Gritty group from MCC showed more than talent

By Fredie Carmichael / Executive Editor
The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN — When the Meridian Community College golfers gathered to accept their award as the NJCAA Div. I National Runner-up and Freshman Brandt Garon as the individual national champion in Huntsville, Ala., on Friday, I swelled with pride.

But it wasn’t really about what they had accomplished, though I was certainly impressed by how they performed. My pride was about who they were as men and one unforgettable moment.

As the players, families and friends gathered around the clubhouse of Robert Trent Jones Hampton Cove, the loudest applause from the MCC golfers didn’t come from the announcement you might have expected.

It came when defending national champions McLennan Community College (Texas) was announced as the 2010 champions.

The MCC players parted, giving the players space. Then as each McLennan player passed, they applauded loudly and offered personal congratulations and patted each player on the back.

This was an especially poignant moment considering the subdued reaction some from the McLennan team had moments earlier when Brandt was awarded the national title as the overall individual winner.

It was also special considering this MCC team — who was in second place and 9 shots back of McLennan heading into Friday’s final round — never got their chance at a comeback after the tournament was limited to 54 holes due to rain.

This MCC team entered the tournament as a certain underdog. In only their second year at the Division I level, they arrived in Huntsville as the 8th ranked team in the country. Few expected them to even be in the final pairing, much less threatening to win the entire tournament.

But this team believed. Despite having three players under 5-foot 7 inches tall — including the national champion and an All-American — they made the 7,300-yard links-style course with large, undulating greens look like it was Lakeview, Meridian’s public course.

On some holes, the McLennan players — tall and lanky — bombed their drives 50 yards past the MCC players and drained long birdie putts. It didn’t seem to phase the MCC players. They fought and kept plugging along.

But in the end, it was the way they responded by not winning that was most impressive.

And it was a reflection of their coach.

One of the first things my friend Sean Covich, head coach at MCC, told me he wanted to accomplish as coach: teaching his players respect for the game and sportsmanship.

Throughout the year, he made his team stay at the course after every tournament, despite how they fared, and congratulate the winning team and personally thank the host golf pro at each course and the host golf coach. It’s a practice that served them well in the end.

“I just want them to fight like crazy on the golf course but then show ultimate respect and honor to the game after they’re done,” Covich said. “I’m fortunate to have a great group of guys.”

And their sportsmanship wasn’t lost on the other players or coaches. MCC was the underdog most were pulling for to upset McLennan. Similar to me, most were probably relieved to see a trait so often lacking in today’s athletes. Sportsmanship, a trait natural to most of us in the past, seems to have eluded so many these days. It was for that reason that the behavior of our own, MCC golf’s best, was so refreshing.

Moments after Central Alabama Community College’s Coach Dave Jennings presented Garon with the national title, he joked to the crowd: “They just joined Division I two years ago. They’ve been a real thorn in our side … but I tell you, they are an awesome team. Sean Covich and his guys are top notch.”

One parent from Brevard Community College of Florida told me, “that is the grittiest bunch I’ve seen.”

I couldn’t agree more.

And I couldn’t have been more proud of this year’s NJCAA National Runner-Up team from MCC: Brandt Garon, freshman from Baton Rouge; Clemens Dvorak, freshman from Vienna, Austria; Cory Williamson, sophomore from Collins, Miss.; Garrett Westbrook, sophomore from Baton Rouge; and Nick Hawkes, sophomore from London, England.



Fredie Carmichael is executive editor of The Meridian Star and played for MCC’s golf team from 1998-2000 and competed in the NJCAA Div. II National Championship in College Station, Texas in 2000. E-mail him at editor@themeridianstar.com.

High Flying Eagles

MCC freshman claims national title, team finishes in 2nd

from staff reports
The Meridian Star

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —Meridian Community College freshman standout Brandt Garon etched his name in MCC golf history Friday as he became the school’s first NJCAA national champion.

After Friday’s play was suspended due to rain, Garon, from Baton Rogue, La., was two shots ahead of the field of 120 golfers at 5-under-par for the first three days (71-72-68). Meanwhile, the rainout at the 2010 NJCAA Division I National Championship left MCC just nine shots back of a team national title. The Eagles finished as the runners-up — the highest finish in Division I history for the school and tied for the best finish at second place (the 1998 team finished second in Division II).

