By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
July 25, 2002
Meridian High School has been searching for new coaches for both soccer teams at the school since the departure of Pat Ross and Mike Sullivan.
MHS completed its search for a new girls soccer coach with the hiring of Jerry McReynolds. He will replace Ross who took a principal's job in the school system after nine years coaching soccer at MHS.
McReynolds will be moving up to the high school level after coaching for years in the Meridian Youth Soccer Organization. He has been coaching youth soccer since 1985 in Meridian, on both the recreational and select level.
He has enjoyed many winning seasons and coached an under-12 team in the state finals this past season. He is looking forward to coaching on the high school level.
Now that a coach has been hired, the Lady Wildcats can look toward the upcoming season. It's a season that looks bright at this point.
Meridian High School's girls soccer team has been very strong in the past. The Lady Wildcats made the state finals two years ago before falling to Vicksburg in the championship.
The Lady Wildcats had a solid team last season but missed the playoffs after an up-and-down year. The team was very young last season and much of the nucleus is returning for the upcoming year.
Erin Hodges and Lindsey Key were the only seniors to leave the team after last season. Hodges was sidelined with a knee injury and Key will be playing soccer at Meridian Community College next season.
Next year, the senior class of players will once again be small. Kirsten Gambrell was the only junior soccer player on last year's team. She will be back to lead the Lady Wildcats' defense.
The Lady Wildcats will still be young next season, but will also have a lot of talent. Meridian High School principal James Bounds says he feels McReynolds will be able to get the most out of the players and is optimistic about the season.
The Lady Wildcats will compete with Northwest Rankin, Brandon, and Forest Hill in district play. McReynolds is hopeful that he can lead the Lady Wildcats to one of the top two spots in the district and into the playoffs.