The Tohopekaliga High School community was rocked Monday with the news that an alumna was killed in a traffic crash in North Florida Sunday afternoon.
Stephanie Davis, 18, a freshman for the Jacksonville University Dolphins and a three-year member of the Tigers girls soccer program, was killed when the vehicle she was riding in with teammates was involved in a rollover crash on U.S. Highway 90 East in Baker County, near Lake City west of Jacksonville. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, at 3:40 p.m. the vehicle went off the road, the driver over-corrected and the vehicle flipped, rolled over and landed on the passenger
The group had gone tubing as a team outing and was returning to the campus.
In all, seven players were injured. Three were taken to hospitals, and Davis passed away from her injuries at Lake City Medical Center.
In statements, JU Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert said the school was “extraordinarily saddened” to hear the news, and women’s soccer Coach John Constable said Davis shined a light on the Dolphins program in playing just one year.
“Stephanie’s journey at JU had only just begun, but she will be dearly missed by her family, teammates, classmates and everyone else who had the pleasure of knowing her on campus,” Ricker-Gilbert said. “We extend our deepest condolences to Stephanie’s family, and ask that you keep them, and the team, in your thoughts and prayers.”
“Stephanie was a fantastic girl, well-mannered, hardworking and fun to be around. She just seemed to enjoy life and being a part of our soccer program,” Constable said. “She was always smiling with her big bright smile. Everyone connected with our women’s soccer program will miss her greatly.”
In her senior season last year at Tohopekaliga, Davis and the Tigers overcame the challenges of playing in the pandemic to post their best season in school history at 9-6-3 and a win in the District 6A-9 tournament. As a team captain, Davis scored seven goals, had four assists, and earned her second All-OBC Conference nomination after scoring 12 goals as a junior and 21 in her three-year career. Her signing with Jacksonville was THS’ first Division I soccer signing, boys or girls.
Tohopekaliga Athletic Director Lonnie Flores said he was fortunate to be around Davis the last two years.
“This is a gut punch because Stephanie was a true student-athlete in every sense of the word,” he said. “She was a team leader, the first in, the last out, lifting up all her teammates. She’s got a great family, it was a heck of a college signing for us to do last year.”
THS girls soccer Coach Kris Ford said she’s “still in shock” about Davis’ story ending so suddenly and quickly.
“Stephanie was a dynamite player for us, with positive energy,” she said. “She had an A-plus attitude in a frustrating year (with COVID) to go with her skills. It’s no coincidence the program had its best season in her senior year. And she left behind a team that really looked up to her.”
Davis, a forward, played in 11 games in her freshman JU season, starting two, and played the entire 90 minutes against South Carolina State on Aug. 31.
Services have been scheduled for Saturday in Orlando. Viewing begins at 10 a.m. and a service is at 11 a.m. at The Kingdom Church (800 N. Pine Hills Road). Pax-Villa Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
As a form of support, the Tigers’ soccer family is taking donations to provide meals for the family. Donations are being accepted at www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/O7K2A3J.
