OC May 12, 2016

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Thursday, May 12, 2016

Inside 3 News

Caraway named OLC's Teacher of the Year.

5 Business

OLE MISS COMMUNICATIONS

Over 4,000 students will graduate from the University of Mississippi this weekend. Tom Brokaw is this year's guest speaker.

Commencement weekend UM set to honor over 4,000 graduates

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

Oxford, and the University of Mississippi, will be a busy place for one more weekend until the fall. UM will hold its 163rd Commencement ceremony Saturday morning in the Grove. Over 4,000 students are set to take part in the event.

Broadcaster Tom Brokaw will be the guest speaker at the event. It’s forecast to be sunny, with a high of 76 degrees Saturday, perfect weather for everyone who

will be attending the event.

Following the main ceremony, the College of Liberal Arts and individual school ceremonies will follow at various locations throughout the day. If the rain doesn’t move out of the area in time for the ceremony, it will be moved to The Pavilion at 9:30 a.m. If the weather is threatening, a decision on moving the ceremony indoors will be made by 8 Saturday morning, and announced through media outlets, text messaging and the Ole Miss website.

Life Long Productions brings Oxford professional video quality.

13 Sports

For those that are not able to attend Commencement, but would like to watch the ceremony, it will be streamed live from the Grove. Please visit www.youtube.com/olemiss.

The full schedule of Commencement events is listed below.

FRIDAY • Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College Ceremony, Gertrude C. Ford TURN TO COMMENCEMENT PAGE 4

This year's All-Citizen girls powerlifting team includes four athletes from Oxford and four from Lafayette.

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OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

CHANING GREEN

Taylor Bost was named salutatorian for the 2016 graduating class of LHS.

A conversation with Taylor Bost, 2016 salutatorian for LHS Taylor Bost has been named Lafayette County High School’s salutatorian for the 2016 graduating class. She’s involved in several school activities. She’s in band, choir, National Honors Society, Beta Club, and serves as president of the school’s chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honors society.

CHANING GREEN: What’s your favorite subject?

TAYLOR BOST: Math or science, besides music. I actually like the relationship between math, science and music. I don’t think they’re separate, I think it’s all one big thing. When I do more stuff in band, when I do more math, it helps me with band. They kind of feed into each other.

GREEN:What are your plans after graduation?

BOST: I’m going to study music. Bachelor of Arts in Music, so it’s a non-education degree. Right now, I want to go to medical school afterwards, but I’m open to changing that. I just kinda want to see how undergrad goes and see how everything changes from there. I have really enjoyed biology in school. I actually want to be an ear, nose and throat doctor for singers. It’s something that my voice teacher put in my ear. It’s something that really interests me and goes along with math and science and music all being intertwined. I think I would like to do something that works with those.

BOST:I’m actually a two-year member of the Mississippi Lions All State Band. I got to go to Hawaii with them last summer. I’m also going to Japan with them this summer.

They’ve just opened up so many opportunities for me and it’s a ton of fun.

GREEN: Who are some of your favorite teachers?

BOST: There are two. The first would be Mrs. Cornelius. She just gives great advice and always tells you to go the extra mile. I’ve had her this year for calculus. I would come to her every now and then. The math department here’s really close knit. If one math teacher knows you, then all the other ones do. She’s been a big encourager for both doing math and playing music. I knew her before I had her this year.

And then Coach Anderson. He’s my government and economics teacher. He’s just one of those people who’s there for you when you need it. He’s also very realistic.

He’s not going to tell you something that he doesn’t believe. He’s not going to tell you something just to make you feel better. He’s going to tell you what’s the real deal.

GREEN: What subjects do you tutor in?

BOST: Mostly I tutor math, and I’ve given clarinet lessons. I’ve tutored people my age and I’ve tutored people as young as fifth graders. I like the one on one. You really get to see how a person learns and it really helps when teaching someone. I’ve thought about being a teacher, but I think I just like tutoring more. Your working with one person, not 120. At most you have maybe five people, so it’s a closer connection. I’m still open to it.

GREEN: What do you like about music?

BOST: I like the way it affects people. How the composer and musicians can convey their feelings to the audience. Even without words, it’s still effective. I’ve been in choir here, I’m going to be in choir at Ole Miss. For band, I play clarinet during concert season and I’m in the pit during marching season.

In band, I like that everybody has to carry his or her own weight. Nobody is going to do your job for you, there’s no bench for you to sit on. I just like the comradey of it.

GREEN: How did it feel to get salutatorian?

BOST: I’ve actually been number one in my class up until this point, eighth grade through 11th grade. I was shooting for valedictorian and I just missed it. Yeah, that stinks, but this has really been a learning experience for me. I’ve learned not to let someone else’s success belittle yours. Just because Sam’s valedictorian doesn’t mean I haven’t done great. We’ve both done great.

GREEN: What’s one cool thing being in the band has let you do?

chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PAGE 3

Caraway named OLC's Teacher of the Year

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Kim Caraway never set out to be a teacher, but that has not slowed her down. The English teacher was just named the Oxford Learning Center’s Teacher of the Year for the fourth time.

For the first 12 years of her post-college life, Caraway worked as an accountant.

After completing an accounting degree at the University of Mississippi, she and her husband settled down in Meridian where they raised children. The firm she was working for had recently been bought out.

She said that every time she turned around it seemed like someone else was talking about the company shutting everything down and the firm being dissolved. Caraway had a family to help support, and the idea of losing a paycheck was not something she was okay with.

“So I started thinking about what I wanted to do,” she said. “Do I wanna do this for the rest of my life, or do I wanna look for another job? I love school.

I absolutely love school, and it just took me a while to figure out what that meant. And I wanted to make a difference.”

Caraway then entered the Mississippi Alternate Path to Quality Teachers, a state-sponsored alternate route licensing program where individuals meeting certain qualifications can become licensed educators. She then began her new career as a teacher in Meridian. After she was there for a few years, her family relocated to North Mississippi and she taught in Panola County for bit before joining the Oxford School District in 2007. In 2012, Caraway finished her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Ole Miss.

She teaches English.

Caraway admits that having a background as an accountant for over a decade and then becoming a literature teacher seems like a big switch, but it makes sense to her. She has always been good with numbers, but can rarely be found without a book in

CHANING GREEN

English teacher Kim Caraway has been named Oxford Learning Center’s Teacher of the Year for the fourth time. her hand.

