Now they’re are hoping to do the same thing in a different Green and White uniform.

The twin brothers were among several Alpena athletes to formally announce their college plans on Monday during a National Signing Day ceremony as they both announced their plans to run for Michigan State University.

The duo is also part of a group of five track and field and cross country athletes to sign with Division 1 schools.

The athletes and their colleges of choice are:

Faith Weide throws the shot put during a track and field meet in Alpena last Spring. Weide will attend Western Michigan University.

∫ Faith Weide, Western Michigan

∫ Maddy Boyd, Central Michigan

∫ Aden and Josh Smith, Michigan State

∫ Zach Zaborney, Detroit Mercy

Alpena has had runners and track and field athletes sign with Division 1 schools before, but having five in one group is an impressive accomplishment for this year’s senior class, which has collectively put together a resume that includes all-state finishes, school records and conference and regional championships.

Maddy Boyd runs during a cross country meet in Alpena last Fall. Boyd will attend Central Michigan University and compete in cross country and track and field.

“I’ve been coaching now for almost 17 years and it’s the kind of thing (where) 17 years ago, they might not have gotten the coaching experience (then) as I have now. Every year I’m learning things and tweaking things and changing things,” Alpena girls track and cross country coach Joy Bullis said. “I’m so proud of them. They literally are very attentive and they don’t hesitate because they have earned that trust.”

All of the athletes had tough decisions to make, but ultimately chose their schools because they felt comfortable around their new teammates and coaches.

The inviting atmosphere in East Lansing and honesty of the coaching staff led the Smith brothers to East Lansing.

“After a few visits of a couple of different colleges, MSU was the most inviting college out of all of them,” Aden Smith said. “The coaches and the team were very nice, very friendly. It just seemed like the place for us.”

Both of them will run middle and long distance for the Spartans after record-setting careers at Alpena.

In cross country, Aden is a four-time state qualifier and three-time all-state finisher. He is also a two-time Big North Champion, two-time all-conference honoree, four-time all-region honoree, a two-time team regional champion and a one-time Big North team champion.

In track, Aden earned all-state honors and set a school record as part of the 3,200 relay team. He also has earned all-conference honors in the mile run, all-conference and all-region honors in the two-mile run as well as all-conference and all-region honors in the 3,200 relay.

Josh qualified for the cross country state finals three times and earned all-state honors twice. He also earned all-conference honors three times and all-region honors three times. Along with Aden, he was part of two regional championships and one Big North team title.

In track, Josh owns Alpena’s boys record in the mile and was part of the record-setting 3,200 relay team as well. He has also earned all-conference honors in the 800 run and all-conference and all-region in the mile run.

When it came time for recruiting, schools were interested in the brothers as a pair and MSU’s trustworthiness was a big selling point.

“A big thing was the coaches were really honest with us and we felt like we could trust them the most,” Josh Smith said.

Boyd has had a decorated career at Alpena and will be a dual-sport athlete at Central in cross country and track.

In cross county, Boyd is two-time all-Big North conference honoree, two-time all-region honoree, a two-time state qualifier and earned all-state honors last fall. She also holds Alpena’s girls record in the 5K.

In track, Boyd holds Alpena’s girls record in the mile run and has twice earned all-conference and all-region honors in that event. She has also earned all-conference and all-region honors in the two-mile run as well as all-region honors in the mile relay.

“I chose Central because of the atmosphere and the coach, the team and the location of it,” Boyd said. “A lot of factors went into it, but mostly I like the environment of the team and the coaches.”

Weide is a two-time state qualifier in the shot put and a one-time qualifier in the discus. As a junior, Weide was the Big North champion in both the shot put and discus and was also a regional champion in the shot put before earning all-state honors in that event as well.

“She just literally has excelled year after year after year,” Bullis said of Weide. “She’s a hard worker, doesn’t miss practice and her parents are super supportive.”

Zaborney was a stalwart in cross country and joined the Smith twins in winning a pair of regional titles and a conference title. In track and field, Zaborney has been a mainstay in the jumping events, earning all-conference honors in the long jump. As part of the Woods Track Club indoor track team, Zaborney has also shined, winning all-state honors in the triple jump. He is also within striking distance of Alpena’s indoor long jump record.

He’ll be looked at as a jack-of-all-trades by the Titans, who plan to have him competing in jumping and hurdles events.

“I chose Detroit Mercy because they were the first big school to talk to me and want me on their team,” Zaborney said. “I went down for a visit and the atmosphere of their team was just really friendly, so I wanted to go there.”