Through the sweltering heat of the sun and the tremendous amount of energy brought out through discus and shot put, senior Nate Bird has worked his way to becoming captain of the track and field team.

From the young age of 11, Bird has been participating in his beloved sport of track and field. Bird does not run track, but specializes in shot put and discus.

As a young child Bird looked up to his father, wanting to follow in his footsteps in as many ways possible. Including track and field.

Bird said, “I joined when I was 11 years old. I initially started because my dad was in it and I wanted to do something that he was in. Ever since I joined I have begun to love it more and more.”

Being captain requires a lot of responsibility, especially for a team the size of track, which is made up of both boys and girls. Despite the level of responsibility, there’s also a lot of good that comes from it, including leadership skills.

“I am required everyday to make sure that everyone is stretched really well so no one gets injured and to make sure that no one is messing around. I really enjoy being able to lead my team and help them succeed. It means a lot to be seen as a leader,” said Bird.

Track and field has a much different feel to it than that of other sports. It is a very competitive sport, however everyone is rooting for each other, rather than plotting against each other.

Bird said, “We all want to win which is what makes the sport competitive, however the overall atmosphere is much different. We, especially the throwers, want everyone to do their best. We all root for each other instead of being rude and unsportsmanlike. That’s the main reason why I love this sport so much.”

Some people listen to their favorite songs or even have a special chant that they do before a meet, but Bird does none of these. He has sweatpants that he wears the day of every single meet.

“They are Stewie sweatpants from the TV show ‘Family Guy’. I wear them every single meet. I don’t know why but they work, they are magical,” said Bird.

Though the work of being captain and throwing can be a lot of pressure, Bird strives off of it. The leadership skills he learns from high school track and field will be embedded in his mind for years to come.