From the Newsstands: This article appeared in The Eagle’s December 2025 print edition which can be viewed here.
After visiting his older sister, Ella Shifflett, at American University over Labor Day weekend last year, Gavin Shifflett immediately knew he could picture himself in her position on American’s swim and dive team. But for this sibling duo, swimming together was not unusual.
The Shiffletts are one of several sibling pairs on the University’s sports teams. Whether as rivals or teammates, sibling duos are not unusual in college athletics. When one sibling receives the resources and training to become a Division I-caliber athlete, it’s often no surprise when their sibling follows in their footsteps.
Despite their two-year age gap, the Shiffletts swam on the same high school, club and summer teams in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. With Ella Shifflett swimming distance events such as the mile and Gavin Shifflett specializing in sprints, the two don’t always overlap during training or meets. Still, they’re constantly near each other on the pool deck cheering each other on.
“It’s really something special having your sibling on your team,” Ella Shifflett said.
Over on the wrestling mats, freshman Cameron Milheim is wrestling alongside his older brother Kaden Milheim once again, continuing a tradition they’ve built their entire lives. They will soon be followed by their third brother, Reagan Milheim, who committed to American last year.
The brothers from Muncy, Pennsylvania, have trained together since Cameron Milheim was 6 years old. Before committing to American, they wrestled together in high school and on a club team. When their father began his own club, they started to get serious about pursuing the sport further.
Training together growing up was always intense, but the Milheims are constantly pushing each other to improve.
“Being siblings, you obviously don't want to lose to the other one,” Kaden Milheim said. “It’s super competitive.”
When Kaden Milheim left for his freshman year of college, Cameron Milheim found it hard to adapt without his brother. While visiting and considering other colleges during the recruitment process, he always had American in the back of his mind.
Their reunion has already begun to pay off for them, with their season just getting underway.
“You want to see your sibling do the best they can,” Kaden Milheim said. “That comes with when they're struggling, or maybe they're not giving their best effort. You're going to be honest with them and give it to them straight because you care.”
Right around the corner from Bender Arena is another pair of sport siblings in the lacrosse program on Jacobs Field.
Growing up, lacrosse sister-duo Annabelle and Finley Jackson would go head-to-head in their backyard, competing for bragging rights. Annabelle Jackson often had an advantage, being three years older and playing attack, while Finley Jackson having played defense. For the first time, the Maryland-born sisters are in the same program — Annabelle on the field, and Finley now a manager.
For Annabelle and Finley Jackson, playing together was an adjustment at first. Even though the sisters grew to better understand each other’s game as they got older, they were always separated at the team level.
Finley Jackson played junior varsity as a freshman during Annabelle Jackson’s senior year on varsity at Maryvale Preparatory School in Baltimore County, and they never played on the same club team. Their father coached Annabelle Jackson’s club and their mother coached Finley Jackson’s.
With Annbelle playing attack and Finley Jackson having played defense, it’s less about their chemistry as players and more about adjusting to being in the same playing environment. They’ve gotten used to the idea of playing against each other in practice, just like they used to do in their backyard.
“It’s nice that we’re not competing for a spot or getting a shot,” Annabelle Jackson said. “There’s just something about a sibling connection.”
They may not have been on a team together until recently, but they are the duo who know each other best on the field. Originally recruited to play on the team, Finley Jackson is now the team manager, but the sisters are still together on the field and on campus.
“She knows how I take criticism,” Finley Jackson said. “And if it’s coming from her, it means a lot more than someone who doesn't know me as well.”
This article was edited by Matthias Jaylen Sandoval, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Avery Grossman, Ryan Sieve, Audrey Smith and Ava Stuzin.
