Mississippi Christian University

The Mississippi College volleyball team picked up its first win in Livingston, Ala., since 1994 as the Choctaws recorded a season sweep of the University of West Alabama on Tuesday, Nov. 5

Senior Victor Bazan has been named Gulf South Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday (Nov. 5).

For the second time this season, Kaylee Foster has been named the Gulf South Conference Women's Soccer Freshman of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday (Nov. 5).

Mississippi College leaders reduced tuition for military personnel under a new partnership that will reap benefits for decades to come. Signing an agreement on November 1, President Blake Thompson said MC is honored to support the military that has served America so well for more than 200 years.

Brooke Barrett was recently hired by GranthamPoole LLC for a spring internship. This accounting major utilized MC Career Services to practice her interview skills and learn tips to make great impressions.

Bazan (Lima, Peru) scored three goals, including two on "Senior Day", in a 2-0 week that saw the Choctaws defeat Auburn Montgomery (2-0) and Montevallo (5-1). The three-year player for the Choctaws now has four goals on the season, all coming in the last four games. He has now scored 14 career goals, and his two goals on Sunday against the Falcons was his first multi-goal game. Bazan have already clinched a home match to open the Gulf South Conference Tournament on November 12th. They will wrap up the regular season this week at Spring Hill (Nov. 7) and West Florida (Nov. 9). Davenport (Widnes, England) scored in both matches on the week, including the game-winner in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Montevallo on Sunday. She also added an assist in the 7-0 win over Auburn Montgomery on Thursday. On Sunday's "Senior Day", Davenport notched her 28th career goal in the 80th minute, capping a comeback that saw the #5 Lady Choctaws trailing at halftime, 1-0. The win gave MC 13 straight victories, which sets a new school record. The Lady Choctaws clinched the Gulf South Conference regular season championship with the victory over Montevallo, marking the first regular season title in school history. MC will wrap up the regular season at Spring Hill (Nov. 7) and West Florida (Nov. 9) this week. They will enter the GSC Tournament as the #1 seed and host a match on "Super Tuesday" on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

The Mississippi College women's soccer team set a school record with their 13th straight victory and clinched the Gulf South Conference regular season championship with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Montevallo on Sunday afternoon. The match was played at Clinton High School due to heavy rainfall in the Clinton area earlier in the week. The #5 Lady Choctaws improved to 13-1 with an 11-0 record in Gulf South Conference play, while the Falcons fell to 10-3-3 with an 8-2-1 league mark. HOW IT HAPPENED - The Falcons got on the board first as Kira Bochard took advantage of a misplayed ball in the box to send a shot just across the goal line in the 25th minute. - Montevallo would take the 1-0 lead into halftime looking to pull off the upset and keep their regular season championship hopes alive. - The Lady Choctaws repaid the Falcons for their less-than-powerful goal as junior Lindsey Stephenson saw a shot trickle past the goalkeeper to tie the score at 1-1 in the 49th minute. - The teams would remain tied until the 80th minute when senior Jess Davenport found the back of the net with the game-winner off an assist from freshman Sydney Hughes. - The Falcons looked poised to send the game into overtime in the 84th minute, but senior Gabby Kayser made a save in the upper-corner of the goal to clinch the victory. KEY STATS - The Lady Choctaws took nine shots with six shots on goal, while Montevallo had five shots with three on net. - Davenport and Stephenson led the way with three shots apiece. - Kayser earned the win in goal for MC, making two saves with one goal allowed. - Annie Mason took the loss in goal for the Falcons, giving up two goals with three saves. MATCH NOTES - The Lady Choctaws celebrated "Senior Day" prior to the match, honoring 11 seniors participating in their final home contests: Felectiy Barnett, Lauren Kate Carter, Davenport, Jordan Dillon, Emma Claire Furman, Scarlett Hodges, Kayser, Madeline Porter, Peyton Ramsey, Katie Taylor and Liza Wise. - The GSC regular season championship is the first regular season title for the school's women's soccer program. - The Lady Choctaws are now 4-1 all-time against the Falcons with their only loss coming last season in the opening round of the GSC Tournament. - MC has now clinched the #1 seed in the GSC Tournament and will host an opening-round match on "Super Tuesday" at Robert P. Longabaugh Field on Tuesday, November 12th.

