It sure was an exciting year in sports in Attala County.
Here, we take a look back at all our local athletes were able to accomplish during 2017.
Jacob Peeler named Ole Miss receivers coach
Ole Miss named Kosciusko native and former Whippet star offensive lineman Jacob Peeler as wide receivers coach on January 11, after having served as a graduate assistant at Cal in 2013-14 before being promoted to assistant coach for inside receivers in 2015. He helped turn Cal’s offense into one of the top in the nation after the Bears finished in the top 10 in passing offense, top 15 in total offense and top 25 in scoring offense for each of the last three seasons.
Kosciusko Fastpitch plays for 4A Title
Finding themselves down 3-0 to Caledonia in Game 3 of the Class 4A North Championship Series, the Lady Whippets, who had won Region 4-4A, came charging back to tie it all up at 3-3 and eventually blew it open in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-3 lead, which would be the final. The win moved the Lady Whippets to 26-7 overall and placed them into the MHSAA Class 4A State Championship series against South Pike. The Lady Whippets fell in two games in the Class 4A State Championship Series and finished the season with a 26-9 overall record.
Ethel baseball wins Region 6-1A
The Ethel Tigers claimed their first Region 6-1A title since 2008 with a region clinching 5-3 win over Sebastopol last Thursday night. With the win, the Tigers moved to 5-1 in Region 6-1A play. The Tigers finished their season with a 24-7 overall record with a Game 3 loss to Resurrection in the Class 1A South finals.
Kelly Causey named head football coach at Kosy
Kelly Causey, 48, was named head football coach for the Kosciusko Whippets in February after the departure of former head coach Chad Peterson. Causey, who came from Cleveland High School where he had been the head coach since 2011, compiled a 52-27 mark that included a 13-2 season in 2014 and a 10-4 mark in 2011. Causey, who felt the timing was right for he and his family to make a move after East Side High and Cleveland High consolidated, looks forward to getting started.
“I have always looked at the position when it was open and have always felt that Kosciusko was one of the better jobs in 4A football,” said Causey. “Cleveland was home, but the timing was right and I am extremely happy to be here.”
McAdams wins Region 5-1A Tournament
The McAdams Bulldogs won the Region 5-1A Tournament with a resounding 75-53 win over cross-county rival Ethel on Friday night while the Lady Bulldogs fell 68-49 to the Durant Lady Tigers.
McAdams in playoffs for first time since 1990
The McAdams Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Region 2-1A play and traveled to Okolona for their first MHSAA Class 1A North Playoff appearance since 1990. The Bulldogs lost to Okolona in round one of the playoffs and finished the season with a 5-6 overall record under first-year head coach Jim Risen.
Ethel Powerlifters win Class 1A State Title
The Ethel Tiger powerlifting team claimed the first athletic team Class 1A State Championship in school history on April 14 in Jackson at the Mississippi Coliseum. Setting a MHSAA Class 1A state record with a 535-pound deadlift in the 165-pound weight class, senior lifter Terrance Barnett also claimed an individual Class 1A State title in that weight class as well with a total lift of 1165 pounds. Senior Corey Felton also claimed an individual MHSAA Class 1A state championship with a total lift of 1200 pounds in the 242-pound weight class.
Kosciusko Girls Track wins Region 2-4A
The Lady Whippet track team claimed the Region 2-4A title on April 21 at the Kosciusko High School track complex. Team members are: Terrica Talley, Ta’Lynda Boyd, Macy Arnold, Olivia Buckley, Trinity Mosley, Mohogany Perteet, Samia Veasley, Indya Haynes, Savannah Thompson, Makenzie Horrall, Mikhayla Vaughn, A’drereonia Moore, Brishana Simmons, Camryn Greer, Miracle Green, Feria Mays, Kenyatta Allen, Ameria Riley and Darrial Cook.
Kosciusko Baseball wins Region 4-4A
The 2017 Whippets claimed the Region 4-4A crown with a perfect 10-0 region record and did it by sweeping out the defending MHSAA Class 4A State Champion Houston Hilltoppers to end the regular season by scores of 5-3 and 2-1 respectively. The Whippets finished the season with a 26-9 overall record.
