By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Since they were born seven minutes apart, Sabetha twin brothers Jacob Grimm and Joshua Grimm have been virtually inseparable.
Twin brothers Jacob Grimm (left) and Joshua Grimm have earned side-by-side starting spots on the offensive line for Washburn. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And now that twins bond has translated to the football field, where the Grimms line up side by side on the offensive line.
The former Sabetha stars weren't sure they would even end up playing together in college, let alone to earning starting positions at center (Joshua) and left guard (Jacob).
"We walked off that senior year after our last game and it was like I didn't know if he was going to be on my team ever again,'' Jacob Grimm said. "And all glory to God that he brought us here to Washburn and we get to play next to each other now.
"(Joshua) was always on the right side playing tackle and then he made a transition to center, so now I get to play right next to him. It's amazing.''
Joshua agreed.
"We work a lot of combos and double team-type stuff like that in our offense, so it definitely helps with that twin telepathy as everybody likes to call it,'' he said. "We have a sixth sense to be able to just tell what the other one's doing and communication's been huge for this offensive line this year, so it's great to be able to get to play beside him.''
The Grimm twins had to work their way up the Ichabod depth chart over their first two years in the WU program and couldn't be happier with how things have worked out.
"It's been awesome,'' Jacob said. "It's been a long road. Last year I got a couple of starts under my belt and this summer was huge. We knew we had to have a big summer and knew we had to have a big fall and it's good to see after two years of hard work that it's finally paying off to get to the be on the field on Saturday. Everyone wants to be on the field on Saturday and it's great to be next to him making plays.''
Said Joshua:
"It's unbelievable,'' he said. "I can't even believe it when I look at myself and him starting at the Division II level side by side coming from that small (Class) 2A town in Northeast Kansas to now we're on the big stage starting next to each other in D-II football.
"It's unbelievable the hard work that we've put in with our strength coaches and the coaches over the offseason and watching that pay off is just so rewarding.''
The Grimms, who also live together, said that there's always a sense of fierce competition between the twins, which Jacob said can be a good thing.
"Growing up together and living with each other I'm definitely able to get on him more,'' Jacob said. "And he gets on me more than the other O-linemen because we just know what to expect from each other.
"I know to expect an amazing job coming from him and I know that when something happens, because it's football and something's always going to happen, I'm able to lean into him a little bit and he's able to give it right back and it makes us better for the next play.''
"There's always competition,'' Joshua said. "There's been competition since the day we were born, the exact minute. The competition of who was going to get born first -- he ended up winning that one -- so there's always competition, but it's healthy competition.
"And that's what is important, to keep it healthy competition. It's just about holding each other accountable and making sure that we get everything done that we need to.''
The Grimms are actually one of three sets of twins on the Washburn roster, along with JC and Jaren Heim and Jeremiah and Javian Flash.
Jacob Grimm admitted that, not surprisingly, there are times when the twins don't get along, but he said those occasions don't happen often and don't last long.
"I'd say we do -- and mom is going to love this answer -- a very good job of getting along, but of course being brothers and living together and always being with them we sure have our moments where you're getting sick and tired of him,'' Jacob said. "But then we go out to the football field and the football field's a way to relieve all that anger and stress and we're good right after.''
Washburn coach Zach Watkins said the Grimms have been a pleasure to coach.
"Football-wise it's awesome because they're both physical, they're both intelligent and you can do a lot with them,'' he said. "They're great kids and work extremely hard and they're very good students and take the academics seriously.
"It's been really good to see those two develop from redshirting their first year to playing a little bit last year to now being starters.''
Joshua Grimm said it's also been very rewarding to see the progress the Ichabods, who are 2-1-1 entering Saturday's 1 p.m. game at Nebraska-Kearney, have made as a program.
"Last year it felt like we lost some games that were real close at the end to where this year it feels like we've found that strength to finish through and finish out games,'' he said.
"It's unbelievable the culture that we have here, the brotherhood. I know every program will say, 'Oh, we have the best culture.' I truly believe Washburn has the best culture.''