The Eagles finished at 4-over 869 (289-291-289); McLennan Community College of Texas defended its national title by finishing at 5-under as a team for the three days.

"This was an incredible experience," said MCC head golf coach Sean Covich. "I wish we could have played (Friday) and seen if we could have won, but it was a great accomplishment for the team and for Brandt. We brought home a national champion to Meridian … and that's special."

Twenty-two teams from across the country competed in the event played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail- Hampton Cove.

Garon was named a Golf Coaches Association of America First Team All-American, a NJCAA First Team All-American and he was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team as well as given the Arnold Palmer Award for being the NJCAA medalist.

“Everyone pulled their weight this week and this honor was as much a team honor as an individual honor for me,” Garon said Friday. “It would have been very tough to come back but we would have loved to have had a chance to play (Friday) and make a run. But we’re super excited. I can’t thank God enough; I can’t thank my family enough. It’s a great honor.”

Sophomore Garrett Westbrook finished at 2-over-par (72-73-73) and was named NJCAA All-American for the second time and was named to the National Championship All-Tournament Team.

Joining Garon and Westbrook on the All-Tournament Team was Eagle sophomore Cory Williamson, who shot 3-over-par (71-71-77).

Nick Hawkes finished at 8-over, shooting 77-75-72, while Clemens Dvorak finished with 10-over, shooting 75-75-76.

MCC in 2nd place after Day One at NJCAA's

Eagles post 289, only three back of lead

For results visit: http://www.golfstatresults.com//public/leaderboards/team/static/team1943.html

(HUNTSVILLE)- Meridian Community College Eagles opened up the NJCAA Division I National Championship with an impressive 1-over par round of 289.

The Eagles had two players shoot under par on Tuesday.

Freshman Brandt Garon and sophomore Cory Williamson each shot 1-under par, 71.

Garon was named a Golf Coaches Association of American All America and to the GCAA's All Freshman team at the national championship banquet Monday night.

2009 All American, Garrett Westbrook, shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday for MCC.

Freshman Clemens Dvorak shot a 3-over par 75 while sophomore Nick Hawkes shot a 5-over 77.

"This is an excellent way to beign this tournament," said MCC head coach Sean Covich.

"A lot of golf left but to see Meridian's name near the top of the leader board in a national championship is always special."

Currently the Eagles sit just three shots off the lead after round one. Defending national champions, McLennan (TX) College leads at 286, MCC is at 289 while three teams are tied in third with 290.

Play continues tomorrow with round two action, MCC begins at 11:10 am.

For scoring results please visit: www.golfstat.com

No. 8 Eagles look to keep adding to tradition

National tourney begins Tuesday at Hampton Cove

By Dennis Watson/Special to The Star
The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN —     When one thinks about a winning tradition, it is basically based on success at a given level for an extended amount of time, and winning traditions reflect a team's legacy.

    MCC's golf teams are annually superlative, and the tradition speaks for itself. But what makes this year's — as well as last year's — Eagles so special is the way they have been able to remarkaly maintain that winning tradition despite a jump into the ranks of NJCAA Division I.

    Coach Sean Covich and the Eagles are currently ranked eighth in the latest poll and are gearing up to compete in the national championships. This is only their second year at the D1 level and being ranked eighth is impressive, but MCC will battle with the best teams in the nation in a four-day event beginning Tuesday.

    The Eagles will try and tackle Hampton Cove, a Robert Trent Jones Trail golf course in Huntsville, Ala. The course is one that the team is quite familiar with.

    "We have played there four times over the past two years, so not only am I confident in our guy's experience in big tournaments, but also in our experience at this particular course," said Covich. "I am definitely optimistic about this opportunity, considering our success last year and the fact that this year's team is, on average, 10 shots better than last year's."

    Last year, the event was held at the same course and the Eagles, who were ranked 12th at the time, came home with a sixth-place finish.

