SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female & Male Athletes for week of Oct. 14, 2019
(Editor’s note: Twins Jake and Jill Heilig were nominated for Univest Featured Athlete recognition by their respective coaches within hours of each other. In what is a first, their stories have been combined into one.)
Ask Jake and Jill Heilig to describe each other, and it’s clear – this set of twins doesn’t have a whole lot in common. Except, that is, the genuine love and affection the Central Bucks South seniors have for each other. Jill is the outgoing one, Jake the laidback twin. Both are competitive, both are captains of their respective fall teams, both are beloved by their teammates, but that’s where the similarities end.
“When we were younger and playing sports, she was always angry,” Jake said.
“Really?” Jill said. “Is that what you remember about me?”
“She would get so angry,” Jake said. “Now, I don’t know. It might have switched.”
“I think it may have,” Jill said. “I hope so.”
And then she addresses her twin.
“You are so hardworking and so level-headed in everything,” Jill said. “We could not be more opposite. There is no chill in my body, and you are so relaxed all the time.
“You never show if you’re in disarray. You’re always together. That always made me angry to play against you because I’m such a crazy person on the field and off the field, and you’re so stoic.”
The differences – once a point of contention – now connect the twins. “It was weird when we were little trying to get along just because we’re so different, but now I feel like I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Jill said. “It works,” Jake said.” Talk to either one of their coaches – Jake plays soccer and Jill is the field hockey goalie, and it’s clear – Jake and Jill Heilig are valuable additions to their respective teams for reasons that go well beyond the skills they bring to the field.
“Jillian has the most positive attitude,” South field hockey coach Pat Toner said. “What she lacks maybe in technical skills, she certainly makes up for in tactical skills. She continually is talking and she wants to learn. She doesn’t pretend that she’s ready to start on the national team. She says, ‘I’m doing the best I can, I’ll keep learning.’ She works really hard, the kids love her, and she’s a very easygoing person.”
“Jake is a leader on the team,” South soccer coach Joe Coscia said. “He’s always talking to the guys, getting their feedback, seeing where they’re at mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, the whole thing. Every kid looks up to him – he’s just the guy. He’s probably the most popular kid on the team, not because he’s that cool, but he’s just that easy to talk to. People share things with him that I don’t think they necessarily would otherwise.”
Both Jill and Jake acknowledge the support of their parents, Bob and Dawn Heilig, throughout their careers, so it’s hardly a surprise that the family’s support system has gone into overdrive recently when they were dealt the devastating news that their father had pancreatic cancer. He is currently in a treatment plan that includes two weeks of chemo and then a bye week, but through it all, he has made a point to be present at both Jake and Jillian’s games. “He’s a trooper,” Jill said. “He tries as hard as he can to come to our games. He got chemo the day before my Senior Night, and he was still out there and he refused any help. He said, “I’m going to walk you across the field,’ and he stayed for the first half.”
“He comes for the first half of most games and then he has to go home,” Jake said.
“Luckily, both of our coaches are really supportive,” Jill said. “It’s so crazy how people come through for your family when stuff like this happens.”
“I told my friends about it a couple days after we found out,” Jake said. “And it was really cool how everyone – I know they’re my friends and all, but they really bound together to support me. I don’t think we make dinner any day of the week. We get so much food from people. It’s really cool.”
Both Jill and Jake are in the process of choosing a college. Both are members of the National Honor Society, and both boast high GPAs with a course load that includes AP classes. Jake is NHS vice president and he is treasurer of the Science National Honor Society. Both are members of student council. Jill is in the choir and is dance captain of school musicals. Jake is also a member of HOSA, and his debate team placed in the top three in the state, qualifying for the international competition at Disney. Jake plans to major in pharmaceutical chemistry while Jill will major in film and advertising. They have plenty of decisions to make in the weeks and months to come, and there’s also the not-so-little matter of their father’s illness. Through it all, the twins will have each other.
“That’s helpful,” Jake said. “To have someone to talk to.”
“It’s so nice,” Jill said. “It’s weird – even though we’re so different, I feel like we just know each other. We can say things that only we’ll get.”
While they couldn’t be more different, the bond Jake and Jill Heilig share is unbreakable. Their differences only make it stronger.
To read the Heiligs’ complete profile, please click on the following links: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/jillian-heilig-0087844 or https://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/jake-heilig-0087842
For information about turning any article on SuburbanOneSports.com into a keepsake, please click on the following link: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/article/content/turn-online-features-keepsake-posters-0086874
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