MC baseball is coming off a 35-win season, the third-best in program history. Last year’s campaign brought the team to the NCAA Division II tournament, where the Choctaws fell short against the University of Tampa. Haworth believes last year’s success laid a foundation for sustained excellence. “A lot of [the success in 2025] was contributed to the guys last season,” Haworth said. “The culture they built, it’s not really a coach-led culture. It’s a player-led culture.”

Although the Choctaws saw most of their production from last season leave, Haworth believes that the team’s offseason work has prepared this year’s roster for the challenges ahead. “The difference in teams that are very successful is what they do off the field,” Haworth said. “If they can grow together off the field, if they can do the little things right, and if they’re disciplined. And our guys have shown that.”

To have repeated success this season, the Choctaws need to lean on their experienced pitching staff. Pitchers Caleb Peterson, Coby Gollott, and Dylan Cope were all named to the Gulf South Conference returning player watch list. Haworth is confident in this group. “I believe more than any other year that I’ve been here, that this is the strongest our pitching staff has been,” Haworth said. “From top to bottom, from starters to bullpen… There is a lot of experience coming back, and they know what it is to compete and go against some really tough lineups.”

In addition to these returning veteran arms, nine true freshmen will suit up for the blue and gold, the most since 2021. Coach Haworth is optimistic that the first-year Choctaws will contribute to the team’s success. “I’m always going to play the best nine guys that I believe will help us win,” Haworth said. “And I do believe we’re going to see a lot of those freshmen play this year.”

The Choctaws begin the 2026 season at home against the University of Indianapolis on Friday, Jan. 30.

Each of the 17 MC athletic programs have used the field in some capacity during the spring portion of the 2024-2025 season. “It got so busy that the strength and conditioning coach had to oversee scheduling so that everybody had an opportunity to use it,” Kenny Bizot, MC’s athletic director, said.

The men’s and women’s soccer teams use the football field as a secondary option when rain floods the grass of their primary field. The track and field team still uses the running track within the Robinson-Hale facility. Sam Kachouroff, a catcher for the Choctaw baseball team, explained how the facility is used by his team. According to the sophomore, the field, given its proximity to the weight room, became a convenient spot to train. Since most of his teammates had to walk past the field to get to their training facility, Kachouroff said that it was a perfect place to hold group workouts. “Especially for the pitchers, it helps them to be able to use the length of the field,” Kachouroff said.

More importantly, Choctaw soccer relies on the turf as a rainy-day backup. Justin Hasty, a defender for the MC men’s soccer team, commented on his use of the field. The senior explained how the team tends to avoid playing on their own field after heavy rain to prevent tearing up the grass. “This is when the football field comes in handy, we will use it as our practice field for the day and sometimes even games,” Hasty said.

MC’s athletic director is especially excited about intramural teams’ use of the field. “We have several intramural sports that play on the turf, and that’s pretty cool to see because I think they do enjoy being out there in that atmosphere,” Bizot said.

“It allows everyone at school a chance to be involved in some type of athletic event and have fun. I myself played an intramural game on the field and had a blast,” Hasty said. “The football field has lights, unlike the soccer field, so we can hold these events and even sometimes have late-night practices for [intramural] teams.”

Beyond sports at MC, the field sees the use of different groups and activities locally and statewide. “Anytime we can get people outside of our campus to come to our campus, Mississippi College is a real draw, so we’re excited about that,” Bizot said.

The Baptist Healthplex hosted exercise classes on the football field, emphasizing the facility’s role in the Clinton community. Mississippi College also has close ties with the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools (MAIS). The private school league hosts the MAIS state championship game on the football field.

“We’re trying to get them to have more games out here than just the one,” Bizot said. “So, instead of having one game this year, we’ll have three total, which will be really good because there’ll be schools from all around the state of Mississippi.”

As of right now, the cost of maintaining the field is minimal. MC owns a machine that cleans the baseball field as well as the football field. The electricity costs to activate the stadium lights are also minimal. Larger expenses are expected in the future when upgrades to the scoreboard and stadium lights become necessary.

“I feel very strongly that we’ve got to keep the stadium maintained because all of our sports do use it,” Bizot said. The athletic director stressed the field’s importance for MC sports; he said there are no plans to repurpose the football field for non-athletic use.

Bizot’s hope is that even with the absence of football, students will make full use of the field. “My goal, my vision one day is really trying to get the student body engaged with our track and field events and then trying to get them engaged maybe with a night soccer match or something,” Bizot said. “While still being respectful to all the teams that have played on that turf over the years.”

Bizot also sees its potential as a fixture for the Jackson area as a whole. “I hope we could continue to grow relationships with high schools that will want to come over, maybe play some games that are in a really good atmosphere,” Bizot said.

The Choctaws went into the tournament as the second seed after losing the regular season championship match to West Alabama a week prior.

The team drew a tough first round against the seventh seed Valdosta State — a team they had only beaten 4-3 in the regular season. However, after a decisive doubles point from lines two and three, the team was off to a good start. With wins from Alizee Ripolles, Julissa De Mata and Katharina Weber, the team advanced to the semifinals 4-0.

“I stayed focused on my goal, trusting in God, and believing in my ability to win the match,” De Mata said. “I was so happy to earn a point for my team and contribute on our journey to the next round.”

MC drew #6 Montevallo in the semifinals after a thrilling upset in the first round of the Montevallo vs. Lee match. MC once again took the doubles point with wins on the #1 and #3 court. Emma Roberts, line one, and De Mata, line three, put the Choctaws at an early 3-0 lead. However, with third sets in all four other singles matches, the match was tight.

Freshman team member Weber finished first, advancing the Choctaws to the finals with a score of 4-0.

“I’m really proud that I could clinch the first two matches, but even more proud of the whole team and everything we achieved together,” Weber said. “Everyone fought so hard, and I’m just grateful to be part of this team.”

MC once again faced off against West Alabama in the finals. After dropping the doubles point in close losses on courts two and three, the match was set to be a close one. The Choctaws took an early deficit losing court two 6-3, 6-3 to West Alabama’s Freshman of the Year, Alexa Milliam.

However, the Choctaws battled back with wins from De Mata and Weber to bring the team to 2-2.

