The Martlet

U Vic athletics has made an uncanny discovery this year — a gene that promotes soccer success. For the first time in Bruce Wilson’s 25-year reign as head coach of the Vikes men’s soccer team, three brothers — Lucas, Wesley and Gavin Barrett; 25, 23 and 21 respectively — are playing for him at the same time.

But this isn’t one of those seasons where any plug with two feet can come out to training camp and have a shot at making the team: this is a nationals-hosting year for UVic. As such, roughly 60 players converged on Centennial Stadium back in August to vie for a spot on the team.

After Wilson trimmed that number down by more than half, all three brothers were still standing. But that’s not all. Their first cousin Michael Branion-Calles, 21, also made the team as an alternate goalkeeper. Plus, Branion-Calles sister Carlita, 19, made the women’s soccer team. Five family members all playing varsity soccer at the same time for the same university. Nature: 1; nurture: 0.

“It’s incredible,” says Wilson. “Not only the three brothers but the cousins as well. I don’t know what type of family you’d call that.”

NATURE VERSUS NURTURE

Their relation comes through the Branion gene. The brothers’ mother’s name was Melissa Branion. She married Bernie Barrett and the rest is history. Melissa’s sister Christine married a fellow by the name of Carlos Calles, hence the Branion-Calles handle. If that wasn’t enough though, Melissa and Christine’s nephew, Reece, actually spent a training year with UVic a couple of seasons ago. Imagine that? Six direct relatives from three siblings all with ties to Vikes soccer.

“A lot of it’s genes, there’s no question about it,” says Melissa. “They were all pretty talented, and that just got supported and it took off.”

But don’t rule nurture out so fast. It just so happens that Lucas, Wesley, Gavin, Michael and Carlita all grew up together. In the same house, in fact.

“It was busy and loud and crazy, but we’re a tight-knit family,” says Melissa.

The Barretts moved to Richmond from Penticton in 1992. Shortly thereafter the Branion-Calles moved into the Barretts’ basement suite. And since all the adults in the house played soccer, it was inevitable the kids would too.

“We played soccer every day,” says Wes. “One on two, and two on three all the time between me, Mike, Gavin and Luke. Carlita was allowed to play, too, as long as she didn’t cry.”

Carlita remembers those times well. “I just wanted to be so much like my cousins when I was younger, but there was a lot of ‘if you whine or complain or cry, you can’t hang out with us.’ I was the baby that wasn’t allowed to be the baby.”

As the oldest, Lucas sort of set the stage for the rest of the kids.

“Lucas loved soccer a hell of a lot more than any of us,” says Wesley. “Gavin hated it.”

Gavin admits he didn’t like soccer as a kid. He hated going to practice.

“Basically the only reason I stayed in soccer till I was 14 was because I was embarrassed to say I didn’t like it.”

“The family would have shunned him,” says Wes.

“We wouldn’t let each other quit. We all got into it at such a young age. For one of us to stop, we’d just be beaking at them,” says Lucas.

THE FAMILY TEAM

For nearly a decade the two families lived under one roof. The children all grew up as siblings — going to school together and playing soccer.

“They all got along pretty well,” says Melissa. “When they weren’t playing [soccer] on their separate teams, they were playing together in the yard. Soccer was a big part of our life.”

As Bernie and Melissa admit, however, five children playing sports was a bit chaotic.

“We did a lot of driving between games. We were a bit crazy about it,” says Bernie. “We’d watch four games in a weekend.”

Melissa agrees. “The kids’ early years were nonstop. Christine and Carlos were great because they could help drive someplace and we could drive someplace else. We were just all over the map.”

Only three and a half years separate the four boys. Since their high school, Hugh Boyd Secondary, offered Grade 8 through 12, they got to play together on the same team.

“It was the first time ever that Bernie and I could actually go to one game and watch them all at the same time,” says Melissa. “So that was a big highlight. We had a defender, a midfielder and a forward. And a goalie in Michael. We had the bases covered.”

As the boys grew up, their calibre improved. From the metro league, through Team B.C., to academies that took them touring around Europe, they had the chance to hone their skills while pushing each other to be better. Lucas and Wesley were the first to travel to Europe together for competition. Then Wesley and Gavin had the chance to play overseas on the same team. Gavin and Michael also joined forces for an academy trip. Even though they were the farthest apart in age, Lucas and Gavin had the chance to play together for a summer in the Pacific Coast Soccer League.

“I scored six goals in seven games and each one was from Lucas beating a guy, passing to me and I just tapped it in,” says Gavin. “Literally, I didn’t score a nice goal.”

After high school Lucas played at Simon Fraser University (SFU) for three years. Wesley graduated two years later and went to Trinity Western University( TWU) for a year. Gavin graduated two years after that and decided to travel to Europe. It seemed unlikely that they would ever play competitively together again.

REUNITED ONCE AGAIN

It’s funny how things turn out though. Lucas dropped out of school after SFU and took some time for himself. “SFU was the highest level I played and I figured that was it for competitive soccer.”

While at TWU, Wesley also grew disillusioned by the experience. He had nearly gone to UVic after high school but chose TWU instead.

“Mike graduated a year later and wanted to go to UVic, as well as a good buddy of mine,” he says. “I was like sure, let’s all three go to UVic. Then we kind of dragged Gavin in a year later.”

When Bernie and Melissa realized what was happening, they bought a house in Victoria for the boys to live in.

