Athletics

Nick Stamper V Signs with Christian Brothers University

Christian Brothers University began recruiting Nick Stamper V during his junior year, as did other schools. Coaches were encouraging and liked the fact that Nick is a two-sport athlete, playing both baseball and football at USJ.

When Nick visited Christian Brothers during the fall of his senior year, he found he enjoyed the school culture and the degrees offered there, as well as the coaches and team.

Now that he is settled in, Nick is enjoying the positive connections he is making with his professors. Baseball is also going well, giving him a chance to compete to play right away as a freshman.

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Sawyer Phipps Signs with Trine University

Sawyer Phipps was a solid linebacker and long snapper during his time at USJ. He had several options of colleges to play for, but he eventually chose Trine University in Angola, Indiana. The school has a beautiful campus and top-notch athletic facilities. Sawyer signed on April 27, 2022. “It’s always exciting to see a young man come out of our program with the opportunity to play college football and represent our school,” said Coach Michael Stroup. “We are very proud of Sawyer!”

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Drew Morris & Mae Howell Named Athletes of the Year by Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame

Each year, USJ nominates both a male and female Athlete of the Year based on certain criteria. They must be a multi-sport athlete, in good standing academically, socially within leadership, and not have any disciplinary issues throughout high school.

MAE HOWELL USJ’s female athlete of the year, Mae Howell, is a four-year member of the track team 3 and played soccer and basketball two years. In track last season she was all-region and AllWest Tennessee and competed in the state finals in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. She played on USJ’s state championship soccer team in 2021 and the state runner-up team in 2020. She is involved in numerous extracurricular activities and honor societies. She made a 30 on the ACT and had a 4.55 grade point average. She attends Auburn University and majors in marketing.

DREW MORRIS USJ’s male athlete of the year, Drew Morris, is the only senior Bruin to have played football, basketball and baseball all four years. He was an all-region wide receiver in football last season, averaging 17.5 yards per catch with four touchdowns and 529 all-purpose yards. In basketball this season he had 22 steals and averaged 5.4 points and three assists. He was all-region and all-district in baseball last season as a pitcher. He had a 5-1 record and 2.17 ERA with 39 strikeouts. He had a 4.42 grade point average and majors in biology with a pre-dental emphasis at the University of Mississippi.

4 Henry Piercey Awarded Morgan Leah McCarty Memorial Scholarship

The Morgan Leah McCarty Memorial Scholarship is a local scholarship founded in memory of Morgan McCarty, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver while attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Her family established an annual golf classic that funds this scholarship in Morgan’s name with the goal of helping local students continue their education. Henry Piercy was named this year’s recipient by the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.

5 4 5 Lady Bruins are the 4 x 400 Meter Relay State Champions / Girls 4 x 800 Meter Relay Team: TSSAA State Champions

The 2022 Track & Field season was capped off by the Lady Bruins’ 4 X 400 and 4 X 800 relay teams winning the titles of TSSAA DII-A State Champions!

The 4 X 400 relay team was made up of Caroline Conder, Haynes Haltom, Julianna Schultz, and Adan Jett. The 4 X 800 relay team consisted of Betha

Pucek, Caroline Conder, Julianna Schultz, and Adan Jett. At the TSSAA West

Regional Championships, Ava Rose played a critical role in helping the team qualify for the State Championships in the 4 X 800 relay.

For the TSSAA State Championships, coaching staff Alicia Roberts, Steve Jett, Anthony

Sawyer, and Arthur Priddy developed individual race strategies for each member of the relay teams that they felt would put the Lady Bruins in the best position as a team to win.

Each of these young ladies executed her race strategy perfectly!

“In my tenure of coaching at USJ, this team–both boys and girls–was the most wellrounded team we have ever had,” said Coach Arthur Priddy. “We had throwers, sprinters, jumpers, middle distance, and multi-event student-athletes who all competed at a high level all season. In fact, at the TSSAA State Championships, we were represented in eight different events.”

What these six student-athletes accomplished has put the Lady Bruins in a position to build upon the strong culture in Track & Field at USJ.

7 6 6 GIRLS TENNIS WINS STATE!

USJ Girls’ Tennis Team are Back-to-Back TSSAA D-II State Champs

Congratulations to our USJ Girls’ Tennis Team! They are back-to-back TSSAA Division II-A state champions! Our Boys’ tennis team was runnerup at state. What a great run for our tennis teams!