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Carter Sweeney and Gavin Sweeney hold the nine-man football state championship trophy at US Bank Stadium in 2021. Photo provided

Carter Sweeney stands with his family and holds the Section 1 nine-man trophy after the Cardinals beat Kingsland on Friday night. Photo provided

LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli’s Carter Sweeney tries to avoid a tackle by Southland’s Cael Smith after a sack at first on Adams. Herald file photo

LeRoy-Ostrander’s Gavin Sweeney throws a touchdown pass against Fertile-Beltrami in the Nine Man Prep Bowl in 2021 at US Bank Stadium. Herald file photo

LEROY – Sometimes it’s hard being the little brother of a top athlete, but other times it’s a blessing.

In the case of LeRoy-Ostrander/Lyle-Pacelli senior Carter Sweeney, it has been something extraordinary. Carter, who is the Cardinals’ starting wide receiver and defensive back, is the younger brother of Gavin Sweeney, who won a Class Nine state title with the Cardinals in 2021 and now plays Division II football at Upper Iowa University.

Since becoming a Cardinal, Carter has been looking to make a name for himself and has done so by placing his name among the all-time leading receivers in program history.

“Everyone always knew me as Gavin’s little brother. “I always had a resentment and it’s still there,” Carter said. “I have to let people know my name and make sure they remember my last name. That has always been a big weight on my shoulder and I have always wanted to be better than him.”

Gavin started playing soccer in second grade and Carter usually tried to keep up with him. By the time Gavin was kicking for the Cardinals in high school, Carter was guarding him and his father, Nick, who is an assistant coach for the team, was serving as the long snapper.

Last Christmas break, the Sweeneys were reminiscing about their younger days together, but they were also talking about how Carter’s team could make it to state their senior year. The Cardinals accomplished that goal on Friday and Gavin, who was watching the game in the crowd, couldn’t have been more proud of his little brother.

“It makes me very happy because I don’t want to say he’s in my shadow, but he’s been behind me forever and ever and it’s nice to see that he’s doing his thing and leaving his own legacy, like I did. ”Gavin said. “I am very happy to see that he is succeeding and being his own person. It’s a strong bond (in our family). All we really talk about is football, even in the off-season. Mom accompanies us on the trip and supports us in every way.”

Nick played high school football in Riceville, Iowa, graduating in 2002. He learned how to coach his kids when they are on the field and how to be a father when he is at home.

Having both boys playing on different teams meant Nick had to miss some of Gavin’s college games, but the family football bond has never faded.

“(Talking about football) brings me back to when they were little and that hasn’t changed. The only thing that has changed is their talk and how much they have learned,” Nick said. “Now they tell me things that I told them when they were little. Gavin helps us all the time. He returns home and is Carter’s biggest critic; “I don’t have to say anything, because big brother is always pushing Carter to be better than Gavin.”

Carter has no plans to play football in college, but he will always be grateful for where the game has taken him. It helped him build lasting friendships with his teammates, taught him the value of hard work, and brought him much closer to his older brother.

“Gavin is a good football player who works hard all the time, whether it’s in the weight room or on the field,” Carter said. “He is a great role model for me. He has always supported me. There are times he misses classes to come see me play.”

Gavin said it’s been a little surreal watching his little brother help lead the Cardinals back to state, but he’s enjoyed every minute.

“Carter and I were always very close and did everything together. He was welcome most of the time and went with him to almost everything. My friends and I were close to Carter and all of his friends,” Gavin said. “I’m very happy for those guys. They know what it takes to reach a possible state title. “They are doing all the right things and it is great to see their hard work paying off like it did for us.”

Gavin is in his redshirt junior season at Upper Iowa, where he jumped from tight end to defensive line his freshman years. This season he has been in the rotation at defensive end as he played in all nine games for the Peacocks (5-4 overall) and recorded 19 tackles and three sacks.

“I think nine-man has a much faster pace than 11-man and the schemes are a little more difficult (in college),” Gavin said. “It was nice to have been exposed to so many things in high school, because that made going to college a little easier. Coach (Trevor) Carrier could be a Division I or Division II coach if he wanted to, honestly. “He trains as hard as my coaches do here at the university.”

Carrier said the Sweeney family represents everything the Cardinal football program stands for.

“They understand what we’re trying to do here,” Carrier said. “It’s been a blessing to be with them on the field and my wife is her mom’s best friend, so it works out pretty well. The best part about football here is that the players always come back and Gavin will always have an opinion on what we are doing. Sometimes I use it and sometimes I don’t. “That’s the family culture we have here and we all support it.”