MCC Soccer “Eagle Day” set for August 16th

Meridian Community College fans will have an opportunity to meet the 2008 MCC men’s and women’s soccer teams Saturday, August 16th at the newly named C.D. Smith Soccer Field.

A tailgate style festival is slated for the event starting at 2:00 p.m. BBQ lunch, door prizes, t-shirts, caps, and many more prizes will also be available.

Fans will also get their first glimpse of the MCC soccer teams when the Eagles and Lady Eagles face off against Jones County Junior College in a preseason contest at 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact soccer coach, Alex George (601) 484-8697.

MCC' golfer, Konieczny signs on with Cameron University

Marietta, GA native and Meridian Community College golfing standout Joseph Konieczny committed to play for Cameron University in Oklahoma.

Konieczny is the third MCC golfer this season to commit to a four year university. Joshua Ivy and Jarrod Lemaster committed to Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina and the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky respectively earlier in the year. Nineteen former Eagle golfers have now gone on to play collegiate golf at the next level since the mid-1990’s.

During his MCC career, Konieczny missed only one start for MCC coach Sean Covich, earning a team-high four all tournament team honors. He was named to the MACJC First Team All State, the MCC Golf All Academic Team and was awarded the Robert Dreyfus MCC Golfer of the Year Honor.

“Joe was a transfer from Mississippi State when I found him,” said Covich.

“We were looking for him a place to play at the NCAA level and he found one. I am so proud that Joe came to MCC looking for a goal and he achieved it. His story just solidifies the fact that if you want to get noticed by four-year programs you come to Meridian.”

As an Eagle, Konieczny led the team in scoring average (74.8) and posted three rounds of even-par or better during the 2008 season.

At Cameron, he will play for Aggie head golf caoch, Jerry Hrnciar (pronounced hurn'-shire). CU, located in Lawton, OK, is a member of the NCAA’s Division II and the Lone Star Conference.

"Kicking things off..."

Meridian Community College soccer camp participant, Chap Pope of Meridian, kicks the soccer ball to get the game underway on day two of the camp. The camp concludes on Thursday at MCC’s C.D. Smith Soccer Field.

“Now thats using your head...”

Trey Nelson of Quitman learns to use his head on day one of the Meridian Community College Soccer Camp. The camp, which runs until Thursday, teaches youngsters age 4-14 the skills of the game. MCC head coach Alex George, assistant coach Mike Smith and both the Eagle and Lady Eagle soccer teams conduct the drills.

Ten MCC Athletes Named NJCAA Academic All America

The National Junior College Athletic Association announced their 2007-08 Academic All-America team and ten Meridian Community College student-athletes made the list.

From men’s tennis, Justin Newman, Blake Sherman and Nic Zabrodiec; from golf, Joshua Ivy and Bryant Self; from softball, Gabrielle Morgan and Whitney Drachenberg; from women’s soccer Jasmine Harris, from women’s soccer and women’s tennis, Molly Moon; and from baseball Jason Coats.

Academic All-America must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale for 45 semester hours or 60 quarter hours. Distinguished Academic All-America must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 or better on a 4.0 scale for 45 semester hours or 60 quarter hours.

Coats, Drachenberg, Morgan, Self, Sherman, and Zabrodiec received Distinguished Academic All-American status; while Harris, Ivy, Moon, and Newman received Academic All-American.

The list of NJCAA Academic All-Americans was released to each college with certificates for the award winners. The Academic All-America team members are also listed in the JUCO Review, the official publication of the NJCAA.

This academic year marks the third consecutive year that MCC has had four or more of its athletes named Academic All America.

Former MCC players reunite on professional baseball team

Two former Meridian Community College baseball players were among the Major League Baseball Draft picks this 2008 season. The Washington Nationals selected infielfer Tyler Moore in the 16th round out of Mississippi State and outfielder Michael Guerrero in the 21st round out of the University of Mississippi.

Guerrero and Moore were last teammates in 2007 when they played for MCC and head coach Chris Rose. The two former Eagles are now teammates again with the Class-A Vermont Lake Monsters as part of the Nationals farm system.

While at MCC both were named NJCAA All Americans with Moore being named the 2007 NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year. His sophomore season, Moore batted .472 with 19 homeruns, 56 RBI and a .851 slugging percentage, he also led the team in games played, at bats, hits, homeruns, RBI, batting average, slugging percentage, and on base percentage. Guerrero batted .375 with 13 homeruns and 45 RBI.

Following their sophomore seasons for MCC, the two were picked up by Southeastern Conference baseball powers, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Moore became the starting first baseman for the Bulldogs while Guerrero became a long ball hitting machine for the Rebels.

