{"id":2201,"date":"2025-08-20T00:01:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T04:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/cedarville-stories\/?p=2201"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:58:57","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T20:58:57","slug":"s13-e08-side-by-side-ari-and-julie-tompkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/cedarville-stories\/2025\/s13-e08-side-by-side-ari-and-julie-tompkins\/","title":{"rendered":"S:13 E:08 | Side by Side: Ari and Julie Tompkins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Side by Side: Ari and Julie Tompkins <\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s something special about the bond between twins \u2014 but Ari and Julie Tompkins take it to a whole new level. This week, the small-town sisters from Mogadore, Ohio, began their 1000 Days\u2122 at Cedarville University, walking into college hand-in-hand \u2014 just like they\u2019ve done with most things in life.<\/p>\n

Faith-filled and full of heart, Ari and Julie are joining the track and cross-country teams, ready to give it all they\u2019ve got. But they\u2019re not just here to run races. They\u2019re here to grow, serve, and walk closer with Jesus every step of the way.<\/p>\n

On a recent episode of the Cedarville Stories<\/em> podcast, Julie described Ari as \u201cquiet, aggressive, and humble,\u201d while Ari grinned and said Julie was \u201ctalkative, energetic, and loud.\u201d The sisters are two halves of a whole, different in their own ways but always cheering each other on.<\/p>\n

Their journey hasn\u2019t been easy. They\u2019ve stood on podiums and wiped away tears after photo-finish losses and struggled with personal family issues. But through every high and low, they\u2019ve clung to prayer and each other. \u201cOur sport doesn\u2019t define us,\u201d Ari shared. \u201cGod still loves us whether we win or lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raised in a home where faith was lived out daily \u2014 especially after their father quit drinking and began reading the Bible with them \u2014 Ari and Julie learned early what it means to grow through grace. \u201cIt changed everything,\u201d Julie said. \u201cWe finally understood what it meant to follow Jesus for ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Cedarville stood out. It was a place where they could not only compete at a high level but grow in a community that shares their love for Christ. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to just bring others to faith \u2014 we wanted to be surrounded by people already walking it too,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

Julie dreams of becoming a pro sports physical therapist. Ari\u2019s heart is set on becoming a firefighter and EMT. Their paths may someday lead them in different directions, but for now, they\u2019re running this race side by side \u2014 spiritually grounded, joyfully competitive, and ready for whatever the Lord has next.<\/p>\n