Glacier Bear JC Davis’s 2023 season ended bitterly at regionals after he failed to qualify for the state championship meet as a freshman.
Davis came into this season with a modest goal — to qualify for state. He started doing pushups to add muscle over the winter. He eventually leveled up to a full-fledged weight-lifting program that he completed at Thor’s Gym, where he could often be found five days a week.
He continued lifting three days per week, even during much of his strenuous track and field practice schedule.
At regionals this year, he not only qualified for state in four events, he took home a coveted Outstanding Male Athlete Award for scoring the most points of any male athlete at the meet. In doing so, he notched a win in the 300-meter hurdles and a second-place finish in the discus and 110-meter hurdles.
“I wasn’t expecting that to happen,” said Davis.
Davis’ performance made him one of 10 Haines athletes headed to state championships after a successful Southeast regional championship meet. The Glacier Bears qualified 10 of their 18 athletes for state championships to be held this weekend at Dimond High School.
Two women also notched victories for the Bears. Junior Ari’el Godinez Long took second in the long jump, third in the 800-meters, and won the triple jump. Despite her win, she said she didn’t quite achieve her aim of a 30-foot triple jump.
“I’m really hoping to get that mark at state,” said Godinez Long.
Junior Emma Dohrn eked out a win in the discus throw despite, by her own standards, a lackluster 90-foot throw. Dohrn’s personal record from earlier this year was 106 feet. Still, she didn’t let it faze her.
“My coach (Jessie Sanders) made a good point that you don’t want to peak too early. I was still able to get the team points and I’ll be able to put more energy into state,” said Dorhn.
The crew hasn’t had the easiest preparation for state. Their flight from Ketchikan to Juneau was canceled due to a mechanical issue. They waited in the airport until midnight, about six hours total, before deciding the safest option would be a 40-hour ferry ride back to Haines the next morning.
Most of the athletes spent the time on the ferry sleeping or studying for finals.
“I can sleep pretty much everywhere, so I just slept the whole entire boat ride back,” said Godinez Long.
The crew arrived around 5 a.m. in Haines and had a lot of work to do before graduation and final exams on Tuesday. For Godinez Long and Dohrn, that meant a quick load of laundry and a shower. For Dohrn, it also meant some last-minute work.
“I finished up the last of my schoolwork that I couldn’t do on the ferry because we didn’t have (internet) service the whole time,” said Dohrn.
The students said they were holding up okay, but the travel has taken a toll. A 24-hour stomach bug hit many of the athletes on top of their hectic days.
“It’s pretty rough,” said Dohrn, “But honestly I’m happy we’re driving up and don’t have to get on the ferry again.”
The team planned to drive to Tok around 10 a.m. Wednesday before arriving in Anchorage sometime Thursday for the state championship.