ATHLETIC PROGRAM BEST IN STATE
PEARL RIVER BOASTS TOP COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM IN MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi’s premier junior college athletic program was Pearl River Junior College, a school of some 3,900 students in Pearl River County in the southern part of the magnolia state.
The Wildcats can back up that statement by boasting an incredible four MACJC (Mississippi Association of Community/Junior Colleges) state championships in football, baseball, men’s basketball and men’s soccer.
No other junior college in Mississippi history has achieved the kind of success that Pearl River Community College has enjoyed this past school year, dating back to the beginnings of JUCO athletic competition in the 1920s. When PRCC President William Lewis took over the athletic director’s responsibilities in 2001, he set two primary goals for the college’s coaching staffs.
“One, we set the challenge to be competitive at the championship level,” Lewis said. “I fully realize we may not win every year, but we always strive to be in the running. Two, we wanted to graduate our players. Based on those two challenges, the coaches have really responded.”
There aren’t many athletic programs in the entire nation that boasts as talented coaching staffs as Pearl River’s.
Former Wildcat receiver Tim Hatten just completed his second year as head football coach, while another PRCC athlete Adam Breerwood coaches men’s soccer along with his duties as Dean of Student Affairs. The men’s basketball coach is veteran mentor Richard Mathis, while former Wildcat infielder Jay Artigues heads up the baseball program.
“We just relate to the kids well,” said Hatten, who played at PRCC in the early 1980s. “This is about as good of a group as a whole as I’ve ever been associated with.”
And, it’s a tight-knit clique.
Former Wildcat receiver Tim Hatten just completed his second year as head football coach, while another PRCC athlete Adam Breerwood coaches men’s soccer along with his duties as Dean of Student Affairs. The men’s basketball coach is veteran mentor Richard Mathis, while former Wildcat infielder Jay Artigues heads up the baseball program.
“All our coaches look out for each other’s athletes,” said Breerwood, “and our administration is behind us athletically 100 percent.”
Pearl River is one of 15 schools that make up the MACJC
The Wildcat football team defeated perennial powerhouse Hinds 21-17 for the school’s 16th MACJC state title – most in the history of the MACJC – finishing with a 10-1 record. PRCC’s only loss of the year was to Hinds in the regular season.The Wildcats were ranked No. 4 in the final NJCAA poll.
A prominent leader on the team was University of Florida transfer Larry Kendrick, a two-way star who wowed the MACJC by earning All-American honors at both wide receiver and defensive back. In addition, he was voted the NJCAA’s Defensive Player of the Year and the MACJC-Region 23 Most Valuable Player, while earning All-MACJC and All-Region 23 honors to boot. He also led the NJCAA in interceptions with nine.
Baseball team finishes 42-10
The Pearl River baseball team defeated Meridian Community College twice in the state tournament to win the school’s second MACJC state baseball championship in May. PRCC is a Division II (tuition only scholarships) program, while Meridian is Division I (full scholarships).
The Wildcats ended the season with a 42-10 record and ranked No. 2 in the final NJCAA Division II poll. Sophomore slugger Rhyne Hughes finished the season with a national-best 18 home runs, including two in the state championship game
Basketball retains state title.
The Wildcat basketball team won its fifth state championship by defeating Hinds in the finals of the MACJC State Tournament last February in Booneville, Miss.
This was PRCC’s fourth championship in the past 13 seasons under Mathis, who has won a total of six state titles, including a men’s championship at Northeast Mississippi and a women’s title at East Mississippi. The Wildcats finished the season with a 20-9 overall record.
The sport of soccer came to Pearl River five years ago. The men’s team defeated Hinds 3-1 in the state and region finals. The 2003 Wildcats finished the season with a 17-3-2 record.
In the five-year existence of PRCC women’s and men’s soccer, Breerwood has guided at least one or both of his squads into post-season tournament play.
“I’ve been fortunate to have some really good athletes to work with,” Breerwood said. “Plus, my staff has done an incredible job.”
Chris D’Ambrosio has been Breerwood’s assistant since the start of the program in 1998.
One of the school’s selling points are top-notch facilities. M.R. White Coliseum remains one of the state’s best Juco arenas, while the PRCC baseball complex ranks as one of the state’s very best. Wildcat Stadium has undergone monumental improvement in the past three years, including a new clubhouse and weight room; while chair-back seating was installed this past spring
“I think facilities play a big part in any program’s success,” said Artigues. “When kids come here and see our accommodations, they’re impressed. I think it `s one of the best junior college facilities in the entire country.”
“I think we can attribute our growth to a number of factors,” said Dr. Lewis. “It’s been demonstrated that we live in a growth area of the state. And, our faculty and staff continue to work diligently on making known the low cost, quality educational opportunities that are available at our community college.
Athletics is not the only area where Pearl River Community College has had recent success. Last fall’s enrollment of 3,923 students was the largest in the school’s 93-year history. In the last three years, the school’s enrollment has grown some 25 percent.
“We believe that word is getting out, and folks are taking a real hard look at opportunities that are available at Pearl River Community College.”
And the school’s sports success is helping spread the word.