Scholar athletes, community members recognized at NFF banquet – Mississippi’s Best Community Newspaper

NATCHEZ — Freddie Sandel, president of the Miss-Lou Chapter of the Nationwide Soccer Basis and Corridor of Fame, spoke on the podium for his or her annual scholar-athlete banquet Tuesday night time. It was the primary time they’ve held the banquet since 2020 as a consequence of COVID-19. 

Fr. Aaron Williams blessed the meal and Rick Cleveland, a Mississippi sports activities author the final 57 years, set the stage for Tuesday’s recognition of scholar-athletes and Ray Simpson, Sue and Ken Beesley who invested time into youth athletics. 

Walt Brown moreover took time to re-present a plaque to Sandel earlier than introducing Cleveland for the night. Sandel was awarded the NFF Chapter Management Award this previous November. 

Scholar Awards

Six space junior excessive athletes acquired scholar-athlete awards. Brady Sullivan from Adams County Christian Faculty, Cathedral’s Adam Walker Probst, Delta Constitution’s Jason Hunter Meyers, Ferriday’s Robert Taylor, Natchez’s Kameron Morgan and Vidalia’s Caden Kossum. 

Scholar Awards have been offered to 6 highschool seniors. Ferriday’s Chavo Thomas, Natchez’s Landen Sewell and Vidalia’s Courtlyn Brooks acquired $1,000 every in scholarship funds. 

Adams County Christian Faculty’s Samuel Merriett and Delta Constitution’s Clay Roberson acquired $2,000 as they tied for second place within the metrics, Sandel stated. Cathedral’s Jackson Lewis acquired the highest scholar-athlete award of $3,000. He stated the scholarship might be a assist. 

“I didn’t know beforehand I’d be getting this. It is going to assist for positive. It is going to assist pay for room and board. I plan to go to MSU and examine engineering,” Lewis stated. “I’ve all the time cherished math and science. It’s a good match. It’s the two topics I’ve all the time excelled in. I would examine mechanical or civil engineering, however I’m nonetheless undecided. Math and Science have all the time been the simplest topics since I used to be little.” 

Jackson is the son of Matthew and Heather Lewis. He performed offensive guard, defensive finish and punter for Cathedral. In his senior yr, he was chosen to play as captain and has had an A+ common at Cathedral during the last 10 years. 

Over these 10 years, he has additionally gained highest common awards in Chemistry I, Chemistry II, Trigonometry and pre-Calculus. He has been a member of the Nationwide Honor Society for 3 years, Key Membership for one yr and labored on the Hunters for the Hungry and Stewpot charities for seven years. He amassed 140+ hours of neighborhood service whereas at Cathedral. His time as a Inexperienced Wave is getting nearer to an finish. 

“I’m going to overlook the sports activities and the neighborhood,” Lewis stated. “I loved the entire soccer season. Hanging out with your pals. One of the best yr for me was after we went 10-1. I realized from Cleveland that individuals from Mississippi can do something.” 

Cleveland spoke concerning the soccer gamers Mississippi has produced who went on to the NFL and shared little private tales on Walter Peyton, Brett Favre, Archie Manning and Jerry Rice. He ultimately shifted his focus to the scholar-athletes in entrance of him.

“Congratulations to everybody. It’s a nice honor to talk tonight,” Cleveland stated. “We is perhaps good in soccer however aren’t so good scholastically. Mississippi is often someplace within the 40s out of fifty states. You’re proof that you are able to do each. You may make good grades and that can lead you to a whole lot of future success.”

Particular honors

College students weren’t the one recipients of awards Tuesday night time. Ray Simpson with Rex Crew Sports activities gained the Contributors to Beginner Soccer Award. In 1976, Simpson began his profession with Wade Craig at Sports activities Middle as a freight man. 

Craig purchased Rex Sporting Items within the late 80s and Simpson realized the workforce enterprise from A.I. Rexinger. One of many memorable classes he realized from Rex is to all the time ship the top coach his polo earlier than the rest. Rex Sporting Items has now grown to 9 full-time highway salesmen. 

He and his spouse Kitty of 45 years are energetic members at First Baptist Church Natchez. A previous president of the Dixie Boys Baseball League and Delta State Alumni Affiliation, the unique organizer of the River Metropolis Run Marathon, he considers himself fortunate to have offered to Joey Porter, Dee Faircloth, Bishop Robert Cade, David King, Tom Williams, Ed Reed, Bobby Mark, and Bob Ulmer. It needs to be famous he went to school for accounting. 

“I’m fully blown away and honored by this recognition from the NFF and extra so humbled my identify might be listed with these giants from Adams County and Concordia Parish,” Simpson wrote. “I grew up calling on a whole lot of these people and nonetheless do name on a few of them.” 

Ken and Sue Beesley acquired the Distinguished American Award. Ken coached soccer and baseball at Cathedral for 36 years, his son Craig Beesley adopted in his footsteps and grandson Andrew Beesley continues the Beesley custom of teaching and instructing. 

Sue labored within the Natchez-Adams County Public Faculty system for 30 years. She was usually present in D’evereux Stadium cheering on the Inexperienced Wave every Friday night time. They now take pleasure in watching Andrew coach. 

“It simply means so much to me. I had a enjoyable time with Cathedral. I’m pleased with Cathedral,” Ken stated. 

“The award was a shock,” Sue stated. “It means the world to us to see Andrew teaching. We love the varsity and it’s great to see our grandson teaching. It retains us going.”