A look back at some of those making news in Calhoun County sports over the past year.
V Farmer
Bruce native Benjy Parker was named defensive coordinator at Northwest Community College.
Calhoun City basketball teams completed a season sweep of rival Bruce in both boys’ and girls’ action with V. Farmer, Brieton Sykes and Chakel Gates leading the way.
Charlsie Lovorn of Calhoun City signed to play softball at Holmes Community College. Terrance Jones of Bruce, Lavarious Varnado and Cartin McBride of Calhoun City signed to play football at ICC. Donta Armstrong of Bruce signed to play football at Northeast and Travone Petty of Calhoun City with Concordia University.
The Lady Wildcats easily won the basketball region championship and advanced to the North Half Tournament where they were eliminated by H.W. Byers.
After winning region title, Vardaman Lady Rams were eliminated in the first round of the north half basketball tournament.
The Calhoun City Wildcats finished the basketball season with a 22-12 record losing to S.V. Marshall 62-58 in the state semifinals at the coliseum in Jackson.
V. Farmer and Donta Armstrong were named region MVPs for the 2013-14 basketball season. Farmer would later sign to play for Northeast. Lady Wildcat Alison Childs signed with ICC.
Jay King
The Bruce Lady Trojans opened the softball season by defeating Calhoun City and Vardaman to win the county tournament.
Former Bruce Trojans Chase Clark and Jay King earned back-to-back MACJC player of the week honors for Northwest baseball. King would follow that by earning national player of the week twice during the season. Both were named to the all state team.
Genna Grace Edmondson of Vardaman signed a softball scholarship with Northeast.
M.D. Jennings of Calhoun City signed a one year contract with the Chicago Bears.
Lady Wildcats won their third straight Class I powerlifting state championship. Latrell Marks, Jamar Brown and Junior Ramirez, all of Bruce, earned first place finishes in their weight class in the state powerlifting championships.
Vardaman native Odie Armstrong changed Arena Football League teams signing with the San Jose Sabre Cats.
The Bruce Trojans finished the baseball season 18-9, but missed the playoffs. The Wildcats finished second in the region and would advance to the second round of the playoffs where they were defeated by Baldwyn. They finished the year with a 16-9 record.
Hunter Harmon
Former Bruce Lady Trojan Laken Shankle helped ICC win their softball region title.
East Mississippi golfer and Calhoun Academy graduate Hunter Harmon named all state. Harmon would compete in the NJCAA national championship tournament.
The Vardaman Lady Rams advanced to the third round of the softball playoffs where they were eliminated by Hamilton. Bruce advanced to the second round of the playoffs where they were beaten by Riverside.
Calhoun City golf team finished third at state. Cameron Clarke of Bruce placed fourth in Class 2A. Vardaman’s Brandon Walker placed third in Class 1A.
Bruce’s Jay Johnson finishes third in 100 meter and Tyrique Gunn second in the triple jump at the state track meet.
Calhoun Academy golfer Todd Harrell earned seventh in the MAIS state tournament.
Whittney Gee earns all north division honors for Northeast softball.
Photo by JUCOWeekly.org
Jordan Moore wins SquareFest 5K in Calhoun City. Joshua Bland wins Bruce Museum 5k.
Calhoun City native Sean Cannon named head football coach at ICC.
Yarnell Marks of Bruce wins state powerlifting title.
Bruce’s Jay Johnson named to Dandy Dozen by The Clarion Ledger.
Calhoun Academy opens new on campus softball field.
Lady Cougars fall to Hebron in season finale to narrowly miss softball playoffs.
Calhoun City continued its dominance of Bruce in the football series defeating the Trojans 56-15 in the regular season for their eighth straight win in the rivalry. The Wildcats would extend that streak to nine with a 28-14 hard fought win over the Trojans in the playoffs. It was only the third meeting of the two teams in the postseason.
Calhoun Academy concluded the football season with a 4-6 record. Vardaman finished winless for the second consecutive season.
The Bruce Trojans defeated Okolona in the final game of the season to qualify for the football playoffs. They followed that by pulling upsets over Coahoma AHS and JZ George in the first two rounds before falling to Calhoun City in the North semifinals.
Deshawn Tillman and Wiley Maddox
Lavarious Varnado of Calhoun City was named all state football at ICC.
Deshawn Tillman of Bruce wins national championship with East Mississippi football team when the Lions defeated Iowa Western in Biloxi.
Calhoun City football tied a school record with 15 wins in 2014. Their only loss was a 60-35 defeat at the hands of Bassifeld for the second consecutive year in the state championship game in Starkville.