Trevor Davis

If you think your life is a bit hectic, try spending a day in Trevor Davis’ shoes, high-tops or cleats.

Davis, a 2017 graduate of Gibault Catholic High School, is a three-sport student-athlete at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville.

A standout in basketball, baseball and soccer at Gibault, Davis initially signed on to play just baseball and hoops at SWIC.

He successfully completed his freshman year at SWIC as a two-sport athlete this past summer, only to receive a request from a former Gibault soccer teammate.

Dalton Scace, a fellow Gibault grad who plays on the SWIC soccer squad, told Davis in August that they needed a goalkeeper for the upcoming season.

After some consideration and communication with the junior college’s baseball and basketball coaches, Davis decided to give it a shot.

Davis went 14-6-1 as a goalie his senior year at Gibault, helping the soccer team place third at state in 2016.

“It worked out pretty perfectly, honestly,” Davis said of the three-sport effort. “I knew I could do it, because I did it in high school.”

This fall, Davis returned to the sport following a year layoff to go 2-7-1 with 66 saves and more than 1,000 minutes logged in net for a SWIC soccer squad that went 6-13-1.

In addition to Scace and Davis, Gibault grad Aaron Grohmann is also a member of the team.

Last spring, Davis went 1-1 on the mound in 10 pitching appearances, including one start, over 16.1 innings with the SWIC baseball team.

The 2019 baseball season is currently underway – just as Davis finishes his sophomore basketball campaign at the junior college.

In hoops, Davis has played in all 28 games for the Blue Storm (17-11) averaging nearly four points per game. He has started two games so far this season.

At Gibault, Davis finished his career fifth all-time in scoring (1,510 points) and fourth all-time in rebounding (879).

“It’s the first I’ve seen here in all my years,” SWIC athletic director Mike Juenger said of Davis’ three-sport accomplishment. “He’s a great kid from a great family. Trevor is someone you want as part of your athletic program.”

Juenger, who also coaches at the college, said he has been with SWIC for 27 years. He’s a former two-sport college athlete, having played baseball and basketball.

“We could use more athletes that play multiple sports here at SWIC,” Juenger said.

Davis said the beginning of 2019 has been busy between balancing his studies, basketball and baseball. Soccer season wasn’t as difficult, because there was less overlapping with other sports.

“You have to put in a lot of time and effort to play three sports and keep up your grades,” Juenger said.

Davis praised Gibault coaches Matt Reeb (former soccer coach), Andy Skaer (baseball) and Dennis Rueter (basketball), along with Gibault teachers and administrators, for helping him believe he could pull off something like this at the next level.

“They really prepared me for using my time wisely,” he said. “Obviously, there’s not a lot of down time and it’s hard on the body.”

Gibault principal Russ Hart marveled at Davis’ accomplishment.

“Trevor is unique,” Hart said. “How many students in college are playing three sports? Rare. How many are playing three sports and are on the honor roll? Probably can be counted on one hand. That’s Trevor.”

Richard Webster, Director of Marketing and Communications for the National Junior College Athletic Association, said there was no easy way to track whether or not Davis is the only current three-sport college athlete in the country.

“I know there are plenty of dual-sport athletes but very few, if any, three-sport athletes,” Webster said.

When asked which sport he prefers of the three, Davis said it is a very slight edge to baseball over hoops.

“Probably 51 to 49 (percent),” he said. “There are just days I can’t decide.”

In the summer, Davis continues his passion for baseball by playing with the Waterloo Millers of the Mon-Clair League.

When asked about memorable events as part of his three-sport SWIC experience, Davis mostly mentions collective experiences with teammates over individual success.

He listed being a part of legendary longtime SWIC baseball coach Neil Fiala’s final season and a series of rivalry hoops clashes against Olney Central, including a double overtime regional tournament game, as highlights.

In basketball, Davis plays for another legend, that being longtime SWIC coach Jay Harrington.

“Getting to see teammates perform well, that’s always an enjoyment,” Davis said. “When one of your teammates does well, you feel good about it.”

Once his SWIC days are over, Davis hopes to contnue playing at least one sport at a four-year university. He’s undecided on whether he would try to play both baseball and basketball.

“Finding a school that wants me is important,” Davis said. “Academics is key.”

Davis hopes to major in business or finance.

Either way, Davis is thrilled to have had the opportunity to play three sports beyond high school.

“I only get to do this a short time, so I want to make it last,” Davis said. “It’s been fun. I’ll always remember it.”

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