7 Athletes Sign Scholarships At VHS

Seven Vidalia High School Athletes signed Letters of Intent to carry on their athletic careers Tuesday, May 7, in the Vidalia High School Auditorium.

“We are so excited for these young men and women who have made a commitment to play at the next level,” said Vidalia Athletic Director and Boys Basketball Coach Tommy Dalley. “This shows not only a strong commitment to athletics but also a strong commitment to academics and hard work in the classroom; without that they would not be here,” said Dalley.

Nahvie Berry

Nahvie Berry, the 2023 Region and State Champion in the 110m Hurdles, will be taking his talents to Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, where he will run for an up-and-coming track program. Berry also runs the 300m hurdles, in which he finished 2nd in the Region and 7th in the State Meet in 2023.

Alexis Head Alexis Head is a multisport athlete, but she will be taking her cheer talents to Milledgeville, where she will cheer for the Bobcats of Georgia College & State University. Head, who also plays soccer and has participated in E-Sports, has been part of the Vidalia High School Competition Cheer Team and the Game Day Cheer Team, where she has helped Vidalia to three State Championships in the event. A Coaches Award winner in both Sideline and Competition Cheer, Head will pursue a degree in Exercise Science while at GCSU.

Head said, “I am really excited for this day. I am excited to see what the future holds and what God has planned for me. I want to thank all of my family, friends, teammates, and coaches, because without them I would not have this opportunity. I really like Georgia College. They were so good to me and I can't wait to get there.”

Coach Ann Michelle Toole added, “It is very exciting to see her continue on. She is a great team member, a great leader, and I'm excited for her to have this opportunity to move on and to learn and grow. We look forward to seeing her at Georgia Col- continued from page

lege, and we are proud of her, and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to have coached her.”

Cori Mincey

Vidalia Basketball standout Cori Mincey averaged 16.5ppg and scored over 1000 points in his four-year career while playing for Head Coach Tommy Dalley. Mincey’s “high-flying” dunks and blocked shots made him a fan favorite and also piqued the interest of East Georgia State College, whom Mincey signed with. The 1st Team GACA All-State and All-Region 3AA player shot 41.5% from the floor, which includes a 3-point shot percentage of 35.4%. Mincey scored 1000 points in his career despite playing in just 2 games his freshman year.

Mincey stated, “I feel really excited and happy to move on to East Georgia. They really looked at me and gave me the scholarship offer, and I'm happy to be able to stay close to home. I have to thank Coach Dalley and both Coaches Alton and Lee McCleod, all my teammates, and family for this chance.”

Coach Tommy Dalley said, “Cori represents everything that we talk about when we talk about Vidalia basketball; through his work ethic, his relationships, the way he leads in the locker room. He has been a tremendous leader and is just a great kid to have around. I think that East Georgia is getting a great kid, a great player, and someone that is going to do it the right way.”

Carson Ricks

Vidalia Baseball player Carson Ricks will join Mincey in Swainsboro, continued from page

where he will continue his baseball career with the Bobcats. The 3AA All-Region Team member hit .283 his senior year with a .382 on-base percentage while stealing 10 bases to lead the team. Ricks was also very good at putting the bat on the ball, as he struck out only six times in 103 at-bats.

Ricks stated, “I am really excited for this opportunity. I had a lot of people tell me that I wasn't going to make it to the next level, but hard work has paid off, just pushing myself. I want to thank God, my family, friends, and coaches, because without them helping me back up after the hard moments I would not be here.”

Coach Ben Beck added, “Always excited to see a kid move on, but especially someone like Carson. He really has put in the work and we have depended on him. He is one of the hardest working kids I know, putting in the hard work in the off season, and he truly has a competitive spirit.”

Andre Velazquez

Vidalia Golfer Andre Velazquez will take his talents to Brewton-Parker to play golf for the Barons. The four-year member of the Indian team qualified for the State Tournament all four years and won the Area Championship during two of those years while posting a scoring average of 78 over his career.

Deserae Lumley

Deserae Lumley is the third member of the Vidalia senior class to commit to Brewton-Parker. The Senior Defender for the Lady Indians was a fouryear starter and was named to the Region 3AA First Team, as well as being a two-time All-Coastal All-Star.

VHS Coach William Harn said, “She is the type of kid that represents Vidalia High School well. She is going to do good things at Brewton-Parker. She really helped on defense this year. That isn't her natural position, but she stepped in where we needed her, and she kept us in a bunch of matches this year. She is a good leader and we are excited for her.

Conner Higgs Mars Hill University in North Carolina will get the talents of Conner Higgs, who will play soccer for the Mountain Lions. Higgs, who served as captain his senior year, contributed to twelve shutouts, scored eleven goals, and added eight assists in his four-year career.

Higgs said, “I am ex- continued from page

cited that I get to move on and further my education and to continue to play soccer. It is a small school and I liked that real community feel. I have to thank my parents first and then of course both my high school and club coaches, for all they have put into me.”

Coach Corbin Howard added, “We are really excited for Conner. He puts in all kinds of work on and off the field. He was one of our captains, and he truly earned that position for us. He really studies the game, and that is what it takes to be an athlete at the next level. This is a great school that he is going to, and he has excelled in the classroom and has put himself in a great position.”

Alexis Head, sitting with her family, is heading to cheer for Georgia College and State University.Photo by VHS

VHS basketball star Cori Mincey signs to play at East Georgia alongside family and coaches.Photo by VHS

Carson Ricks is heading to play baseball for East Georgia as he signs next to family and his coachesPhoto by VHS

VHS golfer Andre Valezquez signs to play at Brewton-Parker College alongside family and his coach.Photo by VHS

Deserae Lumley is moving on to play soccer for the Lady Barons of Brewton-Parker as she signs next to family and coaches.Photo by VHS

Conner Higgs is moving on to play soccer for Mars Hill University in North Carolina as he signs next to family and coaches.Photo by VHS