June 21, 2017
Several East Central Community College student-athletes received state and national recognition for academic performance during the 2016-17 academic year on the Decatur campus.
In all, 50 ECCC student-athletes were recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges, or both organizations.
The NJCAA presents awards in three categories: NJCAA All-Academic First Team (for those achieving a perfect 4.0 grade-point average); NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.80 to 3.99 GPA); and NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (3.60 to 3.79 GPA).
Receiving the NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence and their respective high schools were Andrew Bernard (men’s soccer) of Southeast Lauderdale, Laneisha Jeans (women’s basketball) of Pine Forest (Fla.), Taylor Johnson (softball) of Nanih Waiya, Julia Johnston (women’s tennis) of Florence, Tom Langelaar (men’s tennis) of Veldhoven, Netherlands, Maggie Luke (women’s soccer) of Newton County, Kaylin McCree (women’s basketball) of Newton County, TaNissa McNair (women’s soccer) of Forest, Chaney Mills (women’s tennis) of Newton County, Cassandra Obman (softball) of Caledonia, Samuel Parker (baseball) of Natchez Cathedral, Marlee Parkes (softball) of Nanih Waiya, Aubree Patterson (women’s soccer) of Richland, Alyssa Pendergrass (softball) of Columbia, Nathan Roseberry (baseball) of Purvis, Brantlie Sheets (softball) of Nanih Waiya, Katherine Shell (softball) of Brookhaven, Samm Thompson (men’s soccer) of Newton County, Shelby Walters (softball) of Northwest Rankin, Abby Winstead (softball) of Sebastopol, and Kayla Young (women’s soccer) of Center Hill in Olive Branch.
Receiving the NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement were Gage Leifried (men’s soccer) of Southeast Lauderdale, Anna Norris (softball) of Geraldine (Ala.), Tagen Remmel (softball) of Clinton, Carolyn Nickles (women’s soccer) of East Rankin Academy, An Duong (women’s tennis) of Richland, Aniyah Marshall (women’s basketball) of Itawamba AHS, Madalyn McMahon (softball) of Neshoba Central, Kaitlyn Knuth (women’s soccer) of West Lauderdale, Jessie Andrew (women’s soccer) of New South Wells, Austrailia, Ashley Langham (women’s soccer) of Florence, Haley Hutcherson (women’s soccer) of Clarkdale, Jacob Thomas (men’s soccer) of Northwest Rankin, and Nick Thomas (men’s soccer) of DeSoto Central.
Receiving the NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement were Cory Furlow (men’s soccer) of Clinton, Holly Hendershot (women’s basketball) of Scott Central, Kayla Robertson (softball) of Neshoba Central, Brandon Clark (baseball) of Neshoba Central, Andi McCrimon (women’s tennis) of Winston Academy, Tanner Lindsey (men’s soccer) of Northwest Rankin, Blake Bonds (men’s soccer) of Germantown, Aaron Rainey (football) of Harrison Central, Kolby Crowley (baseball) of Winston Academy, Emily Dykeman (women’s tennis) of Forest, Ryan Gunter (women’s soccer) of George County, Samantha McCrimon (women’s tennis) of Winston Academy, Brandon Rodgers (men’s tennis) of Winston Academy, Cain Cleveland (baseball) of Newton County, Presley McLemore (women’s soccer) of Brandon, and Thurston McCarty (men’s basketball) of Quitman.
The academic honors presented to student-athletes on the state level include MACJC Distinguished Academic All-State (those earning a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA) and MACJC Academic All-State (3.25 to 3.79 GPA).
ECCC student-athletes receiving MACJC Distinguished Academic All-State were Andrew Bernard, Laneisha Jeans, Taylor Johnson, Julia Johnston, Tom Langelaar, Maggie Luke, Kaylin McCree, TaNissa McNair, Chaney Mills, Cassandra Obman, Samuel Parker, Marlee Parkes, Aubree Patterson, Alyssa Pendergrass, Nathan Roseberry, Brantlie Sheets, Katherine Shell, Samm Thompson, Shelby Walters, Abby Winstead, Kayla Young, Gage Leifried, Anna Norris, Tagen Remmel, Carolyn Nickles, An Duong, Aniyah Marshall, Madalyn McMahon, Kaitlyn Knuth, Jessie Andrew, Ashley Langham, Haley Hutcherson, Jacob Thomas and Nick Thomas.
Those receiving MACJC Academic All-State were Cory Furlow, Holly Hendershot, Richard Jacobson, Kayla Robertson, Brandon Clark, Andi McCrimon, Tanner Lindsey, Blake Bonds, Aaron Rainey, Kolby Crowley, Emily Dykeman, Ryan Gunter, Samantha McCrimon, Brandon Rodgers, Cain Cleveland, Presley McLemore, Thurston McCarty, Tanner Elders (baseball) of Newton County, Tomaz McNair (men’s soccer) of Forest, Graham Murphree (men’s tennis) of Newton County, Kenyatta Moore (softball) of Philadelphia, Heath Morris (baseball) of West Jones, Cooper Clement (baseball) of Water Valley, Tyler Ladner (baseball) of Pass Christian, Matthew Perry (men’s golf) of Germantown, Christian Bellew (baseball) of Gulfport, James Parker (baseball) of Quitman, Alilynn Gartman (softball) of Loyd Star, Tyler White (men’s soccer) of Madison Ridgeland Academy, Cole Prestegard (baseball) of Huntsville (Ala.), Benjamin Yancey (baseball) of East Rankin Academy, Hunter Harper (baseball) of Enterprise, Davis Lott (baseball) of Lewisburg, Bailey Threlkeld (men’s golf) of Choctawhatchee (Fla.), Jacob Edwards (baseball) of Newton County, Brandon Harrison (football) of Newton County Academy, Eleanor Jones (women’s soccer) of New South Wells, Austrailia, Hagan Brown (baseball) of Gautier, and Peyton Lott (baseball) of Seminary.