“I’m passionate about reading,” Caraway said.

“Our whole family reads. I think reading makes a difference in your education and how well you do in school. It effects everything: your comprehension, your spelling, your vocabulary, writing – everything. When kids come down here, one of the first things I ask them is, ‘What do you like to read?’ They say, ‘Oh, I don’t like to read.’ Yes you do.

You just haven’t found what you like yet.”

The Oxford Learning Center is a school for students who, for whatever reason, were not performing to their maximum potential among the general population of students, and were sent to the Learning Center to receive more individualized attention. Caraway knew going into this job that she would be dealing with a vast majority of students who had some sort of behavioral or disciple problem, but that is the way she wanted it. She said that she has always felt more than capable when working with students who are classified by many as

“problem children.” She said that a lot of people are too quick to write these students off rather than take the time to understand why they are behaving the way they are. That’s the challenge of the job and something only encountered to this extent in an alternative school, she explained. You have fewer kids, but the ones you do have are working through some things, and Caraway loves being able to help them through that and make sure they leave better than they came.

“No day is ever like the day before,” she said.

“Every day is different. A lot of teachers would not want to be here because it is a lot of discipline and it can be challenging, but they’re not that bad.

They’re just kids. You get to know these kids a little better than you would in a regular classroom. When you have 30 kids in a classroom, it’s harder to see all those personalities come out than when you have six in a classroom. You get to build those relationships.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

OBITUARIES JACKIE JEANETTE HOLLOWELL BARRY Jackie Jeanette Hollowell Barry, 80, passed away Saturday, May 7, 2016, at her home in Oxford. A graveside service was held Monday, May 9 at Oxford Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Allen Harris officiating.

Waller Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Barry’s memory may be made to Project Lifesaver, c/o Alice Camp, 103 Hillside Drive, Oxford, MS 38655.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.

PETE THOMAS

Saturday is slated to be a day free of rain, which means graduates would take part in the Commencement in the Grove.

Commencement FROM PAGE 1

FLOYD BROOKS FERGUSON Floyd Brooks Ferguson, 74, passed away Monday, May 9, 2016 at his home in Oxford.

A visitation service was held Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at Coleman Funeral Home. Coleman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cambridge Cemetery Fund, c/o Carolyn Durham, 15 CR 1012, Oxford, MS 38655.

Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com

BRIEFING Ba r be c u e & B i ds Mei Brothers' Battle, benefiting Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will be held Tuesday at the Stonebridge Clubhouse in Wellsgate from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cost is $15 per person donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It gains entry and a dinner.

Children under the age of 8 are free.

A $100 donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation gains entry dinner for two and a chance to win a week long stay at a three bedroom, two bath condo at Holiday Isle in Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Door prizes will also be given out.

For more information, email meibrobattle @gmail.com. Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/154006 1066290160/bloghttp:// meilovems.blogspot.com.

Center for the Performing Arts (tickets required, contact the Dean’s Office), 4 p.m.

• Graduate School doctoral hooding ceremony, Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY • Convocation, the Grove, at 9.

• College of Liberal Arts master’s degree ceremony, Fulton Chapel, 11 a.m.

• School of Law, the Grove • School of Engineering – Lyceum Circle • School of Education – the Grove, 2:30 p.m.

• School of Business Administration – C. M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum • Patterson School of Accountancy – Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts (Tickets required; contact the Dean’s Office.)

• School of Applied Sciences – The Pavilion • General Studies – Manning Center • College of Liberal Arts – The Pavilion, 2:30 p.m.

• School of Pharmacy – Manning Center • Meek School of Journalism and New Media – Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts (Tickets required; contact the Dean’s Office.)

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION School officials recommended that visitors park in the lots designated for the school or college ceremony they will be attending after convocation concludes. A full list of these designated parking areas can be found at http://commencement.olemiss.e du/designated-parking.

No parking or drop-off will be available on University Avenue or the Circle. Once convocation starts, vehicle access to the Grove

OLE MISS COMMUNICATIONS

is limited until Convocation and school ceremonies in the Grove conclude.

For safety reasons, parking is not permitted along roadways, sidewalks or grassy areas.

ADA INFORMATION A shuttle service will be available for handicapped and elderly visitors. All guests who require assistance should park in the garage attached to The Pavilion on Hill Drive. Wheelchairs, if needed, must be provided by families. To request assistance, call 662-915-7235.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

campus to provide assistance with shuttle inquiries, maps, driving directions, UPD communication, general first aid supplies and lostand-found. Complimentary water will also be available.

• Entrance to the parking garage at The Pavilion on Hill Drive • Welcome Center on University Avenue by the Grove (official INFORMATION BOOTHS Should need additional assis- UPD EMS station) • Entrance to Tad Smith Colitance be needed, information booths will be located around seum EMS will be available at the UPD area of the welcome center on University Avenue for Commencement and the remainder of the day. All information booths and ceremony venues will have basic first-aid kits. For immediate assistance, dial 911.

• South side of Manning Center • Ford Center • Intersection of West Road and Fraternity Row • Rebel Drive-Fraternity Row intersection • Student Union Drive-Rebel Drive intersection •University Avenue-University Place john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PAGE 5

Life Long Productions brings Oxford professional video quality

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

The Brown family is a group of self-starters. Karrian Brown is the owner and operator of Mugg Cakes in Oxford, a popular bakery that turns out gourmet cupcakes for clients all over the area. Derek Brown is the mind and skill behind Life Long Productions, his production company split between Oxford and St. Louis, Missouri.

Brown and his wife were born and raised in St. Louis. They have since lived in various parts of the country. He and his family moved to Oxford in August of 2014. The couple and their two youngest kids were planning on moving to a suburb of Atlanta, but decided against it once they saw what Oxford had to offer them. Brown said he was looking for a small place with a good school system and good people.

He said he and his family have found that in Oxford and so much more.

His production company has officially been up and running in Oxford since October, but he has dabbled in the profession most of his life. Brown could be found doing projects for friends or his family. He spent time working in television and radio, so he is no stranger when it comes to this type of thing.

The idea of making his hobby a legitimate business came in 2011 when

COURTESY OF LIFE LONG PRODUCTIONS

Derek Brown runs Life Long Productions, a video production company. his best friend of his approached him and asked for his help. He wanted help putting together a video for the birthday of a friend.

