Daniels named top WND Male Athlete

Pam Pack’s Daniels voted WDN 2008 Male Athlete of the Year

By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Travis Daniels ran his way to stardom during his senior season.
The Washington Pam Pack standout ran for 2,290 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading his team to the state playoffs. For his efforts, Daniels was tabbed the WDN’s Offensive Football Player of the Year.
He didn’t slack during the spring. Instead, he ran and jumped his way to the WDN Male Track Athlete of the Year award. Daniels became the first Pam Pack track athlete in over a decade to earn some hardware. He placed fourth in the triple jump at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 3A state track and field meet.
Because of his sensational senior season, coupled with his character, Daniels was named the WDN 2008 Male Athlete of the Year.
“It meant a lot to win the track award and it meant a lot to win the football award,” Daniels said. “Now to win this, it feels good. It shows that all my hard work paid off.”
Daniels, a 5-11, 175-pound running back, still has one more prep game to play. He’ll compete in the East-West All-Star game in July.
Daniels, who ran for 5,168 yards and 57 touchdowns in his high school career, earned that honor by putting up staggering numbers during his senior season.
He started his season with a phenomenal performance at North Pitt, galloping for a career-high 330 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-13 victory.
“The first game of the season was the highlight for me,” Daniels said.
“It helped me a lot with confidence. Going into that game, we had a lot of trouble with the line in practice. I didn’t know if I would get 50 yards or 300 yards.
“Coach (Sport Sawyer) told me to just go out and get what I could. The line did great and I ran for 330 yards. That helped my confidence a lot.”
Daniels, who was named the Coastal Conference Player of the Year, ran for at least 113 yards in all 12 of Washington’s games. He also scored at least one touchdown in 11 of those contests.
He ran for over 200 yards on five occasions, including a 327-yard, three-touchdown effort in a 41-40 double-overtime loss to South Granville in the playoffs. The last carry of Daniels’ Pam Pack career went for a touchdown.
Daniels tried to mold his game around NFL Hall of Famer, Walter Payton, who was a star with the Chicago Bears.
“My role model was Walter Payton,” Daniels said. “I liked how he ran the ball hard every time.”
Sawyer said he was proud of his star running back.
“I think (the award) is well deserving,” Sawyer said. “He’s a hard worker and a great young man. He was able to show his talents on the football field and on the track. This is a great achievement for him.
“What makes him special is his hard work. He’s very humble and he really pushes himself to get better every day.”
Daniels, who will continue his football career at UNC-Pembroke next year, said he is determined to be the best he can be at all times.
He attributed hard work and his strength in helping lead to his success.
“I lift weights a lot,” Daniels said. “Being smaller, I try to get my body right to take the hits.”
Daniels is looking for continued success with the Pembroke Braves.
“I just have to continue to work hard,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, they’ll be pleased with what I do. I hope to start as a freshman. I’m going to try to get over 1,000 yards.”
Daniels added some speed and endurance to his game thanks to a strong track season. Daniels, who was named the Male Track Athlete of the Year two years in a row, finished his prep track career by placing fourth at state in the triple jump. He earned the medal after soaring 45 feet, 9 inches.
Daniels, who also qualified to state in the long jump and 800-meter relay team, was the leading point-scorer for Washington throughout the year.
“It’s very appropriate Travis won the (Male Athlete of the Year) award,” said Jon Blank, the Pam Pack head track coach and an assistant football coach.
“He’s the best athlete in the area. He’s put up numbers that speak for themselves. He’s got great character and he’s a great leader.”
While Daniels was proud of his individual achievements, he was more excited about the team’s accomplishments this year.
“At the conference meet, we came in second place,” Daniels said. “That meant a lot. We finished fourth or fifth last year.”
Daniels credited Sawyer and Blank for helping him achieve his goals.
“They both pushed me to my max,” Daniels said. “They never accepted anything less. They wanted me to try my best every time, even if I was tired.
“They always encouraged me to do my best.”
The Pam Pack star also praised his parents, Joy Daniels and Tim Randolph, for their support.
“My dad supported me a lot over the years,” Daniels said. “He always got me all of the equipment I needed and was always there for me. My mom supported me all the time as well.”
As Daniels walks away from Washington and heads off to college, he hopes Pam Pack fans and teammates will remember him fondly.
“I hope they remember me for the hard work I put in, and the effort I put in,” Daniels said. “I’ll miss Washington. I’ll miss playing in front of the big crowds.”
Those big crowds will obviously miss Daniels as well.