The Newton County tennis and soccer programs will be well represented at East Central Community College last year.
Joel Hill signed to play soccer at East Central while Ali Grace Walker signed to play both tennis and soccer at ECCC.
In tennis, Dylan Barnett and Peyton Chaney will join the ECCC men’s tennis team while Kayla Baucum will join the women’s team at East Central.
“I am really proud of this group of young people. They have worked really hard for several years,” Newton County tennis coach Chad Bond said. “They have had very good success on and off the court, very good students and people of good character. I am so glad they are getting an opportunity to play at the next level. I know they will continue to represent themselves and our program well at the next level. These kids were part of the team who won the state 4A title last year, our first state title. We are looking forward of having the opportunity to defend that title in a few weeks.”
Ali Grace Walker
Senior Ali Grace Walker will be signing in both soccer and tennis with East Central.
In soccer, Walker has been a member of the soccer team since the seventh grade and started on the varsity team since the ninth grade. She has been an all-district selection for the last three years and named the team’s top defender for the last two years and was captain this past season.
“Ali Grace has been a great player for us,” County soccer coach Zac Foreman said. “I have had the honor and privilege of coaching her for four years. She is a hard worker, a great student athlete in every aspect of the word. As her coach, it is great to see her move on and be a part of something at East Central and move forward in her career.”
Walker said she feels blessed to be giving the opportunity to play at the next level.
“It’s amazing, just being blessed with the ability to play both sports at the next level,” Walker said. “I have been playing soccer since the fourth grade. It became real today. God has just blessed me with an abundance of things. EC was very welcoming and just felt like home.”
In tennis, Walker has also been on the tennis team for six years and won a state championship in girls’ doubles in 2016 and was a finalist in girls’ doubles in 2017. She was named to the 2016 and 2017 Clarion-Ledger All-state teams.
Joel Hill
Tennis and soccer standout Joel Hill chose to play just soccer at East Central for coach Kenneth Thompson.
“I chose East Central because it’s close to home. My parents can watch all of my soccer games, and I can still be with all of my friends,” Hill said. “I know all of the guys in my signing class. I know coach Thompson, and he’s running a great program. I knew what I was getting into with East Central, getting into the state semifinals last year.”
Hill has been a standout on the soccer fields for Newton County and was named the team’s most outstanding player this season. He was also recognized by The Meridian Star as a Premier Preps selection and was chosen to play in the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star soccer game. Hill was also a state champion in boys’ doubles for the tennis team.
“Joel is the kind of player every coach wants on their team — he’s talented and skilled, but what really sets him apart is his work ethic and leadership ability,” Bond said. “He not only does his job, he makes everyone around him better by making sure they are where they need to be too.”
Dylan Barnett
Dylan Barnett signed to play tennis at East Central after being a solid contributor for the Cougars the last two years. He chose East Central over Meridian, Hinds and Jones.
“I have been playing tennis since sixth grade,” Barnett said. “I didn’t really think about playing at the next level until this year when coaches started contacting me. MCC, Hinds and Jones. I have known coach Pacelli for a couple of years from tournaments. I chose East Central because it’s about 10 minutes from home, and I have teammates that will be playing there as well.”
Barnett was a member of the 2017 state championship team and a finalist in boys’ doubles in 2017. He was also named to the 2017 Clarion-Ledger All-state team.
Kayla Baucum
Baucum will join Walker on the tennis team after a solid career at Newton County, choosing East Central over Jones and Meridian.
“I considered Jones and Meridian,” Baucum said. “I chose EC because it’s close to home and a dream of where I have wanted to play. It feels like a huge accomplishment of something I have been working hard at for the last few years. To be able to finally sign that piece of paper that I was going to be able to continue my tennis career was great.”
Baucum was part of the 2017 state championship team and was a finalist in mixed doubles in 2017 and was named a member of the Clarion-Ledger all-state team. She was voted Miss Newton County High School.
Peyton Chaney
Chaney is signing with East Central after starting for the Cougars in tennis this season at singles.
“It’s a great accomplishment to sign on the dotted line,” Chaney said. “It’s a big accomplishment to play at the next level. It will be a big challenge, and I will have to work hard. It was kind of a relief that somebody wanted me to play for them.”
