Brownlee Chooses South Carolina

Shotputter Crystal Brownlee of Westlake High has signed a letter of intent with South Carolina, choosing the Gamecocks over North Carolina and Washington.

Brownlee also visited Syracuse and New Mexico but picked South Carolina for its academics and its assistant coaching staff.

“South Carolina ranked fourth in the country in marine sciences,” she said Thursday. “They also hired an assistant who will work with the throwers only.”

Brownlee has a best of 45 feet 4 inches in the shotput. She placed second in the state as a sophomore and was sixth last year. She has a best of 141 feet in the discus.