Anna Hudson got the next court for the Choctaws with a score of 6-4, 6-3. Seniors Roberts and Ripolles were left on court. Ripolles saved multiple match points in the second set to go into a third set. As Ripolles played out her third set going down 2-5, Roberts was close in the second. After a long tiebreaker — including a five minute medical time out — Roberts clinched the match at 7-5, 7-6 (5). Ripolles did not finish, making the overall score 4-2.

“Playing next to these girls in the conference final was a dream come true,” Roberts said. “There is nothing quite like the feeling of hearing one of them yell that they won their match or hearing someone cheer for you from five courts away when you know they are tired. I am beyond grateful for this team and know I will remember the last moments of that match forever.”

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The team will advance to regionals on May 10-11. Draws and locations have not been announced.

The Choctaws came into this series having already clinched a spot in the playoffs, with a 18-12 conference record. The Statesmen had a record of 23-7 in conference play.

The Choctaws defeated Delta State in all 3 contests by scores of 7-4, 10-2, and 23-1. The final score was one of the largest margins of victory in Choctaw history, and the largest margin of victory ever vs. Delta State. The Choctaws improved their record to 21-12, which was enough to secure a fourth place finish and seed. The top four teams in the conference are separated by just two wins, making it anyone’s tournament to win.

The opening game of the series was senior night for the Choctaws, adding to the anticipation of the series. “Since it’s senior night, it’s a pretty big series.” Dylan Cope said before the series. “Being able to give the credit to the older guys on the squad, and with it being a rivalry that these guys have looked forward to it, it means that much more to us.”

Cope, a junior transfer to the Choctaw team, has pitched just over 26 innings this season. He has an ERA of 2.73.

“We want [to win against] Delta [State] to prove to ourselves, and others, what we’re really about.” Cope said. “This series is taking us into the tournament, and gives us a chance to test ourselves against the best in the conference.”

Another addition to the Choctaws team and bullpen this season was Caleb Peterson. Peterson has made 12 appearances and 12 starts as a pitcher, he has pitched the second most innings for the Choctaws this season.

“I’ve learned how to handle adversity as a pitcher this year,” Peterson said. “With this being my first season as a full time starter, I’ve faced many situations on the field I hadn’t experienced before. Now, being able to face anything on the mound is something that I’ll take with me going into next year.”

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The Choctaws incredible sweep against Delta State was one of the biggest achievements in program history, especially when considering the pre-season rankings.

“Honestly, being ranked so low in the pre-season is my favorite part of the whole thing.” Peterson said. “Obviously, no one knew what we had in Clinton, and it’s shown. It feels great to prove them all wrong.”

As far as his goals for the remainder of the season, Peterson made it very clear. “We are going to make a run in Oxford.” Peterson said. “We didn’t just make it in to make it. We are going to win the whole thing.”

A person that this rivalry does mean a lot to is senior pitcher, Jack Bell. Bell has pitched 13 innings for the Choctaws this year, and has shown senior leadership all through the season.

“This rivalry means a lot to me,” Bell said. “I love this team, and I believe in this team. We’ve got everything we need to be successful.”

“I’ve learned that all the little things and attention to detail matter,” Bell said. “I’ve learned that it’s not about the individual, but about the bigger picture.”

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As the team approaches the playoffs, the possibility of a conference championship is looming around the corner. The Choctaws have found success that outsiders had not expected and will look to do the same as they approach tournament weekend.

“The sky's the limit for this team.” Bell said. “We can go as far as we want if we keep this team mentality and stay locked in.”

The 2025 GSC Baseball Championship will be hosted in Oxford, Ala. starting on May 2.

Their next tournament, GSC women’s golf conference tournament, starts on Thursday. Ana Quintanilla, a sophomore member of the team, says the Lady Choctaws’ goal is to set school history as the first team to win conference and qualify for regionals.

The MC team is entering its fifth year, and it is clear the Choctaws are growing quickly as a program. The team has had multiple individual weekly award winners. Tina Honnef has won GSC Freshman of the Week twice this season. Ashlynd Madden has also won GSC Freshman of the Week twice this season, as well as Golfer of the Week.

The team is young, being comprised largely of freshmen; there are no upperclassmen members. Francisca Tallone, one of the two sophomores, attributes much of the team's success to the closeness of the team. “Our team has changed a lot this season,” Tallone said. “We had five new freshmen join, which brought a fresh energy and dynamic to the group. I think the support we give each other, both on and off the course, has played a big role in our success so far.”

“I believe a big part of our success this season has come from the strong team chemistry we’ve built,” Quintanilla said. “With four new players this year, it’s been a huge shift, but we’ve all connected really well and support each other constantly. That unity has made a big difference. Plus, our coach has played a crucial role; he's always there for us and pushes us to be our best every day.”

Sofia Mendez says the team is working hard to advance to post conference play. “We have a goal of going to regionals,” Mendez said. “We’re a few spots away, however, if we win the conference, we can do it. Conference is hard, and last year the team came in 5th, however, we’ve been preparing to see what we can do this year.”

Mendez believes the team's success has hinged on their coaching and hard work as a team. “I would contribute the team's success to our coach, for believing in us and bringing together this great group of girls,” Mendez said. “Also, I would contribute it to our work as a team and motivation to get better.”

Mendez and Tallone both emphasized their favorite part of the team was traveling together to compete. Mendez specifically mentioned the team’s trip to Miramichi. “It was all new to me, so I really just focused on my game, and at the end, we won as a team, and our former teammate Tina won,” Mendez said.

Tallone is excited for their next tournament: conference. “I’ve been working hard for it, and I’m hopeful that we’ll do well as a team,” Tallone said.

“I’m most looking forward to the conference tournament, Quintanilla said. “It’s the moment we’ve been preparing for all season, and I’m excited to give it everything I’ve got. I really want all the hard work and dedication we've put into training to show on the course. It's the perfect opportunity to compete at our highest level.”

The GSC tournament is April 17-18 in Tunica, Miss.

The Mississippi College throwers started and ended the meet in impressive fashion. Both Rebecca Zweerink and her teammate Kennedy Thompson broke the school record for the women’s discus. Thompson ultimately walked away with the record, as well as a lifetime best of 42.18m.

