Baker Twins Push Each Other to Success
Erica Mohr
One hour and 20 minutes. That is all the time between the births of Alex and Max Baker, senior twins on the Manchester soccer team. The twins are both in the Gilbert College of Business and have studied at Manchester for the past three years.
Although the boys share an interest in business, one of their similarities is not what they will be getting their degree in. Alex is a finance marketing major who intends to go to graduate school for marketing research, while Max is a marketing major with a minor in economics and sales. Max also plans to attend graduate school with a focus in marketing but is not entirely sure what that focus will be. Max and Alex were both fairly certain they would not attend the same graduate school; however, nothing is out of the realm of possibility.
The Baker twins play different positions on the soccer team. Alex is a center defensive midfielder while Max either plays as an attacking midfielder or an outside midfielder. “I run more,” Max said, his tone making it clear he wanted to get a rise out of his brother. Alex quickly responded, “I’m stronger than you,” making it clear that both were aware of where they could beat the other one.
Additionally, while both consider their greatest attribute to be how they are such technical players, Max is more of an attacking player while Alex, according to Max, “stays in his circle.”
Josh McCoy, former teammate, was at a loss for words initially. “When I first started playing, I couldn’t tell them apart at all and I would just say ‘Baker, Baker’ if I wanted the ball,” he said. “When Max grew
a beard everything got easier.”
McCoy continued: “They work really well together, and I think they’ve pushed each other to be better each year.” Alex agreed, saying of Max: “I just love playing with him. I really do. We know what we want to do every time.” The similarities and differences do not stop at simply school and soccer. Max and Alex agreed they were both funny and were both very social, but they had some differences they were quick to point out as well.
“Max is very lazy,” Alex said. “Ask him how many times he’s done laundry in the four years here.”
“Here’s my thing,” Max replied while laughing, “Why would I do it when he’s willing to do it?”
After joking around about who knew how to do laundry and who didn’t, Alex explained how he likes to be on schedule, but Max tends to be more “free roaming.” This statement seemed to be exemplified by the nature of the two boys. Max sat with his elbows on his knees, saying whatever thought crossed his mind, sometimes off topic and sometimes on topic. On the other hand, Alex sat with his back against the seat, and seemed to stay on topic with ease.
Currently, Max and Alex are living off campus, and they share a room. They also shared a room freshman and sophomore year and were suitemates their junior year. “We’re used to it,” the boys echoed in regard to having always shared a room.
“The best part about having a twin is you always have someone to hang out with” Alex said. “The worst part is that you always have someone to hang out with.”
Max added with a smile: “The worst part about being a twin is how we are a package deal.”