MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Johnson, Fillingane, Barnett, Polk, DeBar, Seymour, Thompson, England
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE REMARKABLE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY AND COMMENDING THESE HIGHER EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WHEREAS, we join the students, coaches, faculty and administration of William Carey University (WCU) in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of the Athletic Program over the last two years; and
WHEREAS, in 2024 William Carey University was honored to receive the prestigious Halbrook Award, along with students Abigail Wickham and RJ Stinson. WCU was selected as this year's Independent College and University recipient based off a five-year graduation percentage of 82.93% of female athletes with 64.23% of male athletes for an overall percentage of 73.58% for the period. Abigail Wickham is a Biology major with a minor in Psychology and is a member of the women's golf team with a 3.96 GPA. RJ Stinson is a Physical Education major and member of the baseball team with a 4.00 GPA; and
WHEREAS, the Halbrook Award recognizes colleges and universities that maintain and achieve high academic standards for student-athletes, thus encouraging high graduation rates. The awards program is made possible through endowments from Representative David M. Halbrook, who served in the Mississippi House of Representatives for 26 years, and his brothers, John C. and James G. Halbrook, all from Belzoni, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, William Carey's higher education athletics accomplishments include the following:
· List of Every Team Ranked in Top 25 in Last Two Years:
2021-2022 Season – Men's Soccer (#16), Men's Tennis (#11), Women's Soccer (#2), Softball (#11), Women's Tennis (#11), Women's Golf (#6), Men's Cross Country (RV), Women's Outdoor Track & Field (#2), Women's Indoor Track & Field (#2);
2022-2023 Season - Baseball (#8), Men's Soccer (#10), Men's Tennis (#8), Men's Golf (#25), Women's Soccer (#5), Softball (#22), Women's Tennis (#16), Women's Golf (#6), Women's Cross Country (#13), Women's Outdoor Track & Field (#2), Women's Indoor Track & Field (#3);
· Halford's 1300th Win:
Head Coach Bobby Halford picked up his 1300th career win, becoming the 7th coach in NAIA history to accomplish this achievement, as his Crusaders defeated #1 Southeastern (Fla.) 13-4 in the 66th Annual Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field. Halford is currently the all-time winningest coach in the State of Mississippi. Also, during the 2023 season, Carey posted the most wins in the state with 49;
· Steve Knight as HOF and Winningest Coach in History of State:
Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Knight was inducted in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. His 753 wins makes him the State of Mississippi's all-time winningest collegiate coach and currently places him #1 in the NAIA among all active coaches before the start of the 2023-2024 season;
· Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships:
2022-2023 SSAC Regular Season Champions: Baseball, Men's Tennis, Women's Soccer;
2022-2023 SSAC Tournament Champions: Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field;
· Coaches of the Year and National Staff of the Year:
2023-2024 Season – Cooper Herrington (Men's Cross Country), Danny Owens (Women's Soccer), Danny Owens, Ryan Weir, Larissa Caldas, and Shawn Hunter (United Soccer Coaches – Coaching Staff of the Year), Ryan McKenzie (Men's & Women's Indoor Track & Field), Tracy English (Women's Basketball), Ryan McKenzie (USTFCCCA Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year), and Malcom Diaz (USTFCCCA Men's & Women's Assistant Coach of the Year);
2022-2023 Season – Bobby Halford (Baseball), Ryan McKenzie (Women's Indoor Track & Field), Danny Owens (Women's Soccer), Marc Lux (Men's Tennis), Blake Hegstrom (Men's & Women's Cross Country);
· New Sports of Swimming and Cheer Teams:
WCU will have three new sports starting during the 2024-2025 year with the addition of Men's & Women's Swimming & Competitive Cheer. Currently Carey has over 350 athletes that comprise its 18 intercollegiate varsity sports, two junior varsity sports, and one co-ed club sport;
· Number of All-Americans and Academic All-Americans:
2022-2023 NAIA All-Americans – 44;
2022-2023 NAIA Scholar Athletes – 47;
2022-2023 SSAC All-Americans – 169;
2022-2023 SSAC All-Academic - 116;
· Archery Awards and the Nations #1 Shooter:
Samantha Roberts' performance at USA Archery's Indoor Nationals will send her to Louisville, Kentucky, on March 14 to compete with the top 8 archers in the Indoor Final. She placed 1st in Compound Collegiate, 1st Place Compound U21, and finished fifth overall;
· National Champion Runner-Ups in Two Sports:
Currently this year, Women's Soccer and Women's Indoor Track & Field finished as Runner-Up at the NAIA National Championships. Men's Indoor Track & Field placed fourth overall at the NAIA National Championship;
· Commissioners Cup for Seven Years in a Row:
William Carey has brought home the SSAC Commissioners Cup seven years in row except for the 2019-2020 season due to COVID. The Commissioners Cup is given annually to the member institution with the most successful all-around sports program for the year. Points are awarded based on how a team finishes in the regular season (M&W Soccer, Volleyball, M&W Basketball, M&W Tennis, Baseball and Softball) or the Conference Championship (M&W Cross Country, Competitive Cheer, M&W Indoor Track & Field, M&W Swimming, M&W Outdoor T&F and M&W Golf). There are bonus points for winning conference tournaments in sports that also crown a regular season champion and for sponsoring sports above the minimum of six. Percentages are calculated based on the potential points earned by each institution in the sports it sponsors;
· Mississippi's First Baseball National Champion:
The William Carey baseball team captured Mississippi's first Baseball National Championship when they brought home the title in 1969;
· Tennis Sportsmanship Award:
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the selection of William Carey University as the winner of the 2024 ITA NAIA Women's Team Sportsmanship Award; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we acknowledge the excellence of this flag ship University and its leadership in higher education and athletics in the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the remarkable growth and success of the Athletic Program at William Carey University and commend these higher education accomplishments, extending the best wishes of the Legislature for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to William Carey University President and CEO Dr. Ben Burnett and his athletic staff, forwarded to the Board of Trustees of William Carey University, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.