“We did it, and she loved it, and a light kinda went off,” Brown said, snapping his fingers to emphasize

the epiphany. “ I thought, ‘Maybe we can start doing video for people, as a business.’ And we just ran with it.”

His friend who brought that first video to him is still involved in the business by providing photography and video to Brown

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all the way from St. Louis.

Brown still does some camera work here in Oxford, but his primary role is editing. He said he loves everything about the process it takes to get a video from raw footage to a smooth, watchable product.

“I like being able to be creative visually,” he said.

“My favorite segments during the film festival were the experimental films. I like the variety you can have with working video and I just love editing. I think love the tediousness of editing. I’m one of those

people that if you have a knot in your shoestring, I’m going to pick at the knot until I get it undone.”

The projects Brown has worked on vary pretty widely. Every year the Oxford Film Festival does a film known as the Community Film that is written and produced entirely by people in Oxford. Brown was the editor of the 2016 Community Film. He has also puts together packages for businesses, real estate agents, organizations like the farmers market and the United Way and others. It is all he does. He sees video as a valuable marketing tool, and does what he can to bring that level of high-quality video production to people at an affordable cost, right here in Oxford.

“I love Oxford,” Brown said. “I appreciate Oxford opening their hearts up to my family and embracing us as if we were native Oxonians. I come from a place where people will walk right past you. And I appreciate living in a place where, even though Mississippi has a tattered past and some of the powers that be are trying to give us a tattered current, people in Oxford still seem to be immune to that. There seems to be that bubble over Oxford that protects it from that. I love it. I appreciate that and I appreciate the people here.” chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 6

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Allgood wants residents to be aware of mosquitoes that cause Zika Virus

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

There haven’t been any cases of the Zika Virus in the state of Mississippi.

And Jimmy Allgood wants to keep it that way. Allgood, the Director of Emergency Management for the City of Oxford, is in charge of education and prevention of Zika. He is also in charge of making sure that everyone is aware about the mosquito borne virus as the weather heats up, and people head outdoors.

“Zika is very similar to West Nile. It can cause fever, rash. The death rate is actually lower than West Nile but the problem with Zika Virus is the danger to pregnant females,” said Allgood, who is also the city’s health inspector.

“There is a higher chance that a baby will develop microcephaly which is an abnormally small brain and lead to other complications in the child. That’s the reason the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health), all those organizations, have issued travel warnings to pregnant women that are traveling to foreign countries that are known to have Zika.”

What Allgood is trying to accomplish locally is educate first. There have been no cases in the country of Zika being spread by a Aedes mosquito. All the cases that have involved people in America have come after they have traveled abroad.

“We don’t have direct transmission here yet, but we do have the mosquito that carries type of virus. It does live in the United States and eventually, the disease will migrate to United States and be transmissible to a human,” Allgood said. “What we are trying to do is get people in the habit of protecting themselves when they go outdoors for outdoor activities like using Deet repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing. Especially at dawn and late evening hours when the mosquitoes are out feeding.”

Allgood added that mosquito that spreads Zika does feed during the daytime, which means precautions have to be taken throughout the day. Mos-

JOHN DAVIS

Retention ponds or bodies of water, like this one located at the airport, need to be treated during the summer and fall to avoid mosquitoes breeding and possibly spreading the Zika Virus. quito proofing homes is another way to prevent any type of mishap.

“If you have standing containers of water, make sure they’re dumped out regularly. Mosquitoes can lay eggs and larva can develop within 48 hours,” Allgood said. “If you’re going to have containers that are going to hold water, then treat them. We recommend what they call BTI. It’s a naturally occurring bacteria that’s found in the soil. Mosquito larva will eat it when it’s the water column and it kills the life cycle of the mosquito. If we can prevent the larva from developing into adults, it’s going to cut down on the population. It’s 100 percent safe to humans, to fish, frogs. It only targets mosquitoes.”

There was a change made in the city regarding mosquito ordinances. Retention and detention ponds and water feature structures around the city, subdivisions, apartments and other developments, are now required to have a

mosquito control plan.

“They need to have a treatment plan for those types of structures. Then they have to have a maintenance plan. People don’t realize that once mosquitoes breed in the water, they move away to the grass, bushes, trees,” Allgood said. “If they will keep the areas around those detention areas manicured, it cuts down on where the adult mosquitoes can live.

We want to target the larva because it’s easier to kill the larva than the adult mosquito.”

There will be spraying completed in the city this summer. That will not include neighborhoods, Allgood said. DDT was used in the past during spraying and while it wasn’t toxic to humans, it did get into the environment where it affected bird eggs, weakening the shells and reducing the number of birds, which love to eat mosquitoes.

“We will do limited spraying. We will spray FNC Park, Lamar Park, Avent Park and the skate

park and around the school areas,” Allgood said.

“Some people like spraying and some people don’t so we won’t do the neighborhoods. We can’t control the spray if one person likes it and one doesn’t like it.

We’re trying to walk a fine line. That’s a reason we want to use the larvicide. If we can cut down on the population by attacking the larva, then we will break that life cycle and hurt the adult population without being overly aggressive with the spraying.

It’s coming, that’s the word we want to get out.”

West Nile first showed up in the far Northeast, Allgood said, and eventually worked its way down south. West Nile still remains a big deal for people with compromised immune systems.

“Each year in the state, we always have several West Nile deaths and I think we had 25 or 26 reported cases,” Allgood said.

“Now it’s not here in Lafayette County. It’s tends to pool around Madison,

Rankin, Yazoo, those counties, and some on the coast. I get a daily report from the state health department, and this year, I’m sure they will include Zika in that if they originate here in the state. It gives an update on what’s going on in the state and what we can do about it.”

Contractors and developers and property owners that have the detention pond structures need to be aware of the changes, and Allgood can help answer any of those questions.

“They are important structures that reduce flooding but you have to watch it this year,” Allgood said. “Most of the structures around town are dry retention ponds and they stay dry until the rain comes in and then it’s slowly released over several hours. We have one down at Avent’s Park that’s like that. The ones I’m concerned about are the ones that hold water over 48 hours or more because they become a breeding ground for mosquitos. We

do have an exemption in there that if you can prove that your retention pond does not hold water for 48 hours, then you don’t have to treat. Otherwise you need to have a plan in place that runs through November.”

