SCOTTSDALE – One plays center for the football program. The other can be found crouched behind home plate for the softball team. They are more than just athletes for Saguaro High School.
They are fraternal twins.
Seniors Jack and Tyler Moag are a tight-knit pair but also extremely competitive. Their relationship carries through on and off the field and sparks a deep connection.
“They’re very close,” said their mom, Toni Cummings. “There’s something special they have with that twin bond. They can fight like nobody’s business, too, but when the going gets tough, and they need a pep talk, they run to each other.”
Jack plays a key role for Saguaro football, which recently finished its season with a 3-7 record. Tyler plays catcher for the Sabercats’ softball team, which gets under way in March.
Even though they play different sports, their competitiveness is intense.
Whether it is Jack trying to snap better, or Tyler trying to make more catcher blocks, they are determined to win as much as possible within their twin rivalry.
They even compare math scores.
“In sports, especially when he was playing baseball still, like we’re both catchers,” Tyler said. “So we would practice together and tell each other like, ‘Hey, you need to do this better or just helpful stuff.’”
Even though they compete, they are also supportive.
When Jack has a football game, Tyler will show up regardless of where she’s coming from to support her brother, and Jack does the same when Tyler has a softball game. They love backing each other as much as they can before they potentially go their separate ways to college next fall.
Jack’s calls Tyler a “built-in best friend.” It’s a byproduct of playing and competing since their youth. Their times together are often fun, but sometimes annoying moments arise.
Their stepdad, Paul Cummings, praised the pair’s relationship.
“One thing I love about them is they’re very honest with each other,” Cummings said. “So they can go to each other and talk and say, ‘Hey, how do you think I did in this game? Or how do you think I did in that situation if they’re both there?’
“And they’ll be … supportive of each other, but they’ll be honest. And they help each other grow that way. Jack’s older by about 10 seconds. He never lets her forget that he’s older.”
Their competitive nature is evident off the field, too. Both are part of the mentor ambassador program at Saguaro. They’re in National Honor Society, took Algebra 3 together and are now in Algebra 4.
They compete about test grades, who can make the better breakfast and even who can be the better twin that day. Their competitive drive has contributed to making their relationship strong.
Both have been offered collegiate opportunities, and when it is time to go their separate ways, they will be ready.
“We’re just weighing our options,” Jack said.
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