Caleb Brown had quite a memorable football season. Telling VYPE, “We didn’t reach the expectations here of winning a state title, but man, it was a ride. I’ve been playing with or against most of these guys since I first touched a football as a little kid. From grinding every day with the team to our nightly team dinners and the bonds, we’ve created over the course of these years… I am forever in debt to the derby community for the memories, relationships, and experiences I will carry for the rest of my life.”
Falling short of last year’s football state championship isn’t stopping Brown from aiming for that title in basketball. Saying, “Everyone overlooks Derby basketball because of how dominant our football program is here. No one really thinks Derby can make a deep playoff run and win this thing, but as a Senior looking at all the guys that go to war with me every day and how much work we put in… I’d be lying to everyone reading this if I said with the right execution, we couldn’t win this State title. I also would like to win our mid-season tournament that is coming up next week in Dodge City and take 1st place in our league (AVCTL).”
When asked to name someone on his team that has made the biggest impression on him, Brown struggled due to his involvement in multiple athletic endeavors. He felt strongly that “many teammates” have helped him become a “better athlete.” Including Samuel Same and Dylan Edwards during football season, and for basketball, that honor went to Kaeson Fisher-Brown.
Brown proudly stated that Same has committed to Iowa State and that no one knows him better. Telling us that “He pushes me to be better just off what he’s accomplished. He’s been my best friend since I was a little boy. I can’t remember a time without him.”
Similarly, to the kind words he shared about Same – Brown says of Edwards – “I remember just watching his recruitment explode and not being surprised. All the work I saw him put in behind the scenes… It doesn’t surprise me he had Power 5 schools knocking at his door. His drive and determination, no matter what anyone says or feels about him, is what motivates me to also just keep my head down and work.”
All of this is to say that Kaeson Fisher-Brown is Caleb Brown’s “definition of work ethic.” Brown went on to call his teammate a “gym rat.” Telling us that he and his friends “share our location on an App called Life360, we can see where each other are at and what time we got there. I would see Kaesons, and his location would already be up at the school at four or five A.M., just working on his game and his craft. That inspires me to work harder for him on the court and for the rest of my teammates because they are doing the same for me. He is also one of my closest friends.”
I’d say his words make this next statement obvious, but Brown shared that his favorite part about participating in Derby athletics is “building and strengthening bonds with each and every person on the team.”
