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Grandparents support grandsons on competing football teams

What do you do when two of your grandsons are playing on opposing teams in the State championship? Peg and Phil Hird came up with a solution.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — During Friday Night's 5A state championship game between Southeast Polk and Valley, Peg and Phil Hird, affectionately known as Nan and Pops to their nine grandchildren found themselves rooting for both teams. 

That's because their grandson Spencer Olesen plays for Southeast Polk and their other grandson Sam Swanson plays for Valley.

These two grandsons of mine have competed against each other for many years now, having lived in different school...

Posted by Philip Hird on Friday, November 18, 2022

"At one time, I said to him, you watch, when they get to high school, they will be at opposite schools and they're gonna end up playing each other," Peg said.

During the game, while Phil was wearing Southeast Polk gear and sitting in their fan section, Peg was doing the same for Valley. At half-time, they switched it up so that they could spend equal time supporting both of their grandsons.

"When both teams came out on the field at first and when it was over, my eyes were leaking," Phil said. "They almost are right now just thinking about it. Yeah, it was great."

Both Olesen and Swanson are juniors, so the Hirds will have another year to cheer both of them on.

RELATED: Southeast Polk defeats Valley to win second straight 5A state title

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