Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Pocahontas Area’s Jace Davidson is presented his 2019 Male Athlete of the Year honor by Kemna Auto representative Eric Hippen.

Jace Davidson’s high school career was filled with enough honors to fill a trophy room.

But the recent Pocahontas Area graduate didn’t become an all-stater in multiple sports or the 2019 Kemna Auto Messenger Male Area Athlete of the Year on talent alone.

Life lessons from his mother, Krystal, are what truly helped the future Morningside University basketball player become the “super passionate” person he is today.

“She taught me to always show up to your practice, event, work or whatever at least 15 minutes early,” Davidson said, “and never go through the motions in anything you do.

“Always remain humble in the moment.”

Davidson spent the past five seasons on the baseball diamond being coached by his father, new Fort Dodge Middle School principal Aaron Davidson, and the last three playing alongside his younger brother, Christian.

“It’s been very impactful … having my dad coach me,” he said. “Not a lot of people get to say their dad coached them from 7-year-old coach-pitch to playing high school baseball as a senior. I’m very grateful for what my dad has done for me in getting to where I am now as an athlete.

“And Christian, he and I are more than just brothers. We’re best friends. I can’t think of a day where Christian and I haven’t tried to get ourselves better by shooting baskets, taking cuts or lifting with each other.

“It’s just been pretty special, having all three of us on the diamond night in and night out.”

Those “early years” together with his father also brought about friendships with recent Fort Dodge Senior High graduates like Drake Miller, Jace Peterson and Drew Callon.

“Playing with the Fort Dodge Yellow Jackets definitely was the best memory I had with my Fort Dodge boys,” Davidson said. “Not only did we have a lot of success, but we created bonds that will last a lifetime. I am talking to those guys every week. They are like my brothers.

“I’m glad it’ll always be like that when we all move to different colleges this fall.”

After gaining varsity experience as an eighth-grader on the baseball diamond, Davidson was also inserted into the Pocahontas Area basketball lineup as a freshman. Those early trials and tribulations helped him become the all-state player he became for the Indians.

“These past four years have meant a lot to me as an athlete,” he said. “I felt like every year had its own challenges. My freshman year, I was on a mission to prove to people that I could have major success while playing at the varsity level.

“Sophomore and junior years, I fell in love with the weight room, which benefited me so much. My senior year, I learned how to battle through adversity.

“Being a leader, I had to learn how to ‘lead’ others to success even when the situation wasn’t the best.”

Davidson finished his four-year career with 1,560 points, 461 rebounds, 363 assists and 168 steals on the hardwood. He followed that up with 35 wins on the mound, 377 strikeouts, 295 innings pitched, 481 hits, 148 doubles, 127 RBI and 43 extra-base hits in 150 varsity baseball games. Davidson ranks first in school history for games played, at-bats, hits, singles, doubles, runs batted in, RBI, innings pitched, strikeouts and victories.

Davidson has been named first team all-state in both sports, and Pocahontas Area did not finish with a losing record in basketball or baseball over the past four seasons.

“One thing that really shocked me (about high school sports) was how all the younger kids look up to you,” Davidson said. “I realized being a role model was something you have to grow into. Interacting with all the younger athletes is something really special.

“Being able to make their day is something I hope they remember when they’re high school kids and they’re the ones talking to the younger athletes.”