‘Doing everything together’ — Yelm’s Aalona twins connect on and off field for Tornados
In life and sports, they say the biggest competition is yourself. The next best thing, then? Someone who shares your DNA, surely.
Yelm High School football seniors Damian and Marius Aalona, identical twins and senior standouts for the reigning state champion Tornados, have pushed each other athletically their entire lives.
“Competitive and supportive at the same time,” said Damian, Yelm’s starting quarterback. “Always trying to be better than each other.”
Two of eight total siblings, the Aalonas spent their early years in the Spanaway area, before moving to Yelm when they were four or five. Damian always played quarterback and with the exception of Marius playing quarterback one year — he will contend that he didn’t lose the QB job to his twin, by the way — Marius has always played receiver.
The twins, who also star for Yelm’s basketball team, have a connection on and off the field.
“Doing everything together, growing up together, living together, doing pretty much everything together our whole lives,” Marius said. “Always knowing what’s on each other’s minds.”
Over the years, they played with Yelm coach Jason Ronquillo’s son Kyler Ronquillo on Yelm’s teams in the Thurston County Youth Football League. Jason Ronquillo knew they were special athletes from the fourth, fifth grade.
“They were always talented, always athletic. They’ve always been athletic. I’ve watched them grow through the years and they’re still playing the same positions they played back then.”
Damian is in his second season starting at QB for the Tornados. Since Kyler Ronquillo graduated last spring, Marius is now the team’s top receiver. In last week’s 62-34 win over Union, Damian completed 26-of-32 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Marius led the team with 11 catches for 138 yards and three of those touchdowns.
“Marius is our only returning receiver, so we already had that chemistry,” Damian said. “And just growing up with him, we had that chemistry. It just showed on the field.”
Like on Marius’ third touchdown catch of the night. Damian knew exactly where to put the ball for his twin brother.
“I had a corner route,” Marius said. “Damian was rolling out towards me. I wasn’t open because the guy was staying over the top of me. I remember I had to cut back inside, cut back outside and he knew what I was doing and I was gonna be there on the spot. So he threw it and I was open after that.”
The twins bring a steady presence to the locker room. They work hard in the offseason and keep things light on the field.
“For us, they’ve always contributed to winning,” Ronquillo said. “They’ll do whatever it takes for us to win, whether it’s in-season or offseason. They’ve always followed the leadership of the guys of the past and now they’re taking on that role themselves.”
They might appreciate the moment more later in life, but the twins appreciate the opportunity to play together, having already won a state championship together.
“It’s so cool,” Damian said. “It’s cool having a twin brother on the team with me, being my WR1. … Hearing it over the intercom, when they say, ‘Aalona to Aalona,’ it’s cool. We’re representing our name.”
Yelm opens league play in the 3A South Sound Conference this week on the road at 7 p.m. Friday against Central Kitsap.
This story was originally published September 15, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘Doing everything together’ — Yelm’s Aalona twins connect on and off field for Tornados."
