Men's soccer holds awards ceremony

The Holmes Community College Men's Soccer Team held an awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 29, in the Student Union on the Ridgeland Campus.

The ceremony gave the players and coaches an opportunity to share a meal and fellowship with one another as they reflected on the 2018 season. Head Men and Women's Coach Matt Convertino thanked everyone who helped make the season successful.

Each sophomore player was presented with a plaque and following the presentation, Men's Associate Head Soccer Coach Ousmane Coulibaly gave out team awards to a few standout players. He presented the Leadership Award to Joshua Hinkle, a sophomore defender from Madison; the Sportsmanship Award to Braden Strickland, a sophomore midfielder from McHenry and the Playmaker Award to Zachary McCullough, a freshman midfielder from Brandon. Juan Rodriguez, a sophomore forward from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, received the Golden Boot Award.

Both Harrison Hodge, a freshman defender from Laurel, and Wesley Jacobs, a freshman defender from Brandon, received Most Improved awards. Dalton Mailman, a sophomore midfielder from Mary Esther, Florida, was named Most Valuable Midfielder; Colby Fair, a freshman goalkeeper from Laurel, was named Most Valuable Defender and Khalee Wilson, a sophomore defender from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was named Most Valuable Player. Both Fair and Wilson were recognized for being named MACJC All-State, and Wilson was named United States Soccer Coaches All-Region, as well.

"The following quote from Maya Angelou sums up this year's team/season," Coach Coulibaly said. "It says, 'You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.'"

More pictures can be viewed at Men's Soccer banquet.