Southern Illinoise University Athletics
10/18/2026 | 3:34:00 | General, Softball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — For Mia and Sofia Trejo, family has always been at the center of everything.
Growing up in Arizona, about 45 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border, Hispanic culture was simply part of everyday life. It was present in the communities around them, the food they shared, the celebrations they attended and, most importantly, in the emphasis their family placed on staying close.
Now, hundreds of miles from home, the sisters are sharing another chapter of their lives at Southern Illinois University.
Mia serves as an assistant coach for Saluki Softball. Her younger sister, Sofia, plays for the same program Mia helps coach.
It is an unusual dynamic, but for two sisters who grew up in a close-knit family, having one another in Carbondale feels more natural than complicated.
"We're all best friends," Mia said of her siblings. "I brag all the time, like, I don't need any other friends because I have my friends built in with my siblings."
The sisters grew up in a household of eight, with six children and their parents. That closeness helped shape not only their relationship with each other, but also what they value most about their Hispanic heritage.
"I think my biggest thing is just the family aspect and being able to celebrate everything in a positive mindset," Mia said. "We prioritize family, and we're all thankful for our family."
Living so close to the border meant Hispanic culture was always around them. The sisters grew up attending family gatherings, celebrations and quinceañeras with friends and members of their community.
At home, that culture felt ordinary. Moving away from Arizona has given them a different perspective on just how much it shaped them.
"Coming out here, being Hispanic, we're like really Hispanic to other people," Mia said. "But back home, we feel kind of probably less Hispanic, if anything."
Neither sister considers herself fluent in Spanish, although both grew up around the language. Their father speaks Spanish fluently, and other members of their family speak it as well. The sisters said they can understand some Spanish, even if speaking it does not come as naturally.
But language is only one part of the culture they grew up with.
Food, gatherings and finding reasons to celebrate remain some of their strongest connections to their heritage.
"It's such a cultural thing," Mia said of food. "It's such a way to bring the family together."
That sense of togetherness also extends beyond relatives.
"Whether they're Hispanic or not, it doesn't matter," Mia said. "Bringing all of our family and friends to come together and celebrate this one thing, or just finding any reason to celebrate, that's my favorite part about it. It's a very welcoming culture and a celebratory culture."
For Sofia, that same family-first mindset has carried into her experience with Saluki Softball.
After previously playing in Utah State, Sofia entered the transfer portal looking for a new place to continue her career. Southern Illinois offered something no other destination could — the chance to have her sister nearby.
"I was really drawn in by the cute small town," Sofia said. "I like the small town. In Utah, I was in another small town, and I really liked it."
There was also, as Sofia put it, "a big piece of family" waiting for her in Carbondale.
Mia was already part of the Saluki coaching staff when Sofia entered the transfer portal, and she admits she played a role in putting her sister on SIU's radar.
"If we need a catcher, I know somebody," Mia recalled. "I know she's a great kid and a good human, and I know where she comes from."
Mia was involved in the recruiting process, but credited head coach Jen Sewell with giving Sofia the opportunity to become a Saluki.
"I'm super thankful to Jen for recruiting her and allowing this to happen," Mia said. "My family is super thankful as well because it's a big thing for my family."
The decision created a rare relationship within the program: one sister coaching while the other competes.
From the outside, the arrangement might appear difficult. Sofia admits there can be small challenges, but nothing that has changed the relationship they already had.
"I think with everything, there's little struggles," Sofia said. "But I love our relationship, so I don't think it's as hard as people might think. We have our little arguments, whatever, but it's definitely not as challenging. I think it's really fun."
Mia sees it much the same way.
"We're both mature enough and we respect each other enough to handle it," she said. "If something comes up, we'll talk about it just like everything else."
For Mia, having Sofia in Carbondale has also meant having a piece of Arizona with her.
"Her coming here was really exciting just for me in general because I got to have a piece of home," Mia said. "Being able to share this experience with her, which is a really big part of her young adult life and a big part of her softball experience, has been super fun."