    Triumph for the Eagles lies solely on the shoulders of the top five golfers from this year's squad. Sophmore All-American Garrett Westbrook is the team captain and finished 11th overall at last year's national championships.

    "Lately our team has been performing solid, and, individually, I have been working hard," Westbrook said. "I am looking forward to this opportunity." 

    Freshman Brandt Garon has been the bright spot for the team this year. He has set or tied six MCC golf records over the course of this season, most notably the lowest scoring average at 72.6.

    "I feel like we have been getting better the last couple of tournaments, and I am definately excited about this opportunity," said Garon.

    The Eagles' opportunity is a national title to bolster their tradition and further cement their legacy.

NJCAA DI National Golf "Live Scoring"

The Meridian Community College golf team is one of twenty-six NJCAA Division I men’s golf teams set to participate in the 2010 NJCAA National Championship Tuesday-Friday, May 18-21 in Huntsville, AL.

GolfStat.com will carry the live scoring for the national tournament, here is a link to keep up with the Eagles as they compete in the schools’ 13th National tournament.

http://www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=1943

Thank you!

Eagles Move Up in National Poll

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has released the Top 15 National Poll for Men’s Division I Golf and the Meridian Community College Eagles have moved up into the Top 10.

The move up is due in large part to their strong showing at the NJCAA District IV Championship where MCC shot a 6-under par 278 in the final round to claim runner-up and defeat three of the top 15 teams in the country.

The Eagles will enter the NJCAA DI National Championship as the No. 8 team in the country. Last season MCC entered the national tournament ranked No. 12 and came away with a 6th place finish.

“This is only our second season at the DI level of NJCAA golf,” said MCC coach Sean Covich.

“To be a Top 10 team after just two seasons at the highest level says a lot about our tradition and the talent on this squad.”

“Last year we came into nationals ranked No. 12 and came away with a 6th palace finish, this year being ranked No. 8 makes us extremely optimist for a great showing.”

MCC will host their annual Alumni & Friends Scramble tomorrow at 1pm then travel to Huntsville, AL in preparation for the NJCAA DI National Championship May 18-21 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Hampton Cove (River Course).

Top 15 National Poll | May 2010
RANK COLLEGE REGION POINTS
1 McLennan Community College
5 58
2 Odessa College
5 56
3 Central Alabama Community College
22 52
4 Scottsdale Community College
1 50
5 Brevard Community College
8 39
6 Indian Hills Community College-Ottumwa
11 38
7 Midland College
5 37
8 Meridian Community College
23 29
9 New Mexico Junior College
5 28
10 Frank Phillips College
5 22
11 Hutchinson Community College
6 19
12 Cape Fear Community College
10 15
13 Dodge City Community College
6 14
14 Walters State Community College
7 10
t15 Iowa Western Community College
11 9
t15 Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
22 9

MCC men’s Tennis near top at nationals

The Meridian Community College men’s tennis team is tied for second place with Seward County Community College out of Kansas after first round action in the 2010 NJCAA Men’s Tennis National Championship in Plano, TX.

The Eagles were set to move into first place in a three-set match at No. 3 doubles. In a controversial final match of the day, which saw Gadsden State get a point and game penalty in the second set, Meridian fell behind after winning the first set 6-3. With winds gusting at forty miles an hour, Gadsden state used strong net play to end the match.

At the end of the singles draw, Meridian led the pack with 12 points but fell behind when they lost two of the three doubles' matches. At No. 1 doubles MCC’s Lucio Cangaino and Andres Cepede defeated New Mexico Military Institute. The No. 2 doubles team of Jeremy Purdum and Gabriel Nicotra from MCC fell to Seminole. All six singles players won their first rounds to advance to the next round of play which will begins today at 8:00 am.

