Two professional athletes, one high school, same graduating class—how does this happen? The likeliness of this predicament is rare and unheard of, but it happened. Clayton Kershaw and Matthew Stafford, two of the finest athletes in modern day sports, were in the same graduating class of 2006 at Highland Park High School.

Clayton Kershaw, who is today considered one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball, currently pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw’s talent for baseball is extremely evident due to the route he took after graduating from Highland Park. While the average graduating student would begin college, Kershaw was drafted immediately and began pitching for the Dodgers at age 18. This is Kershaw’s 10th year pitching for the team, and he still hasn’t lost his work ethic or stride. With a record of 301 strikeouts in 2015, which averages merely 11 strikeouts per nine innings, there is no doubt he is a talented player. Kershaw has also been the recipient of more than 40 awards in the National League; this includes “Most Valuable Player”, and “Pitching Performance of the Year” both in 2014. Kershaw’s most recent acknowledgment was being named the “National League All-Star” this year. After the season ends, Kershaw will travel back to Highland Park, where he, his wife, and daughter live. Aside from baseball, Kershaw is a man of strong Christian roots and has a passion for charity work. He works with a foundation known as “Arise Africa” that sponsors young adolescents, providing them with an education and warm meals during their school day. At only 28 years old, he is already extremely successful and is sharing his success with others.

Similar to his classmate, Matthew Stafford has made a quick ascent to success. Though, unlike Kershaw, Stafford attended college where he played football at the University of Georgia. He was then drafted into the National Football League and currently plays for the Detroit Lions as the starting quarterback. When Stafford attended Highland Park High School, he led the Scots football team to a 15-0 record and a victory at the state championship in 2005. By throwing 4,013 yards and 38 touchdowns, Stafford further enhanced the tradition of excellence at Highland Park. Today, he owns or will own every Lions passing record, and is putting up the best numbers of his career with a completion passing percentage of 68.9% in 2016, which exceeds previous years, setting a personal record. In addition, he set a Detroit Lions single season record for passing yards when he threw for 5,038 yards in 2011. This will be Stafford’s 8th season playing for the Lions, and most likely has many more to come due to his youthful age. He is happily married to his wife Kelly Hall, and the two just announced that they are expecting their first child in the months to come. Both Stafford and Kershaw have left behind a legacy at Highland Park High School and are now influencing the professional sports world.