LA GRANDE — Two-time state champion Kai Carson has decided to once again wrestle on the same team as his brother.

The La Grande senior formally signed to wrestle at Eastern Oregon University, joining his older brother, Braden. Wrestling is a true family affair for the Carsons. Their father, Klel Carson, is La Grande High School’s head wrestling coach.

For Kai Carson, wrestling and his future career plans in combination with rejoining his brother made the decision easy.

“My career goals involve biology and a career as a physician’s assistant, and EOU was a great fit for that goal,” Carson said. “Having my brother there on the team was just a bonus.”

EOU head coach Dustyn Azure is more than pleased to have another Carson join the team.

“It fits exactly what we are looking for with our program, his character, academics and wrestling ability,” he said. “It is what we want to continue to build this wrestling program around, someone like Kai.

“It will be awesome to have two Carsons and their ability. They will push each other and help elevate the team in a lot of different areas. Brothers always bring intensity to the room, especially when they are around the same weight.”

Kai Carson started on the mats at age 5 but did not see any real success until seventh grade.

“Both Braden and I started wrestling at about the same time,” Carson said. “Our father never really forced the issue but in the summer before seventh grade, I wrestled with some college guys and it just started to click. In seventh grade, I qualified for state and it just took off from there.”

Carson hopes to replicate the success of his older brother on the collegiate mats. Currently, Braden Carson is nationally ranked.

One issue possibly looming is both may end up in the same weight class.

“Plans are now to wrestle in the 133 to 141 range, as I think I am done growing,” Kai Carson said. “We both could end up at 133.”

Azure said he is not concerned about the weight because, in the NAIA, programs can bring 12 wrestlers to nationals. He is more than willing to have two Carsons at the same weight battle it out for a national title if it shakes out that way. He is quick to add with a chuckle that their mom and dad may not feel the same way.

Klel Carson said his sons have always had a strong relationship, built on each other’s success. Stories of support are far more common than any battles between the two at home or on the mat.

“They are always each other’s best support,” he said. “Growing up, Kai seemed to have a little less success than Braden, but he was always sitting mat-side supporting him. Braden actually talked to Dustyn and found out his brother was coming, and Braden told him that he should give Kai a lot more money ‘because he is better than me.’”

The coach said he feels fortunate his sons have that kind of bond and looks forward to it continuing at EOU. He is glad to see they both are gaining positive traits from the sport that will serve them well the rest of their lives.

Outside the time spent in the winters in the gym on the mats, the brothers and their family like to spend time outside in the summer and fall.

“Our family does a lot of rafting on the Grande Ronde or on the Payette, which is something I really enjoy,” Kai Carson said. “In the fall, you can find me elk hunting, and we spend a lot of time fishing.”

Carson’s wrestling career with the Tigers has seen ups and downs.

“My freshman year, Sweet Home just blew us out of the water at state,” he said. “My sophomore year was amazing. It was the first time I won state and we beat Sweet Home. My brother won state that same year so it definitely was a family celebration.”

Now in his senior year, Carson hopes to complete the pinnacle his brother reached of being a three-time state champion.

“I never gave Kai advice or told him what school to go to, but it certainly makes it a lot nicer for his mom and I that we won’t have to make any choices if we have a free weekend who we are going to go watch,” Klel Carson said.

In addition to his success on the mats, Kai Carson is also a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the high school’s a cappella choir.

“Nothing I have accomplished could have been done without the support of my brother, Mom and Dad, Coach (Sean) Belding and Dalton Sheets.”

Sheets was Carson’s middle school and mat club coach, providing early success and teaching.

“The mat club program in La Grande is amazing,” Carson said. “We have about 70 kids every year which means a lot of kids want to wrestle in high school. La Grande has the largest middle school program in the state.”

Before taking the mats at Eastern Oregon University, there is still one state title left to grab for Carson and an upcoming baseball season as a Tiger.

“The baseball team should be good this year,” he said. “It is nice after spending all the time in the gym over the winter to get out on the baseball field.”