By Alexis Shelton, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sibling rivalries have gone back through the history of time.  For Penn State (Pa.) softball Head Coach Amanda Lehotak, a sibling rivalry was taken to a new level over the weekend.

Lehotak is in her second year as the leader of the Nittany Lion softball team.  Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, softball has always been a passion for her. She watched her older sister, Michala Cimino, who is 10 years older than her, play and grew inspiration to be just as successful as her growing up.

 "Michala is actually my hero, I've looked up to her since day one," Lehotak said. "Growing up, going to all of her games, learning from her and watching her career when she won a national championship and being her biggest fan, I've learned a lot from her."

 Cimino is currently the head coach at Bellevue University, which is located in Bellevue, Nebraska. The school is apart of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

 Over the weekend, both Lehotak and her sister met for the first time as head coaches in a friendly matchup between schools.

 "The humble people inside of us say its no big deal its about the kids," Lehotak said. "But the truth is its a lot of fun we're a very competitive family. This is something we've always talked about doing and have always wanted to do.  The opportunity to actually do it is very exciting."

 Competitive is definitely a word you may want to use when you look at the family. The athletic director at Bellevue is Ed Lehotak, who is both Lehotak and Cimino's father.

 "Knowing my father, he's probably rooting for Michala. I say that because it's his school and he's always ranked like the top athletic director in that region," said Lehotak. "We've always been raised to be the underdog and so I know he sees them as just that. I actually see them as an equal opponent however. So knowing him just for the underdog way I feel like he's secretly going for his school."

 But with so much talent and skill on both sides, one may begin to wonder if there's any ribbing going on between the two.

 "We've both been on our best behavior. But I think the honesty is that we want to beat the crap out of one another," laughed Lehotak.

 Despite the difference between the two--Penn State being a NCAA Division I team and Bellevue being in the NAIA--Lehotak wanted to make it clear that the team would treat their guests like they were a Big Ten team as well as having a few surprises for them.

 They were given just that; when the team arrived on Friday, they were given their very own special locker room as well as multiple tours throughout the Penn State campus.

 "They were given a tour of the football stadium," said Lehotak. "They also got to see the football locker room as well as run Beard field."

 She noted that that the bus was full of family members from the Nebraska team. They were treated as family as well; as the whole Bellevue team including the family were treated to a special trip to the creamery and a dinner as well Friday night.

 "They sold out their whole bus for this special occasion. We want to hopefully give them something that they'll never forget," Lehotak said.

 The two sisters faced off twice on Saturday. It was an experience Lehotak will not forget.

 "Michala and I talk almost everyday," added Lehotak. "Some of their team punishments are probably because of me. As well as some of my team punishments are probably because of her. Drills, how we motivate our teams, she's my go to. She's the one I go to [to] say hey I messed up or I'm thinking I'm doing this well. It's really neat."