Senior David Brown is one of the few Lake Stevens students blessed to earn scholarships to play sports at the collegiate level. He is one of the few in the state to commit to a college as a dual sport athlete. Brown’s scholarship is mostly for track and field, and he will also play football. Last year he placed third in the 110m hurdles at the state meet, behind Lake Stevens’ Steven Lee Jr. and Kamiak’s Jaquan Means.
“I started running track my freshman year, so I could get faster for football; it was my second sport but evolved into something more,” Brown said.
Brown has been a star football player for Lake Stevens, totaling 45 receptions, 782 yards, and 15 touchdown receptions. He was nothing short of a key player for the Vikings’ 2023 state championship run.
Since starting his athletic career at five years old, he has always had big aspirations. Brown wants to avenge his loss in the 110m hurdles state finals from last year.
“My goal this year is to run a sub 14 (second) 110m hurdle, break the school record, and win state,” Brown said.
Senior Gage Solomon has been a teammate of Brown since the start of their sophomore years in both track and football.
“Boogy is a great teammate, I’ve played two sports with him, and he always puts in hard work and makes everything happen. Watching him run is always fun because of how good his technique is,” Solomon said.
Solomon competes in every throwing event (javelin, shot put and discus), and his goal is to make it to WESCO for the third year in a row and improve heavily on all of his events.
Senior football captain Mason Turner hasn’t only known Brown as a teammate but as a family member; Brown and Turner are cousins. He has nothing but high praises for Brown.
“David is such a hard worker. When he is doing something that he truly loves there is nothing that can stop him. I’ve been playing with him since we were six. He’s the teammate that expects a lot from you, but you should expect a lot from him; he always gives 100%,” Turner said.
When Brown visited the campus of Central Washington, it felt like home. They offered him something no other school had offered him until that point, free college. He had always wanted free college, much like any other athlete in the state, the only difference for him was he didn’t know it would be track and field.
“I didn’t even start in the hurdles, I tried other events but realized I’m good at running and jumping, why not combine the two? Being able to compete in the two sports that I love in college makes me so happy it’s the best of both worlds. I’m ready to make a name for myself,” Brown said.
