Off the field, they’re twin brothers, but on the field, Jaren and J.C. Heim, freshmen linebackers, have become closer than ever by being teammates on Washburn’s football team.
“They’re incredibly hardworking, and that work ethic kind of brought them closer together,” said Ty Weber, sophomore tight end.
Twins are often fascinating to people who haven’t experienced the connection that they have. From finishing each other’s sentences to communicating with just a look, this connection shared by twins doesn’t just lead to a closer bond but can also lead to an amazing impact on the lives around the pair.
“They’re like my little brothers,” Weber said. “Growing up playing with each other…I just kind of saw how they were as people, and how they were as football players, and it…helped me grow closer to them.”
Most twins have a connection that stems at birth. For the Heim brothers, that connection consists of being teammates, roommates and best friends who share a love of football.
“We’ve been playing since kindergarten. Our dad actually started up a football team from kindergarten to sixth grade and that’s really what gave us the love of football, and we’ve played together ever since,” J.C. Heim said. “We always grew up doing the same thing. Our dad was always there for us, coaching us, and I think that’s what made us the competitors we are today.”
This mutual love of football is noticed by those around them, especially by Craig Schurig, head football coach.
“They handle everything just like you want them to as a coach; hard-working, great attitude, always trying to get better, great teammates and they’re talented,” Schurig said. “They’ve got everything you want for your football team, and they’re really good students.”
He also spoke on the character of the twins and how, from his own observations, he noticed that Jaren and J.C. Heim are not only great students but also good leaders and overall great people.
Shurig is not the only person who has seen the twins’ kind personalities.
“They can look like they’re brood jocks, but they’re actually really great people, great human beings,” Weber said. “I think anyone who has a conversation with them comes out a little bit better.”
Schurig mentioned how amazing it is to see the twins interact with each other, seeing their bond firsthand and also seeing how they communicate with each other.
“I would say we do have twin telepathy. It’s a real thing. We can look at each other and know exactly what we both want or what we’re both thinking. If we’re in a tough situation, we can just look at each other and we know exactly what to do or how to do it. I feel like it’s been really helpful throughout my whole life,” Jaren Heim said.
While the twins are football players, they are also honors students taking business classes at Washburn, both majoring in management and marketing.
“We’re both going to try to get our masters in business. Our dad is big into business and that’s something we’d like to do, is work for him someday,” J.C. Heim said. “But [we] just want to be successful in academics, because that’s a huge role. Football doesn’t last forever, and that’s something we strive in, for sure.”
From wanting to pursue business to their father coaching them in football, it’s clear that the twins are very close with their family. They both go to family dinners and now attend FCA gatherings each Wednesday night.
“Without God, I feel like nothing would be possible. Always give thanks to Him with anything you do. That’s what we’ve done since we let God [into our lives],” Jaren Heim said.
The twins are both Christians and said that God has led them to where they are now and look forward to the opportunities that will be presented to them in the future.
“They have that special bond, and you can definitely see that. It’s special, they’re home-grown talent that stayed at Washburn, and we’re proud to have them,” Schurig said.
The twins may look alike but still have their own individual traits that make them who they are.
“We have our similarities and differences. Some people, when they first meet us, they can’t tell us apart, but as they get to know us, they can,” J.C. Heim said.
As Washburn freshmen, the doors are wide open with possibilities for these two linebackers, students, Christians and brothers.
Edited by Alijah McCracken, Jayme Thompson and Morgan Albrecht