Her position as a coach gives Mia a different perspective on that experience.
"I'm not a player, I'm a coach, but being able to just see that and see her grow and just be a part of this experience with her has been super fun," she said.
For Sofia, having her older sister on the staff means having someone nearby who has already been part of her softball journey for years.
She grew up watching her older siblings play, attending their games and learning from them. Now, having Mia nearby provides another source of motivation.
"Having her here to keep me going and motivating me, I think it's such a cool thing," Sofia said.
Mia believes much of what the sisters bring to softball comes from the same values they learned at home.
"The whole family, the way me and all my siblings were raised, is just to enjoy the moment we get and be passionate about what we do and work hard," Mia said. "No matter what we're going to do, you're going to give your full effort."
Those qualities fit naturally into a Saluki Softball program that shares the sisters' passion for the game and for competing.
"At this level, if you don't love the game, it's really easy to see," Mia said. "The cool thing here is that it's clear and evident that everybody loves the game. Everybody's very passionate about the game and winning in general."
Hispanic Heritage Month gives the sisters an opportunity to reflect on another part of what they bring with them to Southern Illinois.
Mia said she is proud of her heritage and appreciates the opportunity to represent it in the Midwest after growing up in an area where Hispanic culture was much more visible.
"Being able to bring that to the Midwest, where you don't see it as much, you don't see it represented as much, is a cool thing to be a part of," she said.
Sofia sees those same values extending to her teammates.
"Being raised the way we were, I think such a big part in the Hispanic culture is just being raised around family and having friends like family," Sofia said. "Even with my teammates, I can treat them like family, and having that part of my everyday life is such a cool thing."
At SIU, the sisters have different responsibilities. Mia coaches. Sofia plays.
But underneath those roles is the same relationship that existed long before either arrived in Carbondale — two sisters shaped by the same family, the same culture and the same love for softball.
For Mia, being able to experience all of it alongside her younger sister makes the opportunity even more meaningful.
"Being able to do that in a family way, which is important to me, is so cool," she said.
Growing up in Arizona, about 45 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border, Hispanic culture was simply part of everyday life. It was present in the communities around them, the food they shared, the celebrations they attended and, most importantly, in the emphasis their family placed on staying close.
Now, hundreds of miles from home, the sisters are sharing another chapter of their lives at Southern Illinois University.
Mia serves as an assistant coach for Saluki Softball. Her younger sister, Sofia, plays for the same program Mia helps coach.
It is an unusual dynamic, but for two sisters who grew up in a close-knit family, having one another in Carbondale feels more natural than complicated.
"We're all best friends," Mia said of her siblings. "I brag all the time, like, I don't need any other friends because I have my friends built in with my siblings."
The sisters grew up in a household of eight, with six children and their parents. That closeness helped shape not only their relationship with each other, but also what they value most about their Hispanic heritage.
"I think my biggest thing is just the family aspect and being able to celebrate everything in a positive mindset," Mia said. "We prioritize family, and we're all thankful for our family."
Living so close to the border meant Hispanic culture was always around them. The sisters grew up attending family gatherings, celebrations and quinceañeras with friends and members of their community.
At home, that culture felt ordinary. Moving away from Arizona has given them a different perspective on just how much it shaped them.
"Coming out here, being Hispanic, we're like really Hispanic to other people," Mia said. "But back home, we feel kind of probably less Hispanic, if anything."
Neither sister considers herself fluent in Spanish, although both grew up around the language. Their father speaks Spanish fluently, and other members of their family speak it as well. The sisters said they can understand some Spanish, even if speaking it does not come as naturally.
But language is only one part of the culture they grew up with.
Food, gatherings and finding reasons to celebrate remain some of their strongest connections to their heritage.
"It's such a cultural thing," Mia said of food. "It's such a way to bring the family together."
That sense of togetherness also extends beyond relatives.
"Whether they're Hispanic or not, it doesn't matter," Mia said. "Bringing all of our family and friends to come together and celebrate this one thing, or just finding any reason to celebrate, that's my favorite part about it. It's a very welcoming culture and a celebratory culture."