1. Temple - 16


t2. Seward - 14


t2. Meridian - 14


t4. New Mexico Military - 12


t4. Marion Military - 12


t4. Glendale - 12


t7. ABAC - 10


t7. Johnson - 10


t9. Seminole - 8


t9. Oakton - 8


t9. Cowley - 8


t9. Hinds - 8


t13. Pima - 6


t13. Scottsdale - 6


t13. Gadsden - 6


t16. Itawamba - 4


t16. Kaskaskia - 4


t18. Waubonsee - 2


t18. Vincennes - 2


t18. Laredo - 2


t21. McHenry - 0


t21. Morraine Valley - 0


t21. Collin - 0


t21. Spartanburg Methodist - 0


t21. Tyler - 0


t21. Lewis & Clark - 0

MCC Baseball set to host Region

The Meridian Community College baseball team is set to host the 2010 NJCAA Region 23 Tournament this weekend at Scaggs Field.

Three teams from the Miss-Lou Conference are scheduled to participate in the double elimination championship, with the Region winner heading to the District championship, one step closer to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, CO.

Seeding of the Region Tournament was be based on the Miss-Lou regular season conference finish. MCC won the Miss-Lou title and thus is the higher seed and the home team for the first day. A coin flip will determine the home team on the subsequent day.

Action is scheduled to start on Friday at noon with No. 1 seed MCC versus No. 3 seed baton Rouge Community College. No. 2 seed Delgado Community College will face off against Baton Rouge at 3:30 pm then in the nightcap for day one, MCC will take on Delgado at 7:00 pm.

The double elimination tournament will continue on Saturday with games at 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm

All games are scheduled to be nine innings with NJCAA Run-Rule applicable except in Championship Games.

May 14

Game 1 12:00 #1 Meridian vs. #3 Baton Rouge
Game 2 3:30 #2 Delgado vs. #3 Baton Rouge
Game 3 7:00 #1 Meridian vs. #2 Delgado

May 15

Scenario #1 If one team is 0-2, they are eliminated

Game 4 3:30 1-1 team v 2-0 team
If 2-0 team wins, they are champions

Scenario #2 If all teams are 1-1 following the 1st day, the #1 seed will receive the bye to Game 5

Game 4 3:30 #2 v #3

Scenario #1

Game 5 7:00 If both teams are 2-1

Scenario #2

Game 5 7:00 Winner of Game 4 v #1 Meridian

Men’s tennis heads to Nationals

Meridian Community College men's tennis team begins play at the NJCAA Division I Men’s National Tournament on Monday in Plano, TX. The tournament is being hosted by Collin County Community College

The national seeding meeting was held Sunday to determine the draw. Meridian men enter the tournament with a 12-2 regular season record; they were the Region 23 champions over Itawamba Community College 12-9 at the Regional Championships held April 20-21 in Meridian.

All six singles' players from Meridian will play on the first day as well as all three doubles' teams.

Participants at the national tournament are Lucio Cangiano, Gabriel Nicotra, Andres Cepede, Jeremy Purdum, Wade Henderson, Kyle Dew. Brandyn Landry, and Justin Giles.

The tournament results can be found each day at http://www.collin.edu/athletics/Nat_tourn.htm

Lady Eagle Tennis finishes 11th at Nationals

The Meridian Community College women’s tennis team finished tied for eleventh place at the NJCAA Division I Women’s Tennis National Championship held in Tucson, AZ on May 2nd-6th.

As has been the precedent this year, the NJCAA women’s national tennis tournament had a slow start on opening day of play as the weather threw the players everything it could. The day began sunny and bright but by noon with play under way, the wind was gusting to 35 miles an hour. In a city where rain is seldom seen, Meridian’s number two doubles’ team not only battled it out with perennial powerhouse ABAC but also had a dual with the wind and rain. With rain hitting the courts and play never suspended, Savannah Zachry and Jessica Halterman came back from a first set deficit to win the last match on the courts for the day putting Meridian in a tie for fourth place after the first day of competition.