According to the CDC website, the Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 and is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda. In 1952, the first human cases of Zika were detected and since then, outbreaks of Zika have been reported in tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Zika outbreaks have probably occurred in many locations. Before 2007, at least 14 cases of Zika had been documented, although other cases were likely to have occurred and were not reported. Because the symptoms of Zika are similar to those of many other diseases, many cases may not have been recognized.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PAGE 7

UM's ICN kiosk on display at Truman Presidential Library

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

CHANING GREEN

LHS senior Samuel Meals was named valedictorian for the 2016 graduating class.

Samuel Meals named LHS valedictorian

BY CHANING GREEN NEWS WRITER

Samuel Meals has been named Lafayette County High School’s valedictorian for the 2016 graduating class.

Meals was born and raised in Lafayette County and has only ever attended the school district. After graduating at the end of the month, he plans on entering Mississippi State University to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering. His goal is to work as a weapons engineer in the private sector. The senior has always had an acute interest in math and science. Both of his parents are in science-related career fields. So engineering seems like a logical choice.

“Probably civilian employment,” Meals said when asked if he would pursue a military career after the completion of his

degree. “I’ve grown up shooting guns and stuff and it’s something I can make money doing, and still do what I like.”

Meals is also a member of the schools archery team and plays trombone in the marching band. One of his favorite trips he has taken with the band was when he and his fellow students got to perform at a marching festival in Hoover, Alabama. He said it was really interesting to see the different types of bands perform and to get a different perspective of what other high school bands are doing.

He named English teacher Daisy Bullard as his STAR teacher, and other than her, he would say that Taylor Langford is his favorite teacher. He had Langford for physics and placement advanced chemistry. Meals said that he liked the way the instructor taught and how

personable he was.

“He’s a great teacher, and he really knows his stuff,” he said of Langford. “He’s very relatable. You can talk to him about just about anything.”

Langford’s physics class was one of Meals’ favorite that he has taken. He said that he really learned a lot and that Langford laid out the information in a way that was easy to understand and could be applied to everyday life.

Meals said that he enjoyed his time with the Lafayette County School District. With each school from pre-K to high school being on the same campus in the same small town, he would occasionally run in former teachers, particularly his kindergarten teacher. They often say hello and address him by name. chaning.green@journalinc.com Twitter: chaningthegreen

There is a piece of The University of Mississippi, a large piece, that is on display at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri. A kiosk that helps outline the creation and development of child nutrition programs in the United States was produced by the National Food Service Management Institute, which is now the Institute of Child Nutrition.

The 484-pound kiosk arrived in Missouri in March via truck and it will be on display through the fall. It was Truman who signed legislation, known as the National School Lunch Act, almost 70 years ago on June 4, 1946. The ICN reached out to Clay Bauske, the curator at the library, to have kiosk shipped up and put on display. A video featuring Acting Executive Director Aleshia Hall-Campbell as well as videos of four past presidents of the School Nutrition Association, Shirley Watkins Bowden, Dorothy Caldwell, Josephine Martin, and Mary Nix, share their recollections from the early 1970s of how the needs for and eventual creation of a

national nutrition institute came about.

Jeffrey Boyce, the Coordinator of Archival Services for ICN, provided information in a release that the 1948 color film The School That Learned to Eat was inside the kiosk as were three vintage photograph collections of child feeding programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, three school lunch flipbooks; and a historical timeline charting the development of child nutrition programs in the United States starting in 1853 until present day. It took about three months, working with a company out New Mexico, to put everything together for the display.

“I just think it's a great opportunity to show what we do here at Ole Miss with a much larger audience. Having the kiosk representing the Institute and the university at any presidential library is just phenomenal,” Boyce said who dealt with Bauske for about a year. “What we were doing was getting ready to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Institute in October of 2014. I was bringing in the past presidents and getting their takes on the early '70s and the work

they did to get the Institute accomplished and past through Congress. It was Dorothy Caldwell that suggested I reach out the Truman library to share this exhibit and how we put it together.”

Making the kiosk even more special is the fact that ICN is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs, Campbell said.

A trusted source for accurate, reliable information, the Institute conducts research based studies that directly impact the success of operations, provides educational resources and materials, and offers faceto-face trainings and online courses free of charge to support the professional development of child nutrition professionals at all levels of responsibility. Last year, ICN had 1.8 million visits to its website, over 68,000 people register for online courses, and trained almost 10,000 participants through face-to-face trainings across the United States and territories.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

662-234-7711 2128 W. Jackson Ave. • Oxford, MS 38655 www.johnsonsfurnitureonline.com

OXFORD CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Take it from me Jim Dees Tales of the Town Blow up your TV. Throw away your paper. Go to the country, build you a home.

Plant a little garden, eat a lot of peaches. Try and find Jesus… on your own.

John Prine, Spanish Pipedream (1972)

G

PREOWNED SPECIALS OF THE WEEK

raduation weekend means students will shake off the shackles of nearly 20 years of schooling to finally soar into the perfumed pastures of freedom. It’s also the time of year when embittered geezers, hard of hearing and soft in the head, offer free “advice” to the eager explorers. Age doesn’t necessarily translate into wisdom passed down.

A friend of mine recalls attending his aged dad who was on his death bed. The 93-year-old was lucid until the end and, being a man of the world and quite learned, had undoubtedly amassed a century-worth of insight into life. The days passed and

my friend’s father lingered until finally, near the end, waved for his son to lean down so he could speak to him. My buddy thought, ‘OK, this is it. The Word of the Ages.

The Great Know.’

He leaned down and his father said, “I don’t have anything to tell you… Just don’t make mistakes.”

So simple yet so impossible.

Graduates: Mistakes will be made and understand that mistakes are actually built into the ‘Grand Plan’ in order for you to continue your education outside the classroom. The dreaded ‘School of Life.’ To err is human and all that. So go forth and screw up, then rinse, repeat. If you don’t learn from your mistakes, then my friend’s dad died in vain.

Life’s lessons will come your way and somehow a sense of smarts will set in even if by osmosis.

You’ve managed to navigate the educational system successfully and are now being sprung free so you must possess some knack for survival, some know-how. Once you have your hard-earned onion skin and are safely outside the walls of academe, I say to you, “Go for it.” Have a dream during waking hours. Use your incredible youthful energy on what propels

OXFORD CITIZEN

"You can no longer wear pajamas to Kroger or basically anywhere outside, among the peoples. your heart. Shut up and listen to yourself, then put the pedal to the metal.

