Football Captain Brandon Tara leads by example.
Photo by Mia Nogueira
Hard work and a refusal to settle for mediocrity is what sets Senior and Football Captain Brandon Tara apart from the rest of the pack. “I work hard. I’m not bragging here, but I work hard. I try to keep everyone in line and I try my hardest to do my job,” said Tara. “My work ethic is probably my greatest asset; you just always have to work hard.”
Indefatigability and commitment are traits highly valued by football coaches, and Head Coach Tim Owens is no exception. “[Tara] is easily one of the hardest workers on the team,” said Owens. But consistently unswerving players don’t just spring up overnight. Even before he was enrolled with the school, Tara was out on the field with the rest of the team. “He’s technically been around for five years ‘cause he came in as an eighth grader with his older brother. But he always does everything you ask him; he’s always trying to improve.”
Such a devotion to detail, as well as his proven experience, is what prompted Tara’s promotion to Captain by Owens. This kind of responsibility might be hard for some to handle, but Tara simply takes on the added burden as another task to complete. “I feel like I’ve taken my turn. I’ve gone through the steps. I’ve watched the captains from the previous three years, and I feel like I’m a good asset. I know I can live up to the standards to be a captain for the football team,” Tara said.
Ambitious players can look up to Tara’s work ethic as a model, as he tries to push others to do better. It’s not the most obvious of methods, however. “He’s a good leader, and he gives it effort to push others, but he’s kind of quiet. He leads more by example,“ said Owens.
Tara understands that leadership is not just leading the team in the current season, but preparing the next generation of athletes. “[The younger players] need somebody. They work hard, but they need someone to give them a little push. That’s what I feel like I’m doing. I’m helping them help themselves. It’s the coach’s job to break you down, so the team can build you up,” said Tara.
And all that hard work has paid off. “[Tara]’s one of the best players on the team – one of the top three for sure – and he always tries to be the hardest worker on the field,” Owens said, a subtle note of pride in his voice.
Under Tara’s leadership, the team is looking good, but hard work is still the name of the game. “It’ll be hard to come back because we don’t have as many linemen as we did last year, but we are capable. Like what Coach [Owens] says, our biggest asset is speed, and I know we can use that to dominate all the other teams,” Tara said.
With a lack of senior linemen, the pressure is on for underclassmen to step up. “We do have some juniors and sophomores starting this year. I don’t think there are any freshmen, but a lot of juniors and sophomores have stepped up,” said Tara. “There are still a number of kids who need to step up and help us out more. We know they’re capable of it, they just need to prove it to the Coaches. I know they’re ready.”
There are always two sides to every coin, and football is not Tara’s only love. “I love to be outside,” he laughs. “I like to work out a lot, I like to be free, I like riding my bike, and I love to play golf. That’s one of my big things. I also love computers, even though they’re a part of school. I’ve always loved technology.”
Tara pushes himself in the classroom as well as out on the football field. “I’m taking AP US History, AP Physics, Pre-Calc, Lit, Communications, Pathways, and Video Intern,” Tara said. “AP physics is supposedly the hardest class in the school, but I’m actually getting it better than Pre-Calc, which is weird to me. Right now I’m loving physics; AP physics is my thing right now. I’m doing well in it, even though I didn’t know I was going to be in it this year!”
No great person is without a great friend, and Senior Kevin Kumar is Tara’s perfect fit. “He’s really passionate about everything he does. He always works hard, he never gives up, and he always pushes others to do their best. He’s a really good leader,” said Kumar.
With unwavering dedication to the team, and to his classes, Brandon Tara is a role model for athletes and students alike to look up to.
