GROTON – There’s not a sport that Colby Dunker doesn’t like, and he’s experienced just about all of them.

The recent Groton graduate lettered 15 times in high school, and that doesn’t even include his current sport of American Legion baseball.

“I’ve been doing sports my whole life,” Dunker said. “Since I was 2-3 years old, I’ve had always had a ball in my hand, playing in the yard.”

And while the sports have been diverse in nature, Dunker has found enjoyment in each one of them.

“My favorite sport is probably whatever I’m playing,” Dunker said, “so right now it’s baseball.”

Dunker has competed in football, basketball, high school baseball, track and field, and even tried his hand at golf, and has made an impact in every one of them.

Dunker was a starter on Groton’s Northeast Conference football championship squad two years ago, was a key reserve on the Tigers basketball team that played in this past year’s state tournament, and this spring finished third place in the javelin at the state track and field meet.

“That was fun,” Dunker said of the javelin. “I couldn’t have had a better wind and better day to throw it.”

Then there was his accomplishments on the baseball diamond. This spring Dunker provided a game-winning walk-off hit to lift Groton past Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern. How do you top that? Well, by doing it again.

This past weekend, Dunker found himself in the same exact position against the same team on the same diamond.

“Actually, I was kind of thinking that,” Dunker said of coming up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. “I think the bases were loaded the first time I did it, too. I was just like well, if I get on base we’re going to tie it for sure, so there’s no pressure, there’s no outs.”

Dunker once again produced the game-winning hit and ended up celebrating in the same exact spot on the field.

“I think it was the same thing,” Dunker said of the situation, “because I rounded first watching it and I ended up jumping up and shoulder bumping in the exact same spot as last time.”

Interestingly, the same two teams are scheduled to meet again soon and perhaps even another time in the postseason.

It could be interesting to see what might unfold should another similar situation present itself.

“If they don’t pitch to me that’s fine,” Dunker said, “there’s people in front of me and after me that can hit just as well.”

While Dunker loves to compete, he is not one to get too up tight no matter which sport he is in.

“I’m not one that likes to get quiet and think about it,” he said. “I just like being loose and relaxed, and just let whatever I work for kind of come to me a little bit.”

Dunker said there is one common trait that carries over through just about all of the sports he competed in.

“I think the foundation for all athletes is being able to move,” Dunker said. “Track is not fun by any stretch of the imagination. I think anyone should do track if they’re in any other sports. I’m not the best runner, but it’s definitely helped me in all my other sports.”

And it also provided a fond memory when he was able to capture third place in the javelin.

“I went in tenth I believe and came out third,” Dunker said, “so I’d say it was pretty successful.”

Through the years there have been numerous moments that Dunker will never forget. It all started on the gridiron.

“One thing I really remember is my freshman year in football,” Dunker said. “I had no idea I was going to even play, but we had an upperclassman get hurt in week two and all of a sudden I was a starting linebacker six weeks in a row as a freshman. That was a little scary.”

And of course, it’s hard to top state tournaments in any sport.

“State javelin this year was pretty sweet,” Dunker said. “Standing on the podium next to all those guys that were 3-4 inches taller than me and just huge. … Every time we’ve gone to state basketball, that’s been a blast.”

While Dunker already has a pair of walk-off hits this year in baseball, there is one thing that would make his list complete and that’s a trip to the state varsity baseball tournament this summer.

“We made it both years in junior teeners and we made it both years in junior legion (including a state championship),” Dunker said. “We need to kind of pin our ears back and get going a little bit.”

Dunker is headed to Lake Area Tech in Watertown in the fall. While the school doesn’t feature varsity sports, there is no need to worry.

“They have intramural sports, so I can just add more sports to my resume,” Dunker said. “They’ve got softball and volleyball, so I can add a couple more things there.”