Sophomore Debrice Ashung’s path to becoming a four-sport varsity athlete in Roswell began 6,830 miles away in his native Cameroon.
Today, Ashung’s a versatile athlete for Roswell High School, competing in soccer, football, basketball and track.
But it started in Douala, Cameroon, where Ashung, 15, lived until he was 12 years old. He first picked up a soccer ball at age 5, a sport that remains his favorite, and quickly discovered that competition could teach him as much about life as it did for sports.
Growing up in Cameroon presented challenges that extended beyond athletics. Ashung often walked several miles to school in intense heat and faced fierce competition on the soccer field. He said the experience helped shape him.
“Playing in Cameroon helped me become a better athlete,” he said.
Ashung moved to Roswell because his father, Alfred Ashung, got a job working for Leprino Foods Company after serving as a math teacher for many years.
Ashung said the process of becoming U.S. citizens was challenging for him and his family because of the many documents that had to be processed, but he is glad they are here now.
His entire family moved together, including his father, his mother, Julliette; his brother Emmanuel, an eighth grader at Mountain View Middle School; and his brother, Elliote, who is 4 years old.
He said he also brought developed toughness with him to Roswell and grew a passion for basketball and track. During his freshman season, he worked his way into varsity competition in basketball, track and soccer.
Now as a sophomore, Ashung plays forward for the Coyotes’ soccer team and has led them to an 11-1 start to the 2026 season. He has scored a team-high 29 goals so far, which leads New Mexico.
Teammate Axel Sanchez is second in the state in goals scored with 19. Sanchez said the two not only compete against their opponent but also each other on the soccer field.
“Debrice is an outstanding teammate and person and I’m glad to have him around,” Sanchez said. “It’s awesome sharing the achievement of being a top goal scorer with him. Every game feels like a race between us. He keeps me on my feet and helps me push harder everyday. It’s always a pleasure to share the field with him.”
Another teammate, Ronaldo Martinez, said despite his prominence, Ashung stays humble and serves to motivate teammates who might be struggling.
“Debrice is a great teammate,” Martinez said. “If one of our other teammates isn’t doing well on the field, Debrice is the one to encourage him to keep trying and not give up. He is going to make you feel like you never made that mistake and keep pushing you forward to success.”
When basketball season arrives, Ashung will shift to playing as a guard. Then comes track, where he competes in the long jump and the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
He also started playing football this year and has earned a spot on the varsity roster as a running back. He said he is grateful to be playing four sports at a high level.
“I have learned to appreciate everything because in Africa, life wasn’t so easy for me,” Ashung said.
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall. Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