“Overall, I’m proud of my performance this weekend,” Thompson said. “The hammer didn’t go as planned, but I had a huge breakthrough in the discus, as I PR’d and set a new school record. I had been struggling with this event and wasn’t seeing the results from practice transfer over to competition, so it feels really good to just trust the process and believe in what I can do.”

“One thing this meet taught me was just to be patient and trust the process,” Thompson said. “God has a plan for us, and our time is coming.”

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Events began on Friday, April 4 with PRs in the 200m from both Hilary Udechukwu and Livia Fisher, who placed 17th and 18th respectively. That momentum carried into the 800 that saw Cole Benoit run a season best of 1:51.47, which was good for a new #38 in Division II. In the invite 1500s, Taylor Benoit secured 10th on the women’s side with a new Division II #32, and Sid Stegall ran a well-executed race on the men's side in a time that puts him fourth in the GSC.

After those events, the final event of the night took place: the 5000m run, which featured six Choctaw athletes. On a windy night, the squad executed a race that saw them take 5 of the top 10 spots.

“It was really nerve-racking, to be honest,” freshman Sam Haber said. “I don’t usually get nervous or nauseous before races, but about five minutes before the gun went off, it hit me all at once. Nonetheless, I knew I had to get out there and believe that I belonged in the race.”

Haber was the only freshman the Choctaws entered in the field. He was looking to improve on his already terrific freshman campaign.

On Saturday, the sprinting events took full focus. The 100m squad of Davion Smith, Damone Daniels, and Jamric Hill took to the blocks in a very competitive field. Hill, a veteran on the team, described the performance of the crew as very encouraging. “The sprints as a whole did a fantastic job with a lot of season’s bests, personal records and even competed to the best of their ability,” Hill said.

“I just try being the encourager of the team, trying to lift everyone up, and remind them that not every day is going to be a PR but it’s about did I give it my all, and in the end thanking God for the ability to run for his glory,” Hill said.

Other highlights of the day include Livia Fisher running a PR of 11.98 in the 100m, Hilary Udechukwu finishing 9th in a competitive 400m field, and Jamaric Hill running a season best in the 200m.

Two of the final Saturday events saw Oliver Ollesch and Matias Vasquez run both the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay within roughly 20 minutes of each other. Ollesch and Vasquez secured fourth and fifth, respectively, with a PR from Ollesch. Not 20 minutes later, the duo helped the MC 4x400m team reach a #9 rank among all the 4x400m teams in Division II.

“It was a solid day for both races; I ran my second best time ever in the hurdles, which gave me confidence for the next meet,” Vasquez said. “In the 4x400, we ran a good time for the first time running with the A team, so we can definitely cut some time off in the weeks coming.”

“I just try to take it event by event,” Vasquez said. “I was in my head a little bit after the hurdles, but I tried to just forget about it in the moment and give my all on the relay.”

The Choctaws will have a split squad this week with a couple of distance runners competing at Lee University at The Fast Break Athletics Invitational on Friday, April 11, and the rest of the squad competing at the Rhodes Seven Way meet on Saturday, April 12.

Mississippi College baseball continued their successful season last weekend with a three-game sweep over Trevecca Nazarene. The last game against Trevecca Nazarene brought head coach Jeremy Hayworth to his 300th career win.

The Choctaws’ conference record is now 13-8, and their overall record is 22-12. Now just past midseason, the team hopes to maintain their success from past games.

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JT Vance and Korey Cooper started the season off both earning spots on the Preseason All-Gulf South Conference Team. Vance also earned a spot on the NCBWA All-Region Team. Bryce LaRocca, a senior, was most recently named GSC player of the week.

Holland Townes, another senior on the baseball team, recently earned the Gulf South Conference pitcher of the week. For the same performance, he earned the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association South Region Pitcher of the Week. Townes also earned a spot in the record books with the most strikeouts in a game (11) since 2019.

Townes contributed a majority of the team’s success to their relentlessness. “Since we started the season 7-8, I would say the largest contributor to our success is our relentlessness,” Townes said. “We had a slow start, then got to taste some success and ran with it. Now, we just need to continue playing with the confidence we have.”

After a slow start, the Choctaws opened up March with a ten game win streak. Now that the team is moving into the latter half of the season, Townes says the team is aiming for a championship. “Our primary team goal entering the back half of the season is to win the regular season GSC and ultimately the GSC tournament,” Townes said. “We definitely have the pieces and team chemistry to make it happen. Individually, I want to help my team win as many games as possible.”

Cooper, LaRocca, and Jordan Evans are leading the Choctaws batting averages at .413, .383, and .318 respectively. Townes and Caleb Peterson are leading the teams ERA at 4.84 and 5.81. Tyler Jacobsen is leading out in the field for the Choctaws with 144 putouts and 17 assists.

Townes stated the team has been focused on playing loose and having fun in order to bring about their best performance. As the season has its ups and downs, Townes says the team is trying to use any momentum they can gather while staying humble acknowledging no streak will likely last forever.

“I am looking forward to competing with my teammates against some of the more historically successful programs in the GSC and proving that we are a force this year,” Townes said.

Off the heels of a losing weekend at Valdosta State, the team is set to travel back home to play Christian Brothers. The series will start Friday, April 4.

This weekend’s dropped double header against Valdosta State broke the win streak and set the team back to #3 in the GSC. Valdosta State now sits in the conference’s top spot. Still, the Lady Choctaws face the remainder of their season with resilience and optimism.

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Two players who have stepped up big for the Choctaws this season are junior transfer Madelynn England and freshman sensation Blakely Gill. England has been impressive at third base all season, as has Gill in the position of catcher. Both players are batting over .400 for the season with 33 RBI’s for Gill and 17 for England, ranking first and second respectively on the team.

As a freshman, Gill has had a start that no one could have expected, including herself. “I made goals for myself before the season, but didn’t really know what those would look like,” Gill said. “I worked really hard and got after it but I really never expected it to be going as well as it has so far, but I definitely worked hard for it.”

The Choctaws’ 15 game win streak was the longest standing in the conference and something that many saw as a surprise after a rocky start to conference play. However, England spoke to the team’s resilient attitude.

