Brothers share in successes

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Reggie Powers and DeAndre Taylor were born more than 2,000 miles apart.

Yet in athletic venues, the two brothers and Mojave High School seniors are inseparable.

When one is having success, the other is right there encouraging him. That’s pretty often, considering the two are among the top athletes in the area.

Both are former state champions in wrestling and helped the Rattlers earn the school’s first football playoff berth this season.

“We’re real tight,” Powers said. “We do every sport together. We’re successful in pretty much every sport we do.”

Powers and Taylor have been together since they were toddlers, when Powers’ father moved from Akron, Ohio, to live with Taylor’s mother.

“It’s been good,” said Taylor, who is a month older than his brother. “It helps a lot to have someone there going through everything you’re going through. We don’t get into fights or anything. We’re brothers.”

They’re not just brothers, though. They’re more like a dynamic duo.

Both are gifted athletically but also humble and engaging.

“They’re coachable. That’s probably one of the greatest things about them,” Mojave wrestling coach Colin Wilson said. “They both have a great work ethic.”

And a passion to see each other do well. Wilson added that when one is wrestling, the other is right by the mat, encouraging his brother.

Taylor won a state championship at 119 pounds as a freshman. He placed fourth at 130 pounds two years ago and third at 140 last season. Powers followed up a third-place effort at 189 as a sophomore by going undefeated and winning the state title at 189 last year.

“Our dad has always encouraged us,” Taylor said. “He kept us in sports and kept motivating us to always do better.”

Powers admits wrestling isn’t his favorite sport, but no one can argue with his success. His last loss, in the state semifinals his sophomore year, sticks with him.

“That’s what I feed off of, every match, every tournament, every time I step into that circle,” he said. “I hate losing. I’m a sore loser. In wrestling, once you get in, you can’t get out. It’s like a gang. You can’t quit because you don’t want to look like a quitter. You do it, just like Nike. You do it, and you don’t lose.”

That mentality carried over onto the football field this year, where the two combined to help the Rattlers win their first eight games and make the playoffs.

“Me and Dre took it up a little notch,” said Powers, who rushed for 921 yards and scored eight touchdowns this year. Taylor rushed for 913 yards and 10 scores. “If he scored a touchdown, I was like ‘Man, now I have to score one.’ If I do well, it may inspire him to do well. If he does, it inspires me.”

The inspiration, though, might come from afar next year. The two are likely to be several hundred miles apart in college.

Taylor is eyeing Princeton and hoping to play football. Powers is fielding scholarship offers but would prefer to attend school in the Midwest.

“We’ll be in different states,” Powers said, “but I’m still going to be his brother.”