By Tommy Beason '24 and Summer 2025 Intern

The first Tuesday of each month, we interview someone from Charlotte Latin Athletics with twenty questions to help the CLS community get to know some of our athletes, coaches, and supporters a bit better.

This month, meet the Barber twins: seniors Matthew and Trent. Since joining the Latin community in 2024, they have played football and track and field. They both made the All-Conference team for football in their first year. Both twins admit that they prefer football, however, they love to compete. Matthew has received various offers to continue his football career in college. Trent plans to use his love for engineering to find the best college fit for him. Matthew and Trent credit their parents, Mike and Thelma, for instilling a strong work ethic and respect for others. Continue reading to learn more about the Barbers and their family:
 

1. What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself since being at Latin?
Matthew: I like being by myself, getting my work done, and being very independent. I don't really have to rely on a lot of people in order to get things done in the classroom. Being at Latin just gave me a sense of independence to do work.
Trent: I learned I like track and field. It's one of my favorite sports other than football.

2. What have some of your favorite classes or subjects been at Latin?
T: My favorite class or subject was the engineering class with Mr. Dubick. It was fun to use all the tools because at my old school we had stick welding and 3D printing, but here we have 20-plus 3D printers, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines, and lasering machines.
M: I like sports medicine with Ms. Spero because she was really energetic and we got to watch a lot of fun movies and stuff about health. And then we got to do projects on creatine and different supplements. We also got to go into the training room and tape each other up. It was fun.

3. What are your tips for balancing school and sports?
M: I had teachers let me know I could come for help because I took AP U.S. History and I made the mistake of not going to Mr. Weiss for help initially. It was hard scheduling it but what I would do is just do my homework at school, during lunch. Or maybe not if you want to socialize during lunch, that's great, but do your homework during activity period or whenever you have breaks. Narrow it down to get the hardest things done first, then go to the easiest.
T: I basically do the same thing as him so it's nothing different.
M: There's no particular way to balance it. Just find something that works for you. I like listening to music while doing homework.

4. What has been your favorite Latin sports moment so far?
T: My favorite Latin sports moment was when I first ran track. I thought I was going to get a 13 or maybe even a 14 running the 100 but I ended up getting a 12.6 so that surprised me.
M: Mine was the football game we played against Country Day at their stadium. The game was really tight. They scored first and we caught up. It was just back and forth, back and forth, and then they were up for a while before we came back. Holden Freno kicked a last-second, game-winning field goal and everybody just stormed on the field. My favorite moment from that game was when their quarterback tried to run the ball and I chased him down to the sideline and tackled him and the whole entire crowd started cheering.

5. You've had many coaches at Latin. Are there any that you've made a particularly strong connection with?
M and T: That's such a hard question to answer.
T: I would have to say Coach Paige first of all. He is a really good person to talk to and he has always been straightforward with us since we've come to this school.
M: I remember I was in the weight room and was figuring out how to use TeamBuildr and I didn't know how to do it. Then he patted me on the back and was like, "Come on, get to work. I only got you for one year, let's make it worth it." He's been a really good mentor in my life. And then you have Coach Dayton. He's always been there for Trent and me, always offered to do stuff for us and always encouraged us. I remember our game against Metrolina, thankfully it got stormed out and then we could have a reset moment, but I made a crucial mistake and he patted me on the back, gave me a hug and told me to come back ready on Monday. That was really nice and he has always been supportive of Trent and me and everything we do. Another one in track, Coach Ray. When I went to track, I had in my mind that I was just going to do this to socialize but he made it really competitive and really fun with his attitude and how he came about things.

6. You two ran a 4x100 relay together in a track meet this spring. What was that experience like?
T: That relay was so fun. We originally had lined up for another person to be our fourth leg and he had to go because he had something else to do. So luckily we got Ayden Mark to fill in for us. We were doing pretty good at the start and when we got to the third leg we could've been cooked but luckily the team in first place did a proposal thing with the baton and I took advantage of that and beat him.
M: They went down on one knee.
T: They had a guy that was running an 11.7 and he could've honestly beat me if he hadn't played around.

7. You both won Coaches' Awards at the end of last year's football season. What qualities do you think helped you receive that recognition?
T: I would say our sense of humbleness.
M: You read my mind. That's actually crazy (laughing).
T: We really don't do too much and aren't flamboyant with our wins. When it comes to football I'm not really trash talking anybody and we're really humble when it comes to getting the wins that we get. Matthew and I always try to be humble servants. We always sweep up the locker room and do everything we can to help without being asked so I think that's a big part of it.
M: We're very respectful towards people, which is just how we were raised. We know how to act towards people and I think that's what helped a lot.

8. You both play offensive/defensive line in football and both compete in discus and shot put. What is the level of competition like between you two in these sports? 
T: Usually when it comes to football and we do the line drills or one-on-ones, both of us beat each other. The only reason that technically I'll win sometimes or he'll win sometimes is because we have to wrap up the drill. But usually we best each other. In track though I was kind of doing better at discus than him, but he's a whole lot better at shot put because he has that strength in him.
M: Yeah same thing that he said. It's up and down, up and down.
T: It's been consistent since we started playing football
M: It's not like one's crazily better than the other person.

