Wednesday, July 30, 2008
PRCC inks 13 to tennis scholarships

     POPLARVILLE — Pearl River Community College’s men’s and women’s tennis coach Jessica Olson has signed 13 prep standouts to scholarships for the 2008-2009 school year.
      Two come from district champ Columbia High School in Steve Bracey and Donald Franklin, Jr.; while three prepped at West Marion High in Kristen Barber, Brittney Bracey, and Alyssa Wolfe. Other signees include Kristen Burdette of Picayune High, Jillian Fletcher of Petal High, Kasey King of Purvis High, Kurt Nelson of D’Iberville High, Roy Odom, Jr., of Gautier High, Darnelle Sanford of Forrest County AHS, Dustin Slade of Bay High, and Katie Wood of Sumrall High.
      Here are brief capsules of each signee (listed alphabetically by high school):

BAY HIGH
      DUSTIN SLADE: Slade is the son of James (Nicky) and Theresa Slade of Waveland and played for the Tiger tennis team where he received the Most Valuable Player Award his junior and senior years. He was undefeated his senior year. Slade, who will serve as a tennis manager, will also be a member of the PRCC soccer team this fall.

COLUMBIA HIGH
      STEVEN BRACEY: Bracey is the son of Michael and Connie Bracey of Columbia and played three years on the Wildcat tennis team. He was district champion in men’s double and singles this pas season and also competed in the Kids for Kids Charity Tournament. Bracey graduated with special honors and is a member of Who’s Who Among High School Students and the National Honor Society of High School Scholars.

DONALD FRANKLIN, JR.: Franklin is the son of Donald and Pauline Franklin of Columbia and was a standout men’s double member this past season. He will also serve as one of PRCC’s “Spirit of the River” marching band’s drum majors.

D’IBERVILLE HIGH
      KURT NELSON: Nelson is the son of Kenneth and Tina Nelson of Biloxi and played four years for the DHS tennis team. He was awarded the Beverly Farris Most Valuable Player Award and the Sportsmanship Award, as well as finishing second in mixed doubles in district competition.

FORREST COUNTY A.H.S.
      DARNELLE SANFORD: Sanford is the daughter of Weatta Mitchell of Hattiesburg and LeeRoy Sanford of Batesville and played for the Lady Aggie tennis team.

GAUTIER HIGH
      ROY ODOM, JR.: Odom is the son of Roy and Voncile Odom of Gautier and was a member of the GHS tennis team for two years. He will serve as a manager at PRCC.

PICAYUNE HIGH
KRISTEN BURDETTE: Burdette is the daughter of Mike and Cathy Burdette of Picayune and will be sophomore this upcoming school year. In addition, she will serve as a manager of the PRCC soccer team.
     
      PETAL HIGH
      JILLIAN FLETCHER: Fletcher is the daughter of Craig and Robin Fletcher of Petal and played for the Lady Panther squad the past three years in girls’ doubles and mixed doubles. She was the recipient of the Most Valuable Player Award her sophomore year and was team captain her senior year. In addition, she was named a scholar athlete for three straight years and will also be a member of the PRCC soccer team this fall.
     
      PURVIS HIGH
      KASEY KING: King is the daughter of Michelle Cameron of Purvis and played for the Lady Tornado tennis team for five years. She competed in the state tournament for three of those years, including following her district girls’ doubles championship this past year.
     
      SUMRALL HIGH
      KATIE WOOD: Wood is the daughter of Brenda Wood of Sumrall and was a standout member of the Lady Bobcat squad.
     
WEST MARION HIGH
      KRISTEN BARBER: Barber is the daughter of Keith and Janet Barber of Sandy Hook and played the past two seasons on the Lady Trojan tennis team. She was the recipient of the Coach’s Award this past season.

BRITTNEY BRACEY: Bracey is the daughter of Darrell and Brittney Bracey of Foxworth and played one year with the Lady Trojan team. She was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Player award this past year.

ALYSSA WOLFE: Wolfe is the daughter of Ellen Ball of Foxworth and Dr. Lloyd Wolfe, Jr., of Laurel and played for the Lady Trojan team for six straight years. She was district champion in 2006 and won the Best Female Award in 2007. In addition, Wolfe was her class’ Valedictorian and a member of the National Honor Society.