“I think this team has a lot of grit and resilience; I don’t think we have gone down without a fight, even if it’s been late in the game and we haven’t started hot, we’ve found a way to score runs,” England said. “We’ve found a way for our pitching and offense to come together, it’s not just one piece anymore, and I think that’s a large reason we’ve been able to roll through teams like we are right now.”

In the midst of a winning streak this impressive, the Choctaws’ goals aren’t just to win in the conference, but also on the national scale.

“Ultimately, we want to win a national championship,” England said. “I think that has to be the goal. We try to look at the big picture, everything that we do and every practice that we have we are thinking of this goal. We do a good job keeping a game-to-game mentality, but the biggest goal we have right now is to win a national championship.”

Gill has the same hopes for the team, but individually, she also hopes to continue to put together spectacular performances. “For the team, obviously, I want to win a national championship, and for myself, I just want to keep going and developing at the rate I’m going,” Gill said.

As a freshman, Gill has looked to the guidance from upperclassmen who have helped her in her first year. “I think all the older girls, especially the older pitchers on the team, just kind of brought me in and reassured me all the time that I’m here for a reason,” Gill said. “They tell me I might be young, but I’m here to do a job, and never let me get too down, and if I do, they pick me back up.”

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Perhaps the most impressive part of the Choctaws team right now is the depth of batting, with three girls batting above .400. England credits some of this success to her pre-hit mentality and her supportive teammates.

“I pride myself in my confidence,” England said. “My journey with softball has been rocky. I really had to work for everything I have, and knowing that when I step in the box that everyone in the dugout has faith in me that I’m going to execute whatever is in front of me, really is a huge part of why I’ve been so successful and why I hope to continue to be so successful.”

The Choctaws will host Christian Brothers starting on Friday, April 4 at 5 p.m.

“You never want to see a coach leave, but I just kind of knew that if the position ever became open, I would want to hire Josh Brooks,” Athletic Director Kenny Bizot said. “We need someone who wants to be at this institution and cares about Mississippi College. He’s been here before, he’s a graduate and is a very good basketball coach.”

Coach Brooks graduated from Mississippi College, where he received a degree in mathematics and spent four years on the basketball team. Coach Brooks stated in his welcome address that he believes that because he wasn’t the best player, he saw the game in a different way than most players.

“I wasn’t a very good player, and looking back now that’s a very good thing because I was able to see the game differently,” Brooks said. “I knew from the time I was 15 years old that I wanted to be a basketball coach, and I was able to get a blueprint of how to do that from Coach Jones.”

Jones was Brooks' coach during his time at Mississippi College. Jones not only coached Brooks in the game of basketball, but also allowed him to grow in his faith.

“He showed me not only what it means to be a coach that’s a Christian, but also to be a Christian coach,” Brooks said.

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A large part of the hiring process at Mississippi College is looking at the person himself just as much as what he’s achieved throughout his career. Coach Bizot saw Coach Brooks' character as just as important in making this decision.

“Whether he was 4-21 or 21-4 it wouldn’t have changed my mind,” Bizot said. “I knew that’s the guy I wanted to be here, and I think it was a God thing with the timing, and everything coming together so well to get him to come here.”

Coach Bizot and Brooks’ both stated that they have goals to win, and bring a championship to the school.

“We’re going to work as hard as we can to bring a championship back here,” Brooks said. “When we do, it will be in large part because of the sacrifices you made in me and in this program.”

Another goal Coach Bizot has for this team is to get the community involved more than it has been over the past few years.

“One thing I would like to see immediately is more people engaged at our games; I want to get our students involved and more of our community there,” Bizot said. “Our coach needs to go out on campus and be seen, and raise support with our students and community to get them more involved.”

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In his final remarks of his welcome speech, Coach Brooks addressed why he loves coaching the game of basketball, mentioning that it’s not only to win, but develop great men.

“I was just sharing with the guys, the reason why Mississippi College basketball exists, and the reason why I love to coach, is to train men for greatness,” Brooks said. “For me greatness is defined by the bible. The difference is the world doesn’t define greatness the same way that I do. And I’m happy to be in a place that does define it the same way that I do, the same way that Jesus does, which is putting other people first.”

Coach Brooks will spend the offseason building a staff and roster, and will take charge in his first game come winter of 2025.

The women’s team went 1-2 over the break, beating PBA 4-0, falling 3-4 to St. Leo, and losing to Barry 0-4. St. Leo is currently ranked 45th, while Barry is third in the country. The Mississippi College team went up to #15 after the trip. The women’s record is now 9-3. Emma Roberts is ranked individually at 26th, and Rocio Martinez is ranked 35th. Roberts and Ana De Mata are ranked 40th in doubles with Anna Hudson and Alizee Ripolles close behind at 49th.

The men’s team fared similarly, going 1-2 as well. The team won 4-0 against PBA, lost 1-4 to #17 St. Leo, and 2-5 to #8 Barry. The men’s record is 7-5 post spring break. The team is currently ranked 23rd. Alex Blanchard is ranked fourth in the country individually. Rafael Sabio and Gustavo Tedesco are ranked #38 in doubles.

Choctaw tennis will play Southern Arkansas on Wednesday, March 19 at home before opening up conference play at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21 against Auburn Montgomery.

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On the men’s side, it was a contest that saw Delta State shoot lights out from 3 point range. The Statesmen took a commanding 16 point lead in the first half, off the back of a 10 for 19 performance from 3 point land and a 50% overall field goal percentage. Totalling up 44 points, the Statesmen not only had it going offensively, but also limited the Choctaws to just 9 field goals in the first half.

The Choctaws responded in the second half, but it was too little too late. The Delta State offense continued to roll, putting up 49 points in the second half on 59% shooting. The Choctaw offense showed improvement in the second half with a 64% shooting performance, and Rashad Bolden and Tremaine Dixon had solid showings offensively – but defensively, the team could not contain the Statesmen.

“We dug ourselves into a hole in the first half,” Head Coach Randy Bolden said. “Looking at the numbers, it was an even second half, but we dug ourselves a hole in the first half and we couldn’t get back. They’ve got a really good team, and they do a good job of spreading you out defensively and making defenders over commit, and when that happens they make you pay with the three point shot, and they were making them tonight.”

