Senior Corban Payne takes his high school career by storm

Going from hitting the pads during the fall to hitting the weight room everyday in the spring, Senior Corban Payne goes straight from football season to track and field for a nonstop schedule. Weighing 230 pounds, Payne walks onto the football field under the friday night lights to accomplish his goals of winning. Payne is a two sport athlete, earning the status of a gold athlete. Playing football since he was a kid, Payne wasn’t afraid to try track and field his freshman year, where he would find himself ranked in the top ten all time at Paso Robles High School.

Beginning the year with football, Payne starts on the defensive line as the defensive end and also plays tight end, fullback, and linebacker. He played football all four years of his high school career. Payne made varsity twice, and advanced to CIF his junior year.

“The ability to self improve and all the competitiveness that’s involved in each sport and of course the relationships that I make throughout each season is always cool,” Payne mentioned.

When track season rolls around, the senior hits the weight room early January to get a head start and get ready for throwing shot put and disc. Starting as a freshman, Payne had no idea what he could accomplish in his four years of high school. Four years later, he is ranked overall 20th for shot and 27th in the state of California.

“My father and my mother always pushed me to do better. My coaches and friends were always supportive of me and my goals,” Payne added about people who have inspired him.

Payne’s track and field coach, Matthew Carroll, have seen him grow tremendously in the time span of four years. “I watched Corban become a better leader over the years. He went from a guy just trying to make the team his freshman year to a powerhouse on the central coast,” Carroll said. Carroll and Payne have grown close and have created a bond over his four years of track and field. “Corban and I are close. We have spent a long time talking about the technical aspect of throwing as well as college plans.”

With so many years of being on different teams, Payne has created many bonds with teammates. Junior Gabe Katches is one of many that has become friends with Payne and has created a bond that means a lot to each athlete. “Corban was fun to have as a teammate and helped me with discus and shotput,” Katches said.

Payne’s football teammates are also proud of him, especially senior Reese Brumley. “I got the privilege to meet Corban early in life and play with him pretty much all my years in football. He’s always been a hot head that didn’t like to be blocked and didn’t like it when he didn’t get the quarterback, but that’s what made him work so hard and play so hard. [It’s been a true honor to play with him,” Brumley added about our gold athlete.

Advancing to State for track and field this spring, Payne is on his way to creating his own way to success. Payne plans on going to college for shot and discus, attending UC Davis in the fall.