Mississippi
Team USA Gymnastics is serving as a motivator for Mississippi gymnasts
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Team USA Gymnastics is proving to be a highlight of the Paris Olympic Games.
The men’s team secured a bronze medal in the team finals Monday, and all eyes are on the women who topped the podium with gold in team finals Tuesday.
There’s excitement just watching the competition, but for some Mississippi gymnasts, it’s pushing them to new heights.
We visited Courthouse Gymnastics Co. in Flowood, where students dressed in their own version of red, white, and blue leotards prepared for competitions.
“They come in four or five days a week, almost 20 hours a week,” explained Courthouse Gymnastics Co. co-owner Mario Gonzalez. “And that’s just what it takes.”
The televised events and the lead-up to them have gotten the girls thinking ahead.
“I went to the Olympic trials, and we were a little farther off, but watching them made me get really inspired to work harder in the gym,” noted Alex Burkhard.
“My dream is probably to be the next Simone Biles,” admits Elizabeth Benslar.
Simone Biles may be setting records but some of the girls brought up other members of Team USA as their favorites. Still, there was plenty of praise for Biles.
While most of us are watching in awe, the girls at Courthouse Gymnastics Co. are analyzing their every move.
“When I learn new skills, I like to watch it,” said Blakely Lott. “So it’s like, ‘Oh, I could do better at this or that. So I like to watch and learn how to do certain skills. Then it’s cool to watch like, ‘Hey, I’ve learned to do that skill now and I used to not be able to.’”
However, the biggest takeaway from watching those women compete at the highest level seemed to be the work ethic. Here’s what some of the students said about the added motivation.
“I literally told my mom, I was like, ‘That just makes me want to go to the gym and do gymnastics now,’” noted Addlyn Pipper.
“I’m gonna get to the Olympics one day,” said Laura Vaiden. “And I just, the next day at gym, I’m like, alright, tomorrow, you’re gonna work hard.”
“Just for a goal for myself, is to see how close I could be to going,” added Alex Burkhard.
Olympics or not, these gymnasts will keep up the work.
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Mississippi
Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time
Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever
The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015
MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3
Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament
Mississippi
George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.
Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.
Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.
Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.
The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.
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Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.
Mississippi
Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances
Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.
It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.
It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.
The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.
Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.
“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”
They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.
It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.
If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.
“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”
Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.
There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.
But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.
They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.
Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.
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