Hansen twins glad they’ll be close to each other while competing in college

DELAVAN, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — He admits he thought his best sport was basketball.

Cooper Hansen thought basketball might be his ticket to college but last week, he signed to play golf at Carl Sandburg Community College.

“I’ve been waiting and itching to sign. Ready to go and commit myself to playing at the next level and continue my golf career,” Cooper Hansen said. “And my sister is also 15 minutes away.”

His Mylee Hansen, best known as the female kicker for the Pekin High School football team. Mylee is headed to Monmouth College to play football and soccer.

Sandburg is in Galesburg, 17 miles from Monmouth. Cooper Hansen says his decision to play at Sandburg was easier to make because he’ll be closer to his twin sister.

“I’ll never admit this to her but when she committed to Monmouth (last fall) and Carl Sandburg reached out and gave me an offer, that was an added bonus,” Cooper Hansen said.

Cooper’s father Dan is the head basketball coach at Delavan. The Hansen family felt Cooper was better suited to go to a small high school and enrolled him at Delavan as a freshman.

Delavan has an enrollment of 137 students. There are 1,820 students at Pekin.

The Hansen’s have homes in both school districts. Cooper and his father stayed at the home in Delavan so the younger Hansen could go to school there.

Mylee and mom Amy stayed at the home in Pekin. It was a situation that worked for everyone, the family said.

“I love being close to him because he is my other half. I can’t wait for college and see where he goes,” said Mylee Hansen. “I’m grateful he is my twin and he can do this. I’m proud of what he’s done. I think he deserves all he’s gotten.”

Cooper and Mylee played on some youth sports teams together but for the most part say they pushed and encouraged each other through their sports journeys. And they say they’ll do the same in college, especially since they won’t be far apart.

“If she does something great like makes all-conference, I know it will fuel me and make me work harder at my craft and get better,” said Cooper Hansen. “So I can become just as good. Hopefully we can become famous together, I guess.”

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