STATE TRACK: Kyle and Taylor Boster lead Killdeer with Class B’s best boys, girls discus throws
A bond between teammates is strong, but it’s even stronger when the teammates are twins.By: Royal McGregor, The Dickinson Press
- Taylor and Kyle Boster
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A bond between teammates is strong, but it’s even stronger when the teammates are twins.
Killdeer seniors Kyle and Taylor Boster have the top throws in the Class B boys and girls discus, respectively, heading into the state track and field meet today at the Bismarck Community Bowl.
“I’m really happy for them,” Killdeer head coach Larry Walker said. “They are really hard workers. They’ve earned where they’ve gotten. It didn’t come easy.”
Walker is correct, but his words only begin to describe the commitment the Bosters have to their craft.
During the offseason, Kyle and Taylor spent countless hours lifting at the school weight room.
“Every day after school my sister and I would go in and lift for two hours,” Kyle said. “That really pushed us to that next level.”
Kyle leads the Class B boys with a throw of 158 feet, 2 inches. Taylor’s throw of 130-7 leads the girls.
The Bosters agree that having Class B’s top throws is an exceptional feat.
“It’s definitely something special for us,” Taylor said. “It’s something that we’ve worked for. I don’t know if I would say it’s a lot of pressure, but there’s a lot of excitement there for the both of us knowing that we could both end up with a title.”
The twins show their dedication to the sport by making a 23-mile trip from their home in Halliday to Killdeer every day for track practice.
Though lifting weights and dedication weren’t the only commodities that got the Bosters where they are today, a summer throwing league assisted the twins in achieving goals.
“Maybe once a week and sometimes more than once a week, we went over and worked with our coach through the USA Track and Field league,” Kyle said.
Taylor said the league helped show the desire she had to thrive in a sport she loves.
“I saw myself being a little more dedicated and hungry for a title that I really wish I would have gotten last year,” she said. “I really want to have a title this year.”
Another aspect helping the Bosters throw top distances was researching and pointing out mistakes to each other during practice.
“Taylor and I, for the past few years, have really been studying the form,” Kyle said. “A lot of times when you are throwing, you can’t really tell what you are doing, but the other person who’s watching can help you.
“So if my sister is watching me do something wrong, she can correct it and she’ll probably make fun of me for it,” he added with a laugh. “I will do the same for her.”
Taylor said the support system has been important in the progress from when they began track and field in the seventh grade.
“It’s a blessing,” Taylor said. “A lot of people say, ‘Well, having a twin you have to share a birthday.’ It’s not a birthday that we have to share. It’s every day. For me that’s the gift that keeps on giving.
“At times, you wish you could give it away on certain days,” she said with a laugh. “I love having a twin brother around.”
The state meet has been different for Kyle and Taylor.
Kyle had success at state, being ranked 12th last year and finishing seventh.
“Nobody really expected much from me,” Kyle said. “I went in there not having any expectations. I just went there and did what I did best and threw. This year I kind of want to do the same.”
Taylor, on the other hand, said she wasn’t necessarily pleased with her performance. She came in with the top throw in the state but landed in fourth while teammate Emily Doe won the state championship.
“That meet is always in the back of my mind, but it was a learning experience,” Taylor said. “For throwers, you are going to have an on day and an off day. I showed up to state last year and didn’t exactly have what I would call an on day. It was a learning experience for me and definitely fueled my fire more. That in order to win, you have to have the perfect form and be mentally prepared.”
The Bosters’ throwing journey isn’t going to end at the state meet.
Kyle has committed to the North Dakota State University, while Taylor is headed to the University of North Dakota. Both laughed when asked about the in-state rivalry.
“The feeling is kind of funny and ironic,” Taylor said. “I know going into it that I’ll be cheering for my brother to do well and then cheering for my team to beat his team. It’s actually kind of evil if you think about it.”
This season also marks Walker’s final year as the coach of the Killdeer track and field team. He said it was the best finish he could have hoped for by winning the Southwest Region boys meet. However, Kyle and Taylor said they have to thank Walker for all the work and support he has put in over the years.
“When track season ended last year, he worked with us for hours during the summertime and even part of the fall, through a throwing league,” Taylor said. “Through this last year, he’s invested a lot of time, energy and support. I’m very thankful for everything he’s done.”
Tags: boster twins, kyle boster, taylor boster, killdeer cowboys, state track, sports, preps
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