Getting To Know Track & Field’s Gavin Beverage

By Will Bennett

Bulldog senior thrower Gavin Beverage left his hometown of Ona, W.V., in 2019 prior to the pandemic to begin his collegiate career at UC-Riverside in California.  When the world came to an abrupt halt in the spring of 2020 because of the COVID-19 breakout, Beverage reassessed his plan and transferred to Georgia to attend UGA and train under throws coach Don Babbitt.

Here is a look at who Gavin Beverage is . . .

Q: How was growing up in West Virginia?
A: It was an awesome experience with lots of fishing.  Not a whole lot to do, mainly just hanging out with friends at the mall.  My time was mainly spent with lots of fishing with friends.

Q: What was your funniest childhood story?
A: Hanging in the woods with my friend on the Mud River.  I was walking up a hill and he cut me off, and then caused me to trip down the hill into the water.  This caused all my fishing stuff do get wet and left me soaked.

Q: How was the recruiting process from high school?
A: It was a weird experience due to the fact that I wasn't really good up until my senior year.  It wasn't until the outdoor season, with the help of Coach Angel de Le Santos, my senior year.  He helped a lot with contacting coaches and things of that nature in order to navigate the recruiting process.  A couple schools ended up reaching out, UC Riverside in California and Illinois State.  I ended up visiting UC Riverside and they sent the offer which I accepted.

Q: How was your UC Riverside experience?
A: California wasn't really my cup of tea, but I was with my best friend out there, John Ober.  He helped me out a lot and made the change super easy.

Q: What was the switch to Georgia like and what influenced that decision?
A: First was the coach, Don Babbitt, who is the best throwing coach in the world.  It is kind of a no brainer if you want to be better at throwing, you should come here.  It made the decision super easy.  It's been a great experience here and I wouldn't change it.

Q: Who was your mentor growing up and why did you choose throwing?
A: He really wasn't my mentor for throwing but my father (Timothy Beverage) was a huge mentor. I really try to model my life like he has lived his.  He works hard and is a dedicated family man.  I took those aspects from him.  My brother actually started throwing first and I followed my brother, then I ended up actually being really good.  I used my father's dedication towards my sports like he used in life.

Q: What was the switch like going from your hometown, to California, to Athens?
A: Going to California was definitely a culture shock.  Totally different atmosphere but turned out to not be that bad.   I had my best friend John and we acclimated pretty well.  Being an athlete, everything was kind of secluded and I didn't have to go out.  I never went to L.A. once because I couldn't stand the thought of all those people.  I came to Athens and the way people acted and the decision making was quite similar to West Virginia.  Coming here was definitely a lot similar to what I am used to.  Overall, it was definitely a very smooth transition to here because of the similarity to my hometown.

Q: What's it like going from high school to college athletics?
A: I didn't really have a throws coach until senior year in high school so everything was on my own.  Getting the coach my senior year really put things into perspective for me.  Then going to college, I had things at certain times and you have to be there at that time.  You have to be there on time or you get in trouble and don't perform well.  A lot more rides on your college athletics compared to high school when I was working for a scholarship.  Then you get to college, and you have to maintain this level or there are going to be consequences.

Q: How has your Division I experience been outside of sports?
A: It's been pretty nice.  I have made lots of friends and they have helped make my experience outside my sport lots of fun.  I think it's just the people that have met along the way that have made it awesome.  My girlfriend (Madison Kerpics) is on the softball team, meeting her was great.  The people that I have met along the way have truly made the journey.  There have been memories that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Q: What has been your best college moment so far?
A: That's a difficult question, there has been a lot of good times.  Outside of sports it was definitely good to see Georgia win the National Championship in football.  Especially the first one seeing Athens erupt was one of the coolest things.  That made the whole atmosphere in Athens electric.  In sports, my freshman year we had a good meet at Florida State and it was just really fun to compete.  It has been a rough couple of years competing and I keep trying to reach that feeling again.  That feeling was awesome because it just made the whole thing just so much more fun.

Q: What's it like having Coach Babbitt as your coach?
A: It's kind of surreal, honestly, knowing who he is and what he has done for throwing.  Just knowing who he has produced.  He has produced multiple world competitors.  Hearing all these guys you strive to be like and knowing you are being coached by him, it's awesome but then you get here, you realize he is just a normal guy.  We have a great relationship and we love talking about fishing.  We also both love food and it is just a great time with coach Babbitt.

Q: What your favorite meet location that you have been to and vacation place that you have been to?
A: My favorite place that I went to with the team is probably University of Texas for the Texas Relays.  It's just an awesome city and great place with good food.  My favorite vacation spot is probably anywhere that I can go fishing, honestly.  I would like to go to Florida for the fishing or Brazil for the native peacock bass.  Australia would also be cool for the Barramundi and Murray Cod.  If I was going to go for just vacation, I would probably go to Hawaii to just chill on the beach.

Q: If you didn't compete in track what would you play?
A: Probably football because of the money opportunities that there are.

Q: What is your favorite part about fishing and what is your best story?
A: The best part about fishing is feeling the bite and the anticipation.  Coach Babbitt has said that the tug is what keeps you coming back and that is the truth.  Also when you feel the fish on the end of the line, it's the best part. Knowing that any second you can catch a huge fish.  One of my favorite stories is fishing with Coach Babbitt at one of his friend's farms. His friend had been managing and stocking it for a bit.  I was over there with Coach and Ty Kunzman (one of my best friends now).  Me and Ty were fishing on the other side of the pond and Coach thought he got stuck.  Then he realized the nag was moving and a huge largemouth jumped out the water and we all freaked out.  Me and Ty ran over to the other side to help him out.  He had a tiny fishing pole with 6 lb. line and I thought he had no chance.  We got over there, and he pulled it up and it was an 8 lb. 1 oz bass.  We were all super exited and we all were taking pictures and super happy.  One of the biggest ones that I have seen in person.

Q: If you could tell a high school athlete one thing what would it be?
A: I would say keep working and stay level-headed.  Also don't be afraid to fail because everything has its ups and downs.  In your sport that you do you will never be 100 percent all the time.  Things happen.  Whether it happens outside or inside the sport, things will happen.  School, life and work things will get in the way.  Just try to keep a steady head and keep grinding through all the ups and downs.  Just know that it is all worth it for the end goal.

Q: What's your plan after college?
A: I should graduate my undergrad next fall and I plan to get a Master's in Forest Resources and Forest Business.  I don't quite know where I want to go with that yet.  Whether it's cruising timber or something along those lines.  Right now, my degree is Fisheries and Wildlife although I am switching into the Forestry world.  There is a lot of money in timber and that will be a two-year program.

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