Anthony Bowens: Gators bring home second championship
Named after creatures of fierce strength and tenacity, the eight-year-old and up (8U) category of Lexington Gators brought home a second Central Carolina Youth Athletic League Championship (CCYALC) last Saturday.
Team members include:
Team members included: Eli Craven, Jyree Craven, Noah Lanier, King Sharpe, Promise Quick, Jace Jones, Kylyn Challenger, Keegan Bailey, Geo Dulin, Zion Shepard, Dustin Archie (DJ), Deontae Miles (DT), Jaleen Nelson, Carter Anthony, Jaden Anderson Santiago, Khalir Banks and Cash Swann.
For father, team founder and former Lexington Senior High quarterback Anthony Bowens (Jessie), this is only the beginning for the youth of Davidson County. He credits coaches and parents’ commitment for leading the way through what he describes as a somewhat murky establishment embrace in establishing the Gators in 2018. “The community has taken us in. We were the people outside looking in.”
Bowens explained the concept began when he was approached by the league, which he describes as an AAU opportunity for youth to play teams across the state. “We were just trying to make a brighter future for the kids. Every city had something similar. They [are] building stadiums for teams.” Bowens and wife Ashely’s son Julius was eleven years old when they took the plunge into forming teams.
Jessie and Ashley celebrated their eleven-year anniversary on the field last weekend. “She’s the First Lady of this thing. It takes a lot. Me, my wife and Rayshann Cotton had to get everything we needed to get started. You can imagine trying to buy a hundred helmets and shoulder pads!” The Gators are an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “We had to do our own. The city is stepping up but we paid for all of our home games. A lot of people… that helped look out for us that we didn’t have in the beginning. We done came a long way.”
Bowens and wife Ashely celebrate the victory and their 11-year anniversary.
With four teams and 80 to 100 youth football players and cheerleaders, Bowens noted that it’s about more than the sport. “I learned a lot playing football,” the current barbershop owner said. “You learn life lessons about things and how to work with others. It will teach you how to become a man and how to take on responsibility. It’s a lot of life lessons on the field.”
Bowens names other team coaches as part of the victory.
6U
Eric Craven
Antonio Henderson
Charles Fowler
Keldon Hargrave
Shawn Henderson
Team Mom Tracey Huntley
8U
Anthony Bowens AKA Jessie
Nick Friday
Eric Henderson
Kenneth Bailey
Richard Sharpe
Al Challenger
Team Mom Stacy Craven
10U
Rashard Clodfelter
Jeremy Brown
Austin Summers
Josh Gilmore
Brian Henderson
Team Mom Brittany Bagwell
12U
Corey Holt
Clifton Craven
Codie Boger
Knari Bailey
Team Mom Shanda Melton
When asked about Jacket Pride, Bowen said, “Heck yeah, but you don’t have to live in Lexington to play for the Gators. We have had people who played for Central, North, Oak Grove and Thomasville.”
To the community, know one of their biggest challenges is fundraising for travel and uniforms. “Some parents are less fortunate. It’s like a family thing. Sometime you have to work together to get things done,” Bowens said in describing the spirit of the Gators. “I was wanting to see our kids on a broader stage. Some of these kids [have] never seen outside of Lexington. I wanted to give them another opportunity. Better competition or bigger competition.”
Bowens knows the state is set, and community expectations are high. With every victory, the Gators are taking a gargantuan bite out of the competition.
