Three Former MCC Soccer Stars To Be Inducted Into HOF

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College soccer program remains the only junior college program in the state of Mississippi to win a NJCAA Division I National Championship and the program can also boast about another incredible honor. Three former MCC soccer stars will be inducted into the 2013 class of the NJCAA Men’s Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The ceremony to honor the three former players will take place in November as a part of the NJCAA Division I Soccer Banquet in Tyler, TX.

The three former MCC standouts that will be honored include: Brad Wagner, Ryan Sims, and Lee Baldwin. The three players will join 76 other coaches, contributors, and players already named to the Hall of Fame.

Brad Wagner captained the 2000 NJCAA National Champions while starting at left back for Meridian Community College.  As a freshman, he led MCC to a national third place finish in 1999.  The Eagles were 45-4-1 during his junior college career.  He moved on to the University of Central Florida where he was also the team captain and named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference team in 2002.

Ryan Simms competed in two NJCAA National Tournaments as the starting goalkeeper for Meridian Community College. He was in goal for the schools only National Championship in 2000 and was named to the National All-Tournament team.  He stills holds all the goalkeeping records for the Eagles program.  He completed his college career at Birmingham Southern University.

Lee Baldwin made the National All-Tournament team in 1999 and was named to the NJCAA All-America team that same year while playing in the midfield for Meridian Community College. He is the all-time assist leader for the Eagles.  He moved on to North Carolina State University and was named to the Atlantic Coast All-Conference team in 2001.