ELLISVLLE – Four Jones County Junior College women’s soccer players signed senior college scholarships Thursday in the McClellan Hall Media Room.
Mia Holmes (Brandon) signed with Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee; Parker Welch (Brandon) signed with Delta State University; Judith Verdaguer (Spain) signed with Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina; and Carmin Childs (Oak Grove) signed with Mississippi University for Women.
These four players helped JCJC claim back-to-back MACJC/Region 23 championships and post a 24-5-2 record the past two years. The Lady Bobcats were 9-3-2 in 2017 and 15-2 in 2016.
“These girls have been outstanding,” JCJC head coach Dolores Deasley said. “We are losing four good ones, but they are going on to bigger and better things and that’s what we work hard on here. We get them for two years to develop them and get these kinds of opportunities at the four-year level.
“We are excited for each and every one of them. They have been fantastic the last two years and have helped us to two state and region championships.”
JCJC had one player sign in the fall.
Defender Angel Ryals (Brandon) signed with and is currently enrolled at William Carey University.
Carmin Childs
Childs was a two-year standout as a defender.
She will play on the first MUW women’s soccer team. Gray Massey was announced as the program’s first head coach in November.
“I just really like the coach and the academic programs they have,” Childs said. “It’s a lot like Jones. It’s a smaller school and I really liked it.”
Childs enjoyed here time at JCJC.
“Jones has had a really, really big impact on me,” she said. “It’s grown me so much as a person, not only physically, but mentally as well. I’ve made so many friends and it’s a place I will have with me the rest of my life. Jones in my bones!”
Deasley said Childs will benefit the MUW program.
“Carmin was kind of thinking about just going to Mississippi State for college and this opportunity came up for her,” she said. “We are very excited for her and the opportunity to keep on playing. She has a big support system behind her and she will do well.
“Carmin has outstanding character and they will be lucky to have her.”
MUW will compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
Mia Holmes
Holmes, a goalkeeper, is excited about going to Christian Brothers, an NCAA Division II school in the Gulf South Conference.
“I really enjoyed the campus and the coach (Kieron Heblich) was very welcoming and showed his desire for me to be on the team and that was my main priority,” she said. “It’s a great, competitive program with a really good atmosphere.”
Holmes said JCJC has prepared her to take the next step in her soccer career.
“It’s been unforgettable here,” she said “It’s changed me as a player and as a person for the better. I think I am way more ready for a four-year now that I have been to Jones.”
Holmes was an All-MACJC performer, participated in the MACJC All-Star Game and was chosen as JCJC’s Most Valuable Player. She excelled in the MACJC/Region 23 Tournament where she helped JCJC advance on penalty kicks vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast in the semifinals, 1-1, and defeat No. 16 and previously unbeaten Holmes Community College 3-2 in the title game.
Deasley said Holmes did well at JCJC and will do the same at CBU.
“Mia had an outstanding sophomore year,” Deasley said. “She was brilliant in the state and region playoff games and just kept us in the games. Christian Brothers is a very good school and has a strong soccer program.”
Parker Welch
Welch, a defender, looks forward to attending Delta State.
“My brother is up there right now,” she said. “It’s a good program and I really like the coach (Luke Sheekey).
Welch said being at JCJC the past two years has helped her improve as a player and a person.
“It was amazing and such a great experience,” she said. “The coaching staff here is great, too. The program here is awesome and Jones is awesome.”
Deasley said Welch was a key to JCJC’s success in 2016-17.
“Parker has done good things for us the last two years,” she said. “She comes from a very strong high school program and she will do very well at Delta State.”
Judith Verdaguer
Verdageur, a forward, was an All-Region 23 player and competed in the MACJC All-Star Game. The Barcelona, Spain, native transferred to JCJC from Angelo State for her sophomore season.
She is excited about going to Lenoir-Rhyne, an NCAA Division II school in the South Atlantic Conference, located in Hickory, North Carolina.
“I had a chance to go for a tryout there and it was great,” she said. “The people there were so nice to me and the team was at a good level. Everything was just right about it and I thought that would be a good place for me to continue my soccer career.”
Verdaguer is grateful for the one year she spent at Jones.
“I didn’t expect it to be one of the best experiences of my life,” she said. “I learned a lot about myself and I appreciate all they have done for me. I will always have Mississippi in my heart.”
Deasley said Verdaguer has the skill set to succeed at Lenoir-Rhyne.
“Judith came in and has been a great leader and role model for us,” she said. “She works extremely hard and Lenoir-Rhyne will be a really good fit for her.”