Allow me a fishing example.

Twenty years ago Lafayette County flooded about this time of year.

The Yocona River jumped its banks after heavy spring rains and the water sent wildlife – even fish scurrying into unlikely places like cotton fields. You could actually fish out of your car which I did several times, casting out the car window into the flooded field with the cassette player and air-conditioner

going. It was pretty cool. One day a huge cottonmouth came swimming up. He swam right up to the front tire and cracked open his massive mouth in an attempt to bite it. I sat up and took notice.

That’s what I’m talking about.

Fearlessness. David to the world’s Goliath. The snake had no chance of getting anything out of the tire but at least he swam up and put his fangs in motion. I later checked for punctures and found none, but was still impressed.

OK now for the rules, the basic

do’s and dont’s for life. Rule Number One: You can no longer wear pajamas to Kroger or basically anywhere outside among the peoples. PJ’s are great, I think I last wore them when I was nine but from now on, you must wear clothes outside. Even if it’s a loud shirt and baggy shorts.

Next, is not so much a rule as a token suggestion: Throw away your smart phone. Be left of your own devices. Get a cheap flip phone for emergencies and leave it at that. Allow yourself to be bored with no technological distraction.

Hell, go fish out of your car.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Chicago Tribune writer Mary Schmich who advises graduates to wear sunscreen to protect the beauty of youth. She opines that today’s graduates don’t realize how beautiful they are. She writes: “In 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.”

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PAGE 13

John Davis Sports Editor

Bush, Patton enjoyed seeing OHS teams make history

P

EARL — It was dark by the time the Oxford Chargers, and Lady Chargers, were able to collect all their stuff and get it back on the two school buses used to transport them. Coaches Chris Bush and Chris Patton were getting things in place to load the gear as the lights were turned out at Pearl High.

By that time, the only glow that could be seen were from the smart phones that seemingly each athlete had in their hands.

Selfies and re-tweets surely dominated the almost three hour ride back home. No matter, not after history had been made.

The Chargers and Lady Chargers were the two teams that topped the rest in the MHSAA Class 5A state track meet Saturday.

Both programs had won titles before, but not on the same day. That made it historic.

Also, the Chargers won a third straight title, which had never happened before. Only the Lady Chargers had done that from 2010 through 2012.

Pearl’s Woody Barnett, the godfather of high school track in the state, made sure to congratulate the Oxford coaches before they headed out of the infield. Even a man who won two handful of titles had to be impressed with the results. Both teams dominated the field. Both had over 20 athletes make it down, and all of them came through. It was a very impressive day, results wise, even if there were a few hiccups.

The thing that made both teams so great was they could deal with a few hiccups and it not be an issue. There have been a few years, even when the teams have won, where one mistake was the difference between a victory and defeat. Not this year.

And likely not next year either. With Pearl moved up to 6A, the Oxford track programs are even more dominant. This year’s group could have still won the titles with Pearl in the mix. Without them, it was like a pack of wolves on a single dog. No chance for anyone else.

Bush and Patton are more than just coaching partners. They are buddies. They are former OHS standouts and they love the school. They understand the program’s history as well as anybody. Bush was visibly excited for Patton to win his first title as a head coach.

“I’m ecstatic the boys were able to three peat and it’s even more special that we were able to do it with the girls and win one because the girls have had some heartbreak,” Bush said. “They’ve been down to two TURN TO HISTORY PAGE 15

JOHN DAVIS

This year's All-Citizen girls powerlifting team includes four athletes from Oxford and four from Lafayette. They include Quinn Harris, Chiquita Sanders, Kayla Wheeler and Anterriya Hardaway from Oxford and Shamiah Mathis, Shelbi Buford, Makailah Littlejohn and Madisyn Herron from Lafayette.

All-Citizen Powerlifting Lady Chargers, Lady ‘Dores have great 2016 results

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Oxford and Lafayette had another strong season in girls powerlifting. Four athletes from each school qualified for the MHSAA state meets. The four representing Lady Chargers, who competed in the Class III state final, on this year’s All-Citizen team include Quinn Harris, Chiquita Sanders, Kayla Wheeler and Anterriya Hardaway.

Lafayette qualified Shamiah Mathis, Shelbi Buford, Makailah Littlejohn and Madisyn Herron in the Class II state championships, and all four made this season’s team. Herron and Littlejohn were both crowned individual state champions. Littlejohn was also named Elite 11 for her fantastic season. Buford also earned a medal for her performance. Mathis qualified for the state meet, but she was unable to compete.

Littlejohn, Herron and Mathis will all return to the team for coach Sandra Smith.

“Shamiah is a hard worker. Her best event was squat. She is really strong at squat,” Smith said. “She came all summer last summer and came and did all the workouts the previous year, but she didn’t make the cut for the district team.

I thought she had a good year and I wish she could have finished it at state. She probably would have been fourth.”

As for Herron, Smith saw her emerge tremendously over the course of the year.

“She has improved and jumped like 50, 75 pounds per meet. Huge jumps.

The first time a girl comes down here, they are scared of a lot of weight and it’s uncomfortable on the back of your neck and get used to the bar resting there with the weights,” Smith said.

“She has discovered more and more how strong she is and she is starting to believe in herself. The first meet, she was real timid. When they go to a meet and see what everybody else is doing, they get a little fire in their belly and they want to beat them. It motivates them and when they do it, they’re so proud of themselves because they didn’t realize they could lift that much.”

OXFORD For the Lady Chargers, Sanders finished third at the state meet to garner a bronze.

“I think it’s the best four that we’ve had at Oxford High School for girls powerlifting,” coach Jason Russell said about his quartet. “I would have liked to have gotten more medals but that doesn’t discount how good those girls are this year. I really feel like that’s our best girls group yet. They got better and they were significantly stronger than our girls have been in the past. The competition just increased so much.

Jim Hill for instance came along and their girls coach won Coach of the Year and did just a fantastic job and just blew everyone away. We had to face

them at north half and then again at state.”

Harris was the lifter that Russell felt was the most consistent Lady Charger performer all season long.

“She really worked so hard day in and day out,” Russell said. “All those girls work hard that are in those top four, but Quinn just had such a positive attitude in the way she approached each day in the weight room. It made a big difference on her team.”

