ELLISVILLE – Jones County Junior College student-athletes were recognized on Tuesday evening during the annual Fall Athletic Banquet.
Football and soccer players, along with the JCJC cheerleaders, were honored during the event, which was held in the Banquet Hall of the C.L. Neill Student Center.
"This is a great night where we come together to recognize our student-athletes," said former JCJC Vice-President of Student Affairs Ed Smith, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. "We recognize them for their hard work, effort and commitment. It takes somebody special to be a student-athlete with all of the training and time commitment involved with their sport and then to be a student on top of that.
"Tonight is a night we honor them, but we also say 'Thank you' to them for what they do in representing the college."
JCJC President Dr. Jesse Smith praised the parents of the Bobcat student-athletes.
"I want to thank the parents who are here tonight," he said. "Number one, thank you for raising such awesome kids and, number two, thank you for entrusting them to us to let them to be a part of our program. Hopefully, they are better men and better women for it. I know they are going to go out and do great things."
Bobcat Awards were given in each sport. A Bobcat Award goes to a person who exemplifies everything a coach expects in a student-athlete, from leadership to hard work to dedication and a commitment to excellence.
Bobcat Awards – as voted on by members of each squad – were Gautier freshman Stephen Cowan in football, Presbyterian Christian School sophomore Kelsey Hannaford in women's soccer, West Jones freshman Donaldo Martinez in men' s soccer, South Jones sophomore Hanna Tolbert for female cheerleader and Stone County freshman Dalton Stanley for male cheerleader.
The Larry Goff Christian Leadership Award in football went to Taylorsville sophomore Doug Lofton. That award goes to the person who most represents the character and spirit of deceased Bobcat team chaplain Larry Goff.
All Bobcat sophomore student-athletes received Letter J Awards.
Jones County FCA Director Justin Graves delivered the invocation and spoke briefly on what FCA does on campus.
The banquet was organized by JCJC Athletic Director Katie Herrington.
CHEERLEADER
Under the guidance of coach Kayla Hankins, the cheerleaders enjoyed an excellent 2015 season.
At UCA camp over the summer at the University of Alabama, the JCJC cheerleaders placed first in fight song, second in cheer, third in chant and second overall. They were the highest ranked squad from Mississippi.
The Bobcat cheerleaders will be practicing throughout the Christmas break in preparation for the 2016 UCA Nationals next month in Orlando, Florida.
Letter J winners for this season were Dorian Felder of McComb, Lindsey Garrity of Sumrall, Tammie Holifield of West Jones, Kayla Phipps of Oak Grove, Tolbert, Briana Woods of Harrison Central, Joanna Word of Magee, Garrette Burnette of Florence, Cameron Harmon of Hancock, Austin Miller of Northeast Jones, Martin Olvera of Hancock and Slade Purvis of Northeast Jones.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The Lady Bobcats enjoyed another outstanding season on the pitch under the direction of head coach Dolores Deasley.
JCJC went 13-4, finished second in the MACJC South Division, second in the MACJC/Region 23 Tournament and advanced to postseason play for the fourth year in a row and the fifth time in the past six seasons.
A couple of highlights of the season included a 2-1, double overtime victory over Pearl River and a 2-1 victory over Cisco Junior College in Texas.
Kelly Stubbington, a freshman forward from London, England, was the state's leading scorer and finished 12^th nationally. Stubbington had 25 goals, six assists and 56 points.
Stubbington was recognized for being named an NJCAA Division I third-team All-American.
For team awards, Stubbington was named the Top Offensive Player, Florence sophomore Abby Taylor was the Top Defensive Player and the Overall Most Valuable Player was South Jones sophomore Ashtyn Rowell.
Being named All-MACJC were Stone County sophomore Traci Monroe, Rowell and Taylor.
Stubbington and South Jones sophomore Dallas McKinnon were selected to the All-Region 23 team.
Participating in the MACJC All-Star game were McKinnon, Rowell and Taylor.
At various times during the season, Stubbington, Florence sophomore Lindy Tabor and Monroe were named MACJC Offensive Players of the Week and Oak Grove freshman Holly Pike was named Goalkeeper of the Week three times.
