If you have seen the Thiel College men's volleyball in action this year or been on campus, you may have thought you were seeing double. From their physical appearance to their walk, Cody and Mitchell Patterson often get confused as twins. But maybe it is just the close bond and friendship that unites the brothers, so much much so people think they are one.
"There are people around campus that mistake us for each other because we look like identical twins. We dress, talk, and walk the same. We even have the same haircut," said Cody Patterson. "We are known as one person on campus, everyone just calls us the Patterson Brothers," said Mitchell Patterson.
Cody, a senior, and Mitchell, a freshman, are outside hitters on the Tomcats volleyball team. And whether it is in practice, during games, in the weight room, or even in their student job on campus; the duo have a friendly competition with each other. This bond between brothers has carried over onto the court for the Tomcats.
"I think having that family bond on the team helps the rest of the guys get closer as a team because they see the way we interact and it rubs off on them," said Mitchell.
"The energy is so much higher and the level we are playing at is so much more intense. Seeing the fire in Mitch's eyes after a big kill or block gets the whole team fired up," said Cody.
For anyone with a brother they know that it is commonplace the younger brother looks up to the older brother and wants to do everything they do. Not only is that true with Cody and Mitchell but what is unique is the mutual respect they have for each other, even with the older brother looking up to the younger.
"Growing up Cody and I always played the same sports so naturally when he started playing a new sport I wanted to give it a try. Cody taught me a lot and it helped me get an advantage over the other kids my age," said Mitchell.
"I hope Mitch thinks of me as a role model, I enjoy guiding people to help them reach their full potential, but one of the biggest things I realized this year is that Mitch is one of my biggest role models too. He is always there for me when I need him the most. I am lucky to have Mitch not only as a brother, but as a teammate as well," said Cody.
One of the central pieces of advice passed between the brothers is to take on any opportunity that is thrown your way. To take that opportunity, appreciate it, reach your potential and don't let it slip away. To that extent both Cody and Mitchell have taken on the challenge both in school and with their student-job. By now you can figure out it is no surprise that the pair are both majoring in Business.
"Cody is a smart kid so I have pretty high standards set for me even before I meet the professor. He gives me the ins-and-outs of the teachers and what they expect," said Mitchell.
And just as Mitchell followed Cody onto the volleyball court and then to Thiel, he has also followed him into a student-work job in the Thiel College sports information office.
"I started working for the sports information department when I was a sophomore when I was asked to help keep stats for the women's volleyball season. Two years later I am now the student manager and it is one of the greatest jobs on campus. Sports Information Director Ed Topeleski is a really good guy and I feel lucky to not only play in a sport but also get to be around the other 24 sports Thiel offers," said Cody.
"Cody is the student manager of sports information so he told me to apply for a job and now we work together every day. I like it because I love sports so it is a fun job for me," said Mitchell.
Growing up together Cody and Mitchell played numerous sports together but because of their age difference never truly got to experience being teammates. It was that lure of being teammates that brought Mitchell to Thiel to join Cody as a Tomcat.
"I chose Thiel for many reasons but a large reason was because of Cody," said Mitchell. "Everyone in my family said it would be awesome to see you guys on the same team and playing together. I came up and watched a lot of their games for the three years he was here before me so I met and got pretty close to the guys in his class, which made it a very easy transition."
"Mitch and I played a lot of sports during our middle and high schools years but playing with my brother in college, on the same team, is quite unique," said Cody. "It is really rewarding having my brother there along my side. I am beyond excited that I get to finish out my volleyball career with my brother right along my side."
"We played a little bit of volleyball together in high school but not every match due to me not starting on varsity consistently," said Mitchell. "So when I got to Thiel there was one thing on my mind that was to win that other outside spot so I could play with him. I did and I owe a lot of that to Cody because he pushed me in the weight room a lot. Me and him put in a ton of hours in the gym, just hitting and passing."
As brothers, and sport enthusiasts, it is only natural to have a little sibling rivalry. From practice to games to workouts the pair are constantly challenging each other and pushing each other to reach their potential.
"Mitch and I are considered the biggest competitors in our family, especially when we play with or against each other. Everything we do turns into a competition. Playing the same position only adds fuel to the fire. We are always trying to out perform each other. We have unspoken games between each other on who can hit the hardest, jump the highest, or who hits the closest to the ten foot line during hitting drills. Even off the court we debate on who showed up earlier for practice or who has the cooler looking shoes. We turn everything into a competition but we don't let that competition distract our team focus of winning games," said Cody.
"Being on the court with your brother is not something everyone gets to experience. We can run certain plays that just work with me and him. We both just have that sense of where we are at and what our next move on the court will be. After I get a kill I usually go right up to him because he hypes me up the most and I think I do the same for him," said Mitchell.
For Cody, the first member of his family to go to college, the decision to attend Thiel College was an important moment. A moment that was sealed when he found the answer he was looking for when searching for a place to not just play volleyball but prepare him for his future.
"Thiel will always hold a special place in my heart after I graduate and move into the real world," said Cody. "The college search process was brand new for me and my family. I first started looking at colleges just for volleyball but I learned quickly that approach was the wrong way to go. When I went on my visit to Thiel, I asked the admissions counselor 'What will Thiel do for me?' It was the admissions counselor's response that sold me on Thiel. He said 'Cody, Thiel will give you the tools necessary to be successful but it is up to you what you want to do with those tools'."
Even with their similarities in physical appearance, following in foot steps, and spending nearly all of their time together; maybe the most impressive thing about the duo is in how they describe each other. When asked to describe his older brother in three words Mitchell replied "Hardworking, Motivated, Perfectionist" and when Cody was asked to describe his younger brother he replied "Passionate, Dedicated, and Hardworking." Cody and Mitchell Patterson, brothers and teammates that bring out the best in each other, a true brotherly bond.