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Surrounded by family and friends, as well as Lowndes High coaches, faculty, and staff, senior Viking Davis Stewart put ink to paper and solidified the next four years of his future. It took little deliberation; he knew almost immediately where he was going to go to college after graduating high school. With a swift flick of the pen, it became official: the Viking tennis star is headed to Georgia Southern University in the fall of 2016.
“Georgia Southern was the first offer I received and I already had my mind set on going there,” Davis says. “Navy said if I could get in academically that they would give me a full ride. Other than that, I never received any offers, but I did have schools of interest, including Kennesaw State and Valdosta State.”
Signing Day was special for many reasons; Lowndes was able to send another stellar student-athlete to the collegiate ranks, something that has become routine with the Vikings’ athletic programs. But for this particular student-athlete, the day took much more special meaning. As he made his declaration to the Eagles official, he had the blessing of being flanked on either side by his mother, Leigh Bennett, his father, Clay Stewart, his stepfather, Scott Bennett, and his grandmother, Ann Sumner.
“It was special to have both of my parents there,” he says. “It was most likely the last moment I will have with them in the same room at the same time. It was bittersweet. My parents divorced at the end of my sophomore year of high school; I was 16 years old.”
Collegiate interest in Davis comes as no surprise to anyone; he has been regularly ranked statewide throughout his high school career. In his junior year alone, he went 22-2, helping to lead Lowndes High to the state semifinals for just the fourth time in the school’s history.
“I have been ranked as high as sixth in the state,” he says. “At my level, I constantly feel pressure to win and be a leader for my team. Receiving a scholarship just added to the expectations of others to see me win. I feed off of the pressure because it motivates me to train harder and meet expectations. I enjoy the attention that success brings. I like knowing that other players fear me and know who I am.”
Davis first found his love of tennis as a youngster in Texas; he attended a camp at the age of 8 and hasn’t looked back. He began playing competitively at the age of 9, and his growth and maturity on the court speak volumes to his dedication and hard work. His journey has bounced him back and forth between Texas and Georgia; he moved to Hahira in middle school, and after a brief four-month stay, returned to Texas until he was 16 years old. Upon his return, he felt just as he always had; anxious, yet ready for his upcoming challenges.
“My transition moving back to Georgia was smooth because I had previously lived here for a few months in eighth grade and knew a handful of people,” Davis says. “My love for tennis has helped with the transitions by keeping me self-motivated and allowing me to meet new people and make friends who also play tennis. It will help me in the future; it will help me to keep my GPA high because of my motivation to play for the team.”
Moving back to Georgia did not happen without its fair share of obstacles, however. As a result of their divorce, neither of Davis’ parents live in the same city. With both of his parents living outside of Valdosta, Davis resides with his grandmother. He says that the transition to living with her has been a smooth one, and he enjoys the teamwork aspect that the two exude on a daily basis.
“Living with my grandma has helped me mature in many ways,” he says. “I enjoy living with her because I have so much more freedom but also more responsibilities. My grandma and I work as a team; I do whatever chores or jobs she needs done and she cooks dinner. It’s a win-win situation.”
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Clay lives in Wentzville, Missouri; he rarely gets the opportunity to watch Davis compete. However, Leigh lives in Warner Robins, Georgia. The mere two-hour commute to Valdosta pales in comparison to travel from Missouri, and allows her to see Davis compete on a regular basis.
“My mom is able to watch me frequently,” Davis says. “She comes down on the weekends to watch or take me to tournaments.”
His sport of choice has opened many doors for him; aside from education opportunity, it has provided him with an invaluable base of support. While his family still supports him from a distance, he has developed strong bonds with his teammates that helps to carry him through his final year of high school.
“My teammates and I have a very tight relationship because we hang out outside of tennis as well,” he says. “My ranking has no impact on our relations away from the court. During practice I do have a sense of leadership and can set the tone for practice or a match. I am respected by my teammates on the court because of my experience of the game nationwide. My growth in the game has allowed me to help my teammates in many ways. Whether it’s helping them stay calm and cool on the court or simply giving them tips on how to hit the ball.”
In dealing with his fair share of obstacles on his road to National Signing Day, Davis has built a strong sense of determination and drive. Just as those that support him on a daily basis, he expects that his focus will seamlessly translate into success at the collegiate level.
“Living away from my parents has actually helped me become more focused on my goals,” he says. “Having a sense of independence has helped me mature and become more responsible in getting things done on my own. It’s helped me to be mentally stronger on and off the court. It has made me believe in myself and reminds me that no matter how hard things get, I can still keep my eye on my goals.”
Tennis has played a major role in Davis’ development and maturation, and Georgia Southern has definitely found a dime-a-dozen talent. But deep down, he is just your typical high school student-athlete trying to enjoy all aspects of his experience before joining the Eagles.
“I have always been in love with the game, and there are many factors that keep me interested,” he says. “The mindset of always wanting to improve keeps my interest as well as the opportunity of being a part of a team. Also, I enjoy being able to impress spectators, especially girls, with my dominance and physicality on the court.”
His plan is simple: earn a conference title in Statesboro, be named an All-American, and earn a degree from Georgia Southern. While he has not quite honed in on particular study, he has noted that he takes an interest in psychology.
Davis is a tremendous talent on the court and has come to be a prized possession of the Lowndes tennis program. Undoubtedly, his skill and experience will prove to be of similar importance and magnitude come next season in Statesboro. However, unless there is a drastic upside, he has already made the decision that his collegiate career will be the final step of his athletic legacy.
“I will not pursue a professional career after college unless my game completely takes off during my four years at GSU,” he says. “The pro tour is competitive internationally that it is almost impossible to break through to the top. Also, you must be at least one of the top 200 players in the world to make a living off your wins.”
The athletic career of Davis Stewart may be approaching its twilight. One thing, however, is certain. A student-athlete of his caliber is hard to come by. The drive, the determination, and the never-say-die attitude that he possesses has become infectious, his winning ways and motivated spirit will surely ring through the halls of the Lowndes High School for years to come.
And no matter their location, his parents can certainly be proud of their son’s accomplishments.
Major Accomplishments
- Ranked as high as #6 in Georgia and #16 in Texas
- Final Four appearance with Lowndes High School (2015)
- Four-star college recruit
- Gator Bowl Nation Showcase Champion (2014)
- Georgia Southern scholarship
- Ranked as high as #173 in the nation
- Texas State tournament quarterfinal appearance as a sophomore
Sidebar: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get this far, including all of my high school and private coaches from Texas and Georgia. I would like to give a very special thanks to my mom and grandma for being my number-one supporters and financially making it possible for me to chase my dreams.”
Sidebar 2: Davis is the youngest child of Clay Stewart and Leigh Bennett; his sisters are 26 and 23 and live in Washington (state) and Tifton, Georgia respectively. While he is the only one of the three that is an athlete, one sister is a talented artist, and the other takes an interest in music.
In the Game / April 2016
Davis Stewart
Lowndes High School
Valdosta, Georgia
Signing Day Love Game
By James A. Washington
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