(Seguin) – If you are a twin, you might as well keep everything the same even if that means graduating the top of your senior class.
A pair of twins have earned the distinction of leading this year’s Seguin High School Class of 2022. Valedictorian William “Will” Kuempel and his brother Samuel “Sam” Kuempel have claimed the top two spots and will represent this year’s batch of seniors during tonight’s graduation ceremony scheduled at Matador Stadium.
Now although they are twins, it does not mean that both brothers are always together. In fact, during these last couple of weeks, Will, who will be studying music education at LSU (Louisiana State University) has been away in Vermont participating with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps.
As for Sam, he has remained here at home wrapping up his senior year and soaking in all the graduation pre-festivities.
Sam says his brother’s passion for his instruments goes to show how committed and dedicated his brother has been not only in schoolwork but other extra-curricular activities.
The Seguin Daily News on Thursday caught up with Sam who found carrying around a customized photo of his twin brother on a stick. Now although Will has already made it back in town for tonight’s ceremony, he wasn’t available for the group’s senior photo.
The plan with that photo was for Sam to still include his brother next to him during their senior photo at Matador Stadium.
Of course, when asked about whether it’s been a competition between the two, Sam says it has been anything but a tug-a-war between the two.
“We’ve been one and two since our freshman year and Will has always been ahead of me, but it’s never been razor thin, but it also wasn’t super big but really the important thing for the both of us is that one of us was one and two so whatever order it was, we really didn’t worry. We’ve never been super competitive, we just wanted to be top of the class,” said Sam.
Sam says their family is truly what has helped their motivation and endurance in pushing forward.
“So, for me, it’s really been, especially my parents, they have been really encouraging of kind of helping me pursue this goal and they always encourage me to do my best in school and anything really and so it’s just really cool to kind of get recognition for all the hard work that I’ve put in because it’s been a journey and then really I can’t talk about myself because this really has been a dynamic between me and Will because we are always there for each other. We always have each other’s backs and so, knowing that we’ve kind of done this sort of together and we’ve encouraged each other, it’s really a cool thing that it was able to end up this way,” said Sam.
Following right behind his brother, however, is nothing new for Sam. Besides, he says when it comes to Will, he knows he will always have somebody right next to him.
“Will is older by 30 seconds. I was born on April 27, 2004, and actually on our birth certificates, it says 4:31 p.m. for each of us so the same minute we were born so that’s pretty interesting,” said Sam. “It’s definitely nice to have someone just to rely on because we live together and he’s always around me. I can always know he’s there for me.”
This next chapter in life, however, will see the two young men head toward different paths. While Will studies at LSU, Sam be headed up the road to The University of Texas at Austin. There he will be participating in the Longhorn Marching Band while majoring in business.
Thrilled to celebrate their sons’ accomplishments are parents John and Michelle Kuempel.