Nick Conlan and Danny Shelton occupy the same space.

Not only do the Auburn High School juniors play the same sports year round – football, wrestling and track and field – they also compete in the same position, weight class and events.

For Conlan and Shelton, however, the pursuit of excellence on the field and in the gym has formed a bond that has drawn them together, rather than pit them against each other.

“We’re like brothers,” Conlan said of Shelton. “That’s my boy, right there.”

That’s not to say, however, that they don’t like besting each other occasionally.

“Secretly, there is competition,” Conlan admitted.

During the fall, they can be found together under the Friday night lights at Troy Field, pulverizing opponents from their positions on the offensive and defensive lines.

When winter comes calling, the duo heads inside, hitting the mat where they wrestle in the heavyweight division. This past season Conlan took second and Shelton was third in their class, helping Auburn grab third at Mat Classic.

In the spring, it’s back outside, where they compete for the Trojans in the shot put and discus.

Conlan and Shelton began their track and field careers as freshman, because the football program encourages athletes to compete year round.

“I turned out because spring sports are mandatory, and I’m not much of a baseball player,” Conlan said.

Conlan’s raw talent at throwing was immediately apparent.

“My first throw in discus broke 100 feet,” he said.

Over the next couple of seasons, Conlan began to add the technique required to excel at discus and shot put.

“I was just flopping at first,” he said. “It’s pretty hard, but doesn’t take too much. Just watch a few YouTube videos and you’ll get there.”

This season, Conlan is on track to crash the party at the state track and field meet with a season-high toss of 155 feet, 2 inches, the fourth-best 4A mark in the state.

“I’m doing well, getting pretty good (personal records) every week,” Conlan said. “My distances are going up. I’m getting better despite the weather.”

For Shelton, who competed at state in the shot put last spring, the season has been a little more trying.

Last year he had a personal-best 55-3 1/2-foot shot put mark at the district meet before posting a disappointing 53-0 3/4-inch effort at state. This year he is struggling to again reach the 55-foot mark.

“My shot put isn’t going that good, but I’m getting my discus going,” Shelton said. “For shot put, I set my goal at 60 feet, but right now it’s hard just to get to 55.”

So far this season, Shelton’s best throw is a 52-9, fifth best in the state 4A rankings.

“Fifty-five is not that far,” Shelton said. “I’m just having trouble throwing. It’s weird. I think it’s the technique.”

Or maybe his hair.

“I usually get my hair braided, but I haven’t been doing that for the last few weeks,” Shelton said with a smirk. “So I’m just going to blame that.

“I know there is something wrong with the technique. I just have to work on it at practice.”

With the postseason meets approaching, Shelton and Conlan are working on achieving their goals.

Conlan posted a 130-10 discus at the district meet, after posting a season-high 147-10 earlier in the year.

“My goal this year is to get top-five at state in the discus,” Conlan added.

“In the discus, I want to be where Nick is at,” Shelton said. “At the last invite, I almost had him, and then it came to finals and he threw one that looked bad, but it turned out to be his best.”

And although the duo may be the best of friends, don’t believe for a minute there is no competition on the field.

“We put it off, but if I’m beating him in shot, deep down inside he’s saying, ‘I can’t let that happen,’” Conlan said. “Same thing in discus. I will not let him beat me in discus.”

The South Puget Sound League 4A sub-district meet will be held May 12 and 14 at French Field in Kent.