Student Athlete of the Week: Deonna Brown
October 12, 2023
By Amanda Scurlock
Sports Editor
Dorsey freshman Deonna Brown is an inaugural member of the Donnas flag football team and is elated to be a part of a new chapter in Dorsey sports.
“It’s like they’re opening up more history to the school,” Brown said. “The school already has a lot of great athletes who graduated from there and it’s cool to be a part.”
Brown has helped the Donnas to a 4-6-1 overall record and a 3-5 Coliseum League record. She noted the different types of positive energy that she brings to the team.
“I feel like I bring hypeness,” Brown said. “I crack a lot of jokes, I bring a little extra smile and … some good catching skills.”
Brown comes from a sports family and she grew up watching football. She noted how her father and late grandmother are her inspiration to compete.
“Every time I come in the living room, he’s playing football and he be discussing me the plays. I be like “You know what? I’m gonna do that,” Brown said. “My grandma, rest in peace, I know she’s looking down on me, so I just want to do that, make her proud.”
Brown plays at the wide receiver and running back positions, her proudest moment is when she made her first carry for the team.
“This is my first time ever playing football for high school,” she said. “That’s kind of my proud moment, I’m kind of proud of myself.”
Earlier this season, Brown learned that the Donnas can excel once they improve their catching and communication skills. Through her coaches, Brown learned the importance of being true to herself.
“The best advice I have gotten was no matter how hard, no matter how tough it gets, you always believe in you,” she said. “You believe in how you play.”
Along with playing flag football, Brown is a member of the drumline at Dorsey, playing the snare and base drums. She also knows how to play the violin and cello.
“My favorite class right now has been music,” Brown said. “Growing up in church, I come from a whole big music family.”
A major challenge for Brown was balancing her academics with athletics.
“I overcame it by time management,” Brown said. “All the sore nights I come home after hours-long practice, I don’t even want to do my homework but I had to do it.”
Brown aspires to get into the medical field to specifically be a pediatrician.
“I want to go to a good college, like Michigan State University,” she said. “I just want to be my family millionaire.”