AMY ROBACH, co-host:
Now to a story that will literally have you seeing double. A ninth grad class in
Iowa
is setting the record straight, joining the
Guinness world records
for
the most twins in one class:
16 sets of
twins
. Joining us now from
West Des Moines
,
Iowa
, are
Allison
and
Emily Kacer
,
Kaylee
and
Kyle Olson
, school relationship specialist
Lauri Pyatt
, and the rest of the school's
twins
.
Good morning to all
of you.
Ms. LAURI PYATT:
Good morning.
Unidentified Group of People:
Good morning.
ROBACH:
And a big congratulations is in order. And,
Lauri
, I want to ask you, what was your reaction when you heard the news you had set the record?
Ms. PYATT:
We were just really excited. Everybody has been great this whole time. Really a team effort with the parents and our administrators, especially our principal
Kent Abrahamson
, who is supposed to be here in my spot but he's home sick today.
ROBACH:
Oh. So you were the lucky winner,
Lauri
. But we should mention, this has been a very long process with a lot of paperwork and documentation.
Ms. PYATT:
Yes.
ROBACH:
You oversaw much of that process. When did you first realize, 'You know what? We've got a shot at this. We might win.'
Ms. PYATT:
Well, when registration started in the fall, our administrators kept seeing
twins
walking through the door. We didn't really think anything of it until actually
Kayley
and
Kyle
's dad mentioned to us that we might have a record. So we dug into it and started counting and contacted
Guinness
and did all the paperwork and here we are.
ROBACH:
Well, it's a great place to be in and you're surrounded by
twins
. I want to bring in one of those
twins
,
Allison
. I know everyone who doesn't have a twin always wishes they did because we hear about the special bond you share. There's this notion that you can complete each other's sentences. Now among all of you, the 32 of you, are -- is there -- is there a common trait you share as a group? And what's it like to be around so many other
twins
?
Ms. ALLISON KACER:
Well, it's nothing really to think about to be around every -- all sets of
twins
because we've grown up with that through
elementary school
and junior high. But I would say we share together like we're all close, in a way, but we're all different. So it's just like your twin is like you know who they are and then you be with them -- you're with them all the time, but sometimes you just need your space and then you know that from them.
ROBACH:
Everybody needs their space. All right.
Kayley
, what's the best thing -- I want to bring you into this -- about being a twin? I know we just heard that individuality is an important thing to stress, as well, but,
Kayley
, what's the best thing?
Ms. KAYLEY OLSON:
My favorite part is that
me and my brother
just are like really close and it's like we -- I can tell -- I can tell him anything and we can always like tell each other, and it's always fun to have somebody like to be around, and it's also fun because like we're in all the same classes, so it's like we have the same teachers and the same assignments, so we can like work together on stuff and divide and conquer, I guess.
ROBACH:
Oh, an instant best friend and study partner.
Ms. OLSON:
So it's just always fun.
ROBACH:
That's great.
Ms. OLSON:
Yes.
ROBACH:
Kyle
, so I know you guys have heard this before. Sixteen sets of
twins
in one class, is there
something in the water
in
Des Moines
?
Mr. KYLE OLSON:
I don't know.
ROBACH:
That's a fair answer. Everyone always wants to know, though, what's the deal with
Des Moines
, how did you all come up with this many
twins
. And,
Emily
, I want to ask you, you guys are only freshman. You have four years to go. Any ideas about setting any new
world records
? I mean, you've already conquered this one. You might have some other plans.
Ms. EMILY KACER:
Well, they were talking about the most in a school but we're not for sure yet what we're going to try to do.
ROBACH:
I think you've proven you can do a lot. We want to thank all of you for waking up so early...
Ms. E. KACER:
Yeah.
ROBACH:
...and coming onto the show this morning. Congratulations again, everyone.
Ms. PYATT:
Thank you.
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