Chatt Chats: In-depth, real, and behind-the-scene stories of our incredible GoMocs student-athletes & programs. Produced by Tate Johnson, Production Director, and Corey Belonzi, Strategic Communications Assistant Director. Story told by Allison Swinford, student assistant. 

Vol. 2 - Together is Better, Siblings Find New Home in Chattanooga

In most cases, college is a place where student-athletes can leave their home lives behind, start new, and be entirely on their own. Here at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, that's not quite the case.
 
For example, the athletic programs are home to two sets of female twins, one set of sisters, one set of brothers, as well as two male coaches, who are brothers. Four sets of student-athlete siblings and one set of siblings on the coaching side (wrestling brothers Kyle & TJ Ruschell) sets up a unique experience.
 
Jordan and Kendra Mueller make up a set of sisters who compete on the women's soccer team. With Jordan being a senior and Kendra being a freshman, it was a decision that revolved around the weight of only being able to play together for one year. However, that was worth it to the younger Mueller sister, Kendra.
 
"I hadn't gotten to play with her" Kendra stated, "so her decision relied heavily on having Jordan one more time as a true teammate." She acknowledged that she came to Chattanooga because she loved the city and the school, but ultimately the decision fell under coming to a solid program and having Jordan as a "friend, a teammate, a sister, and a leader on and off the field."
 
Just like in college, they were set up to play just one year together in high school. Jordan underwent an injury that left her not being able to play half of her junior season, as well as her entire senior season. There was only one game Jordan and Kendra saw the field together before college, coming on Jordan's senior night.

"It was really cool, my coaches let me play for like a minute. I was able to kick the ball to her, and walk out with her," said Jordan.
 
It is almost laughable between the two sisters as they reflect on their relationship prior to college. "We used to argue all of the time. We used to not be as close, but now I would say we are best friends," laughed Jordan. "I think that time and maturity has a big role in the difference between playing in high school and now playing in college.
 
"College is more fun. In high school, it was more like she was the freshman and I was the senior, but now it is just like we are here, together."
 
A similar story, with a different look, arises within two male programs, men's basketball and football. The programs each share a separate half of brothers, who took different routes to ultimately land as student-athletes in Chattanooga.
 
Dominic Caldwell, a junior, is a quarterback for the football program while his younger brother, A.J., is a redshirt sophomore guard for the men's basketball squad. The two brothers did not have the same experience as Jordan and Kendra when choosing their path to compete collegiately. The brothers separated for a little over a year before reuniting in the Scenic City.
 
Dominic began his college football season at Florida International University where he redshirted his 2016 season. In 2017, he transferred to UTC as a preferred walk on in hopes of obtaining a scholarship for the 2018 season. It only took a year of being on campus by himself before his childhood roommate decided to join him.
 
On the other side, A.J. attended South Alabama straight out of high school, but decided to transfer after the program underwent a coaching change. Knowing Dominic was at UTC, in addition to the basketball coaches on staff showing interest, it all sort of "fell into place."
 
"Out of high school it was an adjustment because we shared a room growing up, and we were always together, so the year being away from him was very different." A.J. speaking on his feelings about being away from Dominic.
 
When asked if having A.J. with him in college was everything he wanted, Dominic said, "Before he came here, I was by myself. Now, I have him here with me to keep me company." He mentioned that it is nice to have someone here that truly knows him, as well as someone he can always be himself around.
 
In addition, both are supportive of one another in their respective sports. Dominic says, "[He attends] every single home basketball game," and that it is "really cool to be able to support [his] little brother in that way." A.J. replied in almost the same way when saying, "I haven't missed a single home football game, and being able to support him has been great."
 
The first year of his college journey might have been unusual for A.J., but things started to look a little more familiar after he was able to transfer to UTC, and more importantly, move back in with his older brother.
 
They share a house, curving the family feel like old times. Even if their schedules don't always align with practices, meetings, and other time commitments occurring at different times,, they always find time for dinner together at the end of the day.
 
"The thought of being able to live together again, go to the same school, and to create some of those same memories we had together growing up was one that I thought would be a cool opportunity that not a lot of siblings normally get," said A.J.
 
These two stories share just a small glimpse into the student-athlete sibling relationships. In addition to the traditional sibling model, the Mocs' programs feature two sets of identical twins.
 
Samantha and Maggie Shaw, twins, are sophomores on the women's soccer team. Colombia, South Carolina, natives, Maggie highlighted the importance of coming to college together as a pair saying, "We always knew that we were going to go to school together, it was never an option for one of us to go to a different school. We were a set. We did not want to leave each other at all."
 
Likewise, twin sisters Jenice and Janessa Casanas, compete as freshmen student-athletes within the softball program. Miami, Florida living their entire lives, both agreed college would have been extremely hard without the other by their side. Janessa said, "Having Jenice here at college [was] like having a little piece of home here with me."
 
From Sarasota and Miami, Florida to Hendersonville, Tennessee, to Colombia, South Carolina. Chattanooga has a true family dynamic that no one can deny.
 
Not only can student-athletes grow academically and athletically, and look for a fresh start at a place where they can make a name for themselves, they can also do it with a little piece of home right there by their side at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 
 
SERIES ARCHIVES
Vol. 1 - Mission First, Family Always
Vol. 2 - Together is Better, Siblings Find New Home in Chattanooga


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