Sports Columns

When basketball season hits, there is only one place Grant Goolsby sees himself, and that’s on the sideline at the games.
The 2008 Myrtle graduate and former Northeast standout is taking advantage of a rare opportunity for someone of his age. Last season, he was offered a volunteer assistant position on Drew Tyler’s staff at Oxford High School and hopes to be added on as a full time assistant for next season. The experience is crucial for Goolsby, who has a year remaining for his undergraduate studies at Ole Miss.

One thing that will never change in Union County is the competitiveness and excitement surrounding basketball. Former players, such as Barry Kidd, have the opportunity to not only reflect on their careers, but watch as their children succeed at the same school.
Kidd’s prolific career at Ingomar was capped with state and grand slam championships in 1978. After playing for the Falcons, he held a brief stint at Northeast, where his career eventually ended.

A lot has changed since Lisa Billingsley-Wigginton’s days on the basketball court. The former Lady Urchin has accomplished a lot since her days at East Union, including a two-year stint playing ball at Mississippi State. Moving from Jackson to Memphis, Wigginton now calls Tupelo home and has done so for the last 18 years.

A former East Union standout is enjoying his chance to continue playing baseball after boasting  successful high school and collegiate careers.
Competing last season for the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association of Independent  Professional Baseball, Chase Porch is now in Chicago, playing for the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League Professional Baseball league.