For Sofia, that same family-first mindset has carried into her experience with Saluki Softball.
After previously playing in Utah State, Sofia entered the transfer portal looking for a new place to continue her career. Southern Illinois offered something no other destination could — the chance to have her sister nearby.
"I was really drawn in by the cute small town," Sofia said. "I like the small town. In Utah, I was in another small town, and I really liked it."
There was also, as Sofia put it, "a big piece of family" waiting for her in Carbondale.
Mia was already part of the Saluki coaching staff when Sofia entered the transfer portal, and she admits she played a role in putting her sister on SIU's radar.
"If we need a catcher, I know somebody," Mia recalled. "I know she's a great kid and a good human, and I know where she comes from."
Mia was involved in the recruiting process, but credited head coach Jen Sewell with giving Sofia the opportunity to become a Saluki.
"I'm super thankful to Jen for recruiting her and allowing this to happen," Mia said. "My family is super thankful as well because it's a big thing for my family."
The decision created a rare relationship within the program: one sister coaching while the other competes.
From the outside, the arrangement might appear difficult. Sofia admits there can be small challenges, but nothing that has changed the relationship they already had.
"I think with everything, there's little struggles," Sofia said. "But I love our relationship, so I don't think it's as hard as people might think. We have our little arguments, whatever, but it's definitely not as challenging. I think it's really fun."
Mia sees it much the same way.
"We're both mature enough and we respect each other enough to handle it," she said. "If something comes up, we'll talk about it just like everything else."
For Mia, having Sofia in Carbondale has also meant having a piece of Arizona with her.
"Her coming here was really exciting just for me in general because I got to have a piece of home," Mia said. "Being able to share this experience with her, which is a really big part of her young adult life and a big part of her softball experience, has been super fun."
Her position as a coach gives Mia a different perspective on that experience.
"I'm not a player, I'm a coach, but being able to just see that and see her grow and just be a part of this experience with her has been super fun," she said.
For Sofia, having her older sister on the staff means having someone nearby who has already been part of her softball journey for years.
She grew up watching her older siblings play, attending their games and learning from them. Now, having Mia nearby provides another source of motivation.
"Having her here to keep me going and motivating me, I think it's such a cool thing," Sofia said.
Mia believes much of what the sisters bring to softball comes from the same values they learned at home.
"The whole family, the way me and all my siblings were raised, is just to enjoy the moment we get and be passionate about what we do and work hard," Mia said. "No matter what we're going to do, you're going to give your full effort."
Those qualities fit naturally into a Saluki Softball program that shares the sisters' passion for the game and for competing.
"At this level, if you don't love the game, it's really easy to see," Mia said. "The cool thing here is that it's clear and evident that everybody loves the game. Everybody's very passionate about the game and winning in general."
Hispanic Heritage Month gives the sisters an opportunity to reflect on another part of what they bring with them to Southern Illinois.
Mia said she is proud of her heritage and appreciates the opportunity to represent it in the Midwest after growing up in an area where Hispanic culture was much more visible.
"Being able to bring that to the Midwest, where you don't see it as much, you don't see it represented as much, is a cool thing to be a part of," she said.
Sofia sees those same values extending to her teammates.
"Being raised the way we were, I think such a big part in the Hispanic culture is just being raised around family and having friends like family," Sofia said. "Even with my teammates, I can treat them like family, and having that part of my everyday life is such a cool thing."
At SIU, the sisters have different responsibilities. Mia coaches. Sofia plays.
But underneath those roles is the same relationship that existed long before either arrived in Carbondale — two sisters shaped by the same family, the same culture and the same love for softball.
For Mia, being able to experience all of it alongside her younger sister makes the opportunity even more meaningful.
"Being able to do that in a family way, which is important to me, is so cool," she said.
Players Mentioned
C/UTL
/ SoftballTuesday, October 15
Tuesday, October 15
Tuesday, October 15
Tuesday, October 15