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The Choctaws had only one senior on the roster this year, Tyshun Briscoe, speaking to the youth of the team. Despite the Choctaws not getting the win on his senior night, Briscoe put up 11 points and 2 assists to finish off an impressive collegiate career.

“We valued his leadership and just his everyday approach,” Bolden said. “He’s not a loud guy, he’s going to speak with his action, and we’re going to miss him.”

The Choctaws finished the regular season with a conference record of 4-18, missing the GSC tournament. However, the season saw flashes of a young core that has the potential to turn the program around next year.

For the Lady Choctaws, it’s a different story. They got the job done against Delta State in an important game for the team: the Lady Choctaws both avenged their loss to Delta State earlier in the season and entered the GSC tournament with a win. In a close game, the Choctaws pulled away off the back of a strong defensive effort in the third and fourth quarters, limiting Delta State to just 20 points in the second half.

The player of the game, perhaps, was Amelia Bell. The junior from Illinois put up 14 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists to help the Choctaws secure the win.

“Defense wins games, and I think Amelia and Sky [Vaughn] showed that four years in a program and the pride they play with wins games,” Head Coach Greg Long said. “We’ve made the tournament three out of the four years that they’ve been here, and that’s a great testament to them.”

“Ending the season with a win is always special, especially against a rival,” junior Karly Ivy said. “This game was even more special for the seniors. Even though I couldn’t be out there, seeing my team battle and end up on top meant everything.”

Ivy was a preseason All-GSC selection who had a season-ending injury last fall. The team, however, rallied in spite of her absence and made the GSC tournament.

“This team has played with so much heart all season,” Ivy said. “Through every up and down, their resilience has been incredible to watch.”

Heading into the tournament, the Lady Choctaws have played each of the top three teams in extremely close games in the second half of the season. Ivy believes this game could give them exactly what they need heading into a first round matchup against Lee.

“This win gives us the momentum we need going into the tournament,” Ivy said. “We have proven that we can compete with the toughest teams in this conference, and that gives us a lot of confidence moving forward. When we play together and stay locked in, we put ourselves in a great spot to win. If we bring this same energy and focus, we have a great chance to be competitive in the GSC tournament, and make a strong run.”

The Lady Choctaws will begin GSC tournament play in Cleveland, Tennessee on March 4 at 5 p.m. with a first round matchup against Lee University.

With a key injury to standout performer Grayson Foster, several Choctaws were required to step up more than they had before. Head Coach Joe Snyder was pleased with the team's overall performance.

“I was really happy with how we competed,” said Snyder. “I think we’re missing a few pieces, but as a whole we’re growing a lot as a team, and I’m super happy with the way they competed. We talk a lot about what it means to compete F.R.E.E., which stands for fearless, relaxed, engaged, and enthusiastic, and I really think athletes are beginning to understand that concept, which is going to bring out the best in our performance.”

The Choctaws instill the meaning of competing F.R.E.E. to all facets of competition, including the throwing events. The throwers saw two conference champions in the shot put and weight throw through Bryan Puckett and James David Miller, respectively. Fellow Choctaw Steven Conrad secured second place in both of those events as well.

“We’re just like one big family,” Puckett said. “We go out to eat together, we hang out all the time. These guys have been my brothers ever since I got on campus.”

Puckett secured the win in the shot put event with a mark of 17.22 meters, a feat that “It was crazy,” Puckett said. “Me and Coach knew this was a possibility, and even a year ago I felt like I could have won it, but the feeling of doing it is surreal.”

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Girls’ school record holder in the 3,000 meter run, Taylor Benoit, took third in one of the deepest fields in the meet. “It was definitely interesting and very fun,” Benoit said. “No one made any moves, which made the first 1k feel very relaxed. At that point, someone began to push the pace, and it was time for the race to really start. Coach Webber encouraged me that I belonged in the top three, and so with 400 to go, I made a gear change and gave it everything I had and ended up third. It was an incredible feeling, racing with some very talented girls and getting this opportunity.”

Benoit later went on to anchor a DMR team that placed second at the meet. She also ran as the third leg in a 4x400 that placed third. Benoit walked away with three medals on the day.

For Benoit, though, the weekend wasn’t about the medals. “Recently, my goals have just been to enjoy the moment and the gift of running rather than my performance,” Benoit said. “I feel like I executed that, and it makes these races so much more meaningful to me.”

Senior distance captain Christian Balcer competed in three events over the weekend, securing two third place finishes and a ninth place finish in the 800, which he did from the slowest heat.

In order to mentally and physically prepare for races, Balcer attempts to approach them one at a time. “I took it race by race,” Balcer said. “I solely focused on the DMR leg on Thursday, and didn’t think about the other events until after it was finished. It’s not until I cooled down from that first race that I began to think about the mile the next day.”

As a four year member of the team, Balcer admires that his teammates celebrate each individual's wins. “We’re always there for each other,” Balcer said. “I think we’re very good at celebrating people regardless of their spot on the team. Maybe someone didn’t make a final but they PR’d – that’s something we celebrate and something I think is pretty special about our culture.”

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Other Choctaw standouts included Damone Daniels, who won the long jump; Hilary Udechukwu, who won the women’s 400 and set a school record; Davion Smith, who scored in both the 60m and the 200m; and Evan Wrights, who anchored the GSC championship 4x400 team and placed second in the 800, as well as running the 800 leg on the national qualifying men’s DMR. These performances, along with several other scoring and podium performances, gave the Choctaws something to build on as the team approaches the outdoor season.

“It’s really just taking the focus off of yourself and your performance and thinking of it as a way to glorify God with the gifts that he’s given us,” Coach Snyder said. “Looking outside yourself and putting your absolute best attitude and effort into everything you do, those are two things that you can control, and you can never be disappointed if you do those two things.”

The Choctaws will begin their outdoor season on Saturday, March 1 with a home opener beginning at 8 a.m.

