You’ve heard of the Lopez brothers in basketball, who starred for the Stanford Cardinal for two seasons from 2006-2008. Perhaps you also know the Pouncey twins (Mike and Maurkice), who were on the same offensive line together at the University of Florida. Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike teamed up for the Stanford women’s basketball program towards the tail end of the last decade, and were a dynamic sister one-two punch.
While it’s not that uncommon for siblings to take the field together in college, it’s highly unusual to see a parent and their child both play for the same program at the same time. That’s exactly what’s happening at Miramar college though, where a mother and son are competing in different sports for the Jets this fall.
Maverick Mitchell is on the Miramar water polo team, and has recorded 31 steals so far this season. The 18 year old and business major has his mother, 45 year old Brandi Mitchell, also balancing the student-athlete dichotomy. She’s on the soccer team there, and is shattering glass ceilings everywhere which debunk the notion that older adults couldn’t play college sports.
Excited to welcome @TODDSTRAINNBCSD and @nbcsandiego to campus to cover a terrific story. 44 year-old Brandi Mitchell is a team captain for @GoMiramarJets women’s soccer team! Stay tuned, there is another element to this story that we will share shortly pic.twitter.com/DfRSRXWJnq
— SDMiramarCollege (@SDMiramar) September 21, 2021
How could this remarkable story have come together? Brandi has been a soccer fan and player her entire life, and is friends with Miramar soccer coach Stephanie Beall. She loves serving as living proof for others that certain stereotypes should not hold people back from doing the things that they love.
“I have to do this. I have to! I talk all the time about being an age advocate and standing up for what it means to age actively and I have to be able to prove to myself that I am not going to back off of this opportunity,” Brandi confidently communicated. Via NBC San Diego
Brandi isn’t just going through the motions on the pitch; she was actually named a co-captain of the team as well.
Teammate Daisy Avila had a very complementary take on Brandi’s performance.
“She’s so good, she is honestly one of the best players I have met and I’ve had the privilege to play with,” Avila remarked. Via NBC San Diego
It isn’t always an 18 year old’s dream to have their mother be on campus with them, but Maverick is happy with the way things have turned out.
“It’s super funny, I expected everyone to put me down and be weird all about it,” Maverick told Kusi.com. “But it’s been good so far, like I’ve watched the soccer game and she’s been great on the field already.”
The Mitchells are a part of a unique story, and Brandi is hopeful that her decision to jump back on to the field will motivate other adults to remain active in the sports that they love.
