Temple University Athletics
Quad Squad: Steve Leonard and his sisters share unique bond
2.28.18 | Men's Basketball
Before every basketball game, Steve Leonard is guaranteed at least three good luck text messages.
Each one comes from one of his sisters in their group message, named the "Quad Squad."
When people ask about his family, Leonard tells them he has three sisters.
When they ask if they are older or younger, things get a little more complicated.
"It's always the initial, 'so are you guys like twins or do you have any older siblings?' And it's like 'kind of,'" said Alyson, one of Steve's sisters. "And then it's 'ok so, older, younger?' And it's like 'same age.'"
Steve is a quadruplet, one of four, and has three sisters: Alyson, Anna and Lauren.
Three of the four, Steve, Alyson and Anna, graduated from Temple after transferring their junior year of college.
Alyson transferred from Elon University in North Carolina, Anna transferred from Bloomsburg University, two hours northeast of Temple, and Steve transferred from Ursinus College, 25 miles from Philadelphia.
Lauren graduated from Penn State.
"I was the farthest away," said Alyson. "You kind of feel lonely; that's also the freshman adjustment period, but it's weird not having your siblings in the same hallway."
"We would always call each other while walking just to talk and kill time," added Anna.
Being able to reconnect with two of his three siblings at Temple made it even more special when Steve made the team as a walk-on, because they were able to experience it with him.
His family had been to Steve's basketball games before, but those games didn't compare to the first time he ran out of the tunnel in Cherry and White and saw his family smiling down at him.
"It's a whole different feeling when you're running out in front of thousands of people and they are standing right there next to the tunnel smiling down at you and taking in that whole moment," said Steve. "It was great to have them right there in the stands watching me."
His sisters liked seeing his fat head in the crowd and the "#WeWantSteve" hashtag on Twitter.
But more importantly, they loved watching their brother live his dream.
"He's wanted to do this his whole life," said Anna. "So it's really cool seeing him be able to do this."
Basketball has always been a family game for the Leonards. Anna and Lauren played in high school, and their dad played in college.
That family history is part of the reason why Steve loves the game so much and has gotten this far.
"Growing up when you have a sibling you're supportive no matter what they do," said Steve. "Being able to relate to Anna and Lauren and go through the same basketball ups and downs made it really fun for me. Knowing that no matter what happened, if I won or lost or got hurt or had a career high in points, they were always supportive no matter what."
Knowing their history, it's no surprise Steve's sisters were the first people he told after he made the team.
"I think I texted in the group chat that I made it and I just remember getting an eruption of texts like, 'Oh my gosh that's amazing! I'm so proud of you!'" said Steve. "That was a cool moment."
A lot of things have been coming full circle for Steve as he enters his final year of basketball. He is ending the same way he started, with his sisters cheering him on.
But, he was also able to fulfill his childhood dreams and play at Madison Square Garden, the same place his dad was able to play when he was in college.
"Just being in that arena and taking in the history of that gym was the highlight of my two years here," said Steve. "It was just amazing, especially because my dad, back when he played in college, he played there too. I'm speechless about it."
Growing up with three sisters, all who were the same age as him, wasn't always easy for Steve. He says he was ganged up on a lot, but he wouldn't change it for anything.
And those three pregame texts he's guaranteed? They mean more to him than most people will ever know.
"The support they give gives me confidence in my ability," said Steve. "I know they're not expecting me to play or at least play a whole lot of minutes, but no matter what they're always like, 'Good luck, I hope you get in!' and I just carry that in the back of my mind. If I do get in, I know they're watching me and I'm going to try and go out and score a basket for them."
Each one comes from one of his sisters in their group message, named the "Quad Squad."
When people ask about his family, Leonard tells them he has three sisters.
When they ask if they are older or younger, things get a little more complicated.
"It's always the initial, 'so are you guys like twins or do you have any older siblings?' And it's like 'kind of,'" said Alyson, one of Steve's sisters. "And then it's 'ok so, older, younger?' And it's like 'same age.'"
Steve is a quadruplet, one of four, and has three sisters: Alyson, Anna and Lauren.
Three of the four, Steve, Alyson and Anna, graduated from Temple after transferring their junior year of college.
Alyson transferred from Elon University in North Carolina, Anna transferred from Bloomsburg University, two hours northeast of Temple, and Steve transferred from Ursinus College, 25 miles from Philadelphia.
Lauren graduated from Penn State.
"I was the farthest away," said Alyson. "You kind of feel lonely; that's also the freshman adjustment period, but it's weird not having your siblings in the same hallway."
"We would always call each other while walking just to talk and kill time," added Anna.
Being able to reconnect with two of his three siblings at Temple made it even more special when Steve made the team as a walk-on, because they were able to experience it with him.
His family had been to Steve's basketball games before, but those games didn't compare to the first time he ran out of the tunnel in Cherry and White and saw his family smiling down at him.
"It's a whole different feeling when you're running out in front of thousands of people and they are standing right there next to the tunnel smiling down at you and taking in that whole moment," said Steve. "It was great to have them right there in the stands watching me."
His sisters liked seeing his fat head in the crowd and the "#WeWantSteve" hashtag on Twitter.
But more importantly, they loved watching their brother live his dream.
"He's wanted to do this his whole life," said Anna. "So it's really cool seeing him be able to do this."
Basketball has always been a family game for the Leonards. Anna and Lauren played in high school, and their dad played in college.
That family history is part of the reason why Steve loves the game so much and has gotten this far.
"Growing up when you have a sibling you're supportive no matter what they do," said Steve. "Being able to relate to Anna and Lauren and go through the same basketball ups and downs made it really fun for me. Knowing that no matter what happened, if I won or lost or got hurt or had a career high in points, they were always supportive no matter what."
Knowing their history, it's no surprise Steve's sisters were the first people he told after he made the team.
"I think I texted in the group chat that I made it and I just remember getting an eruption of texts like, 'Oh my gosh that's amazing! I'm so proud of you!'" said Steve. "That was a cool moment."
A lot of things have been coming full circle for Steve as he enters his final year of basketball. He is ending the same way he started, with his sisters cheering him on.
But, he was also able to fulfill his childhood dreams and play at Madison Square Garden, the same place his dad was able to play when he was in college.
"Just being in that arena and taking in the history of that gym was the highlight of my two years here," said Steve. "It was just amazing, especially because my dad, back when he played in college, he played there too. I'm speechless about it."
Growing up with three sisters, all who were the same age as him, wasn't always easy for Steve. He says he was ganged up on a lot, but he wouldn't change it for anything.
And those three pregame texts he's guaranteed? They mean more to him than most people will ever know.
"The support they give gives me confidence in my ability," said Steve. "I know they're not expecting me to play or at least play a whole lot of minutes, but no matter what they're always like, 'Good luck, I hope you get in!' and I just carry that in the back of my mind. If I do get in, I know they're watching me and I'm going to try and go out and score a basket for them."
Players Mentioned
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