Washington High student values hard work, sportsmanship

CEDAR RAPIDS — LaVelle Dawson scored a “try” for Washington High School’s rugby team earlier this month at the state tournament, running about 90 meters with the ball to ground it in the end zone.

The Washington High senior is an “incredible kid,” said his coach, Patrick Lausen. When Dawson, now 18, first went out last year for rugby, he couldn’t even catch the rugby ball — similar to a football.

“By the end of the season, he was scoring in the state tournament,” Lausen said. “It’s a testament to him. Some kids will quit. It’s a hard sport. You could see the frustration when he first started, but he eventually was honored as an all-state rugby player this year. He’s an example for other kids to follow.”

Dawson is one of 270 students who graduated Friday from Washington High School at the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Dawson values hard work. In addition to rugby, he also was on the football and track team at Washington High, and often would get up at 4 a.m. to eat a hearty breakfast before walking 20 minutes to school for an early-morning practice.

“It’s fun to practice with other people. When you do warm-ups you absolutely hate, when one person is suffering, you know everyone else is suffering. You’re never really alone,” Dawson said.

Dawson plans to attend Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls this fall. He will redshirt on the football team, sitting out of official competition to mature his talent.

After he completes getting his associate degree in business, Dawson hopes to transfer to an NCAA Division 1 university — possibly the University of Northern Iowa — and continue playing football and furthering his education.

Dawson hopes to own his own business someday, possibly something in real estate or technology where he can make a good living and have job security, he said.

Dawson is grateful to his grandmother for raising him, especially through his “rebellious” phase in middle school. “I couldn’t deal with me, either. I don’t know how she did,” he said with a smile.

“I’m sad to see him go, but I think he’s going to do great things,” Coach Lausen said.

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