The Choctaws roster contains just seven players, with five of them being international students. Freshman Desiree Herden from Sydney, Australia says all the girls have been very welcoming. “Being one of the internationals, I have found it very easy to settle into the team,” said Herden. “The girls have a welcoming and encouraging team spirit, which makes it easy to consider these girls as family.”

Herden has been playing golf since age 11 through the influence of her father. When she was presented with the opportunity to come to the United States, Mississippi College stood out to her. “MC really stood out because of the coach – he is very caring and ambitious,” said Herden. “Also MC, being a small school, stood out to me. I wanted to know people walking around the campus, and the community at MC really made it feel special.”

One major advantage of the Mississippi College golf program is its recently constructed indoor simulator, which allows players to practice indoors when outdoor conditions aren't ideal and provides a great opportunity to focus on improving technical skills. “It’s really good to have to work on our yardages,” said freshman Callie Mobley. “It’s also really good for looking into our swing mechanics and working on our club speed.”

The simulator began usage in 2023. “They will have a place to meet, work on their golf games, and have a study hall without having to leave campus,” said Athletic Director Kenny Bizot. “The facility will provide our players with first-rate technology, which will help with their overall performance in their sport.”

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Having access to that facility is helpful for the team, but Mobley points out that it is different from playing outside. “During the winter months we really just have to suck it up, and get out there and go play,” Mobley said. “If it’s cold, we still have to go out there, practice and get ready to go.”

Mobley is one of the two players on the roster from the United States. Hailing from Brandon, Mississippi, Mobley prepares for each tournament by going over a mantra in her head. “I normally just tell myself ‘fairways and greens,'” said Mobley. “I go into every tournament telling myself I have specific shots I need to hit today.”

Despite golf being an individual sport, team mentality is an important aspect of tournament play. “Team-wise, we plan to meet at least once every 2 weeks or so to catch up and plan our semester as a team,” Herden said.

The Lady Choctaws’ next outing will take place February 17-18. The Wolfpack Invitational will begin a spring season that will see the team play in four more tournaments, leading up to the GSC championship.

The women played first, opening the impressive day at 11:00 a.m. The doubles point was quick and decisive, with all three teams winning. Emma Roberts and Julissa De Mata won 6-2 at line one; Katharina Weber and Rocio Martinez won 6-3 at line two; and Ann Cabot Stockett and Alizee Ripolles won 6-3 at line three.

From there, the team went into singles, where each overall match point counts as one point. Roberts won at line one 7-6 (7-0), 2-6; 11-9. De Mata won at line two 6-3, 6-4. Martinez won 6-4, 6-4 at line three. Weber won at line four 6-4, 6-4. Ripolles won 6-2, 6-7; 12-10 at line five. Anna Hudson won line six 6-4, 6-4. With all six singles matches and the doubles point secured, the Choctaws took the match 7-0.

Overall, the women’s team was pleased with the match. “Competing at home next to my teammates is a special feeling,” Roberts said. “The girls are ready to fight this season. Getting to hear our freshman, Kathi, yell that she won her first set, listening to Rocio fight for every point, and finishing the match watching Ali win in a third set tiebreak just makes me more and more excited for the season. I recommend coming out to watch my fellow senior, Jules, compete this season. She is one of my favorite tennis players to watch, and she’s a winner.”

Hudson, Roberts’ co-captain, could not agree more. “I felt super prepared as we went into our first match knowing that we have put in the work on and off the court,” Hudson said. “I am excited for more matches to come, and I am confident our group of girls can take the GSC title home this year!”

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The men played following the women. Alvaro Saint Martin and Alex Blanchard started off the match strong, winning 7-5, while Rafeal Sabio and Gustavo Tedesco secured the win 6-4. Florian Walchar and Sergio Ramirez were set to play line three, but JSU defaulted due to sickness. Two out of three doubles matches secured the doubles point, making the Choctaws up 1-0 going into singles.

Tedesco and Blanchard both took their matches in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 and 6-3, 7-5 respectively. Walchar and Saint Martin both had decisive third set tiebreakers 10-2 and 10-3. Sabio played a full third, winning 6-2. JSU defaulted line six due to illness. With all six singles points secured, the Choctaws completed the sweep.

However, Blanchard thinks the team is just getting started. “We still felt a little rusty,” Blanchard said. “It's far from being perfect. Our tennis is not fully back yet, but it’s getting better everyday. We’re coming back slowly but surely. It's just the process, and we’ll be ready to roll on Sunday for the first regular season match. It was good to be back in the competition environment though.

Saint Martin was excited to finally take the court as a team. “The match felt great, and taking a win makes it feel even better. It's great to share it with the team.”

The teams are set to play next in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on Sunday, February 16.

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The team is largely made up of underclassmen with three new freshmen this year: Alex Augustine, Cole Flesher, and Landon Germany. Flesher has already broken into the scoring five for the Choctaws.

Jeffery Lebeau, a senior from Sherbrooke, Ontario, has consistently been a top finisher for the Choctaws. Prepping for the spring season, Lebeau stated the Choctaws have been practicing five times a week alongside morning weight sessions. The team practices by either playing nine holes, 18 holes, or using the driving range. They will also do qualifying rounds to determine the starting five for their next upcoming tournament.

Lebeau also talked about how grateful he was for their brand new golf facility, the McMath Golf Facility, on rainy days. He also stated the team has been using an app called Decade to help analyze and enhance their practices.

Lebeau believes the team’s camaraderie is what differentiates them from other teams. “Golf is a sport that's very individual, but at tournaments, you count the 4 best rounds out of the 5 starting players, which makes you strive to work on your game collectively to help keep accountability through the team,” Lebeau said. “Additionally, I think our team has some very different, vibrant personalities which keeps team gatherings funny and interesting to say the least.”

Lebeau wants to set MC history this year and go farther than the GSC conference tournament as a team. “Individually, myself, I'd like to make it past conference, but ideally our program makes it past conference for the first time since joining the GSC, which would be our goal for this spring season.”

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Lebeau is graduating this semester after three years at MC. His goal is to finish the season strong with his team. “This is my last semester in college completing my MBA,” Lebeau said. “I've been at MC for three years, two as captain, and hopefully our team succeeds in its objectives to make it past conference. I simply want to enjoy my time and compete hard with my friends and teammates.”

