Kecoughtan's David Anderson is a rare breed of athlete - a star at two different sports, and good enough at each to earn major scholarship offers.
Yet while this one feature doesn't entirely make him an elite sportsman, the story behind Anderson, who won his third straight Class 5 shotput title last weekend, does separate him from his track brethren.
Make no mistake. At 6-4 and 280 pounds, it is obvious that the Warrior senior is a lineman of the highest order. For three years he dominated the interior of the line for Kecoughtan, who has steadily improved over the past three years with Jeff Super as head coach.
It was Super who approached his young lineman in 2021 as COVID was still showing its presence. Knowing that the prospect of fall football was still sketchy, the new coach presented Anderson with an idea. He should stay involved in athletics, and perhaps try something different. Why not throw for the track team?
"He's always pushing me to do better," said Anderson. "He's never satisfied."
Tossing the eight-pound ball for the outdoor track team did not come naturally for the young thrower, but he did win three district meets with a best throw of 43-11.
Nine months later, he had improved by almost ten feet and claimed his first state championship at 53-6.5. A week later, he would tack on another foot at the Adidas Nationals.
An outdoor title would follow, as would a new best of 57-11.5. And now, Anderson has tacked on a third crown, and at 59-2, another foot and change. For the record, he won by over eight feet.
And as Anderson prepares for this season's Adidas Nationals, the new goal is predictable.
"I'd like to get 60," said the Duke football commit, who has also added almost 50 feet to his discus (best of 150-10) in less than two years. "If I get there, I'll aim to keep improving."
It's leads to an interesting dilemma.
Anderson loved Duke from the get-go. "They had offered me in January last year. Coach Zohn (line coach) came up to my school and offered me." On the visit, "It was beautiful. The facilities were very nice as well as the school and the area. I had a lot of fun. I feel like the coaches understand me and we get along well."
Now, the future Blue Devil has a choice to make. Unlike some other Division I schools, and many larger ones, Duke is willing to let their recruit play football and throw for the track team.
It is being taken into consideration.
Said Anderson, "I'm still thinking about it. My schedule will probably be a lot different in college. But I did talk to the throws coach and the football coaches, and they said I would be able to."
Stay tuned.