The Mississippi College football team jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter, but West Georgia scored 28 unanswered points to pick up the 35-21 victory on Saturday afternoon at University Stadium. The Choctaws fell to 4-4 on the season with a 3-3 Gulf South Conference mark, while the Wolves improved to 6-3 with a 4-2 league record. HOW IT HAPPENED - The Choctaws jumped out to a quick lead as they took advantage of a muffed punt with Detric Hawthorn finding Drew Croegaert for a 28-yard touchdown pass to go ahead 7-0. - MC then recovered another UWG fumble on the next drive as Hawthorn capped off the drive with a three-yard rushing score to push the advantage to 14-0. - The Wolves got on the scoreboard on their next drive as Garrett Bass found John Hurst for a 64-yard touchdown pass to cut the score back to 14-7. - MC extended the lead back out to 21-7 at the end of the first quarter as Jordan Wright rushed in from four yards out after another Wolves' fumble. - The Choctaws would take the 21-7 lead into the half after both teams were scoreless in the second quarter. - The second half was all West Georgia as they outscored the Choctaws 28-0, including putting up 14 points in both quarters. - Bass tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter, one coming to LaPerion Perry and the other to Hurst. - In the fourth, Eric Swinney rushed in from three yards out and Bass found Hurst for the third time in the game to cap the scoring. KEY STATS - Hawthorn led the Choctaws with 142 rushing yards, and a touchdown on 23 carries. - Moregan Sharp caught a ball for 29 yards, while Croegaert had the 28-yard touchdown catch. - Overall, MC put up 296 total yards on 62 plays but had just 93 yards in the second half. - Bass threw for 349 yards and four touchdowns for the Wolves, completing 25-of-37 passes. - Thomas Lester caught six passes for 105 yards, while Quan Harrison had six catches for 69 yards. - Hurst caught five balls for 93 yards and three scores. - Turner Rotenberry led the Choctaws with 10 tackles, while Josh Miller had eight tackles. - Derric Hawthorn had seven tackles with a pass breakup and a forced fumble for the Choctaws. GAME NOTES - The Wolves have now won nine straight games in the series with MC's last win coming on October 10, 1992. - The Choctaws are now 4-0 at Robinson-Hale Stadium with an 0-4 record away from home. - MC had gone 3-1 this season when leading at halftime and were 12-6 over the last six years in that situation. - The interception thrown by the Choctaws in the fourth quarter was the first of the season for MC.

The Mississippi College men's soccer team exploded for a season-high scoring binge in a 5-1 win over Montevallo on "Senior Day" on Sunday afternoon. The match was played at Clinton High School due to heavy rainfall in the Clinton area earlier in the week. The Choctaws improved to 8-1-4 overall and 7-1-2 in Gulf South Conference play, clinching a home match to open the GSC Tournament. The Falcons fell to 6-8-1 with a 4-5 league record. HOW IT HAPPENED - The first 65 minutes of the match were played evenly as the teams were scoreless. - The Choctaws finally broke through in the 66th minute as junior Marco Sellan was taken down in the box and junior Aurele Chemin converted the penalty kick to grab the 1-0 lead. - Sellan added a goal of his own in the 68th minute as he took an assist from senior Owen Connelly and found the top corner of the net to push the advantage to 2-0. - Connelly notched a goal of his own to cap a three-goal barrage of three minutes as his nearly 40-yard shot found the back of the net to give MC a 3-0 lead. - Senior Victor Bazan took over from there, pushing the lead to 4-0 with a penalty kick goal in the 77th minute. - He then capped the MC scoring in the 81st minute with a beautiul back-heel tally past the goalkeeper to give the Choctaws a 5-0 advantage. - The Falcoins would get on the board in the final seconds as they converted a corner kick from Cyprien N'Goma and Luke Garner found the back of the net to give the match its final score. KEY STATS - The Choctaws took 19 shots with 11 coming on goal, while the Falcons took nine shots with four coming on goal. - Connelly led the Choctaws with four shots, while Ruben Carvalho had a team-high four shots for Montevallo. - Senior Keaton Halbert and junior Alejandro Chavarria each played a half in goal for the Choctaws, allowing the one goal with three saves. - Robert Kuta took the loss for the Falcons, making six saves and allowing five goals. MATCH NOTES - Prior to the match, the men's soccer program honored eight seniors playing their final home matches for the Choctaws: Javier Avelar, Bazan, Connelly, Laith Dahhan, Halbert, Michael Kuwornu, Joshua Robinson and Ceejay Williams. - The Choctaws have clinched at least the #2 seed in the Gulf South Conference Tournament, ensuring hosting a "Super Tuesday" match on Tuesday, November 12th at Robert P. Longabaugh Field. - This was the first-ever win for the Choctaws over the Falcons, improving their record to 1-1-1 in three meetings.

