There are not many student-athletes at the high school level like Hunter Bleam.

The recent Salisbury High School graduate competed in five different sports in his four years as a Falcon and found success in most of them.

For his athletic ability in a various number of sports, Bleam was named the 2021-22 Salisbury Press Male Athlete of the Year.

He competed in track and field, basketball, football, golf and cross country during his time in high school.

“Being a student-athlete at a smaller school like Salisbury High School allowed me to letter in five different sports over four years and make some great friends and great memories along the way,” said Bleam. “Being at Salisbury also allowed me the ability to balance a tough academic course load with all my athletics. I really appreciate all of the great coaches I’ve had throughout my years at Salisbury. My jumps coach, Dan Reichenbach, in particular, poured a ton of time and energy and great coaching into me, which led to me competing in the high jump at states two years in a row.”

Bleam was a Colonial League and District 11 champion in the high jump and a league medalist in the shot put. He also was a leader on the basketball team that qualified for districts this past season. So which sport was his favorite?

“Of all five sports that I competed in, I’ve enjoyed different aspects of each of them, but track is my favorite,” Bleam said. “I was exposed to many different types of events and I realized I had the ability to compete in jumping, throwing and running events, which ultimately led to my opportunity to compete as a decathlete in college. There was never a time that I didn’t look forward to track practice.”

Bleam always had the athletic ability to be successful in a number of different sports, but it is some of the inner strengths that made him who he is today.

“In all sports, it helped being blessed with natural athleticism,” said Bleam. “But what helped me to reach the ability to compete at the Division 1 level is my self-discipline, dedication and determination to push myself beyond my limits.”

Bleam is set to begin the next chapter in life this fall as a collegiate student-athlete at Liberty University. He will be a member of the track and field team and compete in the decathlon.

“I am very excited about going to a different state, meeting new people, and especially training and competing alongside some of the best track athletes in the nation,” Bleam said. “Having toured several different colleges, Liberty was by far the nicest campus that I had visited. I will be majoring in public health with a concentration in health promotion. I will also be able to grow in my faith being that Liberty is a Christian University. I have a lot to be excited about.”