A year after playing for the Class 4A state championship, the Newton County soccer program is sending three players to the next level.
Lee Hill singed with Jones College while Tanner Dailey and Christian Velazquez each signed with Meridian Community College.
“I think it speaks volumes to the direction that we are going in this year,” County soccer coach Will Thompson said. “We had one sign last year and one the year before. It’s a great accomplishment for our team.”
Perhaps the most decorated of the group is Hill, who chose Jones over hometown East Central.
“They are getting a phenomenal player,” Thompson said. “He will be the catalyst of their attack. He can score the goals and can assist where he needs to. By going to Jackson and playing travel soccer, he has learned so much about the game. He has a high knowledge of the game. He is one of those that I just unleashed and let him play.”
Hill, who said he will probably major in sports medicine, said he really like the Jones campus. Hill is also a standout on the tennis courts.
“There campus is really nice and I liked all of the people that I met there,” Hill said. “The coaching staff and administrators that I met were all really nice and very welcoming to me. The team was very welcoming as well. It have always dreamed of playing collegiate soccer. Being able to accomplish that dream means the world to me. EC has always been in my backyard, so going to a different place to live will be different.”
Headed to Meridian is Velazquez, a 5-foot-1 center and wing player.
“Honestly, since I was little, I wanted to play soccer for fun but now the competition is getting more serious,” Velazquez said. “I really like the fact that I have to produce to play college ball. People tell me that I’m too short to be playing but I don’t listen to them. It was mainly Meridian on my mind but I had other schools that were looking at me. I wanted to choose MCC to make a statement. The talent they have coming up and the way their coach coaches. They are looking to be one of the best teams in the state.”
Thompson said Velazquez signing is the completion of a life-long dream.
“It means a lot to me because he has wanted this since he was a little kid,” Thompson said. “That’s all he has talked about and he is one of those that’s a hard worker. He works hard outside of school and there isn’t a day that goes by that he isn’t touching a soccer ball. He is really dedicated to his sport.”
Also headed to Meridian is Dailey, who also liked the atmosphere at MCC.
“I like the atmosphere and coach,” Dailey said. “I have been playing soccer since I was 7. I get to play some more soccer and have some more fun. The coaches at Newton County have helped me throughout the way and have helped me become a better man.”
Thompson said Dailey is one that he takes special pride in.
“He is going to be a hard worker,” Thompson said. “This year, he has really stepped up his leadership. I take a lot of pride in him. When I first got here, he was one of my first additions to the team. So for me, it means a lot to see him get to play at the next level. He does all the right things. He never misses and always goes 110 percent. He is going to go out and do the extra things outside to continue to get better.”