The Mississippi College volleyball team dropped a four-set contest to Shorter University on Saturday, Nov. 2 inside A.E. Wood Coliseum. Kendall Platt led the Choctaws with double-digit kills as she turned in a team-best 11 on the day. Lexie Laurendine and Levi Lennard each supplied 16 assists. Lexi Richards and Kate Bass each assisted in the defensive efforts with three blocks while Autumn Frost turned in two. Julia Martin recorded a roster-leading 19 digs on the afternoon. Brandi Bundy turned in 14 digs followed by Platt with 12. Game Score: Mississippi College 1 | Shorter 3 Date: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 Location: Clinton, Miss. | A.E. Wood Coliseum Records: Choctaws 8-19, 3-8 GSC | Hawks 8-18, 1-10 GSC HOW IT HAPPENED - Mississippi College jumped out to an early lead in the opening set with the first seven points of the game. Shorter rallied back and grabbed its first lead at 17-16. MC knotted the contest at 17-all on a SU service error. The Hawks picked up the next three points, but the Choctaws broke serve to pull within 20-19. SU responded by closing out the set with the final five points for a 25-19 win. - MC held a 13-10 lead in the second set, but the Hawks rallied to knot the contest at 13-all. The two teams exchanged leads and ties, but the Hawks gained control of the set with a 6-0 run to capture a 20-16 advantage. The Choctaws pulled within 23-20 on a Lauredine kill, but the Blue and White grabbed the following two points for a 25-20 victory and 2-0 lead in the match. - The Navy and Gold grabbed an early lead in the third set as it jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The two teams exchanged lengthy runs during the game and stood tied at 23-23. Laurendine and Platt each registered a kill for the final two points and picked up their first win of the match. - Shorter opened the fourth with a 7-0 run and held its largest lead of the set at 17-8. MC used a 15-6 run to tie the contest at 23-all and grabbed its first lead of the set on a Hawks' attack error. However, SU used back-to-back kills from Lacee Glover and an attack miscue from the Choctaws to pick up the 26-24 win. INSIDE THE BOX - The loss to the Hawks is the ninth in the series. - Platt's double figure-kill effort marked her 14th of the season - which is second-best on the team. - Platt logged her ninth double-double of the season and 16th of her career. - Bundy tied a career-high with two aces on the day. - Richards' solo block marked her fourth of the season.

The Mississippi College volleyball team defeated Lee University for the first time in program history with a sweep of the Gulf South Conference foe on Friday, Nov. 1. The sweep is the first for the Choctaws since Oct. 8 at Mississippi University for Women. Kate Bass and Jamie Boros led the Navy and Gold with double figure kills on the night as they each provided 11 kills in the contest. Lexie Laurendine dished out a team-best 18 assists while Levi Lennard added 13. Defensively, Julia Martin posted a roster-best 15 digs while Autumn Frost turned in three blocks. Game Score: Mississippi College 3 | Lee 0 Date: Friday, Nov. 1, 2019 Location: Clinton, Miss. | A.E. Wood Coliseum Records: Choctaws 8-18, 3-7 GSC | Flames 9-16, 2-9 GSC HOW IT HAPPENED - With the Flames holding a 15-14 lead in the first set, the Choctaws went on an 8-1 run to take a 22-16 lead. Four different Choctaws applied kills during the run. MC closed out the set scoring the final three points for a 25-18 win. - MC took command of the second set early as it grabbed an 11-6 lead. After Lee picked up its seventh point of the set, the Navy and Gold scored the following 11 points en route to a 25-10 victory and 2-0 lead in the match. - A tighter third set saw the Flames posted a 4-0 run to take a 17-16 lead midway, but the Choctaws answered with a 9-2 run to close out the game, 25-19, and clinch the match. INSIDE THE BOX -The win snapped a seven-match skid for the Choctaws and gave them their first conference win since Oct. 1. - The 10 points in the second set by Lee tied the season-low (Lane; Oct. 3). - Martin moved into second in career digs with 978. She surpassed Amanda Greene (2007-08). - Martin moved into second in career service aces with 91. She passed Amanda Greene (2007-08) and Christy Bevell (1995-97). - Bass' kill total marked the third time this season in double-digits. - Boros' performance marked her 19th match in double figure kills and 34th of her career. - Lennard has double-digit assists in the last five outings and 10 in her debut season.

VALDOSTA, Ga. --- Senior Jess Davenport converted a penalty kick in the 106th minute to give the Mississippi College women's soccer team a 1-0 victory at Valdosta State on Friday night at the VSU Soccer Complex. The #6 Lady Choctaws improved to 9-1 with a 7-0 record in the Gulf South Conference, while the Blazers fell to 5-5 and 3-3 in league play.

The Mississippi College volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the Gulf South Conference-Sunshine State Conference Crossover on Friday, Oct. 18. The Choctaws (7-15) fell in four sets to Nova Southeastern to open the day and fell in straight sets to Barry University to close out the night. Sophomore Jamie Boros led MC with 20 kills for the two matches while freshman Lexi Richards added 10 on the day. Lexie Laurendine dished out 26 assists followed by Levi Lennard with 18. Defensively, Brandi Bundy led the team with 21 digs for the two matches while Laurendine and Lennard had 13 and 12 respectively. Richards totaled six blocks over the span of the day while Sloane FitzHenry and Kate Bass each added four.

