Mississippi College

The Mississippi College women's soccer team got a goal from senior Liza Wise in the 87th minute to complete a 2-1 come-from-behind win over West Georgia on Sunday afternoon at University Field. The Lady Choctaws (10-1, 8-0 GSC) have won straight matches since a season-opening loss to Saint Leo, while the Wolves (4-7-1, 2-5 GSC) have lost four straight.

The Mississippi College golf team shot an opening-day score of 598 (+22) to sit in a tie for 9th at the Matt Dyas Invitational, hosted by the University of West Georgia at the Oak Mountain Championship Golf Course. The Choctaws improved their score by eight shots from the first to second rounds, putting up a 295 over the final 18 holes of the day. The final round will be played on Tuesday morning. Senior Davis Murphy (143, T17) was the Choctaw under par in the opening round, ranking 2nd after the tournament's opening round with a career-best 67 (-5). Senior Force Choi (148, T34) had the best second round for the Choctaws, shooting a 70 (-2), improving his score by eight shots from the opening round. Rounding out the Choctaw scorers were freshman Grant Mahaney (152, T41), freshman Adam Murphree (155, T49) and junior Parker Brooks (167, 62). West Georgia is leading the team competition, shooting a 558 (-18) to sit two shots ahead of Lee University (560, -16). Delta State (567, -9) is in third, followed by Montevallo (572, -4), Clayton State (573, -3) and Trevecca Nazarene (574, -2). Rounding out the team scores were North Greenville (581, +5), Christian Brothers (594, +18), MC (598, +22), Shorter (598, +22) and Emmanuel (639, +63). Dylan Lillard of Lee is leading the individual competition, shooting a 136 (-8) to sit one shot ahead of Zach Zediker of Delta State and Javier Gonzalez of Clayton State (137, -7).

Sophomore Evan Del Rio and freshman Kate Bass have been named Mississippi College Merit Health Athletes of the Week, it was announced on Monday (Oct. 28). Bass (Brandon, Miss.) broke the program record for solo blocks in a season over the weekend. She entered the weekend ranked third in solos and combined for three in the five-set match at UAH and at Montevallo. The freshman reset the record that stood since 2007. Mississippi College returns to action on Friday, Nov. 1 as it hosts Lee University. The match is the first of two inside A.E. Wood Coliseum this weekend as MC also welcomes Shorter University. Del Rio (Huntsville, Texas) helped lead the Mississippi College cross country team to a third place finish at the Gulf South Conference Championship. Del Rio posted a time of 25:11.8 in the 8K race to finish second overall and claim All-GSC First Team honors. Mississippi College turns its attention to NCAA South Regional in Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 8. Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year. The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

The Mississippi College football team improved to 4-0 at Robinson-Hale Stadium in 2019 with a 41-20 victory over Shorter University on "Homecoming" on Saturday afternoon. The Choctaws (4-3, 3-2 GSC) scored the game's first 28 points and rushed for a season-high 395 yards as they cruised to the victory over the Hawks (0-8, 0-6 GSC)

The Mississippi College men's cross country team took home the bronze at the Gulf South Conference Championship at the University of Montevallo Cross Country Course. Two Choctaws took home all-conference laurels. Evan Del Rio and Gabe Poulin finished in the top five and received All-GSC First Team honors. Del Rio finished second overall with a time of 25:11.71 while Gabe Poulin was fifth with a time of 25:25.92. Alec Beers was 25th with a time of 26:37.84 while Zakary Patrick was 37th as he turned in a time of 27:04.67. Jake Russell posted a time of 27:33.00 in 49th. Osiel Moreno and Cole Benoit rounded out the top runners for the Choctaws. Moreno was 55th with a time of 27:43.25 while Benoit was 61st with a time of 27:53.45. The University of Alabama in Huntsville was the top team while Lee University finished second. UAH runners finished first, third and fourth. Mississippi College turns its attention to NCAA South Regional in Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 8.

The Mississippi College women's cross country team finished third at the Gulf South Conference Championship at the University of Montevallo Cross Country Course. Three Lady Choctaws were named All-GSC. Madeline Campbell, McKenzie Hargrove and Emma Langley took home all-conference honors. Campbell was named to the first team while Hargrove and Langley were both tabbed to the second team. Campbell was the top finisher for the Lady Choctaws with a time of 19:14.41 in eighth place. Hargrove placed 12th with a time of 19:27.03 while Langley was 18th with a 19:38.98. Alexis Dunn finished 22nd with a time of 19:58.08. Ava Dickerson turned in a time of 20:42.86 in 31st. Rachel Faulk was 49th with a time of 21:41.14. Isabella Lovvorn was 63rd with a time of 22:32.82. Lee University took home top team honors as well as the top three individual spots. Union University finished second. Mississippi College turns its attention to NCAA South Regional in Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 8.