In other match play Anna Vavrik, the no. 7 seed, won her first match against North Central Texas 6-1, 6-1. She then defeated ABAC’s Alejandra Gamboa 2, 3 before losing in the quarterfinals to the no. 2 seed from Lee College 4, 3. At number two singles, Aline Ferreira, the no. 8 seed, defeated Marion Military Institute’s Ashley Grafton 0,0. In the second round she won against Mesa CC 1, 1; then lost in the quarterfinals to St. Petersburg Florida’s Jovana Vasic 0, 0. At the number three single’s spot, freshman Savannah Zachry, the no. 7 seed, won her first round against Snead State 1,2. In the round of 16 she defeated NCTC 6-4, 4-6, 6-4; then she lost in the quarterfinals to the no. 2 seed from Lee College 2, 0. In what was the toughest draw of the day, Meridian’s freshman Jessica Halterman fell to Florida State College of Jacksonville 4, 0. Jessica lost in the consolation draw to Eastern Arizona’s Rachel Clark by a score of 8-3. At the number five single’s spot, Kaley Allen of MCC won her first round of play by defeating the College of Lake County 3, 2. She then fell to St. Petersburg, the no. 3 seed, 3, 2. At no. 6, MCC’s Indi Mire won her first round of play by defeating ASA Institute out of New York 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. She then defeated Jones County 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2. In the quarterfinals, she lost a tough match to Collin County 3, 5.

Meridian’s number one and two doubles’ teams won their first round matches by defeating Waubonsee CC and ABAC colleges respectively by scores of 0,3 and 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The no. 1 flight of Anna Vavrik and Aline Ferreira then lost to the no. 5 seed, Cowley College, 5, 3. The no. 2 team of Savannah Zachry and Jessica Halterman fell to the two seed, Lee College, 1, 0. At no. 3 doubles, Kaley Allen and Shelley Munn lost the first round against Glendale 0, 1. In the consolation draw they picked up an important point by winning two rounds against Mississippi Gulf Coast and Central Alabama before losing to consolation champions Cowley College 8-4.

“The ladies performed extremely well. There were seven freshman on the squad. Hopefully, we learned a lot from competing at this level that will help us to get back into the top ten next year. The ladies had not faced this kind of competition this season due to so much rain and bad weather, which resulted in cancelled matches. A trip to Oklahoma that would have helped prepare the ladies for national competition was cancelled as well. I feel that this really hurt us as far as our performance at the national tournament. Playing teams that are better than us helps make us better, and we just did not get the opportunity to do that this year, “ said Coach McPhail.

“Hopefully, we will get the opportunity to face stiffer competition next year and be better prepared when we go.“




2010 NJCAA Women's Tennis National Championship
FINAL
1. Tyler - 52 NATIONAL CHAMPION
2. Lee - 36
3. Hillsborough - 31
4. Cowley - 24
5. Collin - 23
6. Florida Jacksonville - 22.5
6. ASA Inst. - 22.5
8. St. Petersburg - 21
9. Seminole State - 20
9. NCTC - 20
11. Johnson - 19
11. Meridian - 19
11. Eastern Arizona - 19
14. Temple - 18
15. Mesa - 17.5
16. Kalamazoo - 16
17. ABAC - 12.5
18. Jones - 11.5
19. Pima - 9.5
20. Glendale - 8.5
20. MS Gulfcoast - 8.5
22. NM Military - 8
23. Elgin - 6
24. Seward - 5.5
25. Marion Military - 5
26. Harford - 4.5
26. Lewis & Clark - 4.5
28. Central Alabama - 4
29. Snead State - 3.5
30. Lake County - 2
31. Waubonsee - .5

MCC sophomore inks with Arkansas State University

JONESBORO - Arkansas State University head men's golf coach Steve Johnson announced Friday that Meridian Community College all-region standout, Cory Williamson, has signed to play with the Red Wolves next season.

Williamson will join the ASU team as a transfer from MCC, he was also a high school all-state selection at Simpson County Academy in Mississippi.

"We are very excited to Cory join our roster and look forward him stepping in and contributing to our golf program," said Johnson. "He will bring a tremendous amount of ability to our program both in the classroom and on the golf course."

Williamson recently led Meridian to the school’s best finish in the NJCAA District IV Tournament championship as the Eagles fired a final round six-under par to claim runner-up and advance to their second consecutive NJCAA Division I National Championship.

Williamson finished fourth individually at Districts as he posted two rounds under par, he was named to the NJCAA District IV All-Tournament Team and was awarded a GCAA/Ping's All-Region selection as a sophomore.

