Hermann and Werner Eichholzer

Students

“People can’t believe how well we get along. But we’ve been working at it for 24 years now.”

It turns out that some of the myths about Switzerland are true. “We actually did learn how to ski as soon as we could walk,” says Hermann Eichholzer of himself and twin brother Werner. But another Swiss myth may start making the rounds this fall when the Corsairs take to the gridiron: the Swiss are also very good at football, American style. One of the twins—Hermann? no, Werner—is very good at catching passes. The other is good at knocking large people down, hard enough so they’re likely to see double. Well. Confusion will likely reign on the Corsair opposition: “Is that one Werner?” Boom! “Nope, Hermann.”

“There are 16 amateur teams all over Switzerland,” says Hermann, who will be trying out—with Werner—for a spot at tight end. “We practice after school and at night and we play 14 games a year.” But even without football, the twins feel very enthusiastic about America. “We were fed up with Switzerland. Everything is strict and the people are too neat and traditional,” says Hermann? No, Werner. “Our country is like a train that never leaves the track, never changes,” adds…one of them. “So we got referred to SMC because the teachers are the best. And it’s affordable! So we got very lucky.”

Werner plans a career “in the field of environment and recycling. Protecting the world’s resources is going to be big, big business.” Says Hermann, “We’re both studying business. But I may study computer science because there’s such a lack of programmers and problem solvers in our country.” The twins report that they’re not missing their homeland much. “Except, of course, for our family,” says Werner. “Our parents have one happy eye and one that cries. They’re happy for us. But they miss us too.”

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