Even though they are four years apart, Olivia and Mason Schlofer both can draw several parallels to the athletic and academic careers.

They both were instrumental part of the Catasauqua sports scene and beyond.

“My brother and I did karate when we were young,” recalled Olivia, a 2016 Roughies’ grad. “I got black belt and my brother has a brown belt. But we really learned a lot of life lessons from it as well as playing sports. Outside of school sports, we both like to snowboard and wakeboard.”

This spring marked a monumental event for both. Olivia earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Moravian College after a steady four-year field hockey career there, and Mason earned his diploma from Catasauqua after a flexible and productive baseball career with the Roughies.

“There isn’t a sense of finality yet,” said Olivia, whose commencement exercises will be held in October due to the COVID-19 outbreak. “It was frustrating the way it ended, and maybe later it will feel finished.”

Mason also would have liked to have seen the usual ending.

“It would have been cool to play my senior year,” he said. “But it is what it is. Having Senior Night would have been great, and it stinks not being able to participate. We did have a scrimmage against Liberty, and I did have a good game. Who knew it was the last time I would play in high school.

“We were all pretty confident and comfortable and felt we were going to have a good year.”

Ironically, Olivia was a four-year starter, and Mason was a three-year starter at softball and baseball respectively, and she and her brother both predominantly played first base.

Over the past few years, Mason also became the team’s ultimate utility player, possibly filling in at every position except catcher.

Head baseball coach Steve Bradley has cherished the value of Schlofer’s field flexibility and infectious personality.

“Mason was a three-year starter and one of the best utility players I have had since I have coached at Catasauqua,” said Bradley. “He brought s big smile and a positive attitude to practices and his teammates loved having him around.

“His skills were second to none due to his hard work. He was pumped and would have brought a winning performance to this year’s team.”

They both drew inspiration from their parents, Linda and Michael.

“Our parents never really pushed us into a sport,” noted Olivia. “Looking back, they introduced us to sports and we did it for the love of it. But they were right there with us all the way.

“Our parents also told us to do the best we could,” added Mason. “They were with us since we were young enough to do it. No matter what happened, they were always positive.”

Both Schlofers eventually found their niche in their sports.

“I really didn’t start playing sports until middle school,” said Olivia. “I played softball and basketball in seventh and field hockey in eighth grade. From there, things went well for me.

“I’ve been playing baseball my whole life,” stated Mason. “I played football and basketball when I was younger, but I eventually shifter to baseball.”

Olivia, who was the Roughies’ team captain and an Honorable Mention Colonial League choice as a senior and three-year starter, realized the elevated play at Moravian would be a challenge.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” she recalled. “It wasn’t like high school. It was a continuous season that kept me in shape and kept me on track. Like high school, I learned how to manage my time. I would do it all over again.”

As a midfield, Olivia had one goal as a freshman and junior sandwiched around an eight-goal sophomore season. However, her one goal as a junior was special.

“That always will be a memorable one,” she said. “It was a winning goal and it was such as great feeling have the entire team rush toward me.”

Mason always will cherish his first hit as a sophomore at Northwestern, and a double off the way last season off league MVP Notre Dame pitcher Steve Luke.

“He (Luke) threw a knuckleball, and I got all of it,” he recounted. “That was great.”

Both Schlofers have excelled in the classroom as well. Olivia was ranked third in her class and received the principal award, and Mason was ranked eighth and was named the school’s male Colonial League Scholar Athlete award recipient.

Olivia was on the dean’s list and Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll twice at Moravian. Mason currently is undecided on a major and will enter Lehigh County Community College in the fall before transferring to a four-year college. He will look into the possibility of playing baseball there.

Olivia has accepted a position from St. Luke’s Anderson Campus on a medical surgical unit that focuses on cardiac and stroke patients. Olivia worked as a nurse’s aide the past two years.

She also accepted a position as an assistant coach on the Marojoka Field Hockey Club.

“The coaches at Moravian have worked with the instructors in the nursing program,” said Olivia. “It was a challenge balancing both, but academics came first. I always like the thought about caring for people, especially on the medicinal side. It really all came together for me.”

“I would like to stay in the game (field hockey). It has been a big part of my life.”

For her brother, it will be a new beginning.

“I’m hoping I can play during the summer, but we’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I am looking forward to the fall and see what I can do in college.”

Based on their past, both Schlofers should have a bright future.