Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Washington High School fullback Keondrick Melton was tough to tackle this fall and has spent the spring working on his speed in four events for the Pam Pack track team. The 5’11 230 lb. junior is planning to parlay his continued improvement into a chance to play in college. The Greenville native moved to Washington when he was eight and started his favorite sport in the Washington Youth Football League.

1. Did playing in the WYFL start your love for the sport?

Keondrick: Yes. I had a lot of fun playing for Coach (Ray) Pippen (a current WHS assistant) on the Saints and the Vikings. We played in a couple of Super Bowls but didn’t win one. It taught me how to practice and it helped me develop discipline. That’s where I learned the fundamentals that we still use in high school. I thought it was a lot of fun, so I played for P.S. Jones and now here at Washington.

2. What kept you coming back year after year?

Keondrick: It’s fun to hit people without getting in trouble. I like making tackles on defense and it’s fun to run people over when I’m carrying the ball. I definitely like the physical part of football the best.

3. When did you know you could secede as a high school player?

Keondrick: It was my freshman year at West Craven for a JV game. I just kept plowing through people running the ball and it felt great that I could do that well. I scored my first varsity touchdown at Pamlico Co. my sophomore year and that helped my confidence also. It was also pretty fun last year against Farmville Central when I dragged like six people for 20 extra yards.

4. Football coaches tend to strongly encourage their players to run track. In the spring. Is that why you are on the team?

Keondrick: Coach Taylor is also the track coach, so yes in a way, but I also really like track. I’m in the open 200 and 400, the 4 x 100 relay and the shot put. It’s fun to line up against the smaller guys who don’t think I’m that fast. I usually end up surprising them. The relay is the biggest challenge because you have to pass the baton without dropping it to have a chance. We practice it every day and our timing is getting better.

5. As a junior, are you already working toward playing in college?

Keondrick: Yes, definitely. My goal is to play college football at some level and I know I have to stay focused in the classroom and in the weight room to get there. Things are going well right now and I’m hoping a strong spring track season will carry over into summer football workouts so we can win some games next fall.