PAWNEE CITY - While most kids grow up throwing a baseball or a football around for fun, Pawnee City senior Bobby Musil has had a different type of sports equipment in his hand.
Musil was introduced to discus throwing by his father early in his athletic career.
Now, Musil is ready to take his talents to the next level.
Musil signed a National Letter-of-Intent this week to compete in track and field for the University of Missouri at Columbia, beginning next school year.
Prior to the start of his senior season, Musil said he'd planned to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
Like all youngsters in the state, Musil said he had dreams of being a Husker.
But then Musil started visiting some other colleges.
The Pawnee City senior ended up traveling from one coast to the other looking at schools.
"I saw more doors open," Musil said.
Musil visited Brown University, Cal State-Northridge, Old Miss and Iowa.
Then he went to Missouri.
"Missouri was the last school I visited," Musil said. "Once I went to Missouri, I knew it was the place for me."
The Columbia, Mo., school is known for its throwers and currently has two male athletes among the national leaders in the discus, Musil said.
That tradition was something Musil was impressed with.
"Obviously, they have a good program down there," Musil said.
Missouri has quality facilities for its track program and good coaches, Musil said.
Musil said he also "loved" the Missouri campus and liked the academic opportunities.
Musil said he was introduced to the discus by his father when he was in sixth grade.
Prior to that time, Musil said he'd competed in events on the track.
Once Musil tried the discus, however, he was hooked.
"My dad had an old discus from the old DuBois school or something," Musil said. "He showed me how to throw it one day."
Not only after Musil was introduced to throwing, Pawnee City had a field day for elementary students.
Musil threw the discus at the field day and ended up breaking the record for sixth-graders.
That initial success helped him stay interested in throwing.
A couple of years later, Musil started working with Pawnee City high school thrower Rob Voightlander.
"He (Voightlander) thought I had some talent," Musil said. "He started working with me with the discus and lifting weights and stuff."
From there, Musil was motivated to continue throwing.
Musil said he likes the individual aspects of throwing.
"It's just you," Musil said. "Whatever you do wrong, it's because of you and you know you can work on it. You know what to work on."
Winning the all-class gold medal in discus at last year's Nebraska State High School Track and Field Championships has been one of the biggest highlights of Musil's high school career.
An even bigger highlight, however, was winning a share of the Class D State team championships, Musil said.
Pawnee City and Dawson-Verdon tied for the Class D title in 2002.
Musil has set a number of records during his prep career, including breaking the Pawnee City school record for the first time as a sophomore.
Since then he has rebroken his own school record on numerous occasions.
The senior wouldn't mind breaking a few other records in his final weeks of high school competition, including making a run at state meet and state records.
Musil's best throw so far this season has been 183-5 in competition.
In practice, however, the senior has surpassed the 190-foot mark.
After learning about the discus from his father and having his talents furthered by older teammates and coaches, Musil is now passing on his knowledge to others, including his own siblings.
Musil has a brother, Michael, and sister, Samantha, who both currently compete for the Pawnee City track and field teams.
"They're lucky," Musil said. "They had somebody to introduce them and start coaching them early."
Musil added with a little pride that his siblings are "pretty good throwers."
While his siblings work to perfect their talents in high school next year, Musil will be working hard to improve his skills at the collegiate level.
One of the things Musil said coaches like about him is his size.
At 6-7, Musil has room on his frame to add weight and strength.
His physical attributes aren't his greatest asset, however, as far as Musil is concerned.
"Desire is the big thing," Musil said. "My goal is to become the best thrower I can."
Musil hopes his "best" will lead him to becoming a world-class athlete.
The DuBois native has aspirations of becoming an Olympian some day.
"My biggest goal in life right now is to become an Olympic athlete," Musil said.
Musil said he's willing to put in the work to achieve that goal.
While in high school Musil has been limited to throwing the discus and shot put, in college he'll have opportunities to try other events like the indoor weight throw and the hammer throw.
"I'll be willing to try anything," Musil said.
Musil has been a three-sport athlete at Pawnee City and had scholarship offers from college at different levels in football and basketball, as well as track.
Pawnee City head track coach Alan Strong said Musil is a very versatile athlete.
Musil is not only a successful thrower for the Indians' track program, but he also competes in events on the track, helping his team score additional points at each meet.
Strong said Musil has long arms and is very strong, two attributes which are positives for throwers.
"He's just very athletic," Strong said.
Musil is also very disciplined and dedicated to his sport, according to Strong.
Being involved in youth track and field prior to starting competing in high school was a plus for Musil, Strong said.
"Bobby became successful in the summer time and has continue to progress and progress and progress," Strong said.
Strong believes Musil can succeed at the Division I level and thinks he made a good choice in selecting Missouri.
Of course Strong might be a little biased as his own son, Jeffrey, a distance runner competed for the Tigers.
"I'm real excited for Bobby," Strong said.
Having Division I athletes come out of their programs is something special for any coach, Strong added.
While he believes Musil is ready for the next level, Strong has some big plans for the senior in his final high school season.
"We're hoping he can get the all-class gold again at the state track meet and that he can come close to some state records," Strong said.