JAKE REIMAN and his twin sister, Leah, reigned as the 2007 homecoming royalty at O'Neill St. Mary's High School,

By MARY PAT HOAG (youth@norfolkdailynews.com) O'NEILL - Reigning as homecoming royalty this fall was another special moment twins Leah and Jacob "Jake" Reiman of O'Neill have shared over their 17 years.

"We've always been good friends," Leah said. "I thought it would be cool if we would be king and queen, and it happened."

With such a small senior class, all 12 students at O'Neill St. Mary's High School were on the ballot, she said. Votes were cast by all of the high school students.

Leah said some of the students "thought it would be fun if we got it (royalty titles). Other people thought it would be weird"

Instead of coronation at halftime of the homecoming football game as in past years, the 2007 ceremony was conducted Sunday night of homecoming week as a prelude to all of the special activities, Leah said.

Leah's name as queen was announced first. "I was excited and was really hoping Jake would get it, too," she said.

Jake, aware that some students were especially backing a twins' crowning, said, "I was pretty sure I would become king after they announced her name."

Did the new royalty hug? Nah! They're brother and sister after all.

"We kind of smiled at each other," Leah said.

In a local radio interview, Jake joked that the first dance of the homecoming dance that Friday night - with the new royalty in the spotlight - would be the shortest in history.

Leah and Jake said the first dance actually lasted about three minutes. Neither remember what the song was.

"It's been special to grow uI with your twin," Leah said. "WE hang out all of the time."

Many of their friends and in terests are the same, she said. The twins, who are the children of Lawrence and Jane Reiman, are looking forward to many more memorable moments during their senior year. Jake is involved in football and track and enjoys hunting and fishing. Leah is on the volleyball, basketball, track and dance teams at St. Mary's High.

Jake, who has acquired his certified nurse's aide license, works one period each school day at the O'Neill hospital. "I plan on going into nursing, so I decided I'd better get an early start," he said.

Jake works with patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. '

His responsibilities, he said, include "helping the patients get through the day, helping them through the healing process. I build a relationship with the patient. They appreciate me and that makes me feel good, and I'm doing something for the community."

Next fall will be the longest time Jake and Leah will be apart as they head to different colleges. Leah said she anticipates that "it will be hard. We talk to each other all of the time." '

Jake, who is the oldest by 10 minutes, plans to attend Mount Marty College in Yankton. Leah's plans include obtaining her associate's degree at Northeast Community College in Norfolk and then transferring to Wayne State College for her bachelor's degree in elementary education.

At this point, Leah said she'd like to teach third-graders: "They're not too young and they're not too old."