News Summary

Astin Brown, a senior from Polson, is set to join the University of Montana Grizzlies track team after breaking multiple records in shot put. With a remarkable throw of 64 feet 7.5 inches at the 2024 Class A state meet, he clinched the state title and exceeded scholarship requirements. A former football player, Astin has honed his throwing skills under coach Bree Fuqua. As he prepares for his collegiate career, he aims to continue his athletic evolution and take on new challenges in track and field.

Astin Brown Shines Bright in Polson, Set to Join University of Montana Track Team

Polson has a lot of reasons to celebrate as one of its own, Astin Brown, wraps up his high school career with a bang! This remarkable senior from the Polson Pirates is not only gearing up to join the University of Montana Grizzlies track and field team this fall, but he’s also made waves in the athletic community by smashing records along the way.

Journey to the Top

As the Polson Pirates’ football season was winding down, Astin decided to reach out to colleges for opportunities in track and field. The coaching staff at the University of Montana laid out their expectations, indicating that Athin needed to throw between 56 to 60 feet to earn a scholarship. Well, Astin was determined to rise to the challenge!

During his junior year, he earned a commendable third place at the Class A state meet with an impressive throw of 53 feet. Athin’s hard work was about to pay off in a big way, though; at a meet in Bozeman in spring 2024, he received some crucial support from the Griz thrower, Nate Rykal, even without having a coach by his side. That day, Astin achieved a personal best throw of 57 feet 10 inches, and he caught the attention of the Griz coaching staff.

The Big News

Just when he thought things couldn’t get better, a curious text from the Griz coaches during his history class hinted at some exciting news. He knew he needed to take that call, and it turned out to change everything! Astin was officially offered a spot on the University of Montana track team.

A Record-Breaking State Championship

Fast forward to the 2024 Class A state meet, where Astin unleashed his full potential. He clinched his first state title with a jaw-dropping throw of 64 feet 7.5 inches, not only winning the competition but also setting a new Class A record in the process! This incredible achievement surpassed the previous record by a whopping 3 feet 10 inches and exceeded Montana’s scholarship requirement by 4.5 inches. Talk about a way to leave a mark!

Next Steps for Brown

With college just around the corner, Astin is all set to move to Missoula and kickstart his collegiate career. His passion for track and field has soared after focusing on the sport post-football. His stunning athletic evolution has placed him as a prominent figure in shot put competitions. In his senior year, he was on fire, winning every event he entered in 2025!

Astin was not just about throwing; he had an impressive football career too! He played a significant role on the field, tallying 14 pancake blocks on offense and 36 tackles on defense in his senior year. But it was in the realm of shot put where he found his true talent.

Guidance and Training

Under the guidance of Polson throws coach Bree Fuqua, a former Gatorade player of the year with impressive collegiate feats, Astin refined his skills. All his hard work culminated in a glorious win at the state title competition, where he dominated, finishing 10 feet 7.5 inches ahead of the second-place finisher.

A Bright Future Ahead

While Astin has a good grip on shot put, discus, and even hammer throw, the latter is a bit of a new frontier for him due to limited local competition and training resources in Montana. He’s viewed this as a chance to innovate his training and expand his skills at the collegiate level. Furthermore, his self-assurance has surged from his high school achievements, fueling his ambition to excel as a Grizzly athlete.

With so much momentum building, there’s no telling what heights Astin Brown will reach in the future. He’s not just breaking records, but he’s also setting the stage for a promising journey ahead in athletics. Go, Grizzlies!

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