When Jordyn Wolfe was selected to be on Montour’s homecoming court, the senior said her choice of an escort was a no-brainer.
“I wasn’t going to do homecoming court and walk across the field if he wasn’t my escort,” she admitted.
Jordyn picked the person she is closest to and who is her biggest fan, a teenager who, like her, is a star athlete at Montour. It’s also a person she calls “brother.” Even more than that, the two are twins.
You don’t often hear of a girl on homecoming court being escorted by her brother, particularly her twin, but that was the scene at Montour’s Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium last Friday when Jordyn Wolfe stood at midfield being honored alongside her twin brother, Jake, the team’s star quarterback. This was definitely not a case of there being a “Lone Wolfe.”
It was obviously a special night for the family, particularly for the twins’ mother, Dana McGarry, who was in tears when reminiscing on an evening she won’t soon forget.
“Oh, my gosh, that’s a tough one,” McGarry said before a long pause.
“I’m sorry, I’m just getting emotional,” she continued. “It was just very, very … I can’t think of the words. I was very proud of them. It was very special.”
The twins are special athletes. Jake is a three-year starter at quarterback for a Montour team that is 7-1 and ranked No. 3 in WPIAL Class 4A in the Pittsburgh Union Progress rankings. It has been a case of the “Big Bad Wolfe” this fall, as Wolfe has been a bad man on the field. His 1,658 passing yards rank sixth in the entire WPIAL, and he has thrown for 17 touchdowns. In addition, he has rushed for 557 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns. He has nearing 4,000 passing yards for his career, too.
Both Wolfes are also outstanding basketball players, and each was actually named to all-section teams last season. Jake is a three-year starter who averaged 15 points per game a season ago. Meanwhile, little sis — Jake is often quick to remind Jordyn that he is five minutes older than she is — will become a four-year starter this winter. Jordyn averaged 14 points a game her junior season.
The two are very close and can usually be found cheering the other on at their games, no matter the sport. Jordyn is one of the most vocal members of the Montour student section at football games — she said she often loses her voice by the end of the game — and the two are regulars at each other’s basketball games.
“We try to go to every game of each other’s that we can,” Jake said.
Homecoming game senior year will be one they will talk about for many, many years. Mom said Jordyn’s choice to have Jake escort her was all their idea. When Jordyn was voted by her peers to be on the court about three weeks prior to the game, she knew exactly who she wanted to be there with her. That’s not to say it didn’t take a little convincing.
“I wasn’t planning on doing homecoming court. I was going to decline it, but she ended up talking me into it,” Jake said.
Added Jordyn, “Me and him are really close with each other, and we’re really similar and really best friends. I was like, ‘Out of everyone, you have to do it with me.’”
Jake was one of three football players who served as escorts. Alex Dusch and Keino Fitzpatrick were the others. Classmates Giana Ramos (Queen) and Paulina Sanchez (Princess) were named winners at halftime of the game, while Jaxon Camp (King) and Dusch (Prince) were selected as winners at the homecoming dance held the following night at Willows in Industry.
Not only did the Wolfe family celebrate the twins being on homecoming court, but they also cheered the Spartans on to victory. Jake had another huge game, throwing for 190 yards, rushing for 60 yards, and accounting for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in Montour’s 49-7 win against Chartiers Valley. It was Montour’s fourth win in a row. Afterward, the family celebrated with a meal at Texas Roadhouse.
“I’m really, really happy for him,” said Jake’s mom, who also has an older son, J.R., 22. “He’s been playing since he was 5 or 6. He has worked really hard. And honestly, he’s playing with a great group of kids.”
Both Jordyn and Jake plan on playing sports in college, but it’s still to be determined where that will be. Mom said it’s unlikely they will end up at the same school due to different ones recruiting the two. Jordyn will play basketball and said her two favorites are currently Capital University and Washington & Jefferson. A bunch of Division II PSAC schools are recruiting Jake for football, while he is receiving Division III interest for basketball.
The twins may end up being separated, but that doesn’t mean they won’t remain close. And while they likely won’t end up on a college homecoming court together, the experience they had doing so in high school is one they will remember forever.
“It was a great experience,” Jordyn said. “I ended up having a great time. I didn’t even think I was going to be on the court, to be honest. So whenever we were on it together, I was excited because we are so close and it’s always fun doing stuff with him.”
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.