2021 Big Rapids
ATHLETE YEAR of the
DARYLE “DJ” GREENBAY
6
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2021
Three-sport athlete’s career for Big Rapids stellar athlete Warriors was exceptional closes 3-sport career
BIG RAPIDS – Daryle (DJ) Greenbay was simply a three-sport athlete who exceled at everything he did: football, basketball and track and field. A major highlight for Greenbay in a season which brought him Male Athlete of the Year honors was helping the basketball team, as a starter, win the Central State Activities Association Gold Division title. While the team’s roster was full of primarily freshmen and sophomores, D.J. Greenbay is the lone senior on this year’s team. Coach Kent Ingles said the team has greatly benefitted from Greenbay’s effort and leadership qualities on the court throughout the shortened season and led the team in rebounds. “He’s been a leader for us on the court; he doesn’t do a lot of scoring but he rebounds,” Ingles said. “I’m really happy for him. He and Jamal (Strickland) and (Demarcus Lee) are the only ones we have back. Everybody else is new.” In football, Greenbay was a 4-year starter and allCSAA for four seasons. He was an all-region offensive lineman and recognized as
a great drive blocker with excellent hips and feet for 290 pounds. The football season was delayed because of COVID and was almost switched to the spring. It returned in mid-September. “I’m just happy to be back, back on the field,” Greenbay said. “You can tell we’ve been off a little bit. I had been playing basketball to keep in shape.” His season highs were 48 feet, 1 ½ inch in the shot put and 138-6 in the discus. He placed first at the conference meet in the shot put. “DJ has been an outstanding thrower for the past four seasons, earning multiple 1st places over the course of his throwing career,” Big Rapids track coach Mike Selzer said. Greenbay now embarks on a collegiate career at Northwood University. “I’m just working out and getting ready for my season at football,” Greenbay, a two-way lineman for Big Rapids said. But he anticipated for Northwood, he’ll be on the offensive line. Whether or not he’ll be a guard or tackle has not been determined. To have success at the
NCAA Division II level, “I just need to put in the work,” he said. “I’m just working out on my own at the high school.” Greenbay will report to Northwood’s football camp on Aug. 10. Many colleges redshirt athletes their first season but Greenbay is unsure of his status. “I haven’t really talked to any coaches about that,” he said. “But his goal will be to be ready to go, learn as much as he can and answer the call whenever it comes. But this is a very exciting moment right now for Greenbay. He said he’s excited most about “continuing to play football at the next level and get my education.”
DJ Greenbay helped Big Rapids win a league basketball title.
Tyler Schuberg, cIc
231-796-5881 • SchubergAgency.com