Will Porter, a junior on the team, says Coach Ethan Doan has faith in their team. “I think this team has a lot of hard working guys who are willing to put in a lot of effort to become better,” Porter said. “Coach has told us this is the best team we’ve had since he has been here, so that is making us drive to become better.”

The real headline this weekend for the team, though, was the experience.

“Walking down the Astros tunnel leading to the gate of the field was an awesome experience,” said pitcher Dylan Cope. “The sheer size of the stadium stood out to me. Seeing how many people come to watch MLB games and knowing I was on that field made the experience so incredible.”

Cope is a transfer from Florida State College and joined the Choctaws’ bullpen this year. Cope played two seasons for FSC before transferring to Mississippi College. He described pitching in Daikin Park as incomparable. “The experience pitching on the mound was something I have never felt in my life,” Cope said. “My heartbeat was beating faster than ever; it made it difficult to stay in the moment of the game rather than the field itself.”

The Choctaws were able to experience big league amenities, such as sitting in the team dugouts, using the Astros’ own batting cages, warming up and having batting practice on the field, and touring the facility’s locker rooms.

Of the three games the Choctaws played, all of them were decided by three runs or less. That includes a heartbreaking loss on Friday (3-2) and an impressive comeback win on Sunday (13-10). The Choctaws entered the 9th inning of game three versus Arkansas Tech down 10-6; the Choctaws rallied seven runs to take the lead 13-10 before closing it out defensively.

“Seeing the comeback unfold on Sunday was like no other,” Cope said. “We had a different type of fire lit inside each of us on Sunday when JT hit the go-ahead double. As a unit, we plan on bringing that with us for each game to come.”

The three game experience motivated the team to push as much as possible to achieve their goals this season. “The moment game three ended, I think it immediately motivated us to want more and expect more out of each other and this team collectively,” Cope said. “We want to keep that fire going within one another for the next coming months to see where we can really end up. It definitely opened my eyes to thinking how well the pros handle the crowds of 40,000 so calmly, like they aren’t even there. Without a doubt, it motivated me to want to get to [the GSC championship] to compete in front of a great crowd for something no one can take from us.”

For now, the Choctaws are back in Clinton. This weekend’s contest is a three-game home series against North Georgia starting February 7.

This year, the men have earned a preseason national ranking of 18th. Individually this fall, Blanchard was ranked seventh in the country. Blanchard and Rafeal Sabio were listed at 20th as a doubles pairing. Blanchard finished fifth at individual nationals this fall and second in conference.

Although the team did not receive a bid to regionals last season, Alex Blanchard was recognized with several accolades, including ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA All-American, and both GSC Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year.

The team is coached by Coach Michael Ward. Ward is in his third season with the Choctaws. Brady McDaniel, a former member of the men’s team, is in his second season as assistant coach. McDaniel earned the ITA South Region Assistant Coach of the Year last season. Senior Alvaro Saint Martin and junior Blanchard co-captain the team.

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The team recently graduated two former players: Joe Jarvis and Matías Ballatore. Harry Forsyth and Florian Walcher – two freshmen from Australia and Germany, respectively – took their places after Christmas. Gustavo Tedesco, another freshman from Brazil returning from the fall, will also be competing for the first time with the team. Blanchard said the new players are a good fit for the team.

“I think the new players are really good additions to the team,” Blanchard said. “They’re a great fit, and we have a good team environment. I think how close everyone is this spring will help us a lot in making the team special.”

Saint Martin agreed, emphasizing how excited he was to compete with them. “I’m ready to compete with these guys. We have a new group, three new guys I’m looking forward to competing with. Getting them acclimated has been great.”

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Blanchard and the team are antsy to start. “It’s been a while, and we haven’t played any competition,” Blanchard said. “The last one was probably at the end of October, and I think everyone’s missing competition. I think we’re a competitive team – we play better in season than in practice, so I think everyone’s ready for the season to start once we get started. I think we’ll get better and better, and we have good objectives too for the end of the season.”

Saint Martin said the team has been working hard on and off the court, and they are ready to start working towards the postseason. “We want to win a championship,” he said. “That’s the whole goal. First, we have to go step by step building each day our conditioning, our tennis, and prepping for every match.”

Saint Martin says the team stands out because of their mind set and capabilities. “Our fight and our capacity to be in every match, to compete, I think that’s what makes us special,” he said.

The team's home opener is February 7th, 2025 against Jackson State.

The team enters this year with several new faces in the lineup. With four graduating seniors, third year head coach Michael Ward has brought in five new players to the roster, including two freshmen and three transfers.

Senior captain, Emma Roberts, believes that, despite the squad being much different from last year, the new players have done an excellent job fitting in with the team.

“I knew that five new girls would be an adjustment, but our coach did a very nice job recruiting both good tennis players and solid teammates,” Roberts said. “I am beyond excited to come together even more as a team this season. We have different people and different personalities, but I am super excited to see how this team grows and just as excited that we have the support of our old teammates behind us.”

Coming off a season as impressive as last year's, the team has ambitious goals. Senior from Madison, Mississippi, Ann Cabot Stockett, has high hopes for the Choctaws this season. “My goals for this team are to win the conference tournament, and additionally to be in the top 10 Division II teams nationally,” Stockett said.

“Individually, I’m striving to be a supportive and dedicated teammate,” Stockett said. “My next goal is to give my all in every match, and find a way to win each match, no matter the challenges.”

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Achieving these goals requires putting in the work during the off-season. “We have been preparing through intensive workouts and on-court sessions,” Roberts said. “Our coach is a big proponent of fitness, so we’ve been attempting to get into peak shape going into the season.”

At the start of each season, motivation comes easily, but as the season goes on and the early mornings and late nights start to take a toll, it’s common for that motivation to fade. Stockett believes her goals keep her motivation focused. “When I have specific goals to achieve, staying focused on what I want to accomplish keeps me motivated,” Stockett said. “Additionally, the support and encouragement from my family, amazing teammates, and coach inspire me to keep pushing forward.”

