Graduating in triplicate

VIRGINIA BEACH

Bryan, Bryce and Byron Mitchell are used to being known as "the triplets," but the three young men have clearly established themselves as individuals.

The brothers, who live in the Alexandria neighborhood of Virginia Beach, are honor roll students at Tallwood High School. In June, they will graduate to embark on their intertwined, yet separate futures.

To many, the Mitchell boys, who turn 18 on May 29, are more like "twin triplets" since Bryce and Byron are identical and Bryan is fraternal.

They spent a year playing junior varsity football together, but quickly found their niches apart from one another.

"They wanted to shine and have their own identity," their mother, Venus Mitchell, said.

Bryce plays basketball for the Lions, is team captain and coaches the future league team. He was named defensive player of the year and earned an honorable mention for the Beach District.

Byron is captain of the Lions' football team, was named team most valuable player and second-team all-team Beach District. He also plays soccer.

Bryan, who has a slightly smaller build, has far different interests than his identical brothers. He was on the swim team, earned all-state chorus, took five years of piano lessons, was a member of the National Honor Society, and was elected SCA president.

"Bryan runs the whole school," joked Bryce.

But the love, respect and connection these boys share is quite apparent.

Who's who?

The triplets wore identical outfits all through Tallwood Elementary.

"We dressed alike until middle school," said Bryce with a sigh.

Baby photos displayed throughout their home - where they have separate bedrooms - sometimes leave Bryce and Byron wondering who's who. But later, when Bryce's hair grew in sparsely and Byron's was more of an Afro, it was easy to distinguish between the two smiling faces.

Now, all three sport buzz cuts, million dollar smiles and a certain charm.

Their father, Tony Mitchell, candidly confesses he sometimes can't tell Bryce and Byron apart. But mother, older brother Brandon, and Bryan cannot be fooled.

About seven years ago, Bryce was grounded and desperately wanted to play with some friends who came to their home. Byron, who wanted to play with Bryce's hoop, agreed to switch clothes with Bryce and hang out in his room.

They both got their way and got away with it.

"We never got caught and just told our parents recently," Byron said.

They weren't so lucky in eighth grade at Brandon Middle School when they decided to switch homerooms.

"Bryce's teacher knew he never said the pledge of allegiance," Byron said. "They called us out on it."

But, there's more to being triplets than fun and games.

"You always have someone to talk to and are never bored," Byron said.

And they had an equal number of playmates with big brother Brandon, now 21.

Brandon is a 2007 graduate of Tallwood who was also captain of the football team. He is finishing his junior year at Bridgewater College, where he is majoring in communications and plays football.

Off to college

Come this fall, Venus and Tony will be experiencing the ultimate empty-nest syndrome when the triplets head off to college.

"I'm just so proud that they are all fine, respectable young men," Venus said. "I'm looking forward to them having that experience of being away at college."

The couple will also soon be feeling the pinch of having four boys in college at the same time.

"Despite the cost, we're making the sacrifice to let them do something they want to do," Venus said.

Bryan is leaving for Virginia Tech to major in architecture. Aside from his studies, Bryan plans to focus on chorus.

Bryce will major in kinesiology at Shenandoah University and play basketball. Byron, undecided on a major, will also go to Shenandoah and play football.

"I can't do a small school," Bryan said. Virginia Tech boasts more than 30,000 students.

Bryce and Byron felt the opposite. Shenandoah has a student body of about 3,000.

All three boys speak excitedly about graduation, college, meeting new people, seeing new places and experiences.

"I'm ready to leave home and shift gears," Bryan said, noting he'll e-mail, call and text his brothers and parents regularly.

"All three of us do our own thing," Bryce said. "People don't realize, they see us as triplets, but we all lead in something at the school."

The three headed off down the hallway, back to their classes and the prospects of the days to come - as the same identical black knapsack swayed gently on their backs.

Sandra J. Pennecke, Pennecke@cox.net