See all posts in the Kirk’s Captain Corner series
(Kirk’s Captain Corner is a regular feature that will allow Carver County residents to get to know the student-leaders of the various teams in our high schools. Today, we feature senior captain Mason Davis of the Chaska Football team.)
You are, without a doubt, a “Football Guy.” How did you fall in love with the sport?
I’ve been in love with the sport since I was a little kid. I fell in love with football the day my parents signed me up for flag football in kindergarten. Once I got a little older, I knew I wanted to play tackle football. I started tackle in the 2nd grade and immediately fell in love, I knew this was my sport. I became a huge fan of the game whether it was playing the game or watching it. Ever since then, football has become a huge part of my life and I don’t plan on losing that love for the game either. To me, everything about the game brings me excitement. There’s so much that goes into the sport of football, it’s a grind. I feel like that grind is what made me in love with the sport ever since I was a little kid.
You’ve played multiple positions throughout your time playing football in the Chaska program. How did you land in your current positions on both defense and offense?
I landed my spots at linebacker and tight end through hard work. When I was a sophomore, I played on the offensive side of the ball at center. I was always a good blocker from youth to freshman ball, and that’s what our offense needed that year from an underclassman. The coaches pulled me up and worked me at the center position. That year I started every game for our varsity team at center. After the season ended, I wanted to play linebacker, the position I always played growing up. But I had to put in work to earn that position. My sophomore year, I was too big and slow to play linebacker, I was 6’0”, 230 lbs and slow. I made it my goal to become the starting linebacker, so I started lifting and training hard. The work paid off when it came to my junior season. I was then 6’1”, 210 lb, and faster. I worked hard every day to earn that spot and it paid off. I started every game last year at inside linebacker and even played offense in some games as a wing/fullback. This year, I’m still playing Inside backer on defense but offensively I’m in a new spot. I’ve been going in at tight end on offense. I’ve had past experiences blocking on varsity so the coaches knew this would be a good spot for me. It’s a fun position to play and learn as the season goes on. I’m excited to keep working in that spot. Overall, I’ve come a long way and it was all because of hard work. You don’t get things handed to you, you must earn it. I landed my spot at linebacker and tight end because of hard work, that’s why I’m in the positions I am in today.
You’ve had a good start to the season, including a win over a really strong Rochester Mayo team — how will these wins get you ready for the games in your district, arguably the toughest in Minnesota Class AAAAA?
Playing tough teams will help you beat other tough teams. It’s great we played a school like Rochester Mayo who had many great athletes. It gives us great competition and only makes us better. For example, this past week we played Hastings, a fast and aggressive team that wanted the win. It was a good game with great competition. I think it’s great we play tough teams before our section games. We have, in my personal opinion, the best section in 5A and only one of those teams will make it to state. So, it’s important to me that we play good teams that prepare us to win our hard section games. We play four section games in a row, so I think that these wins will help better us with confidence and competition.
What has been your favorite memory of playing with the Hawks football program?
To me the best memories are the wins. Nothing beats the feeling of a win. I love celebrating with the team, especially after big wins. It’s awesome to win special games like Mayo, a game that goes down to the wire. After win,s we always make sure to get food to celebrate at Willy McCoys. Nothing beats food after a win, especially after those intense games. What also makes winning a favorite memory is celebrating the day after in the weight room. We dance and celebrate; nothing beats that feeling of having fun with your friends. Since my sophomore year, wins have been my favorite part of being on the team.
One of your goals is to play at the next level. How is the recruiting process going? What are you looking for in a program and a school?
The recruitment process has been good. I’ve been contacted by high D2 schools and D1 FCS schools. During the offseason, I visited Bemidji State and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), two schools I’m very interested in. I visited these schools because I was interested in not only their football programs, but also the campuses. Both of these schools had great campuses with great football programs. Two schools with a great coaching staff and great history of being good football teams. After this season, I look forward to being contacted by some more coaches to see if I can find a home where I enjoy the football program and the school.
Which of your teammates makes you laugh the hardest?
To me the teammate that makes me laugh the hardest is Grady Mathiasen. Grady’s a funny guy with a great sense of humor. He’s always in the joking mood no matter what kind of day it is. He’s a good teammate to have that lifts your spirits on tiring or rough practices. You’ll never catch Grady in a bad mood either, he is always cracking up guys. Grady also has a very energetic and creative personality that makes him the funny guy he is.
What does it mean to you to be a team captain?
To me being a team captain isn’t about the title. A captain is a leader of the team. A captain is someone who holds people accountable, leads and sets a good example of what a Chaska Hawks football player should be. That means a lot to me and that’s what I work to do every day to set an example for the team. So, to me, being a captain isn’t about the name, it’s about the important responsibilities that help a football team be great on and off the field.
The Hawks Football team hosts Mankato East as part of Chaska’s Homecoming festivities this Friday, Sept. 20, at Chaska High School.