Receiving Letter J Awards were Blythe Griffin of Sacred Heart, Hannaford, Alex Kowalski of Our Lady Academy, McKinnon, Monroe, Rowell, Ali Sullivan of Florence, Tabor, Taylor and manager Charlotte Lear.
MEN'S SOCCER
The Bobcats finished third in the MACJC South Division and qualified for postseason play for the fourth straight season. They ended the year with a 7-7-1 record.
For team awards, Dung Vu of Mobile Davidson (Alabama) was named Top Offensive Player, Luke Sims of Florence was named Top Defensive Player and Nick Canner of Oak Grove was selected as Most Valuable Player.
Canner and Sims were named All-MACJC.
Canner, Vu and Moses Muhubao of Mobile Murphy (Alabama) played in the MACJC All-Star Game.
During the season, Northeast Jones freshman Braxton Taylor was named MACJC Goalkeeper of the Week after playing entire 97 minutes as JCJC beat East Central 1-0 in overtime. He was credited with eight saves in the shutout.
Letter J Award winners were Canner, Austin Herrington of West Jones, Jake Holland of Florence, Saul Moreno of West Jones, Muhubao, Sims, Vu, Pierce Weatherly of Gulfport and manager Jacob Billingsley.
FOOTBALL
The Bobcats played one of the toughest schedules in the state, dropping a decision to eventual champion Northwest Mississippi and a game to defending national champion East Mississippi.
But JCJC did manage its fifth straight victory over Pearl River. The Bobcats also defeated Southwest Mississippi, clinching the game when Al'Dreecous Wilson of Opelika, Alabama, returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the final minutes.
JCJC posted a 2-7 record on the year.
For team awards, the Offensive Most Valuable Player was wide receiver Carlos Burse of Alpharetta, Georgia, the Defensive Most Valuable Player was linebacker Ty Hill of Brookhaven and the Special Teams Most Valuable Player was punter Patrick Ponder of Bay St. Louis.
Hill was named South Division Most Valuable Defensive Back, first-team All-MACJC and All-Region 23.
Ponder was named to the All-MACJC first-team and All-Region 23. Tallahassee, Florida, freshman defensive end Markel Winters was named All-MACJC first-team. Burse was named All-MACJC second-team and Wilson was All-MACJC Honorable Mention.
Ponder ended the season leading the state and the nation in punting. He averaged 43.1 yards per punt, including a season's best 82-yard kick vs. East Central.
Hill also enjoyed a stellar campaign. He led the MACJC and finished 19^th nationally in total tackles with 96 stops – 10.7 tackles per game.
During the season, cornerback Jaylon Lane of Nacogdoches, Texas, defensive back Eric Barnes of Seminary, Burse, Ponder and Winters were named MACJC Players of the Week. Ponder received the honor twice.
On a national level, Barnes, Winters and Ponder were also named NJCAA Players of the Week at some point.
In the MACJC All-Star Game, quarterback Kelvin Bourrage of Kemper County completed 7-of-11 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns to help the South to a 21-10 win over the North.
Other All-Star game participants included offensive linemen Toriaun Samuels of Hazlehurst and Lofton, wide receiver/running back Tevin Moore of Stringer, defensive tackle Johnkil Skipper of Hazlehurst, Hill and cornerback Nick Shields of Louisville.
Letter J Award winners were Arie Anderson of Millbrook, Alabama, Jamal Blackwell of Mize, Bourrage, John Brown of North Forrest, Burse, Drew Edgar of Madison Central, Daveon Greene of Picayune, Devin Elliot of Okolona, Reginal Hamilton of Quitman, Jahmaad Harrell of McComb, Hill, Lofton, Denver Magee of North Forrest, Thad Miller of Gulfport, Moore, Ponder, Samuels, Shields, Skipper, Javarious Tanner of Hazlehurst and Wilson.
Managers receiving Letter J Awards were Andrew Backstrom of Richton, Parker Dykes III of Cane Bay, South Carolina, Adam McKenzie of Collins, Kris McPhail of Sumrall, Brian Riley of Oak Grove, Devin Pinkerton of Taylorsville, Joshua Stamps of West Jones, Reece Stringer of Stringer, Dylan Sumrall of Sumrall and Devyn Stringer of Stringer.