SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Success, not maintenance.

That was the mindset brewing inside USC Upstate senior Rachel Davis as an underclassman in the Spartans’ track and field program. Her early years were about finding her footing — but the last two seasons? That’s when everything clicked. And in a way, she is just getting started.

The Charleston, South Carolina native is wrapping up a standout career with the Spartans, compiling eight first-place finishes across the weight throw and shot put. Her latest win came just last week at the Asheville Bulldog Invitational, where she topped the podium in the shot put with a heave of 13.66 meters.

But Rachel’s rise didn’t happen overnight.

“In the beginning, I was just happy to be on the team,” Davis said. “But I’m competitive. I wanted to have success.”

It took two seasons before she cracked the top of the leaderboard. Her breakout came during the 2023 indoor season, when she earned her first career victory at the COROS Collegiate Challenge, tossing the weight 16.25 meters to win gold. Since then, she’s never looked back — earning back-to-back conference titles in the weight throw and adding podium finishes in the discus and hammer throw along the way.

Her transformation has been about more than just form and strength — it’s also been deeply personal.

“I started to put God first in everything I do, even in sports,” Davis said. “My outlook changed on everything. It’s not about me. That helped me break bad habits and improve my technique.”

She also credits her coaching staff and the support of her teammates for fueling her development.

“Having a coaching staff with that knowledge bank has helped tremendously,” she said. “And I roomed with some of my teammates — we’re all just engulfed in track and field. That made the transition from high school to college so much easier.”

Her growth hasn’t gone unnoticed by those around her. Head Coach Carson Blackwelder sees Davis as a shining example of what it means to trust the process.

“Rachel is exactly what we want our program to be,” Blackwelder said. “Someone who comes in and is devoted to getting better. She developed as an athlete and person. Rachel’s growth has been amazing and something we aspire for all our athletes to achieve.”

Davis' competitive fire runs in the family. Her sister played college basketball at Limestone, while her two brothers competed in track and field at Charleston Southern and a university in Texas. The sibling rivalry? All love, but no shortage of motivation.

“My family is everything,” she said. “The competition between us is healthy, and they understand the highs and lows that come with being an athlete. They’ve always helped me keep the right perspective.”

With graduation coming up on May 8, Davis is reflecting on the memories that matter most.

“Just being a student — and not just a student, but one competing in athletics — is something I’ll never forget,” she said. “Winning with your teammates is a feeling that can’t really be explained. And doing it surrounded by people who support you makes it even better.”

Even with her athletic career winding down, Davis isn’t slowing down. She’s focused on finishing the outdoor season strong, then turning her attention to a future in business — starting with a career in human resources and eventually opening her own bridal shop.

“I developed a love for the TV show Say Yes to the Dress,” she laughed. “I just remember thinking, ‘I love this so much.’ So I started sketching wedding dresses and formal wear.”

Her dream? To create a space where women of color feel celebrated and supported.

“I know what I want it to look like — a safe, positive environment where people feel seen. That’s the goal.”

From discus rings to diamond rings, Rachel Davis is proving that success comes in many forms — and always starts with saying yes to the dream.