Articles by Adam Minichino
Heritage Academy back on top of MAIS Class AAA golf
All apologies to Allen Iverson, but a little extra practice doesn’t hurt when you’re preparing to win another state title.
Central Academy celebrates at last all-sports banquet
MACON — Jack VanDevender has heard the questions for years.
Whether it has been queries about whether Central Academy is going to field a football team or whether he has heard if and when the school is going to close, VanDevender has shrugged off the questions and went about his business like many of the students at the small, private school in Noxubee County.
Caledonia boys golf team builds legacy with another title
The pressure and the expectations didn’t faze the Caledonia High School boys golf team.
Loaded with the burden of being the reigning state champion and coming off a season of strong play, Caledonia entered the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship with a bull’s eye squarely on its back. But thanks to solid play by medalist Hunter Logan and a strong supporting cast, Caledonia carded a two-day total of 653 last week to beat St. Stanislaus by 22 strokes to win its second-straight state title.
Team approach works for MSMS tennis
Balancing team and individual goals sometimes can be a difficult proposition in sports like golf, swimming, and tennis.
But the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science tennis team hasn’t had any of those issues.
Caledonia softball has found comfort level
CALEDONIA — Maddy Suggs knows to be prepared.
Ever since Suggs started playing softball, she always has played a variety of positions, from catcher to second base to third base. That’s why a few years ago she decided to buy a multi-purpose glove she could use in the infield to go along with her catcher’s mitt. She didn’t know for sure, but she had a feeling she would see action at several positions during her Caledonia High School fast-pitch career.
Maturity has fueled Noland’s growth
CARROLLTON, Ala. — Some days you just have to force yourself to smile.
Kacy Noland hasn’t had many outings in the circle like that, though, since she started pitching when she was 8 years old.
Even though Noland was told she wasn’t big enough to pitch, she persevered and hit a growth spurt that sent her on her way to becoming one of the most accomplished pitchers in the history of the Pickens Academy fast-pitch softball program.
But even the best of pitchers can have days when things don’t work.
Caledonia softball continues magical postseason run
CALEDONIA — Kevin Stewart is back in a familiar place.
CCA boys track and field team will try to follow similar formula
STEENS — Greg Watkins feels the doubt has been removed.
A year ago, the Columbus Christian Academy boys track and field team rallied from a 30-point deficit to win its first Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AA State title. The championship came on the heels of a second-place finish at the MAIS Class AA North State meet.
Columbus High’s Weir will play volleyball at The w
It’s all about the attitude for Tori Weir.
Two years ago, something clicked with Weir and volleyball that convinced her she wanted to play the sport at the next level. It was a frequent topic of conversation and motivation, so much so that Columbus High School volleyball coach Tiffany Jefferson said Weir has talked about the subject for the last three years.
Tennis keeping Hendrix healthy
Waimon Hendrix is coming up on an important anniversary.
On April 30, Hendrix will celebrate four years of retirement from his job as a job as a contractor at Columbus Air Force Base. Hendrix worked in that capacity for 44 years, 22 in the military and another 22 years as a civilian. He served two tours in Turkey and in numerous places in the United States.
Woodard II receives Gatorade award, gives $10K grant to Boys and Girls Club
Essays motivate Robert Woodard II just as much as lock-down defenders.
But the assignment Woodard received from Gatorade in March after being named the Mississippi Boys Basketball Player of the Year needed a little more attention, just like an opponent who knows his favorite moves on the court. Woodard’s experiences with the Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle helped him write an award-winning essay as easily as he rises up over defenders to drain a jump shot.
Caledonia’s White reaches goal, wins state crown
CALEDONIA — Kody White knew the numbers, so 35 pounds wasn’t a big gap to close.
But even an otherwise manageable weight can become even heavier when you’re competing in the final meet of your career on the state’s biggest stage.
White remained unfazed.
The Caledonia High School senior answered the challenge of lifting 550 pounds on his second dead lift and then eclipsed that mark with a lift of 575 on his third attempt to win the 198-pound weight class at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Powerlifting meet on Friday in Jackson.
Bishops win state titles for New Hope
Brandon Bishop couldn’t have scripted it any better.
Coming off a second-place finish last season in the 242-pound weight class at the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 5A Powerlifting meet, Bishop set his sights on making his mark in his final high school meet. The New Hope High School senior stayed focused on that goal by working out four times a week to make sure he was ready for the 2017 meet and his chance to win a state championship.
Carlyle approved as new boys basketball coach at Columbus High
The Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved Anthony Carlyle to be the new boys basketball coach at Columbus High School on Monday night at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
Columbus High’s Frazier signs with Coahoma C.C.
JaBorris Frazier wanted a higher level of exposure.
As a junior, Frazier was a key member of the Columbus Christian Academy boys basketball team’s Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AA State championship team.
New Hope High’s Abrams signs with Northeast Mississippi C.C.
Chad Brown couldn’t help but smile prior to the start of the season.
The New Hope High School girls basketball coach liked his team’s chances for the 2016-17 season, but he felt even better about them after a conversation with senior Lanoria Abrams.
Faith pays off for Columbus High’s Sturdivant
Camry Sturdivant continued to have faith even as the doubt crept in.
As the days passed and Sturdivant counted down to the end of her Columbus High School soccer career, she wondered if she was going to realize her goal to play soccer in college. But Sturdivant said she leaned on her faith and believed God would help her find a school where she could study and continue to play the game she loves.
MSU’s next challenge is to raise bar higher
DALLAS — Wipe away the tears.
There’s no reason to be disappointed.
Every team that loses a national championship game would love to switch places with winner. But it’s hard to deny that few programs are better positioned to make another run at another title than the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.
