Breathing heavily, hustling on every play to beat the defender as sweat blurs both eys. Watching the opponent to anticipate their next move. Searching for every possible advantage in order to win. Being a leader for the team as well as a role model for others. Say hello to the lives of seniors Reilly Damm and Chris George.

Damm and George are both dual captains in athletics. Damn is a captain of the hockey and lacrosse teams. George is also a captain of the hockey team along with the football team. Together, they are two of the very few athletes that have the privilege of being a captain for two teams.

The team votes on who they believe deserves to be the leaders of the team. Leadership, responsibility, work ethic, passion, and courage are all analyzed during the process. “You definitely need to be a strong leader with a vocal and authoritative tone while understanding the struggles of being a student-athlete,” said Damm. The athlete with the most votes is given the title of captain which is honorable and highly recognized throughout athletics and school.

Damm and George have played with one another since a young age; They have played on recreation groups, on private leagues, and now, on high school teams. They have formed a bond that is highlighted when they compete with each other by their side.

George said, “We’re the best of friends and are always on the same page. I challenge him, he challenges me. Playing together elevates our success as well as our leadership skills.” Their relationship on and off the field fosters the positive perception seen by their friends and teammates, resulting in them being the team leaders of their respected sports.

Damm and George have excelled in the classroom while leading their teams to multiple wins. Damm has a GPA of 3.5 and a class rank of 86 while balancing his school work and strict sports schedule. George has also showed an impressive commitment by obtaining a GPA of 3.97 and a class rank of 21. He was named Second-Team All-Division for football in 2014-2015 and was also nominated as one of Rhode Island’s Scholar Athletes for 2015.

Damm and George hope to play sports in college. If they have the opportunity to, they will use their experience and student-athlete excellence to harness their skills at a higher level. Their passion for the game and personal drive for academic success has resulted in them being captains of the school.

They have become leading figures in North Kingstown and thrive to pursue the same acknowledgement as they apply to universities.

“You have to be willing to sacrifice certain things, such as hanging out with friends, in order to focus on your studies while improving your athletic skills,” said Damm. “Although it may be tough, it will be worth it in the long run.”