9. How would you describe your relationship?
T: We love each other a ton. We finish each other's sentences as you saw earlier.
M: It's nice because we're both working here. I'll just call and be like, "Are you done?" And then we'll go up to the cafeteria, grab some food and just start talking. We're really close. Even though our interests are very different, we still connect on certain levels.

10. What do you think is your brother's best character trait?
T: I think Matthew's best character trait is his work ethic because no matter what he's not going to stop working. I also like how he's always making an effort to go and see how others are doing.
M: Your best character trait is that you're really funny. Whenever I come to school and am tired from the night before from having a lot of work to do, I'll be grumpy and then Trent says a joke or two and it just makes me smile. 

11. How would you describe your family?
T: I come home every day after a long practice to see my dog Coco's little cute face.
M: She's about to turn 17. She's very energetic though.
T: Yeah she's still energetic for her old age.
M: My mom is very energetic and she loves helping people, and is very supportive of her family. She is a kidney disease survivor and has had two transplants, so she works to spread kidney awareness and advocate for other patients. (Click here to read more about Thelma Barber's advocacy.) My dad's always helping us out with our college recruiting and always being very encouraging when it comes to sports and football and getting to know people. 

12. What are your favorite parts about your family as a whole?
M: We make each other laugh genuinely. We can make jokes all day long and it can go nonstop. I was supposed to go to sleep at like 10:00 last night and we were just joking around for like two hours straight. We love to make each other laugh and connect.
T: We enjoy having movie nights together and hanging out.

13. What is your favorite vacation spot?
T: I guess my favorite vacation spot is my grandma's house because I get to go to her house and just enjoy my family's company and play cards with them.
M: We haven't been there in a while but Westgate in Florida. I love it because it has a cool water park in the hotel and then we have friends, basically family, that we always hang out with when we go to Florida. They have a lazy river and cool water slides. My uncle also lives there. 

14. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
M: Anywhere outside of the United States. Maybe an island, like the Bahamas or the Caribbean. It's nice to sit on a beach.
T: As long as it's anywhere with clear water and white sand I'm fine with that. 

15. What was your dream job when you were growing up?
M: Mine was a professional golfer or professional motorcyclist. I don't know where that came from. You need so much time for golf and we just don't have that now. 
T: Same thing for me. I thought I was going to be a professional golfer or a video game designer. After I turned 13, I dropped golf. I need to get a new set of clubs if I really want to try doing it again.

16. What's your dream job now?
M: I want to be a family man and a dad, honestly. I also have time to think about my career but I just want to be a father. I want to be a really caring dad like my dad, and just be able to raise kids and have a family.
T: I don't really know what my dream job would be but I think that with time I'll be prepared for any job, so I'm excited to see were my degree takes me.

17. Who are your biggest role models?
T: My biggest role model is my brother because he's always working hard. He has four (collegiate football) offers. So I think I look up to him pretty much.
M: Honestly, Coach Paige. He loves joking around but he serves as an example of what I need to be. Always being there, always working hard. 

18. What would you say are your biggest priorities in life?
T: My biggest priority is getting to a college that I know I'm going to love and love the community. Secondly, I want to enjoy living because you only live once.
M: Faith first, family and friends second, and third is being an example for others to follow. On my football team, I'm not typically the person to yell and scream and be very vocal. I will when I have to be but I like leading by example in the weight room, not joking around. But also being very lighthearted during other times. Family is a priority, of course, because we're going to go to college soon and you want to enjoy those connections while you can. Just my faith in general, just always sticking to my Bible and reading and keeping that as a stronghold in my life.

19. While you are both going into your senior years, what are your goals before you graduate?
T: My goal before I graduate is to really take in all the stuff that we're going to be doing this senior year. I'm looking forward to all the fun activities such as senior assassin, Crowder's, other events, dances, and sporting events.
M: My goal ultimately, after I have college locked in, is to be able to go to as many basketball and baseball games as possible. I didn't get to go to one baseball game last year, which I'm kinda sad about. But I just want to be more active and hang out a lot more with our community and our teammates outside of sports. 

20. What does Charlotte Latin mean to you?
M: It brings a sense of opportunity. I don't think at any other school we've had the amount of opportunities that we have at Latin and the support. Especially during football season, people were coming up to us saying, "Great job!" Coach Paige was telling us that a lot of teachers and even people that I don't know were talking about us (our impact) so the sense of support and belonging that I feel here is greater than anywhere else I've been.
T: Same here. When it comes to what Charlotte Latin means to me, it's a school that I really like and the school I'm proud to graduate from.
 

 
Matthew makes a tackle at Ravenscroft August 16 - Photo by Ernie Cutter

Trent jogging off the field against St. Paul's September 20 - Photo by CLS Athletics

Coach Ray fist-bumping Matthew at a Track and Field event - Photo by CLS Athletics

Trent winding up to throw the Discus at an event - Photo by CLS Athletics

The Barber Family: Trent, Mike, Thelma, and Matthew 

The Barber Family: Matthew, Mike, Thelma, and Trent
 
Matthew and Trent smiling after a youth football game

Trent and Matthew ready for Martial Arts

Matthew and Trent warming up before a youth soccer game