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 Mills and Banks Cutter. Mills is a freshman, and Banks is a senior. Both compete in football, wrestling, and lacrosse for the Hawks. Banks is an All-Conference athlete in all three sports, and a 2025 state champion in wrestling. He'll continue to compete in both football and lacrosse at Middlebury College, where he plans to pursue a business degree. Mills followed his brother's path athletically, but is very much his own person, with his own interests and goals. The Cutter brothers look similar, but have distinct personalities. Read on to learn more about Banks and Mills in this month's Tuesday 20.
 
1. Tell us about the Cutter family and how you ended up in Charlotte.
Banks: Our dad (Ernie) grew up in Rhode Island and played football at the University of Rhode Island, then he met our mom in Atlanta where he moved for his first job.
Mills: Mom was in college then at Trinity University in Texas, but her mom moved to Atlanta while she was there.
Banks: Then our parents moved to Houston and had our sister, Aven (Class of 2022), before moving back to Charlotte and having me and Mills. They always moved for dad's work. Mom went to college for accounting, but she stayed home after she had Aven.
 
2. How would you describe your family's overall dynamic and your sibling relationships?
M: My entire family is close. We all support each other and I think we all kind of pick on each other in a loving way.
B: I would agree. I have a different relationship with Mills than I do with Aven. Obviously, both being males and participating in a lot of the same stuff means we have a lot in common and spend a lot of time together. I don't see Aven as much but she's still one of my biggest supporters and I love the time I get to spend with her.
M: Yeah, I'd say Banks and I are a lot closer just because Aven's been in college (at the University of Georgia) since I was like ten, so we haven't had that much time together. But obviously, I love my sister.
B: She looks out for him. It's a little like having two moms when she's home.
 
3. Were each of you named after family members?
M: Mine is kind of a family name. My mom's grandma's maiden name was Miller, but they thought Miller Cutter sounded weird, so they shortened it to Mills.
B: Banks is a family name. It's actually Fairbanks. My full name is William Fairbanks Cutter, but I wouldn't know you were talking to me if you said "William."
And Aven?
M: That was their neighbor's name in Houston and they liked it.
 
4. As Latin Lifers, what have been some of your favorite and toughest classes?
M: I really like conceptual physics this year. It's pretty hard sometimes, but it teaches me stuff that helps me make sense of how things work. I like science and math more than other classes. I've never been a great English student.
B: In high school, my favorite class has been stagecraft with Mr. Maloney. It's kind of random, but it's exposed me to a lot of stuff I wouldn't have learned otherwise. Going into junior year, I wanted to take AP psych, and that's what I put as my first choice. Mr. Jennings had suggested stagecraft, so I listed that as my second choice and ended up getting it – and it has been one of the best experiences. Mr. Maloney makes it really fun and it's hands-on and teaches you how to problem-solve. I actually wrote my college essay about it.
 
5. Who stands out as some of your most memorable or impactful teachers?  
B: Mr. Maloney, because he serves as a kind of mentor and someone I can just be myself, be free, around. I also really like Mr. Keefer, who taught me algebra II sophomore year. I feel like I just connected with him, we were on the same page and I learned really well in that class. Then I also loved English with Mr. Cosper. I thought he was one of the most interesting people I've ever met and I just wanted to sit down and talk with him about his views on life for awhile.
M: I'd say Mrs. Edwards. She's the reason I made it through Middle School. She's helped me so much and kept me out of trouble. Mrs. Zuck's eighth grade science class was awesome. She's a funny person and made it fun, plus I had a lot of friends in there.
 
6. How did your sports journey begin, and how have you evolved into the three-season athletes you've become?
M: The first sport I did was Charlotte Junior Soccer, and I did that until I was around eight.
B: We both started young in soccer, dabbled in that for awhile, but we never did anything serious with it. I started lacrosse really young, maybe kindergarten, with some clinics. Most kids start wrestling in sixth grade, but I started early. There was a guy in my dad's gym who was teaching me Jujutsu, and then in fifth grade I started coming to Latin on weekends and wrestling with Mac (Fletcher) and Trey (Paige). I only started football in seventh grade at Latin. Dad had to convince Mom to let me play tackle.
M: I basically followed Banks. I played Pop Warner football in sixth grade and started wrestling in sixth grade because it was an option. But lacrosse was early. I started playing lacrosse around second grade.  

7. As Latin lifers, did you watch the Hawks compete before you were able to participate and hope to be like those kids some day?
B: Definitely. I remember coming to the football games with my dad and tailgating in the parking lot, then watching and admiring guys like Toby Okwara, Melvin Rouse, and DeMarkes Stradford. I remember rolling down the hill at Charlotte Christian, watching our football games there.
M: I went to the football games, but don't remember much about them until I was in sixth grade and I was allowed to go down on the track. That was kind of a big deal.  
 
8. Let's talk about each of your sports. What do you like most and least about football?
M: Football is a weird sport for me. I really enjoy the contact of football. It's fun to just run into somebody. But my least favorite thing is that there's a lot going on and a lot to keep on top of, so it's easy to mess up.
B: My favorite thing about football is how structured and team-oriented it is. I also like that it feels like the most popular sport, because everybody comes out for football games. My least favorite part of the sport is that there's so much that goes into it, and it's not free-flowing, like lacrosse. There's a plan to follow, so there's not a ton of creativity.
 
