MINEOLA, Long Island (WABC) — For the first time in the history of Chaminade High School, the two top students – who happen to be twin brothers – are going to the same college.
They were born only one minute apart and the difference between their class rankings is also razor thin.
John and Joseph Gomes are now ranked 1st and 2nd in their graduating class.
John, who’s older, is valedictorian with a 99.42 average, and Joseph is salutatorian with a 99.29 — or only 0.13 less.
“I figured that John would probably end up valedictorian,” Joseph said. “He’s had the highest grade, pretty much consistently since freshman year.”
“I’ve always had a track on it, but it wasn’t until two days ago, where it was finalized,” John said.
Their parents are overjoyed but not entirely surprised, because since they were little, the boys have excelled.
“Puzzles, you know, learning geography, even when they were 3 years old, they were singing the states and the capitals,” said their father Dr. John Gomes Sr.
“They really bounce off each other, and they complement each other very much so,” said their mother Barbara Gomes.
And now, they both plan to go to Brown University in Rhode Island. The boys are both in the same high school clubs for social studies and cooking, yet academically they balance each other out.
John likes classes in government and Joseph wants to be an environmental engineer.
Meanwhile as of right now, they will not be rooming together.
“I’m a early bird, where my brother is a night owl,” John said.
Most importantly, in their class of 400, they’ve been good citizens too.
“And they embodied that spirit of excellence that Chaminade has always been known for,” said Chaminade High School President Brother Thomas Cleary.
Lifting each other up, with only the occasional ribbing when they were little.
“I mean in terms of competitiveness, I still remember he hit me with a game controller when he lost,” Joseph said. “But besides that, we had good relationship.”
The boys will go their separate ways this summer. Joseph is hoping to head to an engineering orientation at Brown, whereas John will make a religious pilgrimage to Spain.
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