Finally, Teammates: The Theis Brothers at Milwaukee
 
Growing up in a baseball family, Gavin and Braden Theis spent years around the game together.
 
They watched their older brothers Ryan and Evan play baseball at Wisconsin Lutheran College and spent countless hours at Rockets Baseball Academy in Richfield, owned by their family. Along with sister Haley's softball career, sports were a constant in the Theis household.
 
One thing they never did, however, was play on the same team. That changed this season.
 
As a fifth-year senior and a true freshman, Gavin and Braden finally got the opportunity to spend a season together with the Milwaukee baseball program.
 
"That was part of the reason why I wanted to come back," Gavin said. "Just to get one opportunity to play with him since I always played with my older brothers. It was the one thing I was missing out on."
 
The chance to do it alongside his older brother made Milwaukee an easy choice for Braden. "I just wanted to play with my older brother, and Milwaukee gave me the opportunity to do that, so I had to take it."
 
The brothers' path to Milwaukee started years earlier. "Our dad for sure," Gavin said of where his love for baseball originated. "He runs a baseball facility that we all grew up in. We basically lived there when we were young."
 
The example set by their older brothers also played a major role. "We have two older twin brothers who played at Wisconsin Lutheran College before us," Gavin said. "Just watching them grind, and then for Braden, watching me grind, that's kind of been the process for both of us."
 
As the youngest sibling, Braden spent years watching and learning. "I was so much younger," he said. "Just watching all three of them play, I knew I wanted to do it."
 
While both brothers eventually landed at Milwaukee, their paths looked a little different. Gavin was determined to earn an opportunity. "I was basically a walk-on. I messaged former head coach Scott Doffek and basically said, 'I'm planning on coming to Milwaukee and would love to try out.'"
 
After battling injuries early in his career, Gavin continued to develop into one of Milwaukee's most reliable pitchers. "The first year I battled some injuries, but definitely showed some signs of progressing," he said. "Then by my junior year, senior year and now fifth year, I've had some pretty good seasons."
 
"Milwaukee offered me lots of opportunities," Gavin said. "It allowed me to work with guys who were way better than me but also not too far out of reach where I couldn't catch them. Playing with guys like AJ Blubaugh and Riley Frey gave me examples to work toward."
 
Years later, Braden followed his brother to Milwaukee and immediately found himself with a built-in support system. "It gives me a catch partner all the time," Braden said. "It's cool always hanging out with your brother. You've got a best friend on the road and always someone to talk to."
 
The experience has been just as enjoyable for Gavin. "It's just been fun," he said. "We're basically roommates when we're traveling. We're at hotels together, we're going to dinners together. Outside of baseball, it's just time for us to grow closer together as brothers."
 
The relationship has extended onto the field as well.
 
For Gavin, one of his favorite memories from the season came when he got to watch Braden pitch from the Milwaukee dugout. "Probably the coolest thing was watching his first outing in person," Gavin said. "I've never been in the dugout while he's pitching. We've never been able to support each other inside the fence lines together."
 
Braden's favorite memories have come away from game action. "I'd say especially the weight room," he said. "Just pushing each other to the limits all the time."
 
After spending nearly every day together throughout the season, both have learned a few new things about one another.
 
"I didn't realize some of his personality quirks," Gavin said. "He's confident to the point of almost being cocky, but he's also the first one willing to help me with something. He's just a fun guy to be around."
 
For Braden, the season reinforced just how similar the two are. "We're more alike than I thought," he said. "The way we feel about things, some of our interests. Things he says, I've started to repeat myself. It's weird how we've become closer than we ever imagined."
 
As a freshman, Braden has also benefited from having a veteran brother nearby whenever advice is needed. "Just keep your head down and work as hard as possible," Braden said, recalling the message Gavin has repeated throughout the season.
 
For most of their lives, the Theis brothers watched each other play from the stands, this spring, they finally got the chance to do it from the same side.
 
"It's fun to compete together," Gavin said. "We've always competed against each other in the household, but now we get to compete against other Division I teams alongside each other."