The South Georgia Technical College Jets Booster Club held a special Recognition and Awards Banquet recently in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the South Georgia Technical College campus to honor the members of the 2016-2017 Jets and Lady Jets players and coaches. Cory Black of CBHoops was the special guest speaker.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford thanked the over 100 individuals who attended the banquet for their support of the college, its athletic programs, athletes and student body. “We have so much to be proud of,” said President Watford. This a fine group of men and women who have a lot of talent but who also displayed strength, spirit, and integrity on and off the court this season. It takes more than talent to have a successful season, it takes synergy. That is when the creation of the whole is greater than the simple sum of its individual parts. That is what we witnessed this season with both the Lady Jets and the Jets,” concluded Watford as he praised the players, coaches and staff members.
The Lady Jets earned their fourth trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I national tournament this year and finished the season among the top 16 two-year women’s team in the nation. They also tied for the best record in the history of the Jets and Lady Jets history with a 30 – 5 overall record. The Jets turned around their season at the end to become the first team in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) to finish the regular season in seventh place and earn the right to compete for the Region XVII Tournament title. They lost to the NJCAA nationally ranked Georgia Highlands team in the finals.
Jets Booster Club President Martha Arrington echoed Dr. Watford’s comments. “It was a great year and on behalf of the Booster Club, I would like to thank each of you in the room tonight for your support of the players and the coaches. Thank you for joining the booster club and for stepping up anytime, we asked. This was a great season and it was great because of the support that we received from the college, administrators, faculty, staff, and the community,” said Arrington.
Three individuals were singled out at the banquet for their outstanding contributions to the teams and program this season. SGTC Athletic Director and Lady Jets head coach James Frey opened the awards season by recognizing athletic trainer Brian Davis for his services and support.
“Brian Davis may have been the most valuable member of our program this season. We counted on him so much, not only for his knowledge but also for his calming influence through what was a very difficult season, injury wise. He made a difference. He was much more than a trainer and we wanted to recognize him for his contributions on and off the court,” said Frey. “There are a lot of late night hours and behind the scenes work that most people never see and he has been there working to get these young men and women ready to go out on the court and play.”
Frey then turned the program over to Jets head coach Travis Garrett who shared that he was very proud of the Jets. “Despite a 13 – 20 overall record and a 5 – 11 conference record, this team never gave up. These guys never stopped fighting, they gave an intense effort even when everything did not go just right. That will and determination showed as we came back and finished in second place in the NJCAA Region XVII tournament.”
Coach Garrett also took the opportunity to single out sophomore Pat Welch as the Jets MVP for 2016 – 2017. “MVP this year can also stand for Most Valuable Person,” said Coach Garrett. “Pat did an outstanding job for us on and off the court. His last second shot against Gordon allowed us to move up and earn a spot in the semi-finals and finals of the NJCAA Region XVII tournament. He has been a tremendous asset and we will miss him next season.”
Lady Jets head coach James Frey also revealed the MVP for the Lady Jets. “This has been the most difficult season injury wise, I have ever been a part of,” said Frey. “But these young ladies just stepped up and did what they needed to do to help us reach our goal of a championship and a trip to the national tournament. We lost three sophomores and every time one player went down another one stepped up. We ended up starting four freshmen during the tournament and doing well and that says a lot about this team.”
As he spotlighted each of the players, Frey said that his MVP award went to sophomore guard Shaineequah Fluellyn. “Shay was not starting at the first of the season, but she did everything we needed her to do and she is one big reason that we won the GCAA regular season, the NJCAA Region XVII tournament, the District J championship and finished in the sweet sixteen at the NJCAA national tournament in Lubbock, TX. I thank her and wish her the best as she continues her career on and off the court.”
Frey also revealed that the Lady Jets have signed all seven of the freshmen players from the 2016 – 2017 season to return for the 2017 – 2018 season. “We are already looking forward to another great season based on this nucleus returning,” said Frey.
In addition to the awards and accolades, Coach Corey Black of CBHoops in Columbus, shared some motivational thoughts with the Booster Club and players. Black served as the youngest JUCO assistant coach in the league, was an assistant coach at Columbus State University before leaving to form CBHoops, a recruiting event company that helps players earn college scholarships through exposure events.
“I am a JUCO (Junior College) guy,” said Corey. “I played JUCO and I have coached JUCO. I left JUCO to follow my dreams. As an assistant coach I spent most of my time trying to find 10 or 12 players and helping them earn their college degrees. At CBHoops, I have the opportunity to help 300 or 400 players have the opportunity to gain the exposure needed to earn college scholarships.”
Black began his talk using the phrase, “My mama said.” Everyone has heard that phrase said Black, but here is really what my mama said. It was great advice for me all during my JUCO and four-year college experience. I still follow it today, revealed Black.
“My mama always said keep God first and everything else will work out. That is what I am here today to say to you. Keep your priorities straight. Put God first and when things do not go just like you think they should, keep God first and it will work out. I am proof of that,” said Black, who shared stories about how he left Tifton to go to Southern Union and later on to Columbus State and earn his degree.
“That is what I leave you with tonight, put God first and everything else will work out,” said Black.
Jets head coach Travis Garrett spotlighted sophomore Pat Welch as the Jets MVP for 2017 and said that in this case MVP also stands for Most Important Person.
Brian Davis was honored by the Jets and Lady Jets. Shown above is SGTC Athletic Director James Frey with athletic training Brian Davis.
Corey Black of CBHoops is shown above speaking at the Jets Booster Club Banquet.
A large crowd was on hand to honor the Jets and Lady Jets 2016 – 2017 season.