“We decided when Wesley came over here first, and that Gavin was planning on joining him, we thought it would be a better investment than paying for residence,” says Melissa. Lucas saw what was happening and thought it might be worth it to give school a second chance. “After a couple years off doing my own thing it was time to go back. I figured I’d go play soccer with these guys.”

When Wesley and Gavin told coach Wilson that Lucas was thinking about coming back to school, Wilson began recruiting him hard. But the biggest draw, Lucas says, “was getting to play with Wesley and Gavin.”

This is Lucas’ first year on the team. He moved to Victoria near the end of summer and got a place with another guy on the team. Carlita lives in a house along with her other cousin, Hailey. Aside from Mateo, Michael and Carlita’s younger brother, Reece is the only one no longer in Victoria. Wesley, Gavin and Michael still live together in the house that Bernie and Melissa bought.

MULLETS AND MOHAWKS

Today, the five of them have congregated at the house. Wesley — ever the middle brother — sits between Gavin and Lucas, and Carlita joins them on the couch. Michael cooks in the kitchen. Michael and Carlita’s features show the El Salvadorian heritage of their father, giving them a slightly darker look than the brothers. The siblings look similar, regardless of the age difference. Wesley and Gavin stand at an even 6-0 and weigh a matching 160 lbs. Lucas is 6-1, 165 lbs. That’s it — only an inch and five pounds difference between all three. And they share the same wiry physique.

Lucas’s hair is longer and scruffier than the others. He used to be known for (and proud of) a mullet that hung past his shoulders. He sported that dirty, party-in-the-back hairdo for most of his life (until his SFU teammates hacked it off in an act of “rookie initiation” when he was 18). In fact, Lucas still rocks the same “themullet” email address he’s had since grade eight.

“I’ve grown long hair since,” he laments, “but never the mullet again.”

His jaw is wider than his brothers’, too, and covered with a scraggly beard. “I said I wouldn’t shave once we started playing. Shaved the day before our first game and it’s grown out,” he says — paying homage to hockey superstition.

Wesley wears a more groomed look. His narrow face has the sharpest features of the three; his carefully coiffed hair runs a faux-hawk ridge along his head. The others snicker. The thing about Wes is, he can have a laugh at his own expense, too. “I’m famous for my faux mohawk,” he says. “Too much product. Lots of gel.”

Unlike his brothers, Gavin keeps his look simple. Smooth face; shaved head. It might have something to do with his playing style. Lucas and Wesley admit that, not only is Gavin the fastest of the three, he tackles the hardest, too.

“He goons guys and wins tackles like no one else on the field,” says Wesley. “He’s basically the exact opposite player that I am.”

It comes with the territory. As a centre-back, Gavin’s job is to stop opponents from scoring, using whatever means necessary. He blocks shots, he’s strong in the air, and he loves to run players down. He’s like a sheepdog herding and nipping at those who try to break away.

Strikers, such as Lucas, are about taking defenders on, juking and jiving and trying to score. Centre-mid is where the playmakers live — where we find the finesse (just look at Wesley’s hair). Centre-back is usually the most physical position on the field. However, Gavin’s skinhead look and hard hitting approach to soccer belie a broad grin and a high-pitched laugh that borders on a giggle.

And laughter is something this family shares. The brothers tease and chuckle. Michael acts as both heckler and hecklee from in the kitchen. Even Carlita, who has had to fit in with these boys her whole life, gets in on the fun.

At one point, while discussing the cutthroat juggling competition that existed between them as children (Lucas would lie about his number of keep-ups just so Wesley, who was actually getting more at the time, wouldn’t know), Wesley points out how poor Gavin’s touch is.

“Michael can juggle a ball better than Gavin can, and he’s a goalie.”

“Well . . .” Gavin stutters, unable to deny the claim.

“I got nothing,” says Wes in a mocking tone. Everyone laughs. Even Gavin.

“Whatever.” Gavin leans back in his chair. “I can win the ball better than any of them.”

FUTURE FOOTBALLING

Although the youngest of the pack (next to Carlita), Gavin is currently having the biggest impact on Vikes soccer. Last month he was named UVic Athlete of the Month.

“Gavin has been outstanding for us at centre-back,” says Wilson. “We put him there for his speed and quickness. So far he’s worked out very well.”

But that doesn’t mean the others aren’t contributing.

“Wes has played very well as well. No problem at all,” says Wilson. As for Lucas, he had surgery in the off-season that kept him out of training camp and the first few league games. However, he’s getting fitter by the day. Wilson has high hopes for him. “Lucas is a player. He can score goals, he can run, he can defend.”

Wilson acknowledges Michael as a talented keeper as well, who played a substantial amount of time last year.

Likewise on the women’s side, head coach Tracy David praises Carlita’s contributions. “She’s a tiny little thing, but boy oh boy, she’s aggressive, she’s tough and she’s competitive. We always need her to bring that competitive spirit to the field, and she always does.”

Two things this family has always shared are a love of soccer and a close-knit bond. In terms of soccer goals, all five family members hope to be national champions this year. Their long-term goals, however, are a little more family oriented.

“I can’t see any of us living anywhere other than Vancouver, maybe Victoria,” says Lucas. “It won’t be far. I couldn’t handle that.”

“We always end up in the same place, one way or another,” says Michael. “It’s kind of funny.”