ARECORD YEAR

BY MRS. CAROLINE BRADFORD, ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

TThe 2023 athletics season began with uncertainty. With a recent change from GHSA moving MPCS from the A-Private classification into the higher Division 2A level, the typical high school competitor pool had changed. However, our Eagles soared despite the change and the year panned out to be one for the record books for MPC athletics.

The Eagles have claimed a new high of five State championship titles, including two new program titles; two State runner-up titles; and eight Region and Area championships. Aside from that domination on the fields and courts, the hard-won efforts of our student-athletes earned Mount Paran Christian the 2A Georgia Athletic Directors’ Association (GADA) Director’s Cup — a first in the school's history! In addition, the Lady Eagles won the honors for overall top female program in 2A, and the boys came in second.

Dating back to 1999, the GADA Director’s Cup is awarded to the top athletic programs in each classification based on a scaled point system. Varsity teams earn points for success on the field or court in post-season play, with

THE HARD-WON EFFORTS OF OUR STUDENTATHLETES EARNED MOUNT PARAN CHRISTIAN THE 2A GEORGIA ATHLETIC DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (GADA) DIRECTOR’S CUP — A FIRST IN THE SCHOOL'S HISTORY!

State appearance and titles garnering the highest ranks. Each school’s highest scoring eight sports for boys and eight sports for girls will be used to calculate the school’s awarded point totals. The Cup recognizes consistent success among student-athletes who are part of quality programs top to bottom. Athletic Director, Mitch Jordan, commented to the Marietta Daily Journal, “We don’t measure the success of our programs off the number of wins and losses — the number one thing for our coaches is that it’s about the student-athletes first.”

The school year began with volleyball earning back-to-back State titles. Finishing with an overall record of 47-6 on the season, Coaches Selina Chancy, Julie Farley, and the Lady Eagles went undefeated in Region play, dropping only one set throughout the State tournament. This marked the program’s third State championship.

C ompetition cheer won their eleventh consecutive State championship, the first for new coaches Shelley Ray, McKenzie Rutan, and Nikki Hamilton. The team executed a clean performance to secure the win, shatter records, and set the tone for 2A cheerleading.

During the winter season, the varsity girls basketball team dominated 2A with a 32-1 record. Coaches Stephanie Dunn, Letitia Johnson, and Jim Merkle led the team to defend their title, giving the program its second championship.

While the Lady Eagles soared in the fall and winter, spring proved to be the boys’ time to shine. The Boys lacrosse team won its first Area champi- onship, and the baseball team finished as State runner-up in a dramatic three-game series.

Boys tennis claimed its first-ever State championship in dramatic fashion, led by Coaches Jason Beard, Ryan Smith, and Caroline Bradford. Freshman Sebastian Bolivar sealed the win for the Eagles in a third set tiebreaker to bring home the trophy. Senior Ben Moultrie shared, “It’s a great accomplishment that the whole team has been working hard for all year. The seniors have been trying to achieve this since freshman year, and it feels great to know that our hard work paid off.”

Boys golf rounded out the record year for MPC athletics. Coach Scott Varner and team headed to Okefenokee Golf Club, where freshman Brody McQueen led the field and was awarded low medalist with a score of 66. Senior Jace Butcher was second in the field. The team State championship was the first in program history.

Varsity softball brought home the Runner-Up spot for 2022. The team has reached the sport's coveted Elite 8 for five years in a row which included the Championship title in 2020.

The varsity baseball team finished as State Runner-Up in a dramatic three-game series. The team has competed fiercely in consecutive State tournament play and earned the State title in 2021.

In addition to all of the above, MPC racked up other varsity season accolades: individual boys golf State Champion, Final 4 in girls soccer and girls golf; Elite 8 in girls lacrosse; top 10 State finishes by girls tennis, wrestling, swimming; Sweet 16 in boys soccer, boys lacrosse; and playoff appearances by cross country and track and field. Region 2AA brought area championships in cheerleading, volleyball, softball, girls basketball, boys tennis, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse, boys golf, and girls golf as well as runner-up finishes in baseball, girls tennis, and girls track and field.