Over his two-year career at Meridian, Williamson collected 15 top-25 finishes that included medalist honors at the Hilton Garden Inn Invitational earlier this season.

He was an all-academic choice and a member of National Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa while at MCC.

Williamson was a three-time state tournament runner-up while at Simpson County Academy and earned all-state recognition three years as well. He was also a four-time South-State champion and recognized as an all-conference selection in basketball three years.

"Cory will bring a strong amount of experience and leadership with him to ASU, and he is also a very powerful player and excellent ball striker," added Johnson.

Williamson is the twenty-first MCC golfer to sign with a college/university program since 1995.

“We are very excited for Cory, he has worked hard in the weight room, the classroom and on the golf course,” said MCC head coach Sean Covich.

“His goal in coming to MCC two years ago was to win at the college level and earn a NCAA DI scholarship. He has done those things and has shown MCC to be the pipeline for junior college golfers to get to the NCAA level.”

Fellow MCC sophomore golfers, Garrett Westbrook, Nick Hawkes and Tanner Sparks are also expected to sign at the next level later this month.

MCC will close out their 2010 season in Huntsville, AL May 18-21 in the NJCAA Division I National Championship.

Locking up the victory: MCC shuts down Baton Rouge

By Robby Atkinson / Special to The Star The Meridian Star

MERIDIAN — The Meridian Community College Eagles have enjoyed many years of success on the baseball diamond and the Eagles wrote a new chapter to that success Sunday at Scaggs Field. MCC got a complete game shutout from freshman Dustin McWilliams and former Meridian High standout Kenny Roberts belted a pair of home runs as the Eagles swept Baton Rouge 12-0 to secure the 2010 Miss-Lou Conference Championship. The championship for the Eagles is one of many at MCC and the most important fact is that the Eagles (30-16) have earned the right to host the 2010 Region 23 Tournament at Scaggs Field May 14-16th.

"We knew coming into the weekend what we had to do in order to host the tournament and we did a great job all weekend," said MCC head coach Chris Rose. "We hope that we are getting hot at the right time and this team has gone through some difficult times this season. It will take a great effort to win the regional and we hope to continue to carry this momentum into the postseason."

The Eagles got the scoring started early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead over Baton Rouge. Jonathan Pace got the inning started with a single and Ben Kinglsey followed by reaching on an error to put a pair runners on board for the Eagles. The first run of the inning scored on an RBI single by Darren Farmer and Roberts followed with a two run home run to give MCC a 4-0 lead. The game entered into a three hour rain delay moments later and didn't resume until the middle part of the afternoon, but that didn't slow down the MCC offense.

MCC scored two more times in the bottom of the second inning to extend its lead to 6-0 over the Bears. Pace led the inning off with a triple off the wall in left field and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kingsley to make the score 5-0 in favor of MCC. Roberts pushed the lead to 6-0 moments later on a towering home run that eventually landed in the parking lot in left field to give the freshman second baseman 16 home runs for 2010. Corey Dickerson currently leads the Eagles in the home run category with 19 home runs. Roberts hit four home runs in the three game series against Baton Rouge.

"It was probably one of the longer home runs that has been hit at our ballpark," added Rose. "He (Roberts) had such a great weekend at the plate and played such great defense at second base. We had guys throughout the whole lineup that had a great weekend and we are swinging the bats exceptionally well right now."

The Eagles continued to pull away with two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 8-0. Michael LeGrange scored one of the runs on a solo home run to left field and Kenny Sanders followed with a solo home run of his own to give Meridian an eight run lead. The Eagles put the game away for good with four more runs in the fourth inning to roll to the run rule victory over the Bears. Avi Ahlzadeh drove one run in on a sacrifice fly and Sanders added a two run double in the inning for MCC. The Eagles ended the game with 10 total hits and the Bears only managed three hits.

McWilliams (6-1) earned the pitching win for MCC by going five innings and collecting four strikeouts. The Eagles will close out the 2010 regular season at home with a pair of game next weekend at Scaggs Field. The Eagles will take on Lurleen B. Wallace in a single game on Friday at 4 p.m. and will wrap up the regular season on Saturday against Panola in a single game beginning at 4 p.m.