2020 Senior Spotlight: Anthony Davis

By Andy Brown
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Updated: April 10, 2020

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg Sports Zone will be running senior spotlights through April and May everyday (Monday through Friday) in an efforts to honor seniors who had their seasons taken away due to the spread of COVID-19.

Running has been a way of life for Anthony Davis, especially the last two years.

A season ago, Davis qualified for the state track meet for the first time in the 1,600-meter run and was the top runner on the Louisburg boys cross country team. Distance running had quickly become a passion of his.

“I have actually only been in track two years,” Davis said. “I started in eighth grade, quit freshman year, skipped sophomore year and then was all in junior year. The thing that I love about it so much is how little experience I have. Every single race was still a learning experience. I would consider track and cross country to probably be two of the biggest things in my life right now. The feeling of setting a new personal record is unmatched, or just the look on someone’s face who hates running when you tell them you ran 12 miles at 6:30 pace.”

Davis was ready to make amends for a difficult ending to his cross country season after coming up short of qualifying for the state meet. Once that was over, he began his training on making sure the same thing wasn’t going to happen in track.

He was the top returning distance runner on the Wildcat team this season and was hoping to improve his time enough to possibly earn a medal at the state meet in Wichita in late May.

“I was probably looking forward to this track season more than any other sport season I’ve had,” Davis said. “It was a big deal for me for a lot of reasons. First off, my cross country career had not ended the way I wanted it to on that golf course in Baldwin where I’d had one of the worst races of my life and missed my ticket for state.

“I had pretty much taken one week off of running and then gotten right back into it, running all winter to get myself ready for this year in track. I had a lot of hopes and aspirations for a few state medals. In addition, this year was a big one for me to prove myself to some colleges and get some money to do what I love in college.”

However, once the team parted ways for spring break, little did they realize it would be the last practice they would have as the season would later be canceled due to COVID-19.

Davis had an inkling that, at the very least, the season would be delayed, but he tried not to think about it.

“I ignored it and trained as well as I could,” Davis said. “It was literally the last thing that I wanted to happen. A delay would be okay, no fans would be whatever. But there’s nothing I wanted more than to run for one last season. I took a few days off, then went right back into running because I knew I had a future in a college somewhere and it has all worked out for me, and I’m so blessed.

“The cancelation of school was out of nowhere. The biggest blow to me was no more prom, but then I realized, as cliche as it is, I miss all the little things. Isolation is no fun and seeing all the friends you’ve had since elementary school is pretty special no matter how sick and tired you may get. Saying hi to your locker neighbor every morning – it’s all special – and it’s a shame none of my fellow seniors will experience this again.”

All the time off has given Davis a chance to reflect on his high school career and think about all the good memories track has given him – especially his favorite from a year ago – when he qualified for state for the first time.

“It was a huge accomplishment for me to qualify for state in the 1,600, but man I would’ve been lonely there,” Davis said. “My favorite part was right when I crossed the finish line, and my teammate and good friend, Ryan Rogers, was right behind me. I had no idea what happened at first, then I heard all of our Louisburg guys go crazy and I turned around and saw Ryan crossing the finish line, qualifying right beside me. I was so incredibly proud of him and happy he’d be there to accompany me in Wichita.”

**Anthony Davis was a returning state qualifier in the 1,600 meter run for the Wildcat boys track team.**

Davis was going to be a vital part of the distance group for the Wildcat boys track team. Along with Rogers, they also welcomed junior Carson Houchen to the group and they had hoped to put a 4×800 relay together. It was just one of many events the Wildcat boys could have place in this season.

“I can guarantee you this would’ve been a historic year,” Davis said. “The addition of Carson Houchen was gonna be huge for Ryan and I. We had a lot of hope for a state 4×8 team. Carson has some wheels to him as well as a lot of stamina, obviously, and I think we would make a deadly trio. Not sure who our fourth would’ve been, but I’m proud of all the distance guys and gals and I know I’m excited for what they do next year.”

Other than track, Louisburg Sports Zone also had a chance to catch up with Anthony on how he has been coping with an early end to his senior year and some of his other interests. Here are his responses from the rest of our Q&A.

LSZ: What have you been missing the most during this time away from everyone?

AD: If I am being honest, I can’t really say I’ve been self-quarantining too much. I’ve gotten to see my best friends quite often so I’m grateful for that. I do miss being able to go out to Overland Park and actually have stuff to do (and be within my legal limits) and once this is all over I’ve compiled a list of things I really want to do – starting with climbing Pikes Peak this summer.

LSZ: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete or in school, and why?

AD: My favorite memory is a tough one… but it would probably have to go to when I did eighth grade track with my best bro Deven Wieland and all the shenanigans that went with it. I remember one week where we both sucked at long jump, but did it anyway and so we decided to goof off that time and try to re-create Eric Berry’s bow and arrow celebration. So as he was doing his jump, I pretended to throw up a ball and he shot the pretend bow midair. Safe to say coach wasn’t pleased with that one.

A second experience that comes to mind is probably some of the memories I’ve had during select choir, like sophomore year perfecting the song ‘Abide.’ Because of the performance, we were picked to go to New York the next year and that was probably the most fun I’ve had in my life.

LSZ: What is your favorite activity/hobby outside of sports and why?

AD: I really love to walk countless laps at the lake, especially with my new pup, Toby (golden retriever and an angel). I also really, really love music. I took drum lessons for a few years back in middle school, but I’m also involved with the choir so I love to sing. Playing Animal Crossing is a lovely way to pass the time as well.

LSZ: What are your plans after graduation?

AD: Going to Baker to run cross country and track with Louisburg graduate, Wyatt Reece.

LSZ: What accomplishments that don’t involve athletics are you most proud of and why?

AD: My best accomplishment is probably the fact that I made it through an entire year of AP Lit without touching a book

LSZ: What do you think would be something that a lot of people don’t know about you?

AD: Something everyone probably doesn’t know about me is that I’m actually ranked No. 3 in the world in Gunfight in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.