Columbia High School triplets find a voice and a goal
They don’t necessarily tattle on one another, but they certainly talk for one another.
“If Rylee had money and time, she’d rent out the library and read every book here ... The eighth graders all fell in love with JT ... Tucker’s funny unless he tries; then he’s not ...”
That doesn’t mean being an Iorio triplet is easy.
“It’s Happy Birthday JT-Rylee-Tucker,” Rylee said, sandwiching her name between those of her brothers. Most years, they share a birthday cake and come September and their 16th birthday, they’ll be sharing a car.
Some of their activities at Columbia High School overlap, which makes it slightly easier for dad, Joe, who calls himself their bus driver until licenses are acquired.
JT and Tucker both run track; Rylee and JT are in many of the same classes; and Rylee and Tucker are both in the choir.
“I have a voice (in choir),” Tucker says, a nod to his siblings’ outgoing natures.
I stopped it, and everybody’s cheering. Growing up with these two I never got cheered for myself.
Rylee Tucker
on why she plays soccerThey say most of the students at Columbia High know that Rylee and the brothers are triplets, but they still sometimes get confusion from teachers.
“Some teachers thought me and Tucker were twins, and that Rylee was a distant cousin,” JT said. The boys have white-blonde hair and are pale; Rylee has dark hair and olive skin.
Another misconception at school is that they get breaks because their dad is the athletic director.
“It’s very frustrating because I do (these) things from my skill ... he doesn’t make any effort to single us out,” Rylee said.
Q: Do you argue or fight?
A: “We argued this morning. About shutting up,” said Rylee and JT, who often finish one another’s sentences or speak in tandem. They say they also have similar dreams, prompting Tucker to wonder “why did they leave me out?”
Q: What are you doing this summer?
A: Tucker: Gaming. “I’m known to be one of the greatest video game players — in the family.”
A: Rylee: Reading. “I have 70 books in my library ... Mom wants them to read a book (this summer) and make a report on it, I’m like ‘I can do two now.’”
A: JT: Socializing. If he’s not out with friends; he’s on the phone.
Q: What was your favorite class freshman year?
A: Tucker: English, because of Ms. (Laura) Homan. “She did take things seriously, but she made it fun.”
Q: Rylee, why do you like being a soccer goalie?
A: “I remember my first save. It went between my legs, and I was like ‘oh no’ and I turned and fell on it. I stopped it, and everybody’s cheering. Growing up with these two I never got cheered for myself. Oh, and I didn’t like running.”
Q: JT, what instrument do you play?
A: “Trumpet. I didn’t want a woodwind, thought they were girlie ... and a cousin had finished with band and had a trumpet.”
Mary Cooley: 618-239-2535, @MaryCooleyBND
JT Iorio, Rylee Iorio and Tucker Iorio
- Age: 15
- Family: Mom Amy, Dad Joe, older sisters and a niece
- They live on 110 acres, their neighbors are mom’s extended family, including their grandparents.
- Car they’ll drive: A manual transmission 2002 Toyota Camry
- Who is most likely to drive: Rylee. The brothers are likely to have nighttime driving restrictions because of their eyesight.
- JT’s activities: Track (sprints and long jump), student council president, drama club, gaming club, scholar bowl, Illinois Principal’s Award, band
- Tucker’s activities: Track (shot put), choir, gaming club, Soaring Eagle (an award from teachers that students can receive only once during high school), November Student of the Month
- Rylee’s activities: Volleyball, soccer, choir
- Mom says: “They do love each other, when they want to. As much as siblings can, anyway.”
This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Columbia High School triplets find a voice and a goal."