EHS Alumni Spotlight - David Safstrom

The first time I saw David Safstrom play in person was during the 2007 District Playoffs in a home game against Sedro-Woolley.  I had heard for years about the 7'0" kid that had developed into a legitimate force in the paint, so much so that Lehigh University had offered him a scholarship to attend their school and play Division-I basketball.  I had heard that he had really picked the game up just three years prior to that as a freshman, and that he had spent that time working hard towards developing a post presence.  I was also confused as to how a team with a legitimate big man in WesCo and solid guards in Jake Mattson, Brett Lund, and Brian Barhanovich could have possibly gone through a regular season with a losing record.

Ed note: The narrative intended as criticism towards coaching that was not able to successfully integrate a 7-footer with above-average guard play that should have translated to WesCo domination has been purposefully omitted by the author in this section. 

Yet, because the team competed in the 4A/3A division, they were able to snag a second life and a playoff spot, and had taken full advantage of that by beating Meadowdale 47-36 in their first playoff game, giving them the WesCo 3A Championship.

As the game with S-W began, it was apparent why David would be playing college basketball the following year.  He had 10 blocks in the first eight minutes of the game.  Let me repeat that: HE HAD 10 BLOCKS IN THE FIRST EIGHT MINUTES OF THE GAME.  When fed the ball, he finished efficiently in the post.  David's stat line a the end of the game read comparably to what he did on a nightly basis that season: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 11 blocked shots.  Everett won 53-40, and while their season ended 10 days later in a loss to Meadowdale, it was clear that David had a bright future ahead of him.

David went on to Lehigh, where he played for 4 years and was reliable post presence for the Mountain Hawks, providing a defensive quality that consistently neutralized the opposing team's big man in the Patriot League.  This was highlighted by a trip to the NCAA tournament during his junior season, when his 16th-seeded squad lost to #1-seeded Kansas 90-74.  He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and now is an Automotive Engineer for Bosch back in Michigan, where he's likely the only 7'1" test driver on the payroll.  

David will be with his '07 crew at this year's Alumni Tournament, and will be looking to take back the title they won two years ago from the '03 team that won last year.  David shared his thoughts below on his time as a Seagull, and what that time meant to him.

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EHS Alumni Basketball: What years did you participate in the Seagull basketball program?

David Safstrom: '03-'04 through '06-'07 seasons.

EHS AB:  Before you were in high school, what events led to you knowing you wanted to play ball at Everett?

DS: Up until high school, I always favored playing baseball rather than basketball. However, when I entered EHS as a freshman at 6’7, I decided I should probably start to focus my efforts solely on improving my basketball skills. Shortly after that, I absolutely fell in love with the game and the rest is history.

EHS AB: Tell us a little bit about the group of guys you grew up playing with.

DS: I began playing with what was the 2007 graduating class when I was a freshman at EHS, including Jake Mattson, Brett Lund, and Brian Barhanovich.  It wasn’t until I was at Everett High that I was on the same side of the court as these guys, as they went to Evergreen and I came up through North Middle.  It was a whole new experience for me to have these great guys in my backcourt.

EHS AB: What are some of your most unforgettable moments you recall from your playing days?

DS: I think that the most unforgettable moments of my time at Everett always came from the games against Cascade. The rivalry was intense, and I remember that it was almost always one-possession games in the closing seconds. The Everett-Cascade rivalry is something I will always remember from my playing days.

EHS AB: What was the best team you were a part of during your time at Everett High? 

DS: The best team that I was a part of was the 06-07 team, my senior season. Our year definitely had its ups and downs, but we finished strong and went into districts as the number 1 seed.

EHS AB: What opposing team do you recall having extraordinary battles with?  How did you guys fare in those battles?

DS: I will always remember the hard-fought games we had against our cross town rival Cascade. The atmosphere of those games was something I had never experienced before. Fortunately during our senior season, we were able to pull out two wins against the Bruins, both in down-to-the-wire fashion. 

EHS AB: Who was the best player you recall going toe-to-toe with?

DS: The two best players I recall playing against during my time at Everett were Nathan Lozeau of Marysville-Pilchuck and Tim Diederichs of Snohomish.  The battles we had in the low post are what I remember most.  It is incredible to think back and realize that Wesco had three 6’9”+ future D1 post players in the same graduating class.

EHS AB: Who was the teammate you enjoyed playing with the most?  How did that individual bring the best out of everyone else?

DS: The player I most enjoyed playing with was Rendel Jones. He was not the most skilled player, but no one could deny how hard he played when he was on the court. The energy that he had on the floor was contagious, and would fire up everyone else around him.

EHS AB: Can you recall the most memorable game you played in as a Seagull?  What makes that game stand out?

DS: The most memorable game that I played in was the Wesco 3A tiebreaker game against Meadowdale. We had split the series with them earlier in the season, and needed a win to secure the number 1 seed heading into districts. To start the game, Meadowdale did not double-team in the low-post. I took advantage of this by scoring 12 points in the first 4 minutes of the game. From there on out, it was a team effort to hold on and secure the win. It was a great way to head into districts after an up and down season. 

EHS AB: Looking back on your experience, what traits were you able to take with you to help forge the person you’ve become?

DS: I have learned so much throughout my basketball career, but the one that really sticks out in my mind is my work ethic.  It was when I started playing basketball for Everett that I learned and adopted the mindset that other guys were not going to out-work me. Embodied by the quote; “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard”.

EHS AB: If you could give the current group of Seagull basketball players any advice, what would you tell them?

DS: The advice that I would give to the current players at Everett would be to always give 100% when you’re on the court, regardless if it is during practice, games, summer league, or even open gym. I was able to transform myself from a player who could barely catch a basketball my freshman year, to a D1 college player. This was not by accident just because I am gifted with height, but because I knew what I wanted and worked hard to achieve it.