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Stanwood Football Unites Unlikely Duo For Life As Brothers

Drew Wright is a superb QB. Not a kid who stole headlines but a kid who put in the work and has solid stats to show for it. The Senior is now finishing his 3rd season as the gunslinger for the Stanwood High Spartans in Stanwood, Washington.

Stanwood Football Unites Unlikely Duo For Life As Brothers

Drew Wright is a superb QB.  Not a kid who stole headlines but a kid who put in the work and has solid stats to show for it.  The Senior is now finishing his 3rd season as the gunslinger for the Stanwood High Spartans in Stanwood, Washington.  He has endured three different Coaching staffs in 3 seasons and  new offense every season as the starter. He  has proven himself through it all.  And this week as the 6’2″- 205 lb. Senior prepares to play in his final High School Game he has much to reflect upon and be thankful for.

His run has included a great youth experience and a chance to play with lifelong friends and to have his Father David, who is a big part of Stanwood football, along for the ride.  He and his team have had big wins and performances and some extreme lows too.  And as he thinks about his 3-6 Senior season and his final game this week against Mariner he also turns his thoughts to his unlikely team mate and brother.  A young man not of US origin but who came from a far away land that was plagued by War and death.

Drew Wright is a 3 year starter and team leader at Stanwood High school.

Drew Wright is a 3 year starter and team leader at Stanwood High school.

Laurence Wanambisi is from Kenya and was able to flee the war torn country with his family on a very complex US Immigration lottery process.  The tall and athletic kid moved to Stanwood in the 7th grade portions of his life when he and his Mother and brothers and sisters came to be with his Father who was a student here.

The two met on less then perfect circumstances as Drew, the big jock on campus, actually mixed it up a bit socially with the new kid.  This led to Laurence and he having nothing to do with each other.  But as time went along a bond was built through football and through a relationship with the Wright family.  With his parents splitting and his Mother on the move and struggling to make ends meet Wanambisi reached out for help.  The Wright’s answered the call and he began to stay with the them.

Having only played Soccer in Kenya Laurence was not sure about football.  His athletic ability was there but he could not put it together with this oblong ball.

“I was terrible in 9th grade.  I just could not do anything really,” said Laurence.

In 10th grade he began to grow and his ability was obvious.  He swung varsity a little and was used in several positions.  According to him he began to like the game and understand it.  That season his promise began to show and Drew Wright, who was playing QB on varsity in his 10th grade season, took notice.

“Laurence was physically gifted.  We knew he might be good.  And he came to live with us as his family had to move to another area.  This led to us forging a bond and we made plans to really have a great Junior season,” said Drew.

The Wright’s after talking everything over with Laurence’s Mother agreed to become his guardians at his request.  The Kenyan native wanted to stay amongst his football family and friends and had already built ties with the Wright’s.  And the two boys had formed a bond that was as strong as any brothers can have; looking out for each other and standing up for one another.

Junior year came and Laurence was now almost 6’3″ and fast.  He showed he had the speed of a sprinter and things looked promising.  But a joint injury early in the 2012 season sidelined him for the year.  That was tough on he and Drew.

“That injury kept me from becoming better.  So I worked on my grades and tried to support the team as well.  Living with my new family gave me wings to fly and I have been applying myself in all areas.  We made a plan to work hard and for me to get better and I listened to David Wright and my Coaches about what I needed to do to improve,” said Laurence.

This past off season the duo committed to working out every day and sought out the tutelage of legendary QB Coach Steve Gervais.  That according to the boys paid off big time.

“Coach Gervais set up specific drills for Laurence and I to improve.  We worked on every route and every step and movement needed to succeed.  We began slow and by end of our training we were playing as one,” said Drew.

Laurence is now 6’4″ and 210 lbs and has little to no body fat.  With his injury healed and his new skill set he was ready.  With Drew firing missiles to him he has broken schools records. This season he has had almost 800 yards and coming into this weeks game is rated #1 in the league.  Drew has had a nice season too throwing for 1500 yards plus and 10 TD’s.  The two have been able to realize the sort of bond on and off the field that few people every have.

“This guy is an absolute force now.  He is running over defenders, grabbing balls out of the air and finishing plays, and just beating people.  He is so physical and fast and big ; we have not even begun to see what he is capable of,” said the QB.  “He is so fast that only Austin Joyner (2015 Top Recruit) was able to catch him in the open when we played Marysville.”

“Drew gets me the ball and is a great leader.  I can always turn to him for questions or to listen and help me solve problems on and off the field.  He is my friend and brother and he has taught me about football and life,” Wanambisi said.

We were turned onto these two by Idaho commit and Marysville-Pilchuck QB Jake Luton; a top 2014 QB and Idaho commit.

“That kid is one of  the best Wide receivers I have seen anywhere.  We could not stop him at all when we played them,” said Luton who leads his top rated team into the playoffs this week.  “He is a physical freak and just a dominating player.”

6'4" 210 pound wide receiver Laurence Wanambisi is a top prospect at Wide receiver and gaining interest!

6’4″ 210 pound wide receiver Laurence Wanambisi is a top prospect at Wide receiver and gaining interest!

Indeed Laurence had 220 yards receiving against the Tomahawks.  A game he says was the pay off for the work he has put in and the chances he has been offered.

“Coach Gervais taught me and I listened.  Drew and David and my coaches helped me and I think this whole story is about working hard to get what you want.  Playing for this team and with my brothers has given me structure and taught me life lessons.  Football as it turns out was my blueprint to try and succeed in my life here.  You work hard and don’t complain and it will pay off.  So I owe them all so much.”

He admits he has stress and frustrations like anyone but that he loves football as he is able to work things out on the field.  Getting to hit people and run people over are among his favorite things to do when in the game; something he says is amazing fun!

He and Drew are going to make sure to enjoy their time with the Spartans this week.  They are staring at the end of the road where Friday Nights Lights will forever go out for them; and they know it.

“This week will be special.  I will always treasure this time with my family and my brothers.  And I want to play next year somewhere, I think I have shown I can play at the next level,” said Drew.  “And me and Laurence will be brothers and boy it would be great to keep playing together.  But right now we have this week to think about.”

Laurence is a D-1 major talent with work to do in the classroom and on the field.  But he has that X factor and is going to be a very interesting story.  That frame and speed is probably best used in the H-Back position or as a Defensive End.  Time will only tell but let’s just say some schools are well aware of him.

Brothers. Football.  Endings. Beginnings.  Life and Brotherhood.  All wrapped up into one.  This is High School football people and this story is an American success story in every way a story can be.

Catch Laurence’s Hudl Film Here

Catch Drew Wright’s Hudl Film Here

 


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NW Regional Analyst Rivals.com – Editor OregonPreps.com & WashingtonPreps.com

I am the Founder of the Northwest Prep Report. For 17 years I have led the way to the best of my ability to promote the best talent from the Pacific NW free of charge. It is my pleasure to continue to serve High School athletes from all over the Pacific NW and beyond. Formerly with Rivals.com my sites have now crossed over 8,000 stories, 7 MILLION Video Views, and 15,000 regular followers. Together with the best football people in the USA we pursue excellence for our NW athletes.

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