The Mississippi College golf team finished up the fall schedule with a 9th-place finish at the South Region Preview, hosted by Christian Brothers University at the Irene Golf and Country Club. The Choctaws shot a 317 (+29) in the final round and a two-day, three-round total of 930 (+66) to finish in the top 10 of a tournament that featured five of the top 50 ranked teams in the nation. Senior Force Choi led the Choctaw finishers, tying for 25th after shooting a 75 (+3) in the final round to fire a total of 224 (+8). Senior Davis Murphy shot a 233 (+17) over the three rounds to finish tied for 54th. Rounding out the MC finishers were freshman Adam Murphree (236, t-62nd), freshman Grant Mahaney (237, 64th) and junior Parker Brooks (247, 72nd). Individually, Dan Bradbury of Lincoln Memorial won the tournament with a two-day score of 205 (-11), finishing two shots ahead of Tom Forster of Carson-Newman. The tournament featured 13 of the top 100 players in all of Division II. West Florida and Lincoln Memorial finished the tournament tied at the top with a score of 861 (-3) with Argonauts winning the playoff and taking home the title. The Choctaws will be back in action in the spring when they host the Mississippi College Invitational at Lake Caroline Golf Club (March 2-3).

More than 100 equestrian riders from around the South will soon be bound for competition at Providence Hill Farm. The event at Mississippi College's equestrian team headquarters is set for November 2-3. Schools including LSU, Tulane, the University of Arkansas, Rice and the University of Texas at Austin will send riders to compete in Central Mississippi. MC's squad will saddle up, too. "This puts us on the map in the South for collegiate equestrian riding," says MC administrator Jim Turcotte, who oversees the university's outdoors club sports. Mississippi College's equestrian team competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's Texas and Louisiana division. The horse show starts at 8 a.m. that Saturday with an open over the fences competition. MC equestrian team coach Claudia Billups and Ann Skogerbee, director of the university's equestrian programs, spent considerable time behind the scenes making the event happen. "Their hard work is the reason why we landed this," says Turcotte, vice president for enrollment services and executive director of alumni affairs. The MC-hosted event represents the first major collegiate tournament booked at Providence Hill Farm. The Mississippi College team will welcome ten visiting squads. The visiting collegiate riders are also traveling from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Texas State University at San Marcos, McNeese State, Trinity University and Schreiner. In their 13th season, the MC Lady Choctaws excelled at competition in New Braunfels, Texas with second place finishes both days of the show October 19-20. MC competed against nine other colleges at the Trinity University Fall Show. MC took home the Reserve High Point Team at the event in the Lone Star State. Among the top competitors: Audrey Sanders of Hattiesburg landed two first place scores for pre-novice flat on Saturday and Sunday. Georgia Wasson of Madison earned first place honors in novice flat Saturday and second place Sunday. Lauren Sullivan of Wetumpka, Alabama earned first place honors Saturday in over the fences in the limit category. Macy Urbanosky of North Richland Hills, Texas got 2nd place Sunday in over the fences in the intermediate division. Making a 2nd place finish was Olivia Perkins of Columbus, Georgia for the intermediate division Sunday in over the fences competition. A sophomore Georgia Wasson, 19, enjoys riding horses for the Blue & Gold team. "It is a great relaxing way to spend my time," said the pre-physical therapy major. "I love the free feeling I get when I'm riding horses." As for her teammates, "they are all pretty amazing." At Providence Hill Farm practices, Wasson usually rides horses named Biscuit or Dylan. For additional details about the November 2-3 event at Providence Hill Farm, contact Claudia Billups at cbillups@mc.edu or Ann Skogerboe at amskogerboe@mc.edu

The Mississippi College volleyball team took one of the Gulf South Conference's top teams to the limits as the Choctaws fell in five sets at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Three Choctaws posted double figure kills in the match led by Jamie Boros with 20 kills on the night - a new a career-high for the Pompano Beach, Fla., native. Lexi Richards also added a season-high with 16 kills. Kendall Platt rounded out the trio with 11. Lexie Laurendine posted a team-best 30 assists. Levi Lennard tied a season-high with 18 assists. Julia Martin and Lexie Laurendine each recorded 20-plus digs with 23 and 21 respectively. Autumn Frost led the team at the net with five blocks. Seven different Choctaws notched a block in the outing.

Seniors Gabby Kayser, Katie Taylor, and Liza Wise were named to the 2019 Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) South Region All-Conference Teams, it was announced on Thursday (Aug. 29).

The Mississippi College women's soccer program celebrated their storied history with the annual Alumni Game on Saturday (Aug. 31) afternoon at Robert P. Longabaugh Field.

