1. Parker Adamson (signed to USM for Football)
2. Alexus Malone (signed to Buffalo for Girls Basketball)
3. Henry Webb (helped win a 5A State Title in Boys Soccer and to the 3rd Round in Baseball)
4. Baxter Elliott (helped win a 5A State Title in Boys Soccer and in Tennis)
5. Amber Sisk (led Girls Basketball to a playoff appearance)
6. Clifton Smith (helped win a 5A State Title in Powerlifting and Football to the 2nd Round)
7. Nick Brown (led Boys Basketball and Football to the 2nd Round of the playoffs)
8. Toler Presley (led Football and Boys Track teams to successful seasons)
9. William Elliott (signed to Alabama for Baseball)
10. Steven Whitfield (helped lead Baseball to the 3rd Round)
11. Noland Parham (helped win a 5A State Title in Boys Soccer)
This was prior to this year that I made out this list. I first wanted to make a Top 12 list (a "Dandy Dozen" as you will) but never could find that 12th Senior. Well, here's a few I missed the boat on:
Hunter & Hayden Stewart - Twin brothers that played a major part in Oxford winning the State Title in Boys Soccer this year. Hunter tore his ACL in the first Center Hill game way back in November. It turned out it was up to him and his parents if they wanted to play on it risking his playing career or have surgery to repair it and miss the season. I believe he made up his mind in that he wasn't going to play in college so this would be his last year regardless of choice - so naturally he chose to play. His brother Hayden went through a lot prior to this soccer season in which he had a tumor in his brain that was successfully removed from - so you think these two have been through it all? It was only fitting they would be a big reason they helped won an emotional state title for not just this team, but for this town that has become more than a Football/Baseball town.
Aundrel Turner - WHERE was this guy the past three years? One of the nicest (and quiet) guys you'll ever meet, a speedster and has turned into the best Center Fielder (at least defensively) since Brent Brownlee played the position. Well, his Sophomore year, he did not make the team because of low grades, he did not feel comfortable last season when he started. This year, he has made throws that no one could believe he could make (he nailed New Hope's Taylor Stafford trying to go from first to third on a base hit and hosed him by 15-20 feet in the third game against the Trojans), had several close throws that many opponents didn't think it would be as close as it did and turned three double plays from the Center Field spot because of his speed to get to the ball. He also contributed to the Football Team this past season helping out the Chargers to an 11-2 record. It seemed like all he needed was a slap in the face.
Jessica Pearson - A notable on this 11-Senior list is the lack of Females on it (just 2 of the 11 are such). This two-sport star played Volleyball and Girls Soccer - both of which had very few seniors on both teams (which may stand as to why the gender ratio on this list is so lopsided). She had very productive years on young teams that failed to make the playoffs in Volleyball, got a tie for the Region 2-5A crown in Girls Soccer but had to travel in the playoffs because...of...a...coin...filp...and her production she gave on the field in both sports should have earned her a spot on this list.
Xavier Pegues - And yep, how did I miss him? Led the Football team in sacks and tackles this past season and was selected to the MS-AL All-Star Game with Parker Adamson. Whiffed on him big time.
Those were the four notable seniors that I missed. If I had to reorder this top 11, I probably would have Bill move up out of sheer embarrassment of putting what I thought was the NINTH best athlete among the OHS Senior Athletes that wound up being a Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen and will play for an SEC school in Baseball - which is not an easy task.
I will do this again for the 2014 class - and I will do 12 this time. The second "Top Senior" list and the first "Oxford's Dandy Dozen" will start May 31st in two weeks with #12. Each Friday (unless noted) a new one will be released until #1 the Friday prior to Oxford Football's first game against Jackson Prep August 23rd. It will make the wait for Football Season that much shorter.