5 SAINTS RECEIVE ALL-REGION HONORS:

The Mt. Juliet Christian Academy Athletic Department just completed one of its most successful springs in school history. Not only was the department and its teams successful, but several of the MJCA student-athletes received TSSAA honors.

After the Division 2 All-Region teams were announced, five MJCA players were listed. The high school soccer team led the way after finishing their season with a 14-2-1 record. Zach Pollock (sophomore), Sam Mummert (sophomore), Bryan Schlosser (sophomore), and T.C. Palmer (junior) all made the East-Middle Region's All-Region Team.

MJCA's high school softball team, who had their best season in school history, also had a representative on the 2010 All-Region Team. Catcher, Leanna Sanders, was name to the East-Middle All-Region Team. Also, Emily Threadgill was given honorable mention honors.

Since Division 2 doesn't have districts, getting TSSAA honors became much more difficult. There are currently thirteen schools in our region. This makes these honors a much higher honor.

MJCA is very proud of these fine student-athletes.

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FORMER MAJOR LEAGUER JOINS COACHING STAFF:

Former Milwaukee Brewer, Jerry Bell, will join Charles "Popcorn" Thompson on the MJCA baseball staff. Mr. Bell is currently coaching for the Nashville Outlaws baseball team.

Coach Bell (a native of Old Hickory, Tennessee) played college baseball at Belmont University and was named to the Bruin's Hall of Fame in 1992.

In 1969, Jerry was drafted in the second round by the Brewers and played seven years of professional baseball. Mr. Bell made it to the Major leagues in 1971. In 1972, he was named the Milwaukee Brewers' Rookie Pitcher of the Year. That year, he compiled a 5-1 record and had a 1.66 ERA.

Athletic Director, Paul Christensen, has assigned Coach Bell to be the head middle school coach for the 2011 season.

"We are very excited to have Coach Bell join the MJCA team," Christensen said. "He will bring a great deal of experience and knowledge that he has gained from a career in baseball at all levels."

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HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER WINS A RECORD 14 GAMES IN 2010:

Mt. Juliet Chrisitan Academy's high school soccer team just completed the school's best soccer season in school history.

After starting the season extremely well, the Saints were able to collect fourteen wins on the season. The Saints were knocked out of the tournament by Franklin Road Academy (in overtime) by a score of 2-1. However, this did not happen until they were able to beat TSSAA Division 2 powers like Donelson Christian Academy, Ezell Harding Christian School, King's Academy, and Davidson Academy. They were also able to take down Division 1 teams like Creekwood High School, Jackson County High School, and Smith County High School.

Coach Matt Swallows and his soccer team has much to be proud of for this incredible season.

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80% OF MJCA STUDENTS PARTICIPATE:

Opportunity is often a word used to describe attending Mt. Juliet Christain Academy. This was shown, in large part, this year when a poll was taken of its secondary students. When the results were revieled, it showed that more than 80% participated in extra-curricular activities at MJCA.

Throughout the country, students dream of significance. They dream of the chance to represent their school on the athletic field, drama production, leadership roles, or musically. However, many of them do not get the chance to realize this dream, because their school is so large or their school is so small that it doesn't provide the opportunites to participate in many events.

MJCA prides itself in investing in students by providing many chances for its students chances to develop their skills in a public setting. It also gives students a sense of pride in the opportunity to represent their school.

The students (who take advantage of this opportunity) have done so well. MJCA is proud of its students and families that have made the extra opportunities so successful.

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WOOLDRIDGE TO TAKE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL:

Mt. Juliet Christian Academy's high school volleyball team has had three coaches in the last three years. With the hiring of the first faculty head coach (since Jason Sloan), the Lady Saints are hopeful to gain some coaching consistency with their new leader.

Megan Wooldridge came to MJCA, as a math teacher, a year ago. Before coming to MJCA, she taught math and coached volleyball at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin.

Coach Wooldridge came highly recomended from several in the volleyball community. She has been a staunch supporter of the athletic department since her arrival at MJCA.

Megan is very excited about this new opportunity, and she looks forward to building the program back to a level that is competitive in Division 2.

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STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH:

Dylan Gammon (seen here with his parents, Kenny and April Gammon) has just finished up an outstanding high school career in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in showing great courage.

Nothing about Gammon's high school experience has been easy. However, he has conquered these difficult years with strength, courage, and grace.

As many already know, Dylan traveled a very difficult road with his brother, Dustan. Dustan battled leukemia for a few years of high school before graduating in 2008. That summer Dustan went home to be with the Lord.

Dylan was a source of great strength and courage for his family throughout those years. Even through the hard times, he continued to be an active member of the school family.

Gammon played soccer and basketball while in high school, and he played both at a very high level. Last year he led his team to a school record fourteen wins on the season in soccer. He also was a key member of the MJCA basketball team which won sixteen games on the season.

Handling tough times, while being a valued participant in high school, earned him the honor of recieving the first annual "Dustan Gammon Award of Courage".

MJCA is thankful to Dylan and his family for all that they have taught us in their time at MJCA.

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FORMER ARENA FOOTBALL STAR JOINS MJCA STAFF:

MJCA has "hit a home run" with the hire of defensive backs coach, Terrance Quattlebaum. Coach Quattlebaum played college football at West Virginia State University, before moving on to play professionally in the Arena Football League.

As an arena football player, Quattelbaum played for the Las Vegas Gladiators and competed in Nashville, when they were scheduled to play the Nashville Cats.

Coach Quattlebaum will join new head coach, Mark Harrison, immediately to help the Saints prepare for the upcoming season.

MJCA is thankful to have Terrance Quattlebaum join our quality group of football coaches.

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DIRECTOR'S CORNER:

For the last twelve years, I have had the honor of being the Athletic Director at Mt. Juliet Christian Academy. In that time, I have seen many highs and lows. However, the main thing that I have learned is that it could not have been done without the large amount of help from many of you.

Let me start by thanking the parents. As we all know, competitive sports take a great deal of sacrifice. This is widely understood on the student-athletes side, but sometimes we forget how great of a sacrifice is made by their families. Transportation alone is a great inconvenience to many. Take that and throw in the missed family time, meals, vacations, and costs of participation and you have a lot of sacrifice. Thank you.

A successful athletic department also takes a great deal of commitment from the school's administration. This can easily be seen in the MJCA administration. Greg Scheck, Kathy Kitchen, Amanda Van Vactor, Don Wharton, and Tina Pressley have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of this department. Thank you.

Our coaches have made many sacrifices as well. Coaching the students with little compensation and too little praise has been a key to our strong athletic department. During their season our coaches often spend more time with their teams than they do with their own families. For these great sacrifices, I say thank you.

This year we added the MJCA Booster Club to advance our program. Jennifer Knott (president), Jerry Raymer (VP), and Suanna Harvey (secretary/treasurer) have done a spectacular job leading their 103 volunteers. This group has given countless hours to the advancement of the program, and have been successful. Thank you.

Ultimately, it is the students who make or break an athletic department. Students simply do not come any better than the ones that we are blessed to have at MJCA. They have committed themselves to excellence in the classroom, as well as on the court/field. I want all of you to know that win, lose, or draw, we are very proud of you. Thank you.

In closing, I want to say that it has been another great year at MJCA. We are all blessed to be a part of this great school. I am excited to see what the Lord will use all of us to do next year to build on this great product.

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