Megan Lacey and Peyton Norwood signed to play college sports on Thursday, April 11. Megan will compete as a part of Bates College’s track and field team, where she will double-major in biology and politics. Peyton will play golf for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College studying on a pre-law track. Peyton and Megan were JA’s eighth and ninth students to sign for college athletics this year. Congratulations, Peyton and Megan!

Senior Kinkead Dent signed to play football at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday, December 19 at 11 a.m. Joining Dent for the event were his family, coaches, teammates, faculty, fellow students, and friends. With 6,740 total career yards, 62 touchdowns, and a 23-16 record, Dent’s leadership and tenacity as a player have been proven throughout his four years as a varsity starter and as JA’s team captain during the 2018-2019 season. Congratulations, Kinkead!

Jackson Academy seniors Avery Hederman and Erin Hederman of Jackson, Darby Douglas of Madison, and Columbia Holeman of Morton signed to play collegiate sports during a ceremony this month. On hand to congratulate these outstanding Lady Raiders were their families, fellow students, faculty and staff, and Alpha & Omega Buddies from kindergarten.

Columbia Holeman, committing to Indiana University for softball:

• First softball player from Mississippi to sign with Indiana University
• First Jackson Academy athlete to sign with D1 Softball
• Member of Impact Gold Mississippi softball team
• On base percentage: 0.607
• Bases Stolen: 31
• Outs while stealing bases: 0
• Fastest 40 yard and 20 yard dash at NCSA Combine with over 2,200 athletes
• Holds record for home runs at JA
• 2015, 2016 MAIS All Conference
• 2016 MVP
• 2014, 2016 Best Offensive Player
• 2017 Junior Year Team Captain

Darby Douglas, committing to the University of South Florida for soccer:

• Six year varsity starter in soccer
• 5 time All Conference/Varsity Soccer
• 2018 MAIS All Star/Soccer
• Co-MVP of 2018 MAIS All Star Soccer Game
• Member 2017 and 2018 JA Lady Raider State Championship Soccer Teams
• 2018 JA Soccer Player’s Player of the Year Award
• Max Preps Player of the Week for October 1-8, 2018
• 2013, 2014, and 2015 MVP Defense/Varsity Soccer
• Senior Year: 10 shutouts, 90% Save Percentage, 0.65 Goals Against Average, 2 assists
• Varsity Career: 52 shutouts, 963 career saves
• Member of 2017 Rush Select National Team
• Two Time State Cup Champion with MS Rush 2000 Premier Team
• 2016 President’s Cup Champion with Oxford SC
• Winner of 2017 Disney Showcase with New York SC
• Winner of 2018 San Marino Cup (Italy) with Connecticut Rush
• Winner of 2017 Presidents Day Tournament (Arizona) with Rush Select National Team.
• Current Member of Albion Hurricanes FC 2001 ECNL Team (Houston, TX)
• Current Member of MS Rush 2000/01 Premier

Avery Hederman, committing to Mississippi College for soccer:

• Varsity soccer Team Captain junior and senior year
• Varsity soccer All Conference player 2016, 2017, 2018
• Senior All-Star Selection
• 2016 Raider Award
• 2017 MVP
• 2018 Player’s Player of the Year
• Senior Year Stats: 20 goals, 24 assists
• Led team in assists junior and senior year

Erin Hederman, committing to Mississippi College for soccer:

• Varsity soccer Team Captain senior year
• Varsity soccer All-Conference player 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018
• Senior All-Star Selection
• All-Star Game MVP
• 2018 Team MVP
• 2018 Golden Boot
• 2017 Golden Boot
• 2017 Player’s Choice Award
• 2015 Best Offense
• School Record for Career Goals: 113
• School Record for Goals in a Season: 46
• Senior Year Scoring Stats: 46 Goals and 18 Assists
• Featured in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd”
• Twice Received MaxPreps Player of the Week for Mississippi

Jackson Academy athletes (from left) Noah Thigpen, Olivia Stringer, Edwin Smith, and Jack Gnam indicated their intent to play college sports at a signing ceremony November 8 in the Learning Commons.

Noah Thigpen

Noah Thigpen of Jackson will join the baseball team at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Noah has earned accolades in baseball and football at JA. He was named the ninth grade football Best Offensive player and was a member of the varsity baseball team. As a sophomore, Noah was named a Clarion Ledger top performer once in baseball and twice in football. As a junior, he was a member of the varsity football team and voted offensive MVP twice during the regular season. Also, Noah was voted 1st team MAIS All-Conference, 1st team MAIS All-State, and helped lead JA to the 2017 MAIS Baseball State Championship runner-up finish.

