The piece of paper doesn’t jangle in the breeze like the medals around the necks of his student-athletes.
But as proud as West Lowndes High School girls track and field coach Eddie Chapman is of his Lady Panthers for winning medals and for taking third Saturday in Division 2 at the Daily Journal Relays, his smile gets a little wider when he talks about the pieces of paper in his hand.
The Certificates of Merit awarded by the Mississippi High School Activities Association on March 28 recognize the 18 student-athletes on Chapman’s team for being members of the Girls Track Scholar Athlete Team. A cumulative grade-point average 3.068 earned the honor for the Lady Panthers and made Chapman a very proud coach
“One of the things I stress is academics,” said Chapman, who is in his second season as coach of the team. “By stressing academics, it has paid off by virtue of us being a MHSAA Scholar Athlete team.”
On Friday at the school’s sports banquet, each one of the girls will receive a certificate that recognizes she is a part of the Scholar Athlete team.
On the track, Chapman was equally proud each one of his athletes finished each race, gave 100 percent, and did their best to improve their marks at the Daily Journal Relays in Tupelo. He said the team has lost several meets this season to poor weather. Since it was only the team’s second meet, he wasn’t sure what to expect and came away pleasantly surprised the Lady Panthers scored 78 points.
Shanwika Washington, Sapphire Moore, Khadija Cunningham, and Rose Brewer were part of the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams that took third (57.25 seconds, 2 minutes, 2.22 seconds) in Division 2. The times and finishes were the best the team has had this season. Moore and Brewer said all four members of the relay teams are new to the events.
“We really improved and we worked together,” Moore said. “We did more running on our own, worked on our teamwork, and worked together as one.”
Amber Benson won the 300 hurdles (57.73), Brewer also took third in the 100 hurdles (24.34), and Shanique Brooks was third in the shot put.
“I was very excited and elated about it,” Chapman said. He said the point total is the highest the team has had in the past two years. “I have been very fortunate and blessed to be with this group of girls because they do the little bitty things to go that extra mile. As a coach, you can’t ask for anything more than that.”
In the boys meet, West Lowndes was fourth with 73 points. DeMarcus Hill won the discus (123 feet, 9 inches). He also took second in the shot put. Teammate Korey Wilson was third in the event. Barry Crump was third in the 800 (2:35.72), and the 4×400 relay team was second (4:21.5).
West Lowndes will return to action Wednesday for its district meet at Winona High. The meet was scheduled for today but was pushed back a day to accommodate for anticipated inclement weather.
The Lady Panthers hope to build on their medal haul Wednesday. Moore and Brewer said the entire team will use the medals as motivation to earn more to create an even bigger noise.
“I think we are going to do great,” Moore said. “I think we are ready for what is going to happen next.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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