From left to right: Nick, Brad, Ben, and Zac Affholter. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Families in sports receive substantial media attention, from Serena and Venus Williams to Justin and BJ Upton, or Eli and Peyton Manning to Michigan favorites Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous. 

Professional sports amplify these stories, but they only tell a fraction of them. A glance at this year’s Hillsdale Chargers Football Team makes one thing clear: brotherhood on the field isn’t metaphorical.

This season, a total of 11 Chargers will play with a brother, and an additional nine Chargers have had a brother put on the Hillsdale helmet. To say nothing of Offensive and Defensive Coordinators Brad and Steve Otterbein, there are plenty of familiar names on the Hillsdale roster: Stephen Petersen joins a long list of Petersens to play for the Chargers, starting receiver Shea Ruddy welcomes younger brother Ryin, and John and Chris VanOpstall will play their second season together.

But for the Affholters, Hillsdale Football is uniquely a family affair. Twin brothers Ben and Nick, both seniors, are among the most experienced starters on the roster, while younger brother Zac is fresh off his redshirt season.

Like any trio of brothers, they all three admit how competition runs strong between them, and also that each one has their domain. Nick is the best baseball player, Ben the best golfer, Zac the best musician. The brothers insist that the competitive spirit between them, both on and off the field, is for the best, at least most of the time.

The family isn’t just marked by a competitive spirit. They also have a history in Hillsdale sports. The trio’s mother, Darcy ‘97 played volleyball at Hillsdale and is instructor at the Mary Proctor Randall Preschool, while their father Brad ‘97 distinguished himself as one of the Chargers’ premier offensive linemen in the 90s, earning the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference’s top lineman award in 1996. Brad is also the brother of Mrs. Kathy Petersen ‘95, a Hillsdale volleyball player, mother of the aforementioned Petersen boys, and wife of Dean of Men Aaron Petersen ‘96. After graduating, Brad served as a multi-sport high school coach, deciding in 2023 to return to Hillsdale football as the offensive line assistant coach. 

“I felt like more than a number to the coaches and to the school,” Nick Affholter said, “I could feel the family legacy live on through me and I wanted to be a part of that.” 

Ben Affholter shared the sentiment, also addressing the family connection.

“Family history had a lot to do with my decision to come to Hillsdale,” he said. “It has really meant a lot to me to say I am a part of this college.” 

Zac Affholter also agreed, his decision took into account that his brothers were already Chargers.

“My family has a lot of ties to Hillsdale,” he said. “The opportunity to play with my brothers again really drew me in.” 

The Affholter brothers previously played together for the Reading High School Rangers in 2019 under their father’s coaching. Ben and Nick were seniors and Zac was a freshman at the time. In that season, they went undefeated and handily won the Michigan Division Eight state championship. 

Nick Affholter said that the three brothers working beside one another has always brought them closer and made each one better. Ben Affholter expressed gratitude for how they have helped one another succeed.

“My brothers are pretty talented, and they really have pushed me to be a better version of myself,” he said.

Zac Affholter also spoke highly of his times with his brothers, especially the leadership they provided him.

“Playing football with my brothers is something I always look forward to,” Zac Affholter said. “They are well known as some of the best offensive linemen in the entirety of DII college football. They are also the best teachers.” 

This season will be Nick and Ben’s last one in a Charger uniform. Zac has three more years of college football eligibility, and Brad will complete his second season on the Chargers’ staff. This Hillsdale football season, like many before it, will be an Affholter family affair.