9. What do you like most and least about wrestling?
M: Wrestling has the strongest community of the three sports, and I love how you can't really mess up. It's just you out there. You're responsible for yourself and your match and that's it. My least favorite thing is the sheer amount of work that you put in – how physically demanding it is.
B: My favorite thing about wrestling is the way I feel after I finish a match. It gives me this sense that I can handle anything, because everything else I do in my life is not as hard as wrestling. My least favorite thing is the nerves that I get before matches. I don't get nervous before football or lacrosse games, but in wrestling, you know that what you're about to do is hard and it's just you out there. It's also personal. It's like getting beat up while everyone is watching, which is why it's nerve-wracking.
 
10. What do you like most and least about lacrosse?
M: I just love lacrosse overall. It's always been a fun sport. It's heavy contact and it's really fun. Everyone that plays has a similar sort of mindset, I think. My least favorite thing about lacrosse is getting hit with a stick as hard as someone can possibly swing it. That hurts. That's pain.
B: Lacrosse is my favorite sport. It's something I have always been in love with and I enjoy every aspect of the game. My least favorite part is that it's the sport that I work the hardest on, and it can be very humbling. I have played at a pretty high level and I've had some very humbling lacrosse experiences.
 
11. You've have had a lot of coaches, both at Latin and in other sports environments. Are there any that stand out either for their coaching style or their impact on you?
M: I like all the football coaches and I've always loved Coach Wims, he's nice and obviously knows a lot about the sport. But I'd say there are two coaches who have had the most impact. One is Coach Ivey, who was absolutely awesome. He was just fun to play for because he had so much passion for it. And the other is definitely Coach Paige. He is…I can't even describe it. He's been so helpful throughout my life and taught me a lot of life lessons. It's been awesome to be a part of his team.
B: I've had a lot of great coaches. Coach Wims joining the staff my sophomore year was great. His attitude is very similar to mine, and he just gave me a lot of confidence to pursue and achieve my goals. And Coach Dayton, I feel like I have been with him through everything and he has always had my back. The coaching style that I would want to emulate is Coach Paige's, but I don't know if that's possible. I think it's pretty special. He has something undefinable that makes you want to wrestle for him, to work really hard for him, and to make him proud. He never brings me down. He's just a unique coach, the way he can get a whole team to do something hard while making them fall in love with him and the sport.
 
12. You wrestled as a heavyweight last year, Banks, and won a state title. But you were not a heavyweight. What was that experience like?  
B: Coach Paige pulled me aside and told me he was going to put me in heavyweight and, to be honest, I didn't think much about it. I respect him so much and am willing to do whatever he thinks is best. Wrestling heavyweight was easy sometimes when you just get guys who are sloppy. But lining up against a guy that is heavier than me and stronger than me – I'm used to being that guy, the one that is stronger, so I had to tap into a different skillset when I was the smaller competitor. I needed to be faster, and extra cautious when I took shots because I didn't want to be stuck underneath the guy. This year, I am wrestling in my weight class and it's pretty fun because I'm well-matched against opponents who are just as athletic and strong as me, so it makes for a better wrestling match.
 
13. What have been your favorite Latin sports moments so far?  
B: My favorite sports moment was winning the wrestling state championship last year, but there have been a lot of good ones.
M: My favorite personal experience was probably my eighth grade wrestling season, because I was bigger and stronger than everyone else, so in wrestling I went 8-0 and won the conference. That ended in high school though, because now I just get absolutely thrown around. I also really liked playing midfield for school lacrosse, because I usually play defense (in club). I was fully short stick and that was really fun.
13b. Mills, what about watching your brother win a state title in wrestling? Or were you too nervous for him?  
M: It was really awesome to watch. I don't get nervous for Banks. It sucks when gets hurt, but usually he's good enough, athletic enough, and strong enough that I don't worry about him. When he won states, that…that was awesome. HE won that. Not his team. Just Banks out there. And he did it.
 
14.  What's something you have learned from or admire about your brother?
M: Banks has been a great role model for me. He's always been smarter and more athletic than me, but he's taught me that it's important to try hard in everything.
B: Something I admire about Mills is that he is really good at being himself. He is his own person. When he finds something he likes, he becomes obsessed with it and isn't afraid to pursue it. I think he'll find his own way to thrive doing something he loves.
 
15. Alright, let's finish with some fun questions. What's your dream job?
M: Firefighter.
B: When I was a kid, I wanted to be in the FBI. Now I want to be a banker.
 
16. Who's the best cook in the family?
M: My mom. Her spaghetti.
B: Mom has always been the cook in our family, but Aven has learned how to cook in college and she's been making some good things since she's been home for break.
 
17. Who's the most competitive  
M: Banks.
B: Um, deep down, I think it's my sister.
 
18. What's a hobby, talent, or skill you have that most people don't know about?
B: I can solve a Rubik's Cube.
M: I can play the guitar.
 
19. What's the best vacation you've ever been on?
M: Grenada.
B: Going to the beach with my friends.
 
20.  Next year will be a transition for both of you. Mills, what will you miss most when Banks heads off to college? And Banks, what do you think you'll miss most about Latin?  
M: I'll just miss seeing him every day and hanging out with him.
B:  I have a really tight group of friends and I think not seeing them every day is going to be a really big adjustment. I'll miss the community and the familiarity of Latin. I've never really known anything else.