the twins said they decided that even though they were going to the same school, they wouldn’t be sharing the same room.

“We wanted to meet new people and experience new things,” Alexis said.

While they weren’t venturing into residence hall life together, they did venture elsewhere: the swim team. They joined during their freshman year and were able to find their niche quickly in what Victoria described as a “great group of girls.”

Swimming head coach Roy Coates said the twins were up for the challenge of joining a competitive Division I squad.

“Both girls were very qualified in high school. They were accomplished swimmers and I was excited to have them on the team,” he said.

In their third season with the team, Coates said he believes Alexis and Victoria are poised to have excellent years.

“I expect Alexis to be one of our leading freestyle swimmers and Tori to continue being one of our best flyers [butterfly stroke] on the team.”

The twins praised the Northeastern coaching staff’s guidance in helping their progress as swimmers.

“They are the most understanding and compassionate coaches I have ever been around,” Victoria said. “They understand that academics and family come before swimming.”

The twins said they plan to go their separate ways after college. Alexis wants to go into her field of study, criminal justice, perhaps in an area of federal government.

Victoria, who is already a trainer with the volleyball and women’s hockey teams, said she is sticking with the sports theme.

“I have ‘cubicle phobia.’ I need to be active,” she said. “Whether it’s around athletes or around sports, I need to be out doing something. I can’t imagine me sitting in an office building all day.”

Wherever they go, the twins said they will always be close with each other – and close to the water.

“It will always be a part of us. It’s our passion, Victoria said. “I cannot imagine life without swimming,” Victoria said.”