A Handle On Excellence Lee Repeats, Looks Forward To Stanford

Austin Lee is looking forward to establishing a new identity.

He’s thrilled that he will be just another fish, and in a bigger pond.

“I’m really excited about being a regular guy,” said Lee, who will begin a college football career in August at Stanford. “I’m still going to be me. But it reminds me of when I was a sophomore. I had to prove myself. I went to football camp that summer and had to earn a starting position. My dad just didn’t give it to me.

“I’ll be starting over at Stanford. I’ll have to prove myself all over. I’ll be with a lot of guys that are as good or a lot better than me. I’ll have to really work to prove I can play there.”

He closes the book on his prep athletic and academic excellence when he graduates next week.

For a second straight year, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Lee has been named The Spokesman-Review’s Male Athlete of the Year.

The three-sport standout added several pages to an already overcrowded scrapbook this year.

For a third straight year, the Trojans football team qualified for the playoffs. But Post Falls’ season ended abruptly in a first-round loss after two consecutive years as semifinalists.

He was honored by USA Today and Gatorade as Player of the Year in Idaho.

Perhaps the highlight of the year came in basketball. Lee joined the team in late December after taking time to let a football injury heal and following five consecutive weekend recruiting trips.

One of the top teams in the state, Post Falls breezed through the Inland Empire League undefeated. A heartbreaking first-round loss at state bumped the Trojans in the consolation bracket, but Post Falls rallied to earn the fourth-place trophy and finish 22-4.

Lee re-injured his shoulder during the track season and had to take two weeks off before state. He rebounded, however, to defend his state title in the shot put.

He was a 10-letter winner in the three sports, and he recently received his second academic letter.

It’s the latter accomplishment that pleases Lee most.

“I had God-given athletic and natural ability, but you have to apply yourself in the classroom,” said Lee, who sports a cumulative 3.8 grade-point average.

Among several memories Lee will cherish are:

Playing football three years for his dad, Jerry, who resigned to follow his son’s collegiate career.

Playing tight end/defensive lineman on what Lee called the three best football teams in school history (“And arguably three of the best teams ever around North Idaho”).

Beating Lewiston for the first time in school history after 16 straight losses.

Playing on two league champion basketball teams and capturing a trophy this year.

Classmates and teachers recently named Lee as Student of the Year, an honor he didn’t think he deserved.

“I was really surprised because I thought there were several people more deserving,” he said.

Post Falls coaches also voted Lee Scholar/ Athlete of the Year.

Lee offered advice to the athletes and friends he leaves behind.

“Don’t make it your main goal to get a scholarship to play sports at a major college,” he said. “I was fortunate. But it’s not realistic for everybody. Your chances are small that it will happen.

“The main thing is to try to be the best athlete and student you can be and to enjoy it while you can.”

Lee counts his high school years as sort of a family affair. He was fortunate to play for his dad; the seniors on the basketball team developed friendships back in elementary school; and he continued Post Falls’ tradition of state titles in the weight events under friend and coach Dan Nipp.

“I have a lot of things to be thankful for, especially my friends,” Lee said. “They made sure I didn’t get bigheaded.”

After all, Lee just wants to be a regular guy.

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