Three of North Pike High School’s top graduates have a lot in common, starting with the same birthday and parents.
Reagan, Ryan and Reanna Ivey have excelled for the majority of their academic careers.
Reanna and Reagan both scored 30 on their ACT, while Ryan scored a 33.
Reanna and Reagan are heading to Mississippi College in the fall, but Ryan is undecided.
“I can go to any public school in Mississippi and it’s a full ride,” he said.
“We know that college is coming around and two of us will be going to the same place,” Reagan said. “Ryan may or may not come with us. We’ve been around each other our whole lives. It’s kind of like losing a piece of us when they’re not around.”
They will graduate from North Pike on May 26.
The triplets are very active. Reanna played softball for six years with the fastpitch and slowpitch softball teams.
Reagan played football and soccer and ran track and cross country
Ryan was the school mascot, played soccer, ran track and was on the fishing and archery teams.
Their club activities are numerous: Beta Club, Crown Club, Future Community Career Leaders of America, Geek Squad, Interact, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Jag 2 Jag, Mu Alpha Theta, student council, Science Club, Spanish Club, Chess Club, Health Occupation Students of America and Science Olympiad, to name a few.
The triplets have also been pages in state legislature, Boys State and Girls State delegates and are involved in numerous civic club activities.
And somehow, they still manage to have part-time jobs and successful academic careers.
The triplets said they wondered if their parents thought they’d be “so smart.” But, with three seniors graduating from high school at the same time and a mountain of tuition on the horizon, it’s a good thing they are.
Ricky and Anita Ivey set aside money for their children through the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program, but they don’t really need it.
The triplets have more than $200,000 between them in scholarships.
Reanna said she’s often asked what it’s like growing up with two brothers.
“You don’t know the difference, it would be the same if you grew up with no siblings or two siblings. I wouldn’t know what to do without them because they’ve been there my entire life,” she said.
Reagan said the three have their days.
“Some days they’ll be your best friend; some days we can’t stand each other,” he said.
Ryan said growing up in a set of triplets is like always having your best friends around.
Even though the triplets have similar interests, they enjoy their individuality.
And they’re not the biggest fans of matching clothing.
“Reagan hates when we match. ... If one of us is in the kitchen and he comes down and we’re wearing the same thing, he will flip out,” Reanna said.
“I hate it. I want to be my own person. I want to be me. I’m Reagan,” he said.
They’re all athletic, they love music, they love God and like to one-up each other. The three of them say they have “triplet telepathy.”
Reagan said Reanna can sing a song, he can play it on his guitar and Ryan can listen to the song on his phone and they’ll be in the same verse and key.
“It’s weird, but we can finish each other sentences,” Reagan said. “We know where the other one is without them actually telling us.”
Reanna said growing up with two brothers the same age as her is fun at times.
“It’s like having always having a best friend around you,” she said.
But being part of a set of three also has its downsides, they said.
“We can’t always get what a single child gets or a child that has siblings younger or older,” Ryan said.
The triplets just got cell phones.
They’re athletic. Reanna played slow-pitch softball and was the bookkeeper for the fast-pitch softball team and Ryan and Reagan play soccer.
They’re also musically inclined. The triplets attend New Heights Baptist Church, where they are in the youth choir and play instruments. They are also members of the Mississippi Baptist Association All-Star Youth Choir.
“Reanna tried out but she didn’t make it. Ryan and I didn’t want to do it ... but Reanna kept saying ‘You’ve gotta see this choir.’ They performed at our church and our mouths dropped. They were so good,” Reagan said.
Reagan said their parents have always instilled a good work ethic in them.
“Our parents had enough faith in us to do our best. We always try to do our best,” Ryan said. “They saw we had the desire to do our best because we saw that it pleased them. We took that and ran with it.”
