Julian Thomas-Goodson Turns Independence Into Athletic Excellence

SEATTLE- Growing up without any siblings, Julian Thomas-Goodson, known by many as Gobi, had to learn how to be his own motivator. Being an only child meant he often relied on himself to get through challenges, and that independence helped shape the way he approached life. While some people may struggle with being alone, Thomas-Goodson found comfort in it. But once sports entered his life, everything began to shift. 

Football and discus became more than just activities they became outlets where he could grow in different ways. Football taught him how to lead and connect with others, while discus gave him a space to lock in and focus. The combination of both sports helped him discover balance staying locked in individually but also learning how to support and build up those around him. 

“In a personality sense I feel like I'm a little more self-minded than most, but I've learned over the years to help people in ways whether its talking them down from a moment of anger or it's just helping them understand what to do on the field,” Thomas-Goodson said. 

Julian’s journey through football has been impressive. He played all four years of high school, starting on varsity for three of them. He earned Honorable Mention All-Metro as a sophomore guard and then First Team All-Metro as a tackle both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he not only helped lead his team to a state championship, but also served as a team captain, something that speaks to the leadership qualities he’s developed over the years.  

“I feel like no matter where I've played whether it was CD Panthers, Rotary, and finally at O'Dea. I find a way to make friends with my teammates for a lifetime while doing all these different sports programs, then with the Coaches it’s always a real mentorship kind of bond just learning things when it came to the games, I learned a lot from these guys and they helped me become a better player,” Thomas-Goodson said. 

Alongside football, he also found success in discus. He’s competed all four years, qualifying for Metros every time. Though he hasn’t made it to state yet, he’s not done pushing for that goal. 

Even with all his achievements, Thomas-Goodson says his drive doesn’t just come from the spotlight or the trophies. 

“I feel like my competitive nature comes from trying to be better than my little cousin growing just going back and forth whether it was video games or sports, just trying to 1 up each other.  But also, my first year playing CD panthers I didn't really play much so that kind of just kick started for me hating not playing in the games,” Thomas-Goodson said. 

Now, whether it’s standing alone in the discus ring or stepping into the huddle on game night, Julian Thomas-Goodson continues to bring the independence, discipline, and leadership he built as an only child into everything he does.