Athletes put in a lot of work so that they are ready when the lights come on and it is time to compete. And when they compete they are not just playing for themselves, they are also playing for their teammates, school, and community.

Luke Black competes in multiple sports for the Jay Bulldogs and he says that he is grateful to be able to wear the Bulldog uniform.

“I am proud to represent the school and community because they are proud of their athletes and athletic programs,” Black said. “They show it with their support at each of our games.”

Luke is a junior and he plays football, power lifts, and runs track. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.

There are a lot of things that go into reaching your potential and for Luke, you have to do them all in order to be successful.

“Hard work is one of the biggest things,” he said. “But you also have to be determined to reach your goals and disciplined so that you do it. Also, you cannot take any days off. If you do, those are the days that your opponent will keep getting better.”

Along with the work that he puts in, Black says that he enjoys competing alongside his teammates and working with them to reach their goals. 

“I have some really great teammates,” he stated. “My good friend Kannon Scott is probably the person that I enjoy practicing against the most because he pushes me the most and helps me to get better. 

“Another player on our team, Kannon Scott, is probably one of the most underrated players on the team. He doesn’t get the ball much at the tight end position but gives it his all every play blocking.”

Throughout his life, there have been people that have had an influence on Luke’s life and who he has become.

“My parents are my biggest role models,” he said. “They are there for me and always support me. Jeff Orr is one of the teachers that I look up to. He is my science teacher and he is pretty laid back and likes to hunt.”