CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Geneva School senior defensive end Duke Carpenter is preparing for his final high school football season in Casselberry after winning a Class 1A discus state championship and committing to Stanford.
Carpenter, a 6-foot-5, 252-pound defensive end, has stood out for Geneva School on the football field, in the classroom and in other sports, according to football coach Dave Langdon.
“Not only is he superior on the field and in the classroom, but he’s a big reader, plays the guitar. He’s a true modern-day Renaissance man,” Langdon said.
Carpenter is a three-sport athlete. He plays football in the fall, basketball in the winter and added discus in the spring.
“It was refreshing to have a new experience with that,” Carpenter said. “I’ve only been doing team sports before. It’s all on yourself.”
Carpenter’s winning discus throw marked a personal record of 190 feet, 8 inches.
“Going into that, I was not expecting that at all,” Carpenter said. “Then the adrenaline obviously worked. Super exciting to get that. I wish I won shot put. It was just a super exciting experience.”
Carpenter said he has also tried javelin and believes he can throw a football about 50 yards. During a demonstration, his throw measured around that distance.
His main focus remains football. After visiting Stanford this past summer, Carpenter committed to the Cardinal.
“The academic draw was huge for me because academics last longer than football, and in the end, I want to go somewhere as strong as possible for being successful outside of football,” Carpenter said. “They have a new program and a new staff, and I think they’re building something really good there.”
Carpenter has recorded more than 40 tackles for loss during his high school career. Before heading to California, he is aiming to make an impact for Geneva School one more season.