With COVID-19 putting live sporting events on hold, the Cascade Collegiate Conference wanted to take the time to highlight families within our #ThisIsTheCCC community. Many of our member institutions have administration, coaches and student-athletes family members competing together, making the CCC truly a family affair.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Jet Taylor has always looked up to her big brother Solo. He played sports so she wanted to play sports, leading to both of them becoming collegiate student-athletes at Eastern Oregon University.
“My brother’s passion for football inspired me to work hard in volleyball so that I could play a collegiate sport and follow in his footsteps,” said Jet. “All of our free time was occupied with sports, which naturally made us both super competitive.”
Jet, a sophomore exercise science and pre-nursing major who wants to become a nurse practitioner, was actually the first one to become a Mountaineer, joining the women’s volleyball team last year as a middle hitter. Solo, a business and leadership major who wants to become a coach, transferred to the EOU football team this last year as a linebacker.
“When he made his decision to come to La Grande, Ore., I was so excited,” said Jet. “I am so thankful to be a student-athlete at the same school as my brother.”
Having a sibling playing at the same school as you not only means you have a built in cheerleader for home games, but it also makes it easier on the parents to visit.
“I love when my brother and I both have home games and our parents come to visit,” said Jet. “It is cool to support each other and have the whole family there.”
The Taylors have a lot of things in common. For one, they both have unique names. Jet stands for Jean Elizabeth Taylor. Jean and Elizabeth are Jet’s grandmothers. Solo in Latin means “wolf,” their mother’s favorite animal.
“Solo used to introduce himself and say, ‘My name is Solo, but you can call me Wolf!’ said Jet.
If you want to find a Taylor on the football field or volleyball court, just look for the number 16. Both Jet and Solo, who each have two more seasons left to play at EOU, wear the number 16 jersey.