It’s not unheard of for sports team seniors to become captains. What is unheard of is when a senior can do it in three different sports, in the same year. Track star Bryce DiGiovanna did just that. DiGiovanna was selected to be a captain in cross country, indoor track, and to round out his senior year, outdoor track.
DiGiovanna talks about how this season it is more important than ever to have a sense of unity within the team and that being a captain means more than just leading on the track.
“A captain to me is more than just leading on the track,” DiGiovanna said. “It’s good to have a really balanced and connected team; having that sense of unity is really important [to the team].”
Throughout his four years in high school sports, DiGiovanna has done many events in outdoor track.
“I’ve done the mile, the four by eight relay, and occasionally the open 800,” said DiGiovanna.
In indoor track he likes to stick to similar events as outdoor track, but also likes to mix in the 1000 meter instead of the open 800, and for cross country, it is the standard course for all runners.
DiGiovanna remarks on the fact that bringing positive energy and working hard is the most important thing that he brings to the team. He understands that there are days that no one wants to run and talks about the importance of working past those days and keep improving.
“There are days that no one wants to run, and getting through those days and improving is important,” DiGiovanna said. “Bringing positive energy is really important for the team.”
As captain, DiGiovanna knows the challenges that are coming in this season. Not having a track is something that the team has to work through every day and find ways to work around and train for it. It is easier for distance runners and throwers to continue to train, however the spriters have been moved to running laps around the soccer field as a result of not having the track for the team.
“You have to make the most of it and get through the challenges, because it’s really not as bad as it seems not having a track,” DiGiovanna said.
DiGiovanna hopes to do more than just lead the team as a captain. He has expressed wanting to place top five, even top three at this year’s NVL championship meet.
“It’s a tough league this year,” said DiGiovanna.
He knows that there will be challenges that the team must face this season in order to accomplish these things. So whether you are a freshman or a senior, every person counts. DiGiovanna acknowledges that it will never be easy as a freshman and that you may be slower than other people on the team. The thing that matters most is sticking through it and listening to the coaches for guidance.
“If you follow their [coaches] training you’re gonna get better and keep improving.”
