Athletics Year-In-Review

Northeast’s Tiger softball team finished the season as the number six seed in the MACCC standings and finished third in the state tournament en route to clinching a berth in the Region 23 Tournament played at Co-Lin. The Tigers defeated four teams in the top 10 of the NJCAA rankings in the last four weeks of the season, including one against then-ranked number one Co-Lin. Cassidy Duskin (Ardmore, Ala.) was recognized by the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as a National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division II All-American.

Richy Harrelson and the Tiger baseball team hosted a first-round series at The Plex for the first time in its stadium history. Colby Holcombe (Florence, Ala.) was named the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) Pitcher of the Year and First Team NJCAA All-American. Jackson Owen (Starkville, Miss.) was awarded a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. The Tigers finished the year winning 16 of their last 19 conference games.

Golf was represented in the NJCAA National Tournament for the second consecutive year as Tate Dickerson (Booneville, Miss.) and Andrew Fennell (New Albany, Miss.) qualified for the tournament based on their regularseason scoring averages. Dickerson earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors after finishing in the top 10, while Fennell finished in the top 35.

Cord Wright and the men’s basketball team made their ninth straight postseason appearance. The Tigers advanced to the finals of the MACCC Tournament and the semifinals of the Region 23 Tournament. The team also set a program record by winning their 31st consecutive game inside Bonner Arnold Coliseum. Zeke Cook (Starkville, Miss.) was named NJCAA third-team All-American.

Brenda Mayes’ and the women’s basketball team hosted a Region 23 Tournament playoff game and advanced to the quarterfinals of the region tournament. It was the Lady Tigers’ fifth postseason appearance in the last six years. Calysia Phillips (Lyon, Miss.) was named a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American.

Tennis made its return to the Tiger athletic lineup. The Tigers played two home matches on the on-campus courts, while the other home matches took place at Bank of New Albany (BNA) Park in New Albany.

The Tiger football team finished the season winning three of its last five games, including its last two. The Tigers defeated Itawamba for the third time in a row for the first time since the 1968-70 seasons. Jamarcus Smith (Saltillo, Miss.) was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American for the second consecutive season.

The cheerleaders were cheering on the Tigers at all the home football and basketball games.

Archery made its debut at Northeast as a club sport. Under the direction of coach Parrish Huddleston, the Tigers had five medalists at the state meet. They include Sarah Davis (gold, women’s recurve), Michalea Holt (gold, women’s bare bow), Nick Hopper (gold, men’s bare bow), Jacob Evans (silver, men’s bare bow) and Jordan Haddock (bronze, men’s bare bow).