The Mississippi College volleyball team wrapped up its NCAA Division II South Region Crossover between the Gulf South and Sunshine State Conferences on Saturday, Oct. 19 with a four-sets setback to Saint Leo University at the Finley Center in Hoover, Ala. Jamie Boros and Lexie Laurendine each notched double figure kills in the four sets to the lead the offensive attack. Boros finished with a team-best 17 while Laurendine added 14 kills on the day. Laurendine also added a team-best 17 assists while compiling 10 digs for a triple-double to close out the day. Levi Lennard dished out 15 assists while Julia Martin had a team-high 19 digs. Kate Bass totaled eight blocks in the contest.

Senior Liza Wise and sophomore Lexie Laurendine have been named Mississippi College Athletes of the Week, it was announced on Monday (Oct. 1). Laurendine (Clinton, Miss.) moved to fourth in Division II in triple-doubles as she recorded her fourth of the season and eighth of her career. Laurendine posted 14 kills, a team-best 17 assists and 10 digs in the four-set match against Saint Leo University. Laurendine is the only player in the Gulf South Conference with a triple-double in the last two seasons and the only student-athlete from the State of Mississippi with a triple-double this season. The Clinton, Miss., native finished the three-match weekend at the Crossover with 21 kills, 43 assists, 23 digs and four total blocks. Mississippi College returns to action on Friday, Oct. 25 as it travels to Huntsville, Ala., to face UAH. First serve is set for 6 p.m. The weekend concludes on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the University of Montevallo at 12:30 p.m. Wise (Tupelo, Miss.) scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over West Georgia on Sunday afternoon in Carrollton. It was Wise's 2nd goal of the season and 5th of her four-year career. The former Tupelo HS native also led a defense that allowed just one goal over 196 minutes played, picking up road wins over Valdosta State and UWG. The 1-0 win over the Blazers on Friday was the third consecutive shutout for the Lady Choctaws. Wise and MC will be hosting rival Delta State this Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Robert P. Longabaugh Field. 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. For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.

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).

Mary Beth Bates recently received acceptance into Mississippi College's PA School. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology medical sciences, Bates is working hard to prepare for this exciting next step.

Rachel Wieschhaus recently received acceptance into Medical School at LSU Shreveport. This MC biology medical sciences graduate found assistance and encouragement from MC's career services in her preparation for this new challenge.

Seth Matthews recently accepted an internship with HORNE for this upcoming summer. Matthews utilized the tools MC Career Services provides, and he found an opportunity that suits him at this business for authentic modern design.

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 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.

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).

Giving flu shots on the Clinton campus or working at a health fair, Mississippi College senior Tracy Metcalf discovered her calling in life as a nurse. A Jackson mom with twin 11-year-old girls, Metcalf was among nearly two dozen MC nursing students volunteering Tuesday at the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The students offered advice to MBC visitors about proper nutrition, sleep requirements, along with vision and hearing needs. Flu shots and blood screenings were available as well. Taking part at the October 29 health fair at First Baptist Church Jackson proved invaluable to Metcalf. The Memphis native appreciates the first-class training she receives at the MC School of Nursing. "We have caring professors," the Memphis native says. "There's more personal connections with students," she adds. "The Christian caring aspect is huge." On track to graduate in December, Tracy Metcalf will work as a full-time nurse at Baptist Hospital in Jackson after receiving her diploma. Other student nurses enjoyed helping Baptist pastors, their spouses, church staffers and other guests at the MBC meetings. "It's a good opportunity to reach the population we normally don't see," says student nurse Hannah Carraway. At her table, the Brandon resident encouraged visitors to consider reading glasses as a way to see better. For more than two decades, Mississippi College student nurses conducted health fairs at Mississippi Baptist Convention meetings in the capital city. Joining them, nursing professor Deborah Bolian reports there were 22 graduating seniors offering assistance for several hours at the convention's opening day. Stopping by the health fair, MC President Blake Thompson tossed a football to a couple of student nurses for a few moments. He took time to speak with many of these future healthcare professionals. There were plenty of people with MC connections taking part in convention activities. Student choirs from Mississippi College, Blue Mountain College and William Carey University teamed up to perform on stage. Their beautiful worship songs were well-received by hundreds of guests at the church sanctuary Tuesday morning. Loaded with brochures, Mississippi College's information table near one for the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary attracted a steady flow of foot traffic. Founded in 1826, MC is America's second oldest Baptist College. Business professor Billy Morehead, Wayne VanHorn, dean of the School of Christian Studies and the Arts, and Evan Lenow, the university's new director of church and minister relations, made the rounds. So did staffers including Danny Rutland of the Office of Advancement and Chad Phillips of Alumni Affairs at Mississippi College.

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

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.