Hardaway was the lifter that Russell felt like he could depend on, from the start of the season, until the end.

“She was a state competitor for us last year and then she ended up in fourth place for us this year and she is extremely strong,” Russell said. “This was the first time that we’ve gotten our girls in a year-round class where they could lift during the day. I think that made a significant difference in their strength level to when we were ready to go in our true after school practices at the beginning of January. With football lasting so long, when I got back from football, and really started working with the girls powerlifting team, they hadn’t started lifting and they were really far behind. I have to give credit to my assistant coach Lauren Hill who ran those workouts and ran those girls all year long. It made a huge difference.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

PAGE 14

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Strong finish Mullins looking to remain consistent for Chargers

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

A season filled with some sporadic moments of success was washed away by the most consistent series to date for Sage Mullins at the plate. The Oxford senior outfielder was a tough out against Ridgeland, and that’s a good thing for the Chargers as they head into the MHSAA Class 5A north state title series against Grenada.

“Throughout the season, I have been very sporadic at the plate and this was the first two series, back-toback, where I’ve had hits in all my games,” Mullins said.

“I might be getting a little hot at the best time of the year to get hot. I hope I can keep doing it.”

Mullins was better at the plate because he went to the plate with a different approach. He wasn’t as focused on hitting the ball as hard as he could like he was during the season. Instead, Mullins focused on keeping his swings short and getting the ball on the barrel. He headed into the north state series hitting . 264 with two doubles and 11 RBIs. “I didn’t take pitches as much and focused on swinging on pitches that were more strikes,” he

JOHN DAVIS

Oxford senior Sage Mullins had a successful series against Ridgeland and he his hoping to keep things going the rest of that Center Hill loss got us the year at the plate. going as far as postseason.”

The way the Chargers added. “I tried to hit it where offs have started. I guess it’s it was pitch instead of look- working out for me a little played against Ridgeland, Mullins felt like the team ing for one pitch and trying better.”

A week ago, the Chargers could be put up against anyto kill that one pitch.”

There are players on the were facing elimination after body. Another game that team that can hit the ball out losing to Center Hill. That 7- stood out to Mullins was the of park like Thomas Dillard, 5 loss ultimately served the 3-2 loss to Gulliver Prep from Jason Barber, Drew Bianco team well, Mullins felt. He Miami.

“Tip a hat to them, that thought the setback brought and Grae Kessinger.

“Guys like me and other the team closer together, and was the best team we’ve guys on the team don’t need they played well against played all year,” he said. “I think with the way we’ve to go up with that approach. Ridgeland.

“When we started Game 3 been playing lately, I think We need to focus on getting on base instead of hitting against Center Hill, since we could give them a run for one out,” he said. “My hitting then, and then Game 1 and their money as well.”

There has been thoughts coach always tells me that if Game 2 against Ridgeland, I’m going to miss one, he it’s the best we’ve swung it all on winning a second chamwould rather I miss one on year as a team,” Mullins said. pionship in a row, but it hasthe ground because you “We’re going out there and n’t consumed the 24-8 have legs and can always having fun playing. I felt like Chargers. They are just four make something happen there was a little pressure in wins away from that goal out of it. Hit on the ground or the beginning. There was and yet all the talk this week hit a line drive. I’ve changed definitely pressure going to was on Grenada.

“We have to get past them my approach since the play- play in Atlanta, but I think

before we can think or talk about playing Hattiesburg or Pearl River Central. We have to take it one step at a time and once we get there, we have to play our game,” Mullins said adding his career has flown by. “I remember going out there and just running bases my freshman and sophomore years.”

Mullins made his biggest impact up to this point as a junior. He wasn’t sure if he was being pitched differently because of his success in 2015, but he knew that getting a drag bunt was next to impossible compared to this time last season.

“A lot of people picked up that a lot of my hits were drag bunts and I’ve hardly gotten a chance for any this year, especially in Mississippi. Every team has played me in so I

haven’t gotten a chance to play with a drag bunt,” Mullins said. “I might have had a few more off speed pitches thrown to me this year. Last year they stayed away and they stayed away in most of this year. I would say last year at the start, nobody knew who we were because we were unproven.

Four or five of our starters never played a varsity game.

I wouldn’t say we were getting the best pitchers from each team where this year, just about 90 percent of the teams have had their No. 1 pitcher against us. I would say as a team, we’ve gotten more respect. Even on the weekend games, we’re facing their No. 1s and No. 2s.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Oxford's Vaughn excited about playing for Sewanee Tigers

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Rolling hills that turn into mountain views on top of the Cumberland Plateau got the attention of Oxford’s Abbie Vaughn when she first visited Sewanee, also known as The University of The South. Her desire to play tennis, and get a first-class education at one of the top liberal arts schools in the nation, only made competing for the Sewanee Tigers that much more appealing.

Vaughn signed with Sewanee last week, just before the Chargers won the 5A north state title. On Monday, she and partner Bo Nash were the first off the court as the Chargers beat Stone County in the 5A title match. Attending a smaller college, after growing up in a small town, just felt right to Vaughn.

“I’m used to that close bond that everybody has and when I went to Sewanee, I just felt so welcomed. They treated me like I was there family,” she said. “That was one of the main reasons I chose Sewanee. And then their team is incredible group. I know some of the girls. I used to play junior tournaments with them and when I went, they just treated me like I was already on the team.”

Sewanee was very successful in tennis this season having won a fourth straight conference championship and ending the year ranked No. 12 in the nation. The Tigers were set to play in the NCAA’s Division III tournament.

“It will be fun to go from a very successful high school to a successful college team,” Vaughn said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Pre law was a major Vaughn was looking in to. International Global Studies was something else that interested her from a major standpoint. Vaughn first started to look at Sewanee after playing in a tournament there three years ago.

“Ever since then, I just kept Sewanee as one of my goals,” she said. “I took a visit and they asked what could they do to get me on their team. I was just overwhelmed. I also looked at (Meridian Community College) because that’s where my brother is. Coach (Wanda) McPhail, she gave me a tour and she was nice about everything. If I wasn’t going to Sewanee, I would look at MCC. Millsaps was also in there, but Sewanee was tough to beat.”

