MGCCC hands out championship rings

PERKINSTON – Team members of the Mississippi Gulf Coast golf, softball and tennis teams have been given championship rings commemorating their success during 2015 seasons.

Two members of the Bulldogs tennis team won MACJC and Region 23 titles last year: Brandon Lane and Sam Blackburn. They each won singles titles and combined for a doubles championship.

"When we recruit players, we say they're going to have the opportunity to leave here with a ring," tennis coach Gary Bourgeois said. "We feel we have all the resources in place to allow them to compete and leave here with a ring they'll have for the rest of their lives. It's one of those tangible goals they can achieve."

The Bulldogs golf team finished third at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament last May. It was the second consecutive year they'd done that, the best-ever finish by the school at the event. They were MACJC and Region 23 champions, having won the region eight consecutive years.

"The main reason I do this is to see those kids reach their accomplishments," coach Tommy Snell said. "Even though the classroom accomplishments are greater than the athletic field accomplishments, it's nice to have that gratification."

The Lady Bulldogs softball team won MACJC and Region 23 championships last year, eventually finishing ninth at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in May.

"That team came together and peaked at the right time to win state and then turn around and be in the loser's bracket of the region tournament and win back to back in the finals," softball coach Kenneth Long said. That team will go down as one of the best teams in Gulf Coast history. When those rings came in and we looked at them, I thought that's one of the best teams in Gulf Coast history."