Leading by Example: Speller Steps Into a Bigger Role

By Tommy LeClercq

SEATTLE- After securing back-to-back state championship titles, fullback Max Speller enters his senior year with more than just another season ahead of him. As a captain, he now has the responsibility of leading his teammates and setting the standard for the team.

Being a captain has changed the way Speller looks at himself as an athlete and a leader. He understands that his role is not only about what he does on the field, but also how he helps the people around him.

“I’m really just out here leading by example,” Speller explained.

Speller has learned that with different people and in different situations, his approach to leadership can vary.

“I can be the aggressor or the motivator,” he said, describing the different ways he leads his teammates.

Even though Speller spends a lot of time motivating his teammates, being a captain has also changed how he views himself. The responsibility that comes with the position has helped him grow as a leader.

“There is a lot more pressure involved, but pressure makes diamonds,” Speller reflected.

Similarly, the team also is experiencing pressure this year. Having two state titles behind them, and hopes of another one this season, the Fighting Irish try to use this pressure as motivation to keep pushing through the hard matchups and challenges the season puts in front of them.

Now, Speller enters his final season with an even bigger goal in mind: leading his brothers as captain and helping the team continue its success. After winning two straight state championships, he knows there will be expectations, but he is ready to take on the challenges.

For Speller, being a captain is more than wearing a title. It is about setting an example for his teammates and showing them what it takes to succeed.