When the schedule comes out at the beginning of the season, certain players will circle matches on the calendar that they specifically look forward to. For Roberts, each match holds the same weight. “For me, I am excited for all of the matches; getting to play these matches is a privilege,” Roberts said. “College tennis combines my love of tennis with the joy of being a member of a team. I get to play for my teammates because every point affects them too, and every match I want to show them that they can trust me to fight and that I care about them.”

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A tennis season runs from early February until late April, with a lot of competition and travel. Balancing academics with a season like this is a tall task for any athlete. Stockett believes there’s a combination of things needed to be successful in this area. “It’s a combination of discipline, organization, and knowing what to prioritize at the moment,” Stockett said. “I also get tutoring if needed, and let my professors know about my athletic commitments.”

As a team, organizing time to spend together off the court is just as important as working together on the court. “The girls and I always find ways to spend time together – whether that’s watching movies, playing board games, or enjoying homemade cookies from Emma and Elena [Roberts],” Stockett said.

The Choctaws begin match play in usual fashion, as they head to Jackson State on February 7. This begins a series of out-of-conference play until a home matchup against Montevallo on March 4 starts GSC play.

Senior leader on this year's team, JT Vance, recognizes the privilege of getting to play on a stage as big as this. “We’re really excited to have the opportunity that we do,” said Vance. “It is truly a blessing that we get to go out there and compete.”

Vance is no stranger to big achievements. The senior from Union, Mississippi, led last year’s team in batting average, home runs, hits, and RBI’s. These accomplishments earned Vance a preseason all-GSC selection. The Choctaws had two representatives for this selection, with Korey Cooper also being honored. “It is an honor to be named preseason all-GSC, especially since this is my last year,” Vance said.

For Vance, trying to follow up a season as impressive as last year’s is a tall task. He just focuses on doing his job as best he can.

“My main goal this season is just to do my job, and be a better leader for the people around me,” Vance said.

“JT is a guy who wants to win, and is a guy that cares about his teammates,” said Head Coach Jeremy Haworth. “He’s had to prove himself everywhere he’s gone, and so it’s nice to see him get the recognition he deserves. Now he has to go out there and prove it all over again.”

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The team comes into this season ranked #10 in the GSC and off a 10-20 record in conference play last year. Pitching was a struggle last season for the Choctaws, as the team had an average ERA of 6.32, playing a total of 15 pitchers throughout the season.

The Choctaws say preseason rankings won’t affect the mentality of the team. “We put zero stock into rankings,” Haworth said. “Those are all going to be based on what the previous year was. There’s games last year that we should’ve won, then all of a sudden we would have been in seventh place and made the tournament. My second year here, we were picked to finish ninth and finished fourth, so I really don’t put any stock into it.”

Impressive stats and wins are accolades that every team hopes to accomplish, but the main goal for this Choctaw team is unity. “At the end of the day, our main goal is just to come together as men and fight through adversity,” Haworth said. “In baseball, you’re going to fail, no matter what, and it’s how you handle it. Handling those adversities is a big goal of ours. If we can do this effectively, we’re going to be good.”

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Last season, the Choctaws finished #12 in the conference and 4 games away from the GSC tournament, which made it important to make moves in the offseason that show growth in the abilities of the team.

“The bullpen was a really big factor when we talked about restructuring the pitching staff,” Haworth said. “We brought in quite a few bullpen pieces that we feel really good about. We’ve seen these guys come in and throw a lot of strikes, now they just have to believe they can do it all the time.”

The Choctaws have brought in several new faces to the roster. “The new guys have come in and fit in perfectly,” said Vance. “Their talent and their effort everyday has been a huge asset to the team.”

The Choctaws begin tournament play in Houston on January 31, and begin conference play on Friday February 14, against West Alabama.

The team is coached by Leigh Streetman, who joined the team as an assistant coach in 2017. This is Streetman’s first season as head coach for the Choctaws. Longtime coach Brooke O’Hair stepped down upon finishing her 18th season at MC. The team’s assistant coach is Jordan LaFosse, a MC graduate who earned first team for the Gulf South Conference last season.

Last year's team finished 48-9 on the year and 26-4 in conference. The team lost to AUM in the NCAA Super Regionals after shattering multiple team and individual records.

Camryn Bailey, a junior who was tabbed to the Gulf South Conference first team, will be a returner to watch this season. The team has also added on six new freshmen: Blakely Gill, Ashlyn Rodgers, Bella Myers, AK Willingham, Kallee Nichols, and Sarah Lee. At Christmas, the team added two juniors: Megan Matheis and Gaddy Utsey. Preseason honors include Bailey and Shelby Samples being added to the GSC all-conference preseason team. The team received a ranking of 4th in the Gulf South Conference.

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The Choctaws created a goal system dubbed the “Stairway to Success.” The stairway leads to the team’s final goal: playing in the national championship. Streetman believes the team has been putting in work everyday to reach this goal.

“The main goal is to be playing on the last day possible of Division II softball, which is May 28th, 2025,” Streetman said. “That’s the day of the national championship game. Everything leading up to that would be going undefeated at home, GSC championship, and doing all the little things it takes to the date of May 28th.”

Ava Dover, a sophomore on the team, says the team is prepped and ready to go. “Our head coach, Leigh Streetman, has taken every step to keep our team accountable and to achieve success,” Dover said. “Success for our team is working diligently through every play, swing, and attitude on the field. We are a well-oiled machine.”

As far as mindsets, Streetman says the team is focusing on playing standard MC softball and not worrying about who their opponent is that day.

“We’ve been trying to put a lot of emphasis on not putting emphasis on who we’re playing,” Streetman said. “We’re treating every game the same and playing MC softball. That’s our mindset going into opening weekend and moving forward throughout our schedule, just doing what we do best and capitalizing on that.”

Dover believes there is nothing that the team can not face. “There are many things that make our softball team special, but the personalities and willingness to get better everyday is what makes this team special,” Dover said. “There is no obstacle that this team could not overcome.”

Dover emphasized what a role her faith has played in furthering the team’s sense of community. “My favorite part about being on the MC softball team is the community, and opportunity to grow in my faith and as a player. One of the many things our team stands by is the Lord. We don’t play for an audience, we play for him and his glory.”

The team's first home game will be February 15th against West Alabama. Streetman says she’s excited to see what the season brings.