by By Dan Ninham
Darryl Thompson-Etter, 17, is a junior at Park Rapids Area HS in MN. He is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. His parents are Darryl Sr. and Sadie Etter.
Darryl is a distance runner and a track athlete. He also participated in basketball. In cross country, he was named a two-time team most valuable player, qualified for the 2019 state meet, and was on the all conference teams in 2018 and 2019. In track, he was a two-time section 110m and 300m hurdler and placed fifth in the section two-mile race.
“My coaches all push me to be a better athlete and person,” said Darryl.
“He is a hard competitor,” said Jamie Nordick, head boys’ varsity basketball coach at Park Rapids Area HS. “He always works as hard as he can in practice and in school. During basketball he would always go 100% and was always trying to lead and get the best out of everyone. Even if he didn’t have to, he would always run extra and do as much as he could to get better.”
“During games he was one of our best defenders and he prided himself on that responsibility of guarding there best player. He’s a guy that tries to thrive at being the best he can be a great role model for the younger kids. He has a great personality that makes him very approachable,” added Jamie.
“After I was born for the first two years of my life my biological mother was a drug addict,” said Darryl. “At two years old my brothers Daityn and Kamryn and me were put for adoption and after almost a year we were adopted by Dan and Sadie. We were welcomed in with open arms and have been raised and cared for and loved by them ever since.”
“Darryl is always giving one hundred percent on the track, on the court or on the cross country course,” said Dan Etter. “He puts it all out there every time he competes. He runs countless miles in the offseason and is a great role model for his peers. He is humble and kind with not only his teammates, but everyone he’s around. His leadership qualities go far beyond the school and the sports he participates in.”
“All summer long he sacrifices having a job and many other things to volunteer at a Christian camp, helping young kids become the best selves they can be. Above all that, he is a great family guy, always playing with his younger siblings. I couldn’t be more proud of the man he is developing into,” added Dan.
“Darryl has loved sports his whole life,” said mom Sadie Etter. “Even as a little kid he was glued to ESPN. He has memorized with every player and stat. He is a sports encyclopedia. Not only does he love to watch, he loves to play.”
“Darryl was always a natural athlete, and a natural leader. He was a good athlete, but he was also a good teammate. He likes to set an example and push his team to work harder and do their best. These qualities he has developed playing team and individual sports has spread to other areas of his life. Whether he is setting the pace at cross country, giving a tour to eighth graders at the high school, leading the devotions at youth group, and holding down the fort as a camp counselor in the summer, Darryl is always leading and giving his best to others. These accomplishments did not always come easy,” added Sadie.
“Darryl, and his brothers, were removed from their mother and placed in foster care with us when he was 1-1/2 years old,” said Sadie. “He has worked very hard over the years to heal the scars that others don’t see. Although he makes it look easy, it has been anything but.”
“Darryl is an amazing kid for sure,” said Tina Thompson. “He not only possesses self-discipline, but also a strong will and determination. He brings these attributes to any and all of his sporting events. The word can’t is not in his vocabulary. Darryl sets his goals high and strives to achieve those goals.”
“Before and during track season, Darryl would wake up early before everyone else in the house and go running and do his workouts. This is just a small example of his self-discipline and determination,” added Tina.
“Darryl was born with the competitive drive and spirit we see in him today,” said Darryl Thompson Sr. “He has the heart of a true athlete and the will to achieve greatness.”
“My words of advice to the younger athletes trying to follow in my footsteps would be this: Don’t give up,” said Darryl. “If you have a dream or an accomplishment you want to achieve keep giving it your all day in and day out. Don’t let anything get in the way of you and your goal.”
“The most important thing that I can say is have fun while also being competitive,” added Darryl.
Photo Credit: Vance Carlson, Park Rapids Enterprise
