There are five sets of twins in the graduating Class of 2021 at Moniteau High School. The twins are, from left, Mike Bell, Austin Scheerbaum, Kiersten Hillwig, Kiera Muisiner holding her phone showing her sister, Madisyn, who was recovering from surgery, Zoey Hillwig, Autumn Scheerbaum and Alex Bell. Ryan and Travis Sherman, not pictured, were remote learning. They won't be the last multiple graduates from the high school.

Those attending Moniteau High School's graduation ceremony June 9 could be forgiven it they believe the presenter will be repeating himself when handing out diplomas.

After all, he will be calling out multiple Bells, Muisiners, Scheerbaums, Hillwigs and Shermans.

That's because the Moniteau High School Class of 2021 contains five sets of twins.

Alex and Mike Bell, Kiera and Madisyn Muisiner, Kiersten and Zoey Hillwig, Autumn and Austin Scheerbaum and Ryan and Travis Sherman will see their 12-year association come to an end. After high school, some are planning to attend trade school, others are going to college and a few are uncertain of what the future holds.

But they all have a shared past, begun when they all attended Dassa McKinney Elementary School and ending with their high school graduation.

Recently, seven of the ten twins gathered to reminisce about the end of their high school days and share their plans.Travis and Ryan Sherman weren't present because they have been attending school remotely this semester.Madisyn Muisiner was on a video call on a cellphone held by her twin sister, Kiera, who said Madisyn was recovering from back surgery but was expected to recover in time to attend the commencement ceremony.“She had really bad scoliosis and had to get surgery on her spine, but she will be at graduation,” said Kiera.Having a twin didn't really give any of the siblings an advantage in their high school careers.This year, the Bell brothers had a media class together, and the Hillwig sisters shared a chemistry class. The Hillwigs said the only edge it gave them was when one sister had to miss a class and the other could fill them in on what they had missed.In fact, Alex Bell said there was no scholastic quarter given between him and his brother.Saying he was strong in all of his subjects but English, Alex said he doesn't expect help from Mike.“May the best man win,” said Alex.Mike rejects the notion that he's lacking in gym class, an unfair impression, he said, “because I did not play kickball right one time.”Kiera Muisiner said of her sister, “She helps me with homework. There's no other advantage.”

Kiersten Hillwig said she's more interested in art, and her sister Zoey is more interested in sports, so there's very little academic overlap between the two sisters.Austin Scheerbaum provided no academic edge “other than he is just really annoying,” said Autumn of her brother.In one case, the twins are glad to no longer be real-life classroom illustrations when the topic of twins comes up in biology class.Once the talk turned to “monozygotic,” or maternal twins, or “dizygotic,” fraternal twins, they could all feel the eyes of their classmates on them.“We've been used as an example and had to sit through it multiple times,” Alex said.

The twins also all scoffed at the misconceptions and myths that have gathered around twins: they have telepathy and can feel each others' pain.“I'm asked if I feel the same thing,” Alex said. “I hear that a lot.”“Just like we talk about something at the same time,” Mike said.What is different is the plans the twins have after graduation.Neither Alex nor Michael Bell plan to go to college, although Alex is considering electrical trade school.As for the Hillwigs, Kiersten is planning to take online arts courses at Butler County Community College. Her sister, Zoey, is planning to take online general studies courses at BC3.“I'm going to wait a year or so and then go to the Pittsburgh Vets Institute,” said Autumn Scheerbaum.Alex Scheerbaum is set to go to Slippery Rock University to major in political science.Kiera and Madisyn Muisiner are sticking together, at least for the foreseeable future.“We are both going to Butler County Community College and trying to get into the nursing program,” Kiera said. “We are basically going to do the same thing.”None of the twins feel especially emotional over the fact they won't be seeing each other at school every day like they have for the past 12 years.“We'll probably see each other at some parties,” said Zoey Hillwig.Jeremy Borkowski, a history/government/economics teacher and the senior class adviser, said the graduating twins are too focused on what's coming next to realize what they are losing.“It's very unique,” Borkowski said. “In a year or so, they will realize that.”Still, there are replacements coming up the ranks, he added, including two sets of triplets.A check with the school office secretary Shelly Waid confirmed there is one set of triplets in the eighth grade and a second set of triplets in the 11th grade.In addition to the two sets of triplets, Waid said school records show five other sets of twins in the student body.“Holy cow,” Waid said. “What is in the water here?”