The Mississippi College volleyball team fell in a pair of five-set heartbreakers on Saturday, Sept. 21 inside A.E. Wood Coliseum to Spring Hill College and Henderson State University. It's the fourth time this season MC (3-8) has played to five sets this season.

The Mississippi College football team erased a 10-point halftime deficit and scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute to grab a 24-17 win over Albany State on Saturday night at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

The Mississippi College women's soccer team opened their home schedule with a 5-1 victory over former American Southwest Conference rival Texas-Tyler on Saturday afternoon at Robert P. Longabaugh Field.

Mississippi College's Emma Langley was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week.

Mississippi College basketball student-athlete Marcus Lytle was awarded one of four Gulf South Conference degree completion grant, it was announced on Wednesday (July 31).

Junior McKenzie Hargrove and sophomore Evan Del Rio have been named Mississippi College Merit Health Athletes of the Week, it was announced on Monday (Oct. 14).

Mississippi College senior Liza Wise has been named Gulf South Conference Women's Soccer Defender of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday (Oct. 15).

The Mississippi College women's soccer team continued their charge up the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 rankings, checking in at #6 in the latest poll, it was announced on Tuesday (Oct. 15).

Coach Claudia Billups leads a spirited bunch of Lady Choctaws who compete at the highest levels in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. This Fall, MC launches its 13th season with a road show sponsored by Trinity University. The event October 19-20 will be at the Marglin Ranch in New Braunfels, Texas. The TU squad is one of the longest-standing club teams at the school based in San Antonio, Texas.

Wrapping up another superb season, Mississippi College's table tennis team finished No. 2 in the USA at the 2019 national championships. Facing perennial champ Texas Wesleyan University in the finals in Greensboro, North Carolina, MC fell 3 games to 1 in coed team matches on April 13. The Texas Wesleyan Rams captured four titles: men's (coed) team, women's team, men's doubles and men's singles. Texas Wesleyan has achieved 73 national championships in table tennis since the program started at the private institution in Fort Worth in 2001.

Mississippi College leaders say a successful sporting clay shoot attracted nearly $15,000 in donations to benefit the university's team.

Coach Claudia Billups and Mississippi College equestrian team rider Mackenzie Beard enjoyed fielding questions about their favorite sport on a statewide radio show.

Mississippi College archers stayed on target to capture two titles at the National 3D Collegiate Championships. At the tournament in Foley, Alabama, the MC men's compound team won first place. So did the MC bowhunter women's squad that traveled from the Clinton campus. The event was held at the Graham Creek Interpretive Center October 25-28. USA Archery and the Archery Shooters Association sanctioned the national competition in Alabama. The MC men's team includes co-captains John Stanford, a junior from Water Valley, and Bradford Sauls, a senior from Illinois. Freshman Noah Parker of Moss Point rounds out the squad. The bowhunter women's team consists of sophomore Allison Freeman of Natchez and junior Alisa Promise of Monticello. Morgan Hamilton, a senior from Petal, serves as the squad's captain. "We are so proud of the team," says MC administrator Jim Turcotte, who oversees archery and other outdoor sports. Shooting targets with bows and arrows is part of the weekly drill for Mississippi College's talented archers. "Our students have practiced nearly every day since the beginning of classes (in late August) and their work has paid off," Turcotte says. The vice president for enrollment services and dean of students, Turcotte thanks head coach Waldo Cleland for much of the team's success. Cleland "provided coaching and facilities for our team," he added. MC student archer Emily Hootsell applauds her teammates. She's thrilled the men's compound team and the women's bowhunter squad brought home gold medals. "Their determination and passion for archery is something to look up to and strive towards," says sophomore Hootsell. Hitting the books, too, Emily is a biology/pre-med major on the Clinton campus. An administration of justice major, Bradford Sauls, 20, has competed in archery events since his sophomore year of high school in Norris City, Illinois. "I love the sport of archery because it is both a mental and physical challenge that anyone can take on."

Hitting targets indoors or in the woods, archery competitors are growing in numbers across the USA. Nearly 19 million Americans, ages 18 and older, shot bows & arrows in one recent year.

Rated No. 3 in the USA last season, Mississippi College's table tennis team will host its first major tournament on the Clinton campus on October 27.

Jeremy Gore sharpened his game as he qualified for the USA Para table tennis program.

Mississippi College All-American Caitlin Hayes has signed a professional contract with Barcelona FA of the Cypriot First Division and will join the team for the UEFA Women's Champions League.

The Mississippi College baseball team won the Gulf South Conference Baseball Championship with a 7-6 win over Lee University on Wednesday, May 9 at Harvey Stadium-Ferriss Field. The Choctaws earned the automatic berth into the NCAA South Regional May 17-20. The GSC Championship is the first in program history for the Choctaws.

Mississippi College table tennis players paddled their way Saturday to earn a spot at the South Regionals in Fort Worth