Call it a signing of the times.
Traditional college signing ceremonies for Elmira High School athletes take place at the school during the academic year. Monday's ceremony for identical twins Zack and Max Odum, both headed to Wells College in Aurora to play baseball, was delayed and moved to Hilltop Inn above Elmira because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"It’s really a dream come true," Zack said of the ceremony. "I’m excited to share this moment with my family and friends and coaches. Honestly it was better than I ever thought it was going to be."
Max said it has been a dream for him and his brother to play college baseball. Having the chance to celebrate with many of the people who helped make that happen meant a great deal, he added.
The twins, 18, graduated from Elmira in late June. Both excelled in baseball, basketball and soccer. They ranked second and third academically in Elmira's senior class of 453 students, with Zack edging out Max for the No. 2 spot.
As much as signing ceremonies are about letting people know where you're going, they also are a good chance to remind people where you have been and who came along for the ride.
The gathering included the twins' parents, Chris Odum and Kathy Costello, and the boys' 12-year-old brother, Xander. Other family and friends attended the signing and subsequent graduation dinner. Masks were worn by many as a reminder of the ever-present virus.
"They say it takes a village," Chris Odum said. "Well, we want to thank everyone in here tonight for sharing in that journey and being a part of that village and helping shape the twins into the young men they are today."
Ryan Johnson, who coached Max and Zack in varsity basketball, said the twins' bond with their family has always stood out.
"They’ve been my rock and they’ve always been there for me and they’ve taught me life lessons. I couldn’t be more thankful," Max said.
Their dad has been there to help coach the boys and chronicle their careers through photos. Their mom was a batting-practice pitcher when the two couldn't get enough swings in as little tykes.
Xander was born with a severe cardiac defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Much of Xander's early life was spent in hospitals. He has spent a good portion of the last several years joining his parents at his brothers' sporting events.
"He's definitely our best supporter and best little brother," Zack said.
Xander has been able to compete in non-contact sports, giving his older brothers their chance to cheer him on.
"He's a bit of an athlete, too. He's exceeded expectations, so that's good," Max said.
During a fitness class Johnson taught at the school, the twins shared the significance of their brother in their lives.
"Talked about trading places with people and if you could help someone, who would you help?" Johnson said. "Both of these guys mentioned their little brother over and over and over again. To me that meant a lot. It was very special.
"It was very eye-opening to see two young men who were standout athletes, standout students at our school, be able to ground themselves and say, 'Hey, little guy's been through a lot. If we could ever help him out, if we could trade places with him, we would.' To me that just speaks volumes of the young men that sit in front of us."
The twins actually were four-sport athletes at Elmira, running cross country as freshmen before making the collective move to soccer in the fall. They attended Elmira Notre Dame before coming to Elmira and previously played football.
Jason Manwaring coached them in varsity baseball and was their JV basketball coach when the twins were freshmen standouts for a run-and-gun Express team that finished 19-0. Elmira's varsity baseball team had high hopes to contend for a sectional title this spring before the season was wiped away by the pandemic.
"They’re just tremendous student-athletes and they’re kids who we look for in our program that are good in the classroom, good in the community and obviously play the game at a high level," Manwaring said.
"It’s great for them to go to Wells. We’ve had great success of kids going to Wells from our program and I know they’re going to do great things for them in the coming years."
The twins will be going from Express to Express, with Division III Wells sharing Elmira's nickname.
Express varsity boys soccer coach Derek Hamilton remembered meeting the twins when they were 6. Even then they were big into baseball and he recalled seeing them run around with baseball spikes on a soccer field during a clinic. He got to know them better when they played soccer for him. Despite having no previous experience playing competitive soccer, the twins became key starters on the defensive end for Elmira's successful varsity team.
"It doesn't matter what they choose to do, they're going to be successful at it, both athletically and professionally at the next level," Hamilton said.
While they have been able to play baseball this summer, traveling out of state for tournaments, the twins are excited to return to the diamond for a school-oriented team. Zack is an outfielder and Max will play infield at Wells. They both will major in health sciences on a pre-med track.
"I’m so excited. I can’t wait to play for a school again," Zack said. "It definitely sucks missing this year, but look back at all the good times we had. I can’t wait to play again."
Added Max: "It's disappointing we lost our baseball season this year, but we look ahead to the future and we have many years to come for playing baseball."
Johnson reminded the twins how much he thinks of them and what they have accomplished.
"I said at our basketball banquet at the end of the year, if I was going to start a program, it doesn’t matter if it’s an athletic program, it doesn’t matter if it’s an academic program, for jobs, for BOCES, whatever, I’m starting my program with these guys, one and two in no particular order," Johnson said.
"They’re my No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks. It has nothing to do with athletic ability or talent, it has everything to do with character, respect and the way these kids carry themselves and how they represent your program, this community, their school and their family."
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Odum twins celebrate family, past, future during college signing celebration - Star-Gazette
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