Olivia Stringer

Olivia Stringer of Jackson signed on to play volleyball at Birmingham Southern. During her volleyball career at JA she has achieved 428 kills, 33 blocks, 271 digs, 164 aces, and 450 receptions. She is a member of the Lady Raiders volleyball team that has achieved four back-to-back MAIS State Championships.

Edwin Smith

Edwin Smith of Ridgeland has been recognized for his performance in a number of travel teams including the 2018 Graduate WWBA National Championship All-Tournament Team 2017, the 2017 NABF 18U World Series World Championship Team, the 2018 Graduate NABF 18U World Series All-tournament team, the 2017 State Games of Mississippi Championship team, the 2017 NABF 17U World Series Jackson Championship Team, the 2017 NABF 17U World Series Jackson Championship All-tournament team, and the 2018 Graduate WWBA Perfect Game Champions 2016. A 2017 team captain, Edwin was also a member of the 2015 MAIS Baseball State Championship team. Edwin will join the baseball team at Meridian Community College.

Jack Gnam

Jack Gnam of Ridgeland, who has played varsity golf for JA since seventh grade, is the No. 1 ranked junior in Mississippi for the Class of 2018. He has been on the Mississippi Preps All State team for 2015, 2016, and 2017. He has a 72 overall high school scoring average. Jack earned a spot on the golf team at the University of Mississippi.

Video provided by JA Raider Network.

The Jackson Academy Swim Team once again has shown that we’re simply better together! JA swimmers won the MAIS Overall Championship that is awarded to the school with the most points in first through twelfth grades. In the elementary division, JA brought home a second place trophy. Congratulations to all the JA swimmers!

Individual and team placements and records:

• Isabella Conn broke a record in 25 Free with a time of 13.34
• Parker Bracken 2nd in 50 Free
• 7th-9th Boys Free Relay 3rd
  Jackson Conn, Ford Hudson, Adams Kennedy and Parker Ryan
• 7th-9th Girls Free Relay 1st
  Ava Crawford, Julianna Copeland, Alice Williams, Parker Bracken
• Jackson Conn 1st in 50 Breast
• Parker Bracken 3rd in 50 Breast
• Jackson Conn 2nd 50 Back
• Ava Crawford 3rd 50 Back
• Ava Crawford 2nd 50 Fly
• 7th-9th Boys Medley Relay 3rd place
  Jackson Conn, Adams Kennedy, Ford Hudson, Will Adams
• 7th-9th girls Medley 2nd place
  Julianna Copeland, Parker Bracken, Alice Williams, Ava Crawford
• 1st-3rd boys Free Relay 2nd
  Smith Haralson, Parker Orr, Barron Mosal, Walter Towery
• 1-3 girls Free Relay 2nd
  Anna Hollady Craft, Brianna Wang, Adrianna Wang, Sarah Kathryn Williams
• Walter Towery 1st place back stroke
• Brianna Wang 3rd place backstroke
• Walter Towery 2nd place 100 IM
• Brianna Wang 2nd place 100 IM
• Parker Orr 2nd place 25 Breast
• Adrianna Wang 2nd place 25 Breast
• Smith Haralson 2nd place 25 Fly
• Sarah Kathryn Williams 3rd place 25 Fly
• Smith Haralson 3rd place 50 Free
• Adrianna Wang 1st place 50 Free
• 1-3 Girls Medley Relay 1st Place
  Anna Holladay Craft, Sarah Kathryn Williams, Adrianna Wang, Brianna Wang
• 4-6 boys 3rd Place Free Relay
  Baird Kennedy, Major Quin, Cole Gideon, Cam Walker
• 4-6 Girls Free Relay 1st place
  Katherine Gault, Anna Kate Lucas, Liles Williams, Isabella Conn
• Major Quin 2nd Place 50 Back
• Major Quin 2nd Place 100 IM
• Baird Kennedy 3rd Place 25 Free
• Isabella Conn 1st Place 50 Breast
• Liles Williams 3rd place 50 Fly
• 4-6 Girls Medley Relay 1st place
  Katherine Gault, Anna Kate Lucas, Liles Williams, Isabella Conn