Leading Rusher
a Anthony Lawrence: Bridgewater College's Division II] All-American . miles from home, Anthony did visit his mother quite often. However, his mother has never seen him play a Anthony “Ant” Lawrence grew up in the “boonies” college football game and Anthony rarely sees his dad. I near St. Brides, Virginia. There were only six houses on kind of laughed as I asked how it was, living in town his road. When he was nine years old, Anthony’s with a white family all of a sudden. Anthony also mother and father divorced. He lived with his mother up until his junior year of high school. Neallie Brooks, food, which was very different.”
Anthony’s aunt, helped him a lot with pep talks and gave Anthony a religious background. “She helped me with transportation to school and activities which were about twenty miles away.”
Anthony attended Great Bridge High School (enrollment 1500) in Chesapeake, Virginia. Besides playing football for Coach Bill Roberson, Anthony also played baseball and wrestled. As an All-Conference No one in Anthony’s family had ever attended college. The cards were stacked against him. A black kid centerfielder, he hit .389 and also won a wrestling championship on his way to finishing 7th in from a broken home living so far from school couldn’t the state. In football, Anthony helped his team win the district championship and go all the way to the semiunderestimated the willingness of Anthony’s family to finals during his junior year. However, the next year sacrifice.
Anthony Lawrence beat the oddsmaker of life even though Anthony made All-Conference and rushed with grit, determination and commitment. for 899 yards, the team had a losing record. it.
A tough, tough decision was made. For his final two Anthony maintained a solid 2.7 GPA and also found years of high school, Anthony's guardianship was given that he had another talent which he enjoyed. You see, to a school teacher. These new people in Anthony’s life Anthony got interested in art when he was young. ” A were white and provided a completely different cousin influenced me,” remembered Anthony, “He’d environment. “It was certainly more intellectual,” draw and I'd watch. Then I'd trace and finally draw.
Anthony remembered, “It helped gear me for college. Of Soon, I became good at it. In high school. I took a lot of course, that was the whole idea.” Since it was only 20 art classes. I especially liked carving and sculpting.”
LEADING RUSHER Anthony needs 1337 yards this season to become the leading rusher in the state of Virginia at any level for career yardage. With this, Anthony would also become the #2 leading rusher in Division III football. We feel that these records are well within Anthony’s reach. He is stronger and faster that ever. Anthony is a great person as well as a great player. Success has not gone to his head. Last season, Anthony accounted for 77% of our rushing offense and 54% of our total offense. His personality, character and leadership are exemplary. When something needs doing, Anthony takes care of the job. Anthony Lawrence is a winner.
Kyle Gillenwater August 1989 Assistant Football and Strength Coach 1989 UP-DATE Unfortunately, Anthony received a deep thigh bruise during the first quarter of the first game. Nonetheless, Anthony had two games where he tushed for 160 and 156 yards. The bruise is improving with each game and while Anthony will fall a little short of national and state records, he did shatter his school rushing record.
HONORS * 1st Team All-Conference (1987, 1988) * 1st team All-State (1988)
* Conference Player-of-the-Year (1988) * Honorable Mention All-America (1988) future. performance,” maintains Anthony. He varies his sets Bridgewater College, Anthony is majoring in art with an and reps and believes in a core lift approach. emphasis in commercial art. He plans to go into train like a bodybuilder if you want to be a football advertising. Anthony also maintains close to a 3.0 player,” advises Anthony. He Squats and Benches twice average and is on line to graduate. per week. His favorite auxiliary lift is the Incline Press.
“My senior year in high school was a damper,” explained Anthony, “But, I thought I’d give football Bench. I still remember it. It was the best feeling in the another try.” Anthony chose Bridgewater College world. Then, I just kept going, proving that a lot of your because of new head coach Dan Antolik. Anthony strength gains are psychological. I didn’t think it was started as a freshman but didn’t play in four games possible at first to gain weight and increase speed. Now, because of a foot injury. Since Bridgewater does not have I know different.
The secret is the combination of spring football, Anthony played baseball in his first two weights M-W-F and speed and plyometric training on years and then switched to track. Last year, he was Tuesday and Thursday.” clocked at 10.6 in 100 meters. Anthony trains year round and prefers free weights to machines. “Free weights are better for overall Bridgewater College is located in the heart of the famed Shenandoah Valley and was the first co- ALL-AMERICA ANTHONY LAWRENCE Continued from page 71 educational liberal arts college in Virginia. It was founded in 1880 by members of the Church of the Brethren for promising youth who were sincerely interested in becoming all they could become.
Anthony has fulfilled that legacy. “Your education should come first,” Anthony sagely offered. “Get involved in athletics or some hobby and then go for it. Just remember, a goal is never too hard to accomplish. Pick a goal and then do it. Stay away from drugs. They will get you no place. I’ve always kept a positive attitude towards college. That’s what kept me going.” Anthony has not had any experience with drugs. Of course, he had opportunities but feels that you can’t mix drugs with athletics. In combatting peer pressure in high school, Anthony simply said that he couldn’t because he was an athlete. me,” Anthony said. “Most of the time, I was too busy with sports.
At Bridgewater, I’m pretty well known around here because it’s so small. Everybody knows what I’m going to say; so I’m not even asked to do drugs.” On the subject of steroids, Anthony feels they are the worst thing to hit the athletic scene. He stated, “It’s too bad people take them. It’s a cover up for self confidence. consequences. builders who take them and it’s not for me. There are just too many side effects.”
Before this season, I asked Anthony what he wanted Plyometrics have helped Anthony excel to accomplish. He responded, “I want my team to do well. All of us seniors came into a brand new program as freshmen with Coach Antolik. championship and hopefully we'll get a chance for postHt Wt.
Lawrence. A firm foundation has been set into place.
Anthony sees a bright future. He would like his own advertising company and to have a healthy, drug-free life with a nice home shared by his fiancee Pamela Young. He would also like to be in a position to help his mother out even though wealth is not a big factor in his Yr.
Att.
Yds.
Rec.
Yds. season games. Individually, I’m going to work extra Tds. | Ret. hard to do well game by game and get those records.
I’ve got a lot of confidence.” An Upper Limit life can be projected for Anthony ultimate plans. Anthony would like a shot at profootball but when that option is played out I’m sure Tds.
We are proud of Anthony and thank him for being a fine example to all. We thank his dedicated coach, Kyle Gillenwater for making this article possible and wish the Anthony will have no worries.
Bridgewater Eagles much success.
From BFS Magazine — November/December 1989. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