JOHN DAVIS

john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

Oxford's Abbie Vaughn hugs coach Louis Nash after winning the Class 5A state title Monday. She signed to play for Sewanee.

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PAGE 15

History FROM PAGE 13

points, one point before. It was good to see them pull it out. It’s a special day for Oxford track & field.”

When it came time for the Chargers to pull away, they did down the stretch.

They finished with 156 points, while Canton had 90.5. The Lady Chargers finished with 144 points compared to 78 for Natchez.

“I sweated a little more than Patton did early in the day,” Bush said. “We knew we had a lot of bullets left in the tank because we were doubling up in those last events. We had more bullets left in the chamber.

This is the best performance we have seen out of both teams, collectively, in the history, in all the championships. They executed like we have been talking about and we had a good day.”

Oxford’s boys won three of the relay events, and finished second in the 4x400 meter relay. An event that is playing right into the hands of both Bush and Patton is

Oxford's track teams made history by winning two state titles on the same day. the 4x800 relay. Both programs won that event, and with the great history of long-distance runners, that’s like stealing 10 points right off the bat for both.

“That’s just another spot for my cross country kids,” Patton said. “It just opens up a spot for my other distance runners in order to get a little track under their

belt.

“It feels great. I wanted it most for the girls because some of them have been on the team for four years,” Patton added about the

fire, them being so close every single year.”

Patton felt like this year’s state title started last fall in cross country, and indoor track. There were more girls competing, and going head up against athletes from other states has simply made both programs better.

“Some of this competition is the best in the nation. To compete at that high level, it doesn’t seem like a culture shock when you face somebody in your own state that is just as good or better than you,” Patton said. “When you see that level of competition, instead of sinking, you raise to the level of competition.

This had to have been the strongest meet we’ve had in a long time. We dominated from top to bottom. The field events were very strong, and I think having that good performance, it JOHN DAVIS just carried over to the track. I knew we would be strong on the track, but the title. “They’ve been work- field events, they really ing their butt off and to see stepped their game up big the end result, and their time.” faces at the end of the john.davis@journalinc.com meet, I know how it feels. I Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd think that was fuel to the

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PAGE 16

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

Champion Chargers Oxford claims a ninth straight tennis title

BY JOHN DAVIS OXFORD CITIZEN

JACKSON — Death, taxes and the Oxford High tennis team winning a state championship. All three are guarantees to happen.

For the ninth straight season, the Chargers reigned supreme on the tennis courts in the final match of the year. Oxford defeated Stone County 7-0 Monday at Parham Bridges Tennis Center. Four of the seven matches were completed in 47 minutes. The entire match was finished in an hour, and by 10:30, the Chargers were posing for pictures and wearing another MHSAA gold medal around their necks.

“It’s pretty cool,” Oxford coach Louis Nash said when asked if winning a ninth title felt any different to him. “We were pretty good today. As far as all 12 playing well, all 12 played well today. It was good.”

Depth was something the Chargers had on their side heading into the match, and it showed even after Nash mixed the lineup again. Stone County’s best male player was also out of the match due to an illness.

“That really messed up their lineup. He got sick last night driving up here. He was still sick this morning,” said Nash, who was unaware of that before he submitted his lineup to MHSAA officials. “I had the lineup made for him, or without him. I didn’t even know he was sick until my kids told me he was throwing up. I put this lineup in my head on Wednesday (May 4). I thought about changing it this morning, but I had to make sure that we had all of our injured people covered.

We all had them playing with people that were healthy were if they broke down, we may still be OK.” Oxford’s winning lineup included seventh grader Gordon Whitwell at singles.

The talented youngster was up to the challenge as he rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 win.

Whitwell said he felt good about helping the seniors go out with another state

JOHN DAVIS

Oxford's Chargers won their ninth straight state tennis title Monday in Jackson. They defeated Stone County 7-0. title, a sixth for some who started playing when they were in middle school like he is.

“I didn’t know that I could do that at the beginning of the year,” Whitwell said.

“I’ve improved and it just feels good. I thought I was going to play doubles because that’s what I usually play. I played pretty well. I played from the baseline and hit more balls in than he did. Consistency.”

Abbie Vaughn and mixed doubles partner Bo Nash were the first off the court for the Chargers. It was Vaughn’s final match in high school and she wore her normally big smile following the 6-0, 6-0 win. Vaughn hasn’t played with Bo Nash this year, but it didn’t turn out to be an issue.

“I had no idea. With Coach Nash, you never know. In the huddle, he was like ‘Here is playing with who,’” Vaughn said. “He tells us, and this is how we practice, to be prepared for everything. The first match is just as important as the last match. To me, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.”

McClellan Davis and Sarah Nash were the final two off the court for the Chargers. By then, the outcome was decided, but the duo wanted to win in their final match together. They rallied in the second set, tied things at 4-4 and then closed out the win against Stone County’s best girl, Beth Owen.

“It was closer than we wanted it to be. The first set was good but the second set, I think they got more serious and we slacked off a little until the end,” Davis said. “They led the whole set until we tied it at 4. Then we pulled away the last two games. We knew we needed to pump ourselves up a little bit because they were really focused. That last set, we were proud of that. We had to work for it. This one is a little bit more special because it’s our senior year. We went out on top, and that’s all you can ask for.”

This year’s senior class have only known winning.

Some of them have six rings now. Sarah Nash was so excited to have a competitive match to end her career.

Gordon Whitwell gets set to return a shot during Monday's match with Stone County.Whitwell won his match 6-0, 6-0.

“I thought it was sweeter.

(Davis) started getting more aggressive at the net and I came after her,” Sarah Nash said. “I was trying to back her up. She basically took over.”

Louis Nash said he happened to look over at mixed doubles and said “Bo and Abbie were just killing them. It was wham, bam,

point over. Then I looked over at Grace Anne and Amanda and Amanda was hitting some balls into the parking lot. She was just killing them. She was on. I thought our boys, too, were good. It was hard today to say that any one of them was a whole lot better than another.”

Other wins for the Charg-

ers included the doubles team of Will Swindoll and Gus Morgan, Claire Stevens in singles, Grace Anne Jones and Amanda Lowery in girls singles and the team of Ryan Mounce and Max Mauney at the other doubles spot.

