courtesy photo
Hazen Union senior Caitlyn Davison will head to Eastern Tennessee State University in the fall.
HARDWICK – Hazen Union’s Caitlyn Davison’s championship run last month cemented her as one of the all-time greats to don a Wildcat uniform and will embark on her next chapter this coming fall at Eastern Tennessee State University (ETSU) in Johnson City, Tenn.
Davison was named Player of the Year by both the Times Argus and Caledonia Record this past month, adding to an already embarrassment of riches for the talented senior point guard. She’ll graduate in the spring with a high school athletic resume that is only rivaled by Lady Cat greats Jennifer des Groseilliers and Penny Libercent.
Davison earned her second straight Vermont All-State soccer selection this past fall before lacing up her basketball shoes for what turned out to be a senior season for the ages at the Cat Den. She led the Wildcats to the top seed in the Division III tournament and capped off their championship run with their second consecutive 19 game winning streak. Davison scored 34 points in the championship game to down two-time defending champion Windsor, breaking the school record set by her freshman teammate Kelsie Rivard at the Barre Auditorium just two nights earlier.
“It’s bittersweet . . . I can’t believe it’s over, but I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending,” said Davison. “I am still in disbelief. I’m so proud of everyone on the team this year, everyone had a role, and no matter what it was we couldn’t have done it without them!”
Davison finishes her decorated high school basketball career with nearly 1,200 career points, two consecutive Vermont Dream Dozen selections, and back-to-back Mountain League Player of the Year honors. She’s been the best player on the basketball court since being called up for a playoff run by head coach Tim Whitney as just an eighth grader all the way to bringing the championship back to Hardwick for the first time in 33 years under current head coach and uncle, Randy Lumsden. It was much of the same last month when she led the North All-Stars to victory over the South 49-46 with the game winning free throw and steal in the last high school game of her career.
“I’m proud of myself for pushing through all the tough games, practices, workouts, and never giving up just because it was a bad day. I’m proud of my family for giving me everything I needed to be where I am today. Without them I couldn’t have pushed through those bad days, and I wouldn’t have even had the opportunities that made me the player and person I am today. I’m proud of all of my coaches that I have had along the way, and the knowledge, strength, and determination you have all gave me,” said Davison.
Davison will be heading to ETSU in the fall and plans to major in Health Sciences. Her plan is get in contact with the coaches in Johnson City with the hopes of playing basketball for the Buccaneers. If it doesn’t work out, she plans to continue to play at the club level. I wouldn’t bet against her.
