Ever since they can remember, Chris LaBarge and Trevor LaBarge have been playing football together.

Chris, a senior defensive back with the Bears, started his collegiate career at Drake University, an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision school, before being redshirted. After his freshman year, he transferred to Washington University. Trevor, on the other hand, began his collegiate career at the University of Colorado, an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision school in the Pac-12 conference, before transferring to Case Western Reserve University, a member of the University Athletic Association. After his sophomore year, he transferred to Wash. U., where he is now a running back.

The two are very different. Chris is outgoing whereas Trevor is more reserved. Though the pair does not look alike, either, at the end of the day they are best friends.

The brothers reminisce about playing one-on-one tackle football in their basement as little kids. “There was a lot of blood at the end of the night,” Trevor said, chuckling.

They originally played for their father, an offensive line coach, before playing at Chaminade College Prep School. Both were captains in their senior years, which was the first time that brothers captained a team in successive years at their high school.

“At a young age both of us played offensive line, but we never really got big enough to continue playing offensive line. Our dad demands a lot from us; he is really proud of our accomplishments. He comes to all of our games still,” Chris said.

With three athletic sisters, including Chris’ twin, who plays field hockey at Saint Louis University, the LaBarges always had a positive, competitive dynamic.

“It is great to have someone so close to my age to compete with. We always try to one-up each other whether it be grades or football,” Chris said. “At the same time, however, I want him to do really well. When we played last year he had a career game with 21 carries and 117 yards, but Wash. U. still won.”

Despite initially playing at Division I schools, the LaBarge brothers both missed the Midwestern feel of St. Louis. Most of all they missed playing together.

“In my last high school game I was most devastated that it could be the last football game I played with my brother. You don’t really know what you [have] got until it is gone,” Chris said.

“We really didn’t understand the significance of playing together when we were younger,” Trevor added.

After knowing football head coach Larry Kindbom before their arrival on campus, Wash. U. seemed to be the school destined for the brothers’ reunion.

“Coach K. is an icon over here. He is someone I always wanted to play for,” Chris said.

Though Chris transferred and Trevor enrolled in another school, the brothers still stayed in constant contact with each other. Despite Trevor being second team all-UAA fullback at Case Western, he was always focused on coming to Wash. U.

“My biggest accomplishment at Wash. U. was actually getting into the school. I previously got rejected a couple times,” Trevor said. “At the end of the day I always wanted to come here because I was born and raised in St. Louis. St. Louis is home, Wash. U. is home, and home is where the heart is.”

Despite the academic and athletic challenges at Wash. U., the two brothers have continuously pushed themselves to achieve high marks on and off the field.

The LaBarges have a clear friendship that surpasses many brotherly relationships. Before every game the two usually hug each other and give each other handshakes. Their family loves this dynamic and attends every game.

The brothers still get competitive with each other in practice, even though they are now on the same team.

“We go against each other in practice a little bit. Some of the coaches say we go easy on each other. After going against each other we give each other high fives,” Chris said. “Playing together has made our relationship better. Playing with Trevor is a dream come true. At the end of the day there is no one I care about more.”

In a victory over Wooster on Oct. 15, the LaBarges accounted for all of the Bears’ touchdowns, as Chris returned a fumble on a kickoff 11 yards for a score, and Trevor had two one-yard touchdown runs.

“It was pretty cool that we did that, but we just cared more that we won,” Chris said.

Although their family may be worried that the two only have two games left together, Chris is a redshirt and has another year of eligibility. Since he will be enrolled in a Masters in the Business School for Accounting, there is a chance that we will see the pair playing together next year.