John.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OXFORD CITIZEN

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016

PAGE 17

Babic’s improvement has been key for OM Rebels

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

A chance to perform at a higher level is something sophomore Zvonimir Babic is hoping the Ole Miss Rebels achieve in the NCAA Regionals this weekend. The Ole Miss men’s tennis team is currently in California getting geared up to play Denver in the first round. If the Rebels win that match, and everything goes according to plan, then they will be facing the Golden Bears of Cal for the right to make the Sweet 16.

For Babic, who has really emerged for the Rebels as the spring has moved on, the results of 2016 were deemed “decent.” There were some good wins, but it was clear that more could have been accomplished.

Himself included.

“I think we can perform better. It was up and down but I think going into the NCAA Tournament, I think we’re getting better,” Babic said. “I feel like everybody is finding their own game style right now and finding their top level as compared to the beginning of the year when everybody was stressed and didn’t know what to do.”

Two wins over the weekend would not only move the Rebels on, but it should be a great building block for a young team in 2017. Ole Miss has just two seniors on this year’s roster which means the team should very experienced, and formidable, in the future.

JOSH MCCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Sophomore Zvonimir Babic has been one of the most consistent players for the Ole Miss men's tennis team this spring.

“We are a young team definitely and this trip will good for us. Everybody is going to be juniors or sophomores next year so this is going to be a good experience,” Babic said. “I also think it’s a good opportunity. Cal is ranked 13th, they’re not top 5, top 10, so I think we have a good chance of making something there.”

Since the season started, Babic has improved his movement on the court the most, he said. Focus on the match has also been a strength this season for Babic, who is 15-7 overall and 10-2 in dual matches.

“I’ve managed to finish the match and be calm on the court, not letting adversity come to me,” he said.

“It’s very tough. In the fall, I didn’t play good really. I was out of the lineup and didn’t feel really good. You have to keep believing and say that

you can do. I’m a lot more confident.”

The indoor season is when things started to change for Babic. He is a better indoor player, or at least plays well inside. He won a couple of matches over Stefan Lindmark, the Rebels’ most experienced player, and that only increased his confidence.

“Slick (Lindmark) gave me good advice and told me to keep working and keep improving and that everything would be OK,” said Babic, who has been playing tennis since he was age 7. “I liked soccer a lot. I’m a good soccer player. I thought it was my sport, but my dad didn’t really like me to play soccer, so he said go try tennis. I tried it and I was winning tournaments and it became fun.”

Babic is from Zagreb, Croatia. He found out about

Ole Miss through a friend who came on a visit six years. That friend ended up playing for Ohio State, but he kept in touch with Ole Miss coach Toby Hansson and he recommended Babic to Hansson.

“Toby was just amazing.

The first time I talked with the guy, he was so nice and the place looks nice and then I came to the visit and it was just amazing,” he said.

“People ask me how is (Croatia), how are you living, what is your favorite food, what type of music I listen to.”

Oxford and Zagreb are completely different in terms of size. Zagreb has 1 million residents, which means Oxford would be just the part around his house.

“It’s so much different.

Everyone knows everybody here. I like it, I like Oxford. It’s a real home feeling,” Babic

Babic was looking for the Rebels to play well in the NCAA Regionals out at the University of California. said. “I walk by my street at my apartment and I feel like I’m home. It’s nice.”

Babic has never been to California, so he was looking forward to seeing a new part of America. Chicago is the biggest city in the country he’s traveled to. The Ole Miss fan support is something else Babic has enjoyed about being in Oxford.

“At the State match, I never felt so good. They were coming on the court to start the doubles and I looked up and it was like 1,000 people,” he said. “It was amazing. That feeling is something I really like about Ole Miss the most for sure.” john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

OM women travel to play at North Carolina for NCAAs

BY JOHN DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

If the Ole Miss women’s tennis team is to advance to the Sweet 16 this year, they are going to have to do it on the road against some tough teams. The Rebels are the No. 3 seed in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina regional. Up first is a match with Northwestern of the Big Ten. “Every region is going to have some tough teams.

There aren’t really any easy matches once it gets to the NCAA Tournament,” Beyers said. “UNC has a great team. They’ve hosted many, many times so from

that standpoint, I’m sure they will run a first-class regional. Northwestern has been a perennial Top 25 team. There isn’t going to be any easy matches, but we’re used to that playing in the SEC so it’s not like we’re going to be intimidated having to play Northwestern or if we get past them and have to play UNC.” Every team at this point of the year is 0-0. Every match is single elimination and it’s not like the Rebels are starting ahead, or behind, any team.

“It’s not like we’re down 1-0 because we’re the No. 3 seed. It’s one match and

you have to get through that or else you’re going home,” Beyers said. “We’ve got to be ready for that.

What you did during the season doesn’t matter at this point in time. It’s win or go home.”

Beyers felt like the season got his team ready for the NCAAs. There have been some good wins, and some close losses.

“I think there were some high highs. Beating Stanford, that’s a signature win.

But there were also some lows that maybe shouldn’t have happened and it did,” Beyers said. “At the end of the day, you’re trying to get into the NCAAs and we

were able to do that. So now it’s like a new season and we’ll see what we can do post season. The biggest thing is to get and you do want to be as high of a seed as possible so you hope you have a little easier first round playing a four seed or something like that. I think that we would have liked to have a little more consistency but some of that was injuries and things like that and that’s tough to control.”

This is the eighth straight time that the Rebels have advanced to the NCAAs and Beyers didn’t want to downplay that fact because everyone in college tennis

has become competitive, not just in the SEC. “Just like in basketball, you have 64 teams and 32 of those are automatic qualifiers so that means 32 at-large spots,” Beyers said.

“Out of the 336 Division I women’s tennis programs, you have 32 spots. There’s not a whole lot leeway there. You have to be fairly consistent. We weren’t as consistent as we would like to be, but we were still consistent enough to get in.

That’s exciting. The girls are excited about it. In all my years of coaching, I’ve never been to Chapel Hill and I hear it’s beautiful over there so I’m looking for-

ward to playing another historic team like Northwestern. They’ve been good in a lot of years.”

Exams had to be worked around from a practice standpoint, Beyers said.

The Rebels were scheduled to travel on Wednesday in order to play Friday.

“That’s always a little tricky with us being in exam week and the NCAA regionals being the same week but we’ve dealt with it in the past and these kids have done an amazing job in the classroom,” Beyers said. john.davis@journalinc.com Twitter: @oxfordcitizenjd

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