Guerrero came alive during the 2008 postseason and improved his pro stock. After missing 15 games during SEC play with a stress fracture in his foot, Guerrero returned in the final weeks of the regular season, and left for the SEC Tournament with only four home runs. The Nesbit, Miss., native then ended the season as one of the hottest players as he belted out seven home runs in the final nine games of the season and earned All-Tournament team honors at the SEC Tournament where he hit five home runs in five games, including a two-run walk-off against Kentucky to propel the Rebels into the semi-finals.

Moore displayed strong defense and a constant hitting threat at the plate for Coach Ron Polk’s last season at MSU. He was one of two 56-game starters for the Bulldogs in 2008 and he hit .299 at the plate. The Brandon, Miss., native also led State with 14 homeruns and 46 RBI.

Now, together again in Burlington, Vermont, the two former MCC Eagles look to make an impact in professional baseball like so many former Eagles have, including this years MLB All Star starting pitcher, Cliff Lee, of the Cleveland Indians.

MCC's Tyler Koelling inks with USM

from school reports

HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss head coach Corky Palmer Monday announced the addition of junior college All-American outfielder Tyler Koelling to the 2009 Southern Miss baseball signing class.

Koellling is an outfielder who will transfer to the Golden Eagles as a rising sophomore from Meridian Community College —giving him three years of eligibility remaining in his collegiate career.

“Tyler is another good athlete in this 2009 signing class,” Palmer said. “He has a chance to really contribute in his first year for us next season. He has a lot of tools including the ability to hit for average and power, a good arm and good speed.”

As a freshman at MCC last season, Koelling earned All-American honors, All-State honors and All-Region honors for the Eagles and head coach Chris Rose.

On the season he hit .438 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 45 RBIs in 46 games played.

As a prep he played at Archbishop Rummel High School in Luling, La.

Koelling becomes the fifth junior college All-American the Golden Eagles have signed for the 2009 season. He joins Joey Archer (Alabama Southern), Travis Graves (Eastfield), Kyle Lindsey (Pearl River) and Taylor Walker (Northwest Mississippi) as the juco All-Americans set to play for Southern Miss next season.

Former MCC pitcher, Cliff Lee headed to All-Star Game

The Cleveland Indians are struggling in the AL Central this season, but they still put two of their players on the All Star team, Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore. The All-Star Game will be played July 15 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Lee, who played two seasons at Meridian Community College in the late 1990’s, has a chance to be the AL starting pitcher.

"I'd love a chance to start," said Lee, 11-2 with a 2.43 ERA.

Charles Nagy was the most recent Indians pitcher to start an All-Star Game. He did it in 1996 in Pittsburgh after the Indians went to the World Series in 1995.

Lee will receive a $100,000 bonus for making the club.

"I think they're both deserving," said manager Eric Wedge. "I think Cliff has to be at least considered for the start. Grady is a 20-20 guy in the first half, leading the league in home runs, he's scored a great deal of runs for us. He's doing a great job under some tough circumstances."

Lee has had a bounce-back season. Last year he was 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA and spent August at Class AAA Buffalo, N.Y. He didn't make the Indians' postseason roster and came close to being traded to Arizona over the winter.

This spring he had to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation with Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers. At one point in spring training, the Indians discussed having Lee open the season at Buffalo.

Now he could be the No. 1 starter on the staff with C.C. Sabathia on the verge of being traded, and Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook on the disabled list.

"Making the All-Star team is icing on the cake," said Lee. "I've been pretty fortunate this year. Things have gone my way."

Lee and Sizemore were selected by the players' vote. Lee led the five starters selected by the players with 327 votes. J.D. Drew (237), Sizemore (271) and Carlos Quentin (260) were the three outfielders voted onto the club by their peers.

MCC’s McPhail named to the ITA Board

Meridian Community College tennis coach, Wanda McPhail has been named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Board of Directors. The ITA is the governing body of collegiate tennis.

The ITA Board of Directors is comprised of the ITA Executive Director and coaches representing men’s and women’s tennis from all three NCAA Divisions, NAIA and Junior/Community Colleges. The ITA Board of Directors determines administrative policy for the association, and meets annually at the ITA Coaches Convention. Members can serve three renewable two-year terms, voted on by the membership.

McPhail is one of only a few Community College representatives on the ITA Board of Directors. She will serve on the Board with coaches from the University of Alabama, Arizona State University, University of Colorado, Duke University, Princeton University, and others.

McPhail, who is in her ninth year at MCC, coaches both the men's and women's teams. She has been selected the Tennis "Coach of the Year" by the Mississippi Association of Coaches in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2007 she received a national coaching award, the Herschel Stephens Award, given to a coach who has been to the national tournament five times. The recipient of this award is chosen by the men coaches in attendance at the national tournament and is given for service to the association.