As the only male in the school’s only set of triplets, junior Nathan Cooley shares a unique bond with his sisters, but also an unavoidable sibling rivalry.

Going through many of life’s biggest milestones together has made them inseparable. However, Cooley admits that being the only boy of the trio can be challenging at times.

“I mean, it’s different for them,” Cooley said. “I’m just like kind of by myself. I can’t go and have conversations like guy-talk with my sisters.”

Each of the Cooley triplets has had several of the same classes, which is where a majority of competition unravels.

“I think they have more in common honestly,” Cooley said with a smile. “They’re so much smarter than me.”

Even with Cooley’s time and effort he still falls short of his sisters academically in their mutual classes.

“It gets competitive because they do so much better than me, and my mom gets mad at me for it,” Cooley said.

However, Cooley can see a silver lining in this situation. The sibling rivalry the Cooley triplets share seems to give him a new determination.

“It gives me motivation to do better because it makes me feel like I need to catch up to them,” Cooley said.

Just as his sisters have individual skills which they thrive in, Cooley’s specialty is football. He began playing competitively in fifth grade, although his father got him into it long before then. He currently starts as a linebacker for the varsity team.

“I’ve just always loved the game,” Cooley said. “Our team here is like a brotherhood.”

The sport gives him and his father a common passion and a place for Cooley to excel where his sisters cannot. From this he also gains much needed guy-time that he doesn’t have  as much access to in his own family.

“I love being a triplet with my sisters and I also love being able to be a part of such a dedicated and hardworking team